Both chow mein and low mein are made with wheat flour noodles, however, the texture of the two are slightly different. Low mein comes pre-soaked and already cooked which means they are ready to be tossed in with the other ingredients. Chow mein comes dried when purchased from the store, which will need to be soaked or cooked along with the rest of the dish. As far as texture goes, low mein is softer and chewier whereas chow mein is a bit crispier but still rather soft. It really comes down to preference between the two! If you're looking for a low mein recipe instead, check out our beef low mein.