Greetings, folks! There's some big news for Panda Express lovers, vegans, vegetarians, and really anyone with functioning taste buds — PLANT-BASED ORANGE CHICKEN EXISTS.
There are few things in this world I'm qualified to speak on, but one of 'em is Panda Express. Here's an old photo of me with a vat of orange chicken as evidence of my experience in this field.
Naturally, I had to try this plant-based spin to find out how it is. As you can see, the Beyond Meat version looks pretty identical to the chicken one.
Here's a closer look at one of the lil' nuggets. I tried my first piece all by itself, no chow mein or broccoli influencing the bite, and I was genuinely impressed/blown away by how indistinguishable it is from the original!
Replicating aesthetics is one thing, but this stuff also legitimately tastes just like the actual chicken version. I anticipated there being significant texture differences that would make this unrecognizable in taste, but it's the same sweet and savory sauce and crust, with an interior that does a fantastic impression of real chicken.
One additionally appealing aspect of this version is the consistency throughout. You know how sometimes pieces of chicken can randomly be a tad chewy or tough? Well, the plant-based interior stays perfectly tender throughout, and the coating provides a hint of crispness, if that's a texture you're worried about missing.
In closing, I think we have a top-tier sequel to a beloved original, and no matter your dietary preferences, you might just be surprised by how friggin' good this stuff is!
