Panda Express has made its plant-based Orange Chicken available nationwide. Here’s our review.
Panda Express has a lot ofdishes on the menu . That , however , is a bit like saying there are a lot of cars in the parking wad at the Indy 500 . It ’s the cars on the track that matter , and it is the Orange Chicken that matters at Panda Express .
The American Taiwanese loyal - casual chain has made its name on that sugary poulet peach . Last year , it gavea tantalizing previewof a new twist on that classic at select locations : Beyond the Original Orange Chicken . As of September 7 , the plant - based orange chicken is uncommitted nationally for a modified time .
We accept advantage of the expanded availability and try the twist on a classic to discover whether a plant - based version could endure its ground next to thedish that Panda Express made famousin the US .
Courtesy of Panda Express
The Texture
When Beyond the Original Orange Chicken come out , it looks like it was manufactured . Each piece is unvarying , shape like a minor chicken nugget . That is not really a problem . It means that the plant - establish chicken reliever is evenly cook and coated . But it also means you are not bugger off those short crunchy , fried extras at the bottom of the container .
The grain is like a nugget , as well . The nugs lack the thready meatiness you get with Orange Chicken ’s dark meat . The interior of these bites is airy , smooth , and , again , uniform . It does not feel like chicken in the mouth . But it does have that taste of white meat crybaby , mild though the taste of Panda Express chicken might be .
Overall , the differences did n’t strike me as weird in any way . It was satisfying , with a crunchy " cutis " surrounding the nuggety texture . Plus , the gloopy , thick sauce that coats the chicken is the same as in the original dish antenna .
The Flavor
The Orange Chicken bequest at Panda Express is undeniable , but I do not spend much clock time hanging out at the local PE . So , I wonder if I exaggerated the sway it still held over hungry Americans who want American - Taiwanese food as immobile as potential .
As I belly up to my trough of Beyond the Original Orange Chicken over broccoli , kale , and cabbage , I get word patron after patron — a man from the nearby building site in reflective yellows and a dyad of high school students on a lunch break , among others — order Orange Chicken . It ’s no Gallup Poll , but I saw it in action .
So , if Orange Chicken remains a go - to for your lunch break , screw the plant - ground pas seul is going to hit the spot in terms of flavor . Whether the bowl hold chicken or Beyond Gallus gallus , you desire that familiar sticky odorous spicery . And you are drive that . Both variant use the same sauce .
Should you get it?
This Modern dish does not significantly go up above or below the standards you expect from the chain , whatever those might be . compare to the dish that made the Panda notable , the Beyond the Original Orange Chicken is a suitable refilling . The dispute are slight . It ’s the grain or that the plant - establish version carries somewhat few calories . In worldwide , they ’re awfully close to being identical . And that , after all , is kind of the goal .
