The Fast Food Chain Restaurant That Invented Orange Chicken

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It probably won't shock you to learn that many of the dishes on the steam table at your local Panda Express are American in origin. Unlike Yelp's best Chinese restaurant of 2024, which is big on Hong Kong-style noodles, Panda Express is an "Asian-ish" spin on fast food ... which doesn't mean we don't chow down on its combos! We may even owe Panda Express a debt of gratitude, because it gave the world the beloved staple of orange chicken.

Over 30 years ago, chef Andy Kao cooked the first known dish of orange chicken at a Panda Express location in 1987. Kao, who was born in China, grew up in Taiwan, and trained in French cuisine, eventually became the chain's executive chef for product innovation. In the 1980s, however, he was simply trying to combine the fried chicken of his childhood with the ever-popular sweet-and-sour flavor profile that customers love.

Today, Panda Express dishes up about 70 million pounds of orange chicken a year, and half of all guests order it on their plates and bowls. It's no longer found only at Panda Express, either, as it's likely that your local Chinese takeout spot offers the dish as well. You might even find it in your grocer's freezer section, it's so ubiquitous! You can even buy bottled orange sauce and make your own take on the meal. Orange chicken is the close cousin of two other Chinese-American mainstays, sweet and sour chicken and General Tso's, which also combine fried chicken with a syrupy, sweet sauce. 

Sure, it may land high on the inglorious list of unhealthy dishes you should think twice before ordering from a Chinese restaurant, but we don't love orange chicken for being health food! Come to find out, the version of orange chicken that we chow down on today isn't the same one that was first rolled out. As Kao first made it, the meal utilized bone-in, skin-on chicken. He soon discovered, however, that Americans preferred boneless, skinless meat. The first orange chicken was also much spicier, but Kao gradually dialed down the usage of chili peppers to account for customers' palates. And, despite the fact that it's one of the best ingredients for adding umami to fried chicken, there's no MSG in Panda Express's orange chicken — although we now know that the cultural aversion to this delicious seasoning is largely xenophobic and based around incorrect health "knowledge."

Today, orange chicken gets its signature tang from vinegar and orange juice, peel, zest, and/or oil. There's also plenty of sugar, not just from the fruit, but generally from white sugar or honey as well. Fried chicken plus sugar may add up to a bit of a calorie bomb, but we can't deny that it's delicious! If you're making it yourself, you can play with heat levels by adding or subtracting chili flakes and ginger, which has its own potent kick that greatly enhances the sauce. Whether you order orange chicken to be delivered, nuke it in the microwave, or even make it at home, spare a moment to thank Panda Express for bringing its deliciousness to your table!