What Is The Signature Dish Of Panda Express?

What is the signature dish of Panda Express? It’s a question that many fast food lovers have especially if they feel like having American Chinese food. Founded in 1983, Panda Express has interesting and delicious flavors but one has won over more fans than the rest – Orange Chicken.

This particular dish is so popular among fast food patrons that it has become a signature of the brand due to its crunchiness and sweet sour sauce. Understanding the reasons behind its popularity can provide valuable panda express feedback. In this section, we will explore the history and ingredients of this dish, along with its influence on making Panda Express a household name.

Overview of Panda Express

What is the signature dish of Panda Express? It’s the iconic Orange Chicken, which has become a staple in American Chinese cuisine, offering a delightful mix of flavors for all to enjoy.

History and Growth

Panda Express is a Chinese food restaurant chain which was started in 1983 in the city of Glendale, California by Andrew Cherng and Peggy Chen. The restaurant was originally intended as a small bistro that catered to families. However, because of its original idea of blending Chinese food and a quick serve, Panda Express became a favorite for many.

Panda Express has, however, grown in leaps and bounds and opened a number of chains all over the Americas. The chain owes its success to many factors such as its reasonable pricing, quality, and efficient service.

Menu Concept and American Chinese Cuisine

Panda Express focuses on American-style Chinese cuisine which is a foreign take on traditional Chinese dishes. The menu consists of chicken in different fried rice bowls, chow mein, and lo mein. Some of the popular dishes on the American Chinese menu include:

Fried rice (chicken, vegetable or shrimp)
Chow mein (chicken, beef, pork or shrimp)
Lo mein (chicken, beef, pork or shrimp)
Sweet and sour chicken
Kung pao chicken
Broccoli beef
Honey walnut shrimp

The menu concept at Panda Express is aimed at providing a choice of dishes to the customers so that they can have their meals prepared according to what they want.

What Is Panda Express’s Signature Dish?

What is the signature dish of Panda Express? This dish is often referred to as the hallmark of the restaurant, characterized by its popularity and unique flavor that makes it easily identifiable among customers. It is typically the most ordered item, showcasing the distinctiveness that draws people in.

This is why most restaurants aim to have a signature dish as it represents the character of the restaurant and also helps draw in customers.

Orange Chicken Signature Dish of Panda Express

Without a doubt, Orange Chicken has become and still remains the signature dish for Panda Express. This favorite dish consists of crispy fried battered chicken pieces covered in orange sauce and is mostly accompanied by rice. The combination of flavors and texture has won over many customers thus the orange chicken becoming one of the most loved dishes and a trademark at panda express.

The popularity of Orange chicken can be associated with a number of reasons. Some of them include the following:

Taste: The sauce is sweet and a bit citrus. The sauce color is orange and contains shredded chicken pieces that are universally appealing.
Texture: A mouth watering dish indeed. Firstly the meaty portions of fried chicken are crunchy and coated in sauce.
Convenience: Same goes for Orange Chicken as it is an easy meal to eat but at the same time fulfilling therefore it is often a favorite for the working individuals and families.

To sum up, Panda Express is successful due to American Chinese cuisines, fast food, and quality food that is suitable for all age groups. Most important of all, the notoriety for the brand is due to its signature dish known as orange chicken which has made clients drawn to it.

What Makes Orange Chicken Special?

Orange Chicken is a dish found in Panda Express, which seems to be delightfully sweet, sour, and savory all in one. It has pieces of chicken that are crisp and coated with a brilliant orange-colored sauce.

Ingredients and Flavor Profile

The basic components of Orange chicken consist of:

Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast of thigh portions
Batter: The components consist of flour, cornstarch and eggs.
Orange sauce: Consists of orange juice, orange peel, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and garlic and ginger.
Sesame seeds: It is used to add on some texture and touches of flavor.

Orange chicken flavor is a very enjoyable combination of sweetness, tanginess, and savory. The sweet and tangy citrus sauce is complemented by the savory soy sauce and spices contained in the dish.

Cooking Method

The preparation of Orange chicken incorporates the traditional Chinese cooking style which involves:

Battering: The chicken pieces are lightly battered with a mix of flour, cornstarch and eggs.
Frying: Deep frying the battered chicken until it is brown and crisp.
Tossing: After the chicken has been deep fried, it is then coated with a tangy orange sauce.

Nutritional Value and Product’s Servings

The nutritional content of Orange Chicken may vary from this depending on the exact ingredients and methods of preparation. Though the definition of serving size may vary, a typical serving size may contain roughly about 300-400 calories, and protein and fat content is moderate. Still, it is always better to get the nutritional data, straight from Panda Express.

This iconic dish is a delightful representation of American Chinese cuisine that keeps customers returning for more.

Popularity of Orange Chicken

What Is The Signature Dish Of Panda Express? Orange Chicken has always been in the top list of sales offered by Panda Express making this chain immensely successful. While some figures and polls may indicate otherwise, it is obvious how greatly this dish is appreciated by restaurant clientele.

There are many reasons why people love Orange Chicken:

Taste: People love the taste of sweet and sour and the strange mix of sweetness and saltiness.
Feel: The bite into its crusty exterior and the soft tender chicken insides is absolutely delightful.
Meal Option: Orange Chicken is also a quick and filling meal that can be ordered by people and parents that are either working or not at home.

Customer Favorites and Reviews

The Orange Chicken has remained favorable among customers of Panda Express. Examples of testimonials are:

“Of all the dishes on the menu, Orange Chicken is perhaps my favorite one. Combining crispy bits of chicken with the tangy sauces is the best there ever is. That is always a good meal.”
“I have been visiting Panda Express for several years and keep returning mostly because of Orange Chicken. It is tasty and good, all the time.”
“The best Orange Chicken I have ever tasted has to be at Panda Express. The sauce is spot on and the chicken is cooked nicely.”

The next engagement with Orange Chicken from the customers’ side is also a symmetric engagement with the awards and recognitions of the dish. It has made it to the cut on several “best of” lists, while food reviewers have helmed praise on it due to the taste and quality it has.

While such awards and recognition may not be readily available in the near future, the acceptance of Orange Chicken amongst most customers and the successive praises that they have received from the consumers make it clear that the product is indeed appealing.

Conclusion

What Is The Signature Dish Of Panda Express? Definitely, it is the Orange Chicken, one of the company’s favorite products. The combination of sweetness, acidity, and spices, along with the crunchiness, quickly became a hit with its patrons.

This renowned meal has also managed to encapsulate what American Chinese food is all about as well as the quality of the food that this brand offers to its patrons through the years.