Not only in the States, same in France. Chinese food has the perception of being oily, unhealthy, spicy and dirty restaurant, so it is expected food has to be cheap. Many of the first generation restaurant offer buffet type of meal or those already cooked traiteur and reheat in microwave take away food. The second generation are now doing northern Chinese cuisine, proposing more spicy food, which the younger French can accept. I don’t think I ever see an organic Chinese restaurant here.
There is a type of Franco Chinese fusion, with white chefs e.g. Yam Tcha’s Adeline Grattard (teams with husband, a Hong Kong Chinese), or Dan’s Jérôme Billot (works with a Chinese wife), then they can charge with the premium price because of their “creativity”. You can find very fine expansive Chinese food in Paris but with the 5 stars hotel groups.
I remember several years ago, there was a mainland restaurant group opening a branch in Paris, they closed down after 1 year because their clients were only wealthy Chinese. There were no French clients.
