ISO Orange Chicken NOT Panda Express

[ReelMike84]

I was recently asked where the best orange chicken was for someone who has never liked it, but was hoping the best dish preparation will change his tastes. Has anyone ever encountered orange chicken that wowed them? Anywhere from LA to SGV will do!

[AquaW]

I personally like the versions at Tasty Garden (Alhambra or Arcadia), less heavy batter and lighter, less sweet orange sauce.

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

[a_and_w]

If they like it crispy with lots of batter, the General Tso's chicken at Chang's is the best. If they like it with less batter and a lighter sauce, Little Hong Kong on Sawtelle. Keep in mind, however, that this is from someone who unashamedly loves Panda Express orange chicken.

[kevin]

do you mean chang's garden in arcadia, near din tai fung?

[nosh]

i'm so westside-centric that i assumed he meant chang's in brentwood on san vicente.

[a_and_w]

Chang's in Brentwood. Honestly, I don't see the point of schlepping out to the SGV for something so thoroughly Americanized.

[kevin]

well, if i'm already at chang's garden in arcadia, with a bunch of people it can't hurt to add an orange chicken, to the orders of tea smoked duck, yellow chives with sauteed eel, seawood-fried whitefish, and tea shrimp, etc.

[AndyGanil]

i really dont understand whats the big hype about Chang's Garden. It was one of the worst Chinese food I've had in a while. No comparison to its neighbor, May Mei or even better for Shanghainese dishes. HK Cafe on baldwin and las tunas

[ipsedixit]

If you order right, Chang's Garden can be pretty good. Just stay away from the more cutting-edge, fusion-y stuff. Stick to the basics (eggplant, eel, spareribs, etc.) and you can get a very good meal.

Is it a destination joint? By golly, no.

The big hype? Chalk it up to the NYT Travel article on Chang's as well as some (rather undeserved) fawning by our very own JGold.

[kevin]

i still sort of like panda express's orange chicken but why do so many people like it???

i did once try the orange chicken at cheesecake factory and it was dreadful.

i guess panda just does one thing right even though it is compltely junk food.

[ccbrown]

I only order Orange Chicken when I eat at Mandarette on Beverly. I love it for both its crispiness and fresh taste.

[GK in SO]

Most orange chicken is gross as most resto's use dark meat chicken, full of gristle and other unidentified chicken parts. Also, the sauce can be really fakely sweet tasting.

I love, love, love the orange chicken at Bamboo Forest, in Sherman Oaks on Burbank near Kester.

They use boneless, gristle-less delish white meat chicken and a sauce that is made from real oranges (imagine that!), not too sweet with just the right amount of tang.

You'll find some of the best Americanized chinese food food at this small place. Seems as thought it's relatively unknown to CH'ers, as I've posted about this place many times without a reply. Trust me, check it out you won't regret it!

They also make great Moo Shu and most every dish I've tried there has been top notch.

[ReelMike84]

Your first paragraph pretty much summed up my feelings towards orange chicken. I'll look into Bamboo Forest and get back to you.

[shoegal]

To my surprise, I recently discovered that Pick Up Stix actually has good orange chicken. Very large chunks of all white meat, very crispy, light batter and juicy. The sauce is not sickeningly sweet but is full of fresh orange slices. The only this to watch out for are the spicy whole chilies. Mine was full of them! Ofcourse you can always request that it be made without the chilies if you prefer a more mild version like myself. Chin Chin also used to have a really good orange chicken, but this was way back in the '90s. Good luck!

[schrutefarms]

I second Manderette, also I had strawberry chicken there that was very yummy. My favorite is Panda Express, though. Sorry.

[ipsedixit]

Honestly, Panda Express has the best orange chicken. Period.

For all intents and purposes, Panda invented the damn dish.

For an alternative, you can go to PF Chang's -- pay twice as much, and get arguably a dish that is no better than what you can find at Panda.

[kevin]

but do you like it as the best?

[ipsedixit]

kevin,

Your question is sort of odd. Here's why. In my book, the Orange Chicken at Panda Express is the epitome of Orange Chicken. Regardless of whether it is "good" or not, or even if it is the "best". It simply is the way orange chicken should be.

In other words, if you don't like the Orange Chicken at Panda Express, then you probably just don't like orange chicken, the dish, period.

Sort of like how some people consider a Langer's #19 to be the epitome of pastrami sandwiches. When I tell people that I don't like the Langer's #19, the response is always, "hey, perhaps you just don't *get* what a pastrami sandwich is all about."

[GK in SO]

I disagree. I think the OC at Panda Express is just plain gross as it uses inferior quality chicken, a gloppy sauce, and as with most food from PE, seems as if it's sat around since, say, the Clinton administration. If that's "the way orange chicken should be", well, that's just too low of a bar for me, for what can be a very tasty, satisfying dish.

I love orange chicken, and it's one of my chinese food "bellwethers" to see if the rest of a place's food will be as tasty, well prepared, use quality ingredients, etc.

The OC at Bamboo Forest (as well as at Hop Li in Chinatown, they call it "Hop Li chicken") is fantastic for the reasons stated in my previous post above. And, ipsedixit, that certainly doesn't mean that I "probably just don't like orange chicken, period". Just different tastes and standards, I guess. :-)

One person's idea of what the epitome of what food X (insert food name here) is all about is another person's "not so much". Viva la difference!

[TonyC]

most New Yorkers would scoff at the notion Panda Express invented General Tso's chicken.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_...

I find it hilarious none of the joints (except for Tasty) mentioned is in Alhambra.

Will have to give Tasty Garden a try...

[ipsedixit]

Orange Chicken =/= General Tso's Chicken.

[TonyC]

"for all intents and purposes", they basically are:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/368056

especially after I add some Sriracha to Panda Express' "orange chicken". One of my fave General Tso's of all time used orange peels.. *shrug*

[ipsedixit]

Although similar, there is a difference between General Tso's and orange chicken.

To take a baking analogy, it's like the difference between biscuits and pie crust. Add some milk, knead a bit more, and voila, you've got biscuits instead of flaky pie crust.

[a_and_w]

Why do you find this so hilarious? I'm not at all surprised that the quality of orange chicken tends to be inversely proportional to the authenticity of the restaurant that serves it.

[a_and_w]

Interesting...I don't find Panda Express orange chicken "gloppy" at all. In fact, most places in LA are pretty good about not oversaucing. You should try ordering the dish (or General Tso's) back east, where it basically swims in sauce. That's gloppy!

BTW, for those looking for orange peels and white-meat chicken, I have to reiterate the suggestion of General Tso's from Chang's in Brentwood. Just make sure you don't order the "orange peel chicken," which isn't breaded or fried.

[a213b]

Gotta agree; I eat Panda Express MAYBE once every two years (if that), but when I do it is ALWAYS their Orange Chicken.

It's so sweet and has so much thick, viscous, sugar-filled orange glaze, it's almost like a chicken-based dessert!

[JeetJet]

ipse, lets agree that Panda Express has the best orange chicken. The question then becomes, "Which Panda Express makes the the best orange chicken?" For example, I have had some pretty bad orange chicken at two different locations. The best orange chicken I have had (several times now) is at the food court on the second floor of the Westfield West Covina Shopping Centre (Mall) just off the 10 fry at Vincent Ave. PRIDE in cooking must have something to do with it. Maybe it has something to do with who the manager is. The rice and noodles were great also -- moist. One more thing that makes this location good is that a Dairy Queen is nearby at the other end of the food court with those creamy ice cream cones. This mall is a good place for Chowhounds to do season shopping.

Westfield West Covina Shopping Centre
112 Plaza Drive
West Covina CA 91790
[phone]

[Servorg]

JJ, I have always felt that the quality of Panda X Press "steam table" food is completely dependent on where you come in on the fresh food tray exchange process. If you get lucky the food is fine. If you get unlucky, not so much.

[JeetJet]

Yes, I agree that such "keep it hot,I am on my way home" heat lamps, steam tables and what-have-you can ruin food over time. So I watched this place and noticed that they sell enough and replace it as it goe's to keep even the presentation of it in nice, (moist and steaming). So maybe it has to do with the manager because it all depends on whether anyone is keeping an eye on the supply/demand ratio and informs the cook when to deliver a freshly made proper amount so there is enough to serve when needed, but too much that it gets dried out. Only a manager / cook with pride does it right. Otherwise it becomes like those old McD burgers.

[kevin]

all right if i do some of my shopping here any other goodies in the mall besides a dairy queen. is this the mall that's right off the 10 fwy.???

[ipsedixit]

The Panda Express inside the Pavilions market in Arcadia has the best orange chicken, and probably the best food of all the SGV Panda Expresses.

This was true at least 10 years ago. Now? I'm not sure.

Also, one point of clarification. I am not saying that Panda Express necessarily has THE best orange chicken. Rather, the Panda Express orange chicken is the archetype of the dish.

[kevin]

In the same way that McDonald's is the paradigm of two all beef patties, cheese, lettuce, special sauce, all on a sesame seed bun.

[JAB]

Or, was the Big Boy before the Big Mac?

[kevin]

it's weird and this makes absolute sense, but it was much tastier to me when i was a lot younger. it didn't seem as sweet back then. now it's way too sweet.

[JeetJet]

I will try that Arcadia location next week. I recall that recently my daughter-in-law told me it was her favorate location. The Panda Express inside the Pavilions market on Foothill in Monrovia is the place I had the worst version.

[JeetJet]

I had lunch at the Panda Express inside the Pavilions market in Arcadia several days ago. The orange chicken was just made as I walked up to the line. It was very hot and fresh. A mix of crispy and not so crispy. Good but what really took my attention was the Kung Pao chicken. Lots of hot flavorful oil and these crazy hot red chili peppers were blackened perfectly. I ate three of them and they are still on my mind two days later. You would think that they were roasted over an open fire -- char flavor, crunchy, spicy hot. I wish I could buy a container full of those peppers.

[a_and_w]

My local Panda Express also puts zucchini in the kung pao, which I like. It's sad so many food snobs can't give this place it's due.

[kevin]

I say we take this to the General Topics and discuss Panda Express across the U.S. Boy, you all are sure as hell passionate about

[JeetJet]

Wrong. This is about specific local spots that do some things right. A national boad discussion aboutf local joints is worthless.

[kevin]

yES, you are right. now that i think about since, you mentioned west covina, another mentioned arcadia. yeah, i guess. but i think what i meant was a whole new thread just on orange chicken at panda express, nationwide, would be interesting, unless of course there are no locations in the midwest or east coast in which case maybe why some like it so much is that it is a more of CA-based chain, i.e. in n out and fatburger.

[ipsedixit]

The key to finding a good Panda Express is turnover. The busier the spot the more likely you are going to find good food.

Stand alone Panda Express restaurants generally are not as good because they don't have as high a turnover as places in markets or food courts.

What makes the Panda in the Pavilions unique is that the place is almost always busy. Heck, during dinnertime (e.g. 6 pm or so) you'll often find a line snacking all the way around the produce section.

[ChinoWayne]

Good grief, Panda Express is only adequate sugar and salt laden fast food chain dreck for someone trapped on a desert island. For much better orange chicken: Wang's Palace, Monrovia. No breading on the chicken meat, just chicken, orange peel and little hot peppers.

[a_and_w]

No breading on the orange chicken = total fail.

[a213b]

I'll co-sign this statement by a_and_w. It HAS to have breading and be fried.

[kevin]

chino, i think that's why people like Panda Express. Because of the specific fact that it is fried and has breading. Is it junk food, is there too much sugar, is it basically dessert? You be the judge on that.

[ChinoWayne]

With all due respect, I'd rather taste the chicken, orange peel and peppers than fried dough. To each his own, but for my money it's Wang's version (or any other similarly prepared version). Fried chicken tenders are about the lowest common denominator in terms of manufactured, artificial food.

I believe Panda Express was begot by Panda Inn, which was originally a family owned restaurant in Pasadena that had decent food. My experience has been, when they expanded to other Panda Inn locations, and tried to appeal to a wider clientele, their food suffered. (The food and service at the Ontario Panda Inn is pretty abominable). Our one and only experience at a Panda Express was during a pit stop on the way to Vegas and it was pretty terrible. They grew too big, and ended up producing factory food for the masses.

It may have been a good financial strategy for the owners, but I am not willing to throw away my hard earned cash on fast food chicken tenders when there is so much better, authentic Chinese food available

Now if this thread were on the Chains board, I'd keep my mouth shut, I have no problem with anyone who likes fast food, I just try (not always successfully) not to go there. ;-)

http://thebfdblog.com

[a_and_w]

Your preferences are your own business, but there are MANY authentic Chinese dishes that use battered meat. I'm not saying Panda's orange chicken is authentic, but to ding it on that account is just plain silly.

I also echo ipsedixit's comment about turnover at your location being the key to good food. My Panda is also in a supermarket on Wilshire near a bunch of office buildings, so there's plenty of turnover.

[a213b]

I think you're missing the fact that it IS complete and utter sugary-sweet, syrupy, thick, gloppy, fried chicken, junk food goodness.

Do I eat it often? No ... MAYBE once a year. But there are times (though extremely rare) when it's exactly what I'm craving.

And when those come up, I look for a location that has HIGH turnover; typically ones in mall Food Courts at lunch/dinner rush.

[JeetJet]

Hey Chino, Howzit? I also like Wang's and hope they reopen soon. I like the Lemon Chicken more then their Orange and I am having a breakdown waiting for the new location around the corner to open the doors. As for this Panda talk. This is about specific locations of PE. Some are real bad but some are good places to eat. The same is true for McD. I once had a Fish sandwich in NYC at a McD that should not be able to even have a McD sign and then Ii had one on my way to Boston that was one of the most fresh, hot and flavorful fish sandwiches I have ever had. ipse says above "What makes the Panda in the Pavilions unique is that the place is almost always busy." I will ad that it was really nice sitting at the table in that very clean Arcadia store watching all the neat people (a cross section of LA) going by with carts loaded with the food they selected -- a good ambiance for fast food.

Damm, now you got me thinking about Wang's being closed. I just drove past the new location last week and it does not look as if it will open till the new year.

[ChinoWayne]

A typical visit to Wang's by the Mrs. and I:

Hot and sour soup, with extra chili paste on the side, check.
Orange flavor chicken, with lots of little dried red peppers, check.
Yang chowfried rice, with pork, shrimp, chicken and scallops, check.
Shrimp lo-mein, with flavorful soft noodles, check.
Schezwan green beans with pork bits, check.
Garlic eggplant, delivered in hot, almost molten little sticks, check.
Shrimp with crunchy snow peas in a glutinous sauce that sticks to your rice, check.
Schezwan shrimp, with more chile paste on the side, check.
BBQ spare ribs, with a mixture of hot mustard and duck sauce, check.

And on and on. It may only be gringo-ized Chinese food, but its my comfort food. Like it so much, I'll have it brought home, and even if its cold by the time I get, I will scarf it.

The family and their wait staff couldn't be nicer.

[JeetJet]

Nice list. Yes, major comfort food. Our list is more simple...
Two chicken fried rice, check
Beef tomato lo-mein, check
Orange Chicken, check
Lemon chicken, check
pot stickers, check,

When Wang's re-opens we will make a Big Bang of it. We will go see a movie at Krikorian and when the movie is over we will leave from the South side-door exit and walk stright across the street to the new location. We will eat there just to check out the new ambiance and then take home all those left-overs in those cool little boxes and put them in the fridge for later. Good hot, not so hot, and best in the middle of the night right out of the fridge and eaten from the take-out box while sitting in bed, "After bangs -- Wang's." I think something like that was in a movie someplace, maybe Pete'N Tillie?.
.

[kevin]

jeet,

can i get a full name and location on Wang's, might have to catch a flick and get some grub myself.

[JeetJet]

The new location is still being built therefore "Wang's Palace" is still closed. The old location is now a Mexican food place..When I drove past last week to check on the progress of the new location I think it was Colorado st. I am sure it is just accross from the south side of Krikorian and almost directly accross from the Monrovia Fire Dept. The new location will have lots of parking because it is right next to the city parking lot. Park in that lot, go see a movie and then exit from Krikorian on the south side and you will be right across from Wang's (when they open) and your car. I am sure some Hound will post about the re-opening of Wang's.

Wang's menu but note that the new address is not yet listed.
http://www.wangspalace.com/menu.htm

[JeetJet]

Yeah, the mall is on the South side of the `10 and Hungry Al's Bar B Q is just north of the 10 for some good hot links. -- off at Vincent.

[kevin]

oh, yeah. passed by hungry al's once but it was closed will try it soon.

[JeetJet]

If you do,Hungry Al's... the place is about the sliced beef and the links all with the HOT BBQ sauce. Soul food that reaches to your soul.

[Chandavkl]

A second for Hungry Al's!

[Clyde]

Joom cafe on beverly, one block east of fairfax. That place is super fresh and really flavorful. i get the orange tofu a lot and it's amazing. i don't eat chicken, but judging from the orange tofu, i'd highly recommend giving their orange chicken a try.

[nosh]

OK, it isn't chicken, and it is orange colored but more sweet and sour with a spicy edge. But one of the best and most popular dishes in town is the slippery shrimp at Yang Chow. Crisp, light, tasty, addictive. Yum.

[victoriashe]

Haha! Just saw yours, Nosh. Love that slippery shrimp (but the orange peel chicken and beef are great, too).

[Arthur]

victoriashe, those are among my favorite Yang Chow dishes, listed on the menu as either Szechuan Chicken or Beef. Not to nitpick, but it's my understanding that Yang Chow uses a tangerine peel sauce, not orange. That sauce is also somewhat spicier than the typical orange one, with sizable chunks of peel, ginger, garlic and chilis tossed in for good measure. I for one prefer it over the Slippery Shrimp sauce, which IMO is deservedly beloved but a bit less complex.

[victoriashe]

I never remember until I get there whether it's orange or tangerine they use, but their menu on the website says it's orange peel. I agree with you. I always order the orange beef -- that is my favorite thing there. Slippery Shrimp is a close second, though, and if somebody is going there for the first (and maybe only) time, I think they should get both.

[Lmo1823]

FYI: If you ever want to make orange chicken yourself, COOKS ILLUSTRATED's version turns out a very delicious version. Kinda labor intensive, but you know what is in there.

[victoriashe]

Yang Chow in Chinatown (L.A.). It's called Szechuan Chicken (Orange Peel Sauce). A world of difference from the stuff at Panda Express. They also have an excellent orange beef (called Szechuan Beef (Orange Peel Sauce)). And while you're there, do not miss the Slippery Shrimp!

It isn't a chain, but Yang Chow also has branches now in the S.F. Valley and in Pasadena. Website: www.yangchow.com

[kevin]

since when is three locations not a chain, don't get me wrong Yang Chow is not bad, but it's not a single hole in the wall operation.

[Arthur]

kevin, I don't think the fact that a restaurant operates out of more than one location automatically qualifies it as a chain. Otherwise, Spago's ought to be viewed as one as well.

As for the three Yang Chow locations: I haven't been to the branch in Pasadena, but IMO the restaurant in the Valley isn't anywhere near as good as the one in Chinatown.

With regard to Yang Chow's Szechuan Chicken or Beef: See my endorsement a little higher up on this page.

[victoriashe]

Thank you, Arthur. :-) I've only tried the Chinatown one.

Kevin, it's a family-run business. They originated in Chinatown, and then opened two other locations. Not a chain. Not a franchise. Not a multinational corporation.

[ipsedixit]

... and not very good.

[BCM]

ipsedixit, I'm a fan of your one-liners!

[victoriashe]

Makes sense that if you think Panda Express is so great, you wouldn't appreciate Yang Chow's.

[kevin]

actually i've been to both, and they are actually similar in my humble opinion, both serve sugary, corn starch-laden Americanized Chinese food.

So if you like Panda Express then you will like Yang Chow, and if you like Yang Chow, you will additionally like Panda Express.

[victoriashe]

Actually, I've been to both, too.

I like Yang Chow, and I dislike Panda Express. So much for that theory!

[mrshankly]

The house dish at City Wok (i.e. City Wok Chicken) in Ventura Blvd and Vineland is a modified version of Orange Chicken that is fantastic!

[GK in SO]

It is very good, however, they use the same kind of gristly dark meat that Panda uses unless you request white meat as I always do. It's worth the extra buck or so they charge.

[Michelle]

Actually, we love the tangerine chicken at Magic Wok, which I think is a small chain. We go to the location on Huntington Drive in Duarte.

[Chandavkl]

Here's one no one's ever mentioned. Wow Express in the downtown jewelry district, 712 S. Hill St., has a sweet and crispy orange chicken that is reallllly good.

[b0ardkn0t]

I have to say Panda Express may have been in the original orange chicken, and it is sweet, plus I'm not a fan of dark chicken meat, but I do like their version of orange chicken. Orange Chicken in general is sweet anywhere(and can be a little off in many places) but I only eat it when I get a craving for faux Chinese, just like I once in a while get a craving for Taco Bell, knowing it's not real Mexican. The best version of orange chicken I ever had was coincidentally in San Francisco--go figure. Then again I don't eat much Americanized Chinese in LA when you have the SGV to eat the real deal (except occasional guilty trips to PE).

[fgrade]

Man! I always thought orange chicken wasn't real chinese, but I've loved it for years. If there is one place where I've never had good or even decent o.c. it's panda, I'm not saying they don't make good o.c. I'm saying that I've never ever....ever had a good experience there, so I did myself a favor and stopped trying years ago, even their hot sauces were pretty sad and insipid

If you want good o.c. give hop woo's a try, it's kick butt, crunchy, tangy, thick sauce, you won't be disappointed, there's one in china town and one in alhambra. Also, for the life of me, I forgot the name of this place, but it's on hillhurst in the shopping center where the olde rustic inn is at, and they have an awesome o.c. AAAWESOME! I read someone saying something about orange peel....correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the peel have much flavor? like, it's orange zest...no?

I'm gonna have to try panda in arcadia, I have to see for myself what the big fuss is all about, I want.....I need to be proven otherwise

[kevin]

oh, that's Chi Dynasty, i once stepped inside for a few moments to check out the menu and it seems to be highly americanized and have highly stylized decor. but when i'm in the area how can i pass up the wings at the old rustic in, in fact i was there last night.

[fgrade]

yes, yes and yes, but their orange chicken is very nice, and their aromatic shrimp should be illegal and or banned, cause' it's that good

[Jerome]

if by orange chicken you mean chen pi ji - tangerine peel chicken actually dried tangerine peel chicken - any sichuan place is fine. Hu's at Rose and National makes a decent one. Chung King on Garfield south of Garvey makes a very nice one as well.

[kevin]

but if i'm at chung king how can i pass up the assortment of charcuterie plate or the fried chicken with sichuan chile peppers.

[ceviche]

are there Pei Wei (a quasi fast food subsidiary of PF Changs) in LA? if so, everyone should go and try their orange peel chicken. it is very close to the panda express archetype, but is very very good. i think their honey chili chicken is also very similar and also tasty for takeout americanized chinese food.

[Servorg]

LA Pei Wei Locations:

Chino Hills
4517 Chino Hills Parkway
Commons @ Chino Hills
Chino Hills, CA 91709-
[phone]

Huntington Beach
7621 Edinger Ave
Bella Terra
Huntington Beach, CA 92647-
[phone]

Irvine
5781 Alton Parkway
Oak Creek Village
Irvine, CA 92618
[phone]

Lake Forest
23632 El Toro Road
The Orchards
Lake Forest, CA 92630-
[phone]

Newport Beach
1302 Bison Ave
The Bluffs
Newport Beach, CA 92660-
[phone]

Pasadena
3455 E Foothill Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107-6024
[phone]

Rancho Cucamonga
8220 Haven Avenue
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730-
[phone]

Santa Clarita
24250 Valencia Blvd
Valencia Crossroads
Santa Clarita, CA 91355-
[phone]

Seal Beach
12235 Seal Beach Blvd
The Shops at Rossmoor
Seal Beach, CA 90740-
[phone]

Torrance
2777 Pacific Coast Highway
Torrance Town Center
Torrance, CA 90505-
[phone]

[JeetJet]

My respect

[GK in SO]

I was recently in Austin, TX and tried the OP chicken at a PW there...I would agree with your assessment, very tasty.

But, as far as being close to the Panda prototype, it doens't have the fried breading that so many Americanized Chinese food lovers have come to know. It also has some veggies (carrots, snap peas) in it as well.

It doesn't make it bad, just different....just sayin'!