what is the difference between chicken chow mein and chicken low mein?!

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There are actually 3 very different types of chow-mein and 2 very different types of lo-mein in North America. Bad translation, local invention, and/or terms created to avoid confusion (which created more confusion) are probably the main reasons why different dishes were called the same name.

Chow-mein:
1) "Classic American Chinese chop suey place chow mein": This dish got absolutely nothing to do with noodles and Chinese do not see this dish as chow-mein at all. The main ingredient(s) is bean sprouts and/or shredded cabbage. Why this dish was called "chow-mein", which translates to "stir-fried noodle" is beyond me. The "mein" (noodle) is missing completely. Pics: http://newgreatwallfood.com/chinesedish/…
http://jade3.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets…

2) "Pan fried crispy noodle or Cantonese chow-mein": By definition, this dish is not really chow-mein because the noodle was fried instead of stir-fried. But quite a few Cantonese speaking Chinese call it chow-mein anyway. Pics: http://toronto.ibegin.com/pictures/4147.…
http://www.eskimo.com/~sockeye/nm/dynast…

3) "Stir-fried noodles or chow-mein": This is THE chow-mein all Chinese could recognize. But, this dish was also called "lo-mein" in the US sometimes. Places that call this dish "lo-mein" usually serve pan fried crispy noodles also. This dish was probably called "lo-mein" to avoid confusion; quite a few Cantonese called both pan fried crispy noodles and stir-fried "soft" noodles. Also, terms like chow-mein and lo-mein are much easier for Chinese waiter/waitress with limited English skills to pronounce. This dish could be made with thin round noodles, regular noodles, thick round noodles, flat broad noodles (not to be confused with flat rice noodles) or whichever noodle the chef sees fit. Pics: http://blog.chinesehour.com/wp-content/u…
http://http.cdnlayer.com/smoola/00/00/26…
http://acaciafarm.smugmug.com/photos/331…

Lo-mein.
1) "Authentic Cantonese style lo-mein": The noodle (usually Cantonese wonton noodles) was boiled and cooked. Then the noodle was drained and some kind of sauce or dish or whatever ingredient(s) the chef sees fit was poured on top of the noodles. A bowl of soup (clear broth to be exact) usually comes with this dish. There is a good chance that you could find this type of lo-mein in North America at Chinesse BBQ places that serves char-siu and roasted pig. Pics:
Wonton lo-mein: http://d1.biggestmenu.com/00/00/88/95297…
Char-siu wonton lo-mein: http://xe4.xanga.com/f98c8721c3030223049…
Shrimo roe wonton lo-mein: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3312…

2) "Bad translation lo-mein or the lo-mein many American recognized": See "Stir-fried noodles or chow-mein".

As for your question: Chicken chow-mein and chicken lo-mein might mean: Pan fried crispy chicken noodles and stir-fried chicken noodles. They could also be the exact same dish if you order those dishes separately from different places. Fun eh? LOL

Added: A couple links to "pan fried crispy noodle" pics were correct earlier and they were updated.

The method of cooking the noodles. To chow is to fry quickly in a small amount of oil. Lo Mein is steamed or boiled noodles. You probably guessed that Mein is chinese for noodles.

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http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesedishfaqs/f/lomeinchowmein.htm

The noodles. Chow mein means hard noodles. Low mein means soft noodles..

the diff = chow mein / fried noodle. low mein / boiled + dried noodle.

Joy has answered this best.

One has chow, the other lo?!

two letters

chow mein is with noodles and low mein is with rice

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