Panda Express Has Beyond Meat Orange Chicken Now — Here's How It Compares To The Real Stuff

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!

Fox

For those interested, Beyond Meat orange chicken is available at select Panda Express locations in Los Angeles and New York as of July 26.