Emily Carter
Panda Express, the largest Asian segment restaurant chain in the United States, has been criticized by some for its inauthentically Chinese menu items. One of these items is General Tso's Chicken, which was available for a limited time in 2016 and again in 2021. The dish, which is believed to have been introduced to New York restaurants in the 1970s, is named after a Qing dynasty military leader, Tso Tsung-t'ang, from the Hunan Province. While it is not clear why Panda Express has not permanently added General Tso's Chicken to its menu, some have speculated that its flavor profile is similar to that of Orange Chicken, another dish served by the chain.
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What You'll Learn
Panda Express's General Tso's chicken was a limited-time offer
Panda Express, America's favourite Chinese kitchen, offered General Tso's Chicken as a limited-time offer in 2016. The dish was available at all locations from August 10, 2016, through December 27, 2016. The limited-time offer was unveiled at the Glendale Galleria mall in Glendale, California, where the very first Panda Express unit opened in 1983.
General Tso's Chicken is believed to have been introduced to New York restaurants in the 1970s and was once a staple on Chinese restaurant menus across the United States. The dish is named after a Qing dynasty military leader, Tso Tsung-t'ang, from the Hunan Province. Outside the US, a Taiwanese chef and restaurant, Peng Chang-kuei, claims to have invented it.
Panda Express's version of the dish included all-white meat chicken, freshly prepared green beans, red and yellow bell peppers, and onions, tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce. This differed from the traditional recipe, which typically uses dark meat chicken. The chain's version of the dish was more savoury than sweet and was considered a more refined and contemporary take on the classic recipe.
Panda Express's decision to offer General Tso's Chicken as a limited-time offer was part of its culinary focus to build on classics and continuously introduce dishes rooted in Chinese cuisine that become celebrated as new American favourites. By offering this dish, Panda Express celebrated the true spirit of this popular American Chinese favourite, honouring the original while putting its unique spin on it.
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The dish was only available at select locations
Panda Express, the largest Asian segment restaurant chain in the United States, has been criticised for its inauthentically Chinese menu items. However, the chain has also been praised for celebrating the spirit of immigrants who come to the U.S. and create something uniquely American. One such dish is General Tso's Chicken, which was available at all locations for a limited time.
General Tso's Chicken was introduced to Panda Express in 2016, honouring an iconic Chinese-inspired, American-crafted dish. The recipe included all-white meat chicken, freshly prepared green beans, red and yellow bell peppers, and onions, tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce. This differed from the traditional recipe, which typically uses dark meat chicken.
The decision to offer the dish at this specific location holds symbolic significance. By launching General Tso's Chicken at the birthplace of the first Panda Express, the chain acknowledges and pays homage to its roots. This choice aligns with the dish's tribute to the American immigrant experience, honouring the journey of both Panda Express and the dish itself.
While some customers have expressed disappointment in the lack of availability at all locations, it is important to note that Panda Express likely conducts thorough market research before introducing new menu items. The limited release allows the chain to gauge customer response and make data-driven decisions about expanding the dish's availability.
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The recipe differs from the traditional version
Panda Express's version of General Tso's chicken is a more contemporary take on the traditional recipe. The traditional recipe for General Tso's chicken was the inspiration for Panda Express's popular Orange Chicken, which was also inspired by the flavours of Hunan Province. The primary difference between the two dishes is that Orange Chicken includes an orange flavour. However, the two dishes share many of the same ingredients.
Panda Express's version of General Tso's chicken uses all-white-meat chicken, while dark meat is more typical. The dish also includes freshly prepared green beans, red and yellow bell peppers, and onions, tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce. The sauce is less sweet than Orange Chicken's, with a noticeable soy sauce flavour and pepperiness. The inclusion of vegetables gives the dish a crisp texture, though some reviewers found the sauce to be less slimy than Orange Chicken's.
Some reviewers found the chicken inside Panda Express's General Tso's to be a little dry. The dish was also criticised for lacking spice and including artificial chile seasoning that tasted like smoked sausage or hot dog water. However, one reviewer found that the sauce did a great job of honouring the dish, and another recommended trying it.
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The dish was criticised for being inauthentically Chinese
Panda Express, the largest Asian segment restaurant chain in the United States, has been criticized by some for serving food that is inauthentically Chinese. The chain serves American Chinese cuisine, and its General Tso's Chicken dish is no exception. The dish was offered as a limited-time offer in 2016 and again in 2021.
General Tso's Chicken was first served in the US in the 1970s and was once a staple on Chinese restaurant menus across the country. The dish is believed to have been introduced by a Taiwanese chef and then popularized in New York City. However, it is unlikely that you will find the dish in China. The traditional recipe includes deep-fried chicken glazed with a sweet and spicy sauce, and the dish's name comes from a Qing dynasty military leader, Tso Tsung-t'ang, from the Hunan Province.
Panda Express's version of the dish includes all-white-meat chicken, green beans, red and yellow bell peppers, and onions tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce. This is a more contemporary take on the traditional recipe, which typically uses dark meat chicken. The chain's version is also said to be more savory than sweet, with a noticeable soy sauce flavor and pepperiness.
Some have argued that Panda Express's General Tso's Chicken is too similar to another one of their menu items, Orange Chicken, which was also inspired by the flavors of Hunan Province. Orange Chicken is a very popular dish at Panda Express, and some customers may not want an alternative with a heavier emphasis on vegetables. The similarity between the two dishes may be why Panda Express has not added General Tso's Chicken to its permanent menu.
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$13.2
Panda Express's Orange Chicken is similar to General Tso's chicken
While Panda Express does not serve General Tso's chicken, its orange chicken is considered to be very similar. Both dishes are popular Chinese-American dishes that are said to share the same base sauce. The main difference between the two is that General Tso's sauce contains more pepper flakes, giving it a spicy kick, while orange chicken contains orange zest, orange juice, or orange peel, giving it a bright zing of orange flavor.
Panda Express is believed to have invented orange chicken in the 1980s when a chef at one of the chain's Hawaii locations experimented with creating a spin on General Tso's chicken. The dish has since become a food phenomenon, with restaurants and grocery chains around the world offering their own versions. In 2017, over 50% of Panda Express customers ordered orange chicken as part of their meal, and in 2021, the chain sold around 115 million pounds of the dish.
Some people argue that the similarity in flavor profiles between orange chicken and General Tso's chicken is the reason why Panda Express has not added the latter to its menu. The two dishes are said to be so alike that offering both would be akin to competing with themselves. Additionally, Panda Express' wok spaces are dedicated to chow mein, fried rice, and orange chicken, leaving no room for another similar dish.
Despite the similarities, there are some key differences between the two dishes. General Tso's chicken was invented earlier in the 1970s by Peng Chang-kuei, a chef from Taiwan. The dish is named after Tso, a figure who inspired the chef and played a part in the Taiping Rebellion of 1851. While both dishes have Asian roots, they are considered heavily Americanized by many people.
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Frequently asked questions
Panda Express has offered General Tso's chicken as a limited-time offer on at least two occasions, in 2016 and 2021. It is not clear if the dish is currently available.
Panda Express wanted to pay tribute to the iconic Chinese-inspired, American-crafted dish, which was believed to have been introduced to New York restaurants in the 1970s. The dish is said to embody the notion of something Chinese-inspired and American-crafted, reflecting the American immigrant experience.
Panda Express' version of General Tso's chicken features all-white meat chicken, green beans, red and yellow bell peppers, and onions tossed with a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce.
