Panda Express is honoring iconic Chinese-inspired, American crafted cuisine with the launch of General Tso's Chicken, a limited-time offer available at all locations now through December 27. Known to differ from kitchen to kitchen, Panda Express is celebrating the true spirit of this popular American Chinese favorite by pioneering a unique recipe that pays homage to the original, which was first served in the U.S. in the 1970s.
Panda's highly anticipated version of General Tso's Chicken is made with all-white meat chicken, freshly prepared green beans, red and yellow bell peppers, and onions, tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce.
"As authors of American Chinese cuisine, it seems only natural for Panda to offer a deliciously crafted take on an iconic American Chinese original, General Tso's Chicken," says Andrea Cherng, chief marketing officer of Panda Restaurant Group. "Our culinary focus is to build on the foundation paved by classics like General Tso's Chicken and our Original Orange Chicken and continuously introduce dishes rooted in Chinese cuisine that become celebrated as new American favorites."
Panda Express revealed the addition of General Tso's Chicken on August 10 at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California, home of the restaurant's first location. The event featured a 13-foot-tall Chinese takeout container that welcomed guests inside to taste Panda's version of General Tso and view art highlighting the story of American Chinese cuisine created by Los Angeles artist Steven Wong.
On August 20, Panda Express will also host a culture-driven panel at Los Angeles’ Chinatown Summer Nights titled "Beyond the (Takeout) Box: The Culture, Community and Comfort behind American Chinese Food." The discussion will be moderated by journalist, filmmaker, and entrepreneur Jennifer 8. Lee, and fueled with commentary from influencers including award-winning journalist Lisa Ling, author of "American Born Chinese," Gene Luen Yang, and Andrea Cherng. It will be followed by a cooking demonstration to continue celebrating the countless variations of General Tso's Chicken, not only showing how the dish varies from coast to coast, but also how it empowers chefs to create something unique based on their own Chinese-inspired flavor preferences.
