Beyond The Original Orange Chicken at Panda Express
UPDATE (July 2024)- Panda Express brought back the Beyond the Original Orange Chicken to select locations for a limited time. They’ve stated once the supply runs out that they will not be replenishing, so dig in while you can! Find the nearest location to you here.
Did you know that Panda Express created “Orange Chicken” in the late ’80s? Orange Chicken is not actually a traditional Chinese cuisine, but a dish inspired by Hunan tangerine chicken and was created as American-Chinese food in 1987. On an episode of “Adam Eats the ’80s” on the History Channel, I learned that the dish was created as a Panda Express specialty, and took many trial-and-error recipes to perfect (more than 50!).
Flash-forward 30+ years later, and we have PLANT-BASED Orange Chicken offered at ALL Panda locations for a limited time! Beyond The Original Orange Chicken was first tested in select stores in 2021, and is now finally at ALL Panda Express locations due to popular demand. Let’s do our part to keep it there!
Before we dive into my review, let me state- Panda Express does not claim any of their menu items are “vegan” due to possible cross-contamination on shared equipment. By definition and ingredients, the products I am sharing are vegan, but if you consider yourself a purist this may not be the restaurant for you. It’s definitely the restaurant for me, so let’s get to it!
I pulled up to the only drive-thru Panda Express in my area and ordered a “Plate” with double Beyond The Original Orange Chicken, a split side of Chow Mein and Steamed White Rice, and Veggie Spring Rolls (simply because they are vegan-friendly). The Beyond The Original Orange Chicken is considered a “Premium Entree” so an additional surcharge applies. I said “I don’t care, I’ll pay anything!” but I recognize we shouldn’t have to, and that I am embarrassing.
Panda Express worked with Beyond Meat to recreate the flavors and textures of their Original Orange Chicken without any animal products, so the sauce and texture are true to traditional taste. Beyond The Original Orange Chicken is spicer than I anticipated, but not an intolerable amount. The sweetness of the sauce balances the flavor so one doesn’t overpower the other. The texture is crispy and the chicken is slightly dry, which is something I recall about Chinese food. These little glazed chicken bites are addicting. Sweet, salty, spicy, and absolutely mouthwatering! I cannot wait for you to try them!
The star of this meal is Beyond The Original Orange Chicken (BTOOC) but I am a fan of everything plant-based the Panda serves. Below I list the ingredients of the vegan-friendly options from Panda Express, so check that out before you order. Additionally, beginning Monday, September 26th, Panda will be running a BOGO deal with the purchase of any Beyond The Original Orange Chicken bowl or entree. As in buy one, and get a FREE BTOOC bowl or entree! Order through the Panda Express app with the code BEYOND, 9/26-10/9. Don’t sleep on your free BTOOC!
So, are you headed to Panda tonight, or waiting for the upcoming BOGO deal?
Vegan-Friendly Panda Options:
Chow Mein Ingredients: cabbage, enriched wheat flour, water, onion, soybean oil, celery, contains less than 2% of: rice, wheat, caramel color, sesame oil, wheat gluten, canola oil, cottonseed oil, dextrose, sugar, malted barley flour, monoglycerides, DATEM, l-cysteine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid, enzyme, modified cornstarch, xanthan gum, potassium carbonate, salt, sodium carbonate, yellow 5, yellow 6, potassium bicarbonate. *This dish uses a proprietary sauce, with the following primary ingredients: water, sugar, soy sauce, salt, spices. Dish contains: wheat, soy.
Steamed Rice Ingredients: cooked white rice.
Steamed Brown Rice Ingredients: cooked brown rice, soybean oil. Dish contains: soy.
Super Greens Ingredients: cabbage, broccoli, kale, water, soybean oil, contains less than 2% of: garlic, phosphoric acid, natural flavor, cornstarch, potato starch, modified food starch, salt, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, dehydrated soy sauce powder, sugar, onion powder, celery extract. Dish contains: soy, wheat.
Vegetable Spring Roll Ingredients: cabbage, wheat flour, celery, carrots, water, mung bean vermicelli, green onions, modified corn starch, contains less than 2% of: ginger & garlic oil, sesame oil, salt, sugar, dehydrated soy sauce, onion powder, natural stir-fry flavor, spices, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, soybean oil, sodium polyphosphate, sodium carbonate, mono- and diglycerides, polysorbitan esters of stearates, lecithin, citric acid. Dish contains: wheat, soy.
Eggplant Tofu (Regional) Ingredients: eggplant, firm tofu, soybean oil, red bell peppers, distilled vinegar, sugar, water, contains less than 2% of: garlic, phosphoric acid, guar gum, rice, wheat, caramel color, salt, modified food starch, potato starch, corn starch, sesame oil. *This dish uses a proprietary sauce, with the following primary ingredients: water, sugar, soy sauce, salt, spices. Dish contains: soy, wheat.
NEW Apple Pie Roll Ingredients: wheat flour, apple, sugar, water, sugar, soybean oil, modified food starch, corn starch, wheat gluten, cinnamon, salt, xanthan gum. Dish contains: wheat.
Panda Express Location: 2053 Evergreen Ave, Modesto, CA 95350
Find Beyond the Original Orange Chicken (July 2024)
Panda Express- Ingredient List
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