You say that, yet I will take that as evidence supporting my argument. Chinese food served in US restaurants has little in common with actual Chinese food, it’s common for them to have completely different menus for people who actually speak Chinese with a different set of dishes. Indian food went through a similar transition, where there is a distinctly American take generally served.

PS: Hot isn’t a complex flavor it’s exactly what’s left over after you extract the complexity from many ethnic dishes.

Agreed on the second menus. While eating inside my local Chinese place a few years back I saw an amazing dish being eating by another patron and was given the scoop. It was literally a second menu, no photos, all Chinese. Everything I've tried has been great but it's definitely different food from the main menu.