Orange Chicken

What is it?

Dark-meat chicken pieces are battered, deep-fried, and tossed in a glossy orange sauce made with orange peel, vinegar, sugar, and a little chili heat. The breading starts crisp, then softens as the sauce clings to it, while the chicken stays relatively juicy inside. Created by chef Andy Kao in 1987, this is Panda Express’s signature entree and the item most often linked with the brand. It sits apart from the chain’s other chicken dishes because the sauce does so much of the work, bringing sweetness, acidity, citrus, and a light burn in one bite.