17 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (2024)

FAQs

What is Panda Express most popular dish? ›

Orange Chicken

There's a reason why this dish is Panda's claim to fame. The restaurant's most popular entree is made with crispy boneless pieces of meat combined with the chain's secret sweet yet spicy orange sauce. Almost everyone who walks through Panda's doors orders orange chicken.

The most famous dish at Panda Express is the Orange Chicken. Inspired by flavors of the Hunan Province in China, Chef Andy Kho developed it in 1987, and it has been a consistent part of the menu ever since.

Panda Express primarily cooks their dishes in soybean oil. Soybean oil has a mild flavor with no strong taste of its own, making it a versatile choice for cooking and baking as it doesn't overpower the spices, sauces, and aromatics used in a dish.

Unfortunately, most of the fast food chains' menu items aren't very healthy. Fan-favorites like the Beijing Beef and Orange Chicken contain more calories, sugar, and sodium than you'd think. But fear not, Panda Express healthy options do exist.

"Panda Express's Orange Chicken and Chow Mein are considered unhealthy due to their high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats," says Young. The Chow Mein and Orange Chicken is packed with: Calories: 1,000. Total fat: 43 grams.

Long Grain Rice – If you're going for fluffy, not sticky, then long grain is the way to go for fried rice like Panda Express! Medium grain or jasmine are okay substitutes to use, but short grain should be avoided.

Chef Andy Kao develops The Original Orange Chicken® entree for Panda Express. Inspired by the flavors of Hunan Province, the dish features crispy chicken bites in a sweet and spicy orange sauce.

Is Panda Express owned by McDonald's? No. Husband and wife co-founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng still own and run their privately-held company, The Panda Restaurant Group.

Orange chicken is called Chinese food in North America, but orange chicken is rarely found in Chinese restaurants in China. Andrew Cherng, owner and founder of Panda Express, said that orange chicken is just a variation of General Tso's chicken, another dish that is almost unknown in China.

Basically, the meat is marinated in egg whites and cornstarch (other optional seasonings may be added, depending upon what flavor you wish to achieve), then refrigerated for about an hour before cooking.

Does Panda put MSG in their food? ›

From world-famous orange chicken to delicious chow mein, Panda Express defines American-Chinese cuisine with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food.

Why is Panda Express chicken so soft? Chinese restaurants use a cooking technique called velveting. One method is to marinate the meat with cornstarch to create a moist, velvety soft texture. Another method is to coat the meat in baking soda for about 20 to 30 minutes, rinse, and use in the recipe as directed.

1. Add a side of mixed vegetables (super greens): - A great low-calorie source that is loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals. 2. Substitute Chow Mein and Fried Rice with Brown Rice: - Brown rice contains extra nutrients, fiber and protein.

Brown rice is a more nutrient-dense product than white rice. Because of this, brown rice may help reduce blood sugar levels and aid in managing weight. But white rice is good for people with certain digestive issues and those who can't digest fiber-rich foods well.

Large eggs: While you could omit the eggs to make this vegetarian Panda fried rice vegan, they are a classic fried rice ingredient. I suggest using them! sh*take mushroom bullion: This is my personal touch to add umami flavor to this recipe. You can also use chicken bouillon or a touch of MSG (the restaurant uses MSG).

Pandas subsist almost entirely on bamboo, eating from 26 to 84 pounds per day. Though solitary animals, pandas still communicate with one another through vocalization and scent marking.

In 1987, the chain's chef, Andy Kao, introduced the famous Orange Chicken. The first version was served bone-in but nowadays you will find that the dish is boneless. The combination of its good food quality, financial discipline and the boom in the Asian restaurant category brought Panda Express to new heights.

At the other end of the scale, there's one U.S. state that dwarfs all others when it comes to the number of Panda Express locations: California.