What is the history of orange chicken?

[DreamingPilgrim]

Hey everyone! Recently, I’ve been on a deep dive into the origins of some of my favorite dishes, and orange chicken came up. It's fascinating to think about how this dish, with its perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, made its way into our hearts and menus. Any idea where it came from?

 

[maltchaseal]

It's not what you'd think! Orange chicken is actually considered a Chinese-American dish, not a traditional Chinese one. Some believe it was invented by chefs in the US in the 1950s. Who knew? Still delicious though, right?

 

[Bricks]

There's no definitive origin story for orange chicken, but I think it's fascinating how it has become a staple in American Chinese cuisine. Though, its popularity varies globally, with different adaptations and interpretations.

 

[Kardel]

Hey everyone! Recently, I’ve been on a deep dive into the origins of some of my favorite dishes, and orange chicken came up. It's fascinating to think about how this dish, with its perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, made its way into our hearts and menus. Any idea where it came from?

Orange chicken originated in Hunan, China, but over time it became a well-liked Chinese cuisine in the United States. Chef Peng Chang-kuei is credited with creating it; he subsequently modified the recipe to suit American tastes when he opened a restaurant in California.

 

[Keith_]

Orange chicken, with its sweet and tangy sauce, is an American-Chinese creation, developed to cater to Western tastes, and became popular in Chinese-American restaurants.

 

[Kurt]

Orange chicken, a popular dish in American Chinese cuisine, was popularized in the U.S. by Chinese-American chefs in the late 20th century, notably by Panda Express, which adapted traditional Chinese flavors with a sweet, tangy orange sauce to cater to American tastes.