Why Your Favorite Panda Express Chicken Dish Never Uses White Meat - Tasting Table

"It's no secret that professional chefs often prefer chicken thighs over chicken breast. In an interview, Panda Express culinary director Jimmy Wang explained why the chain only uses dark meat in its orange chicken. "In authentic Chinese cuisine, dark meat chicken is often preferred over white meat for its depth in natural flavor, texture, juiciness, and ability to take on flavor of the marinades," he says."

"Orange chicken is a favorite among customers, and it's the dish we ranked the best out of all their menu offerings. The dish was originally created back in 1987 and quickly became the chain's most popular item. It has even been credited with starting the Chinese takeout craze in America, as about one-third of all Panda Express sales in 2021 were orange chicken, per NBC News."

Panda Express's orange chicken uses only dark meat (chicken thighs) rather than white meat. Dark meat is preferred in authentic Chinese cuisine for deeper natural flavor, better texture, juiciness, and superior ability to absorb marinades. Orange chicken originated in 1987 and became the chain's most popular item, representing about one-third of Panda Express sales in 2021. Customer demand has driven widespread use of chicken breast on menus because of its association with lower fat and consistent portion size, while thighs can be harder to debone and were often exported to international markets. Restaurants favor breast for sandwiches, tenders, and nuggets due to yield and ease of portioning.

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