The Rosemead, California-headquartered Panda Express fast casual restaurant chain has announced the return of Beyond The Original Orange Chicken to its menu. Now being served at outlets across the USA for a limited time, the entrée was co-developed with plant-based faux meat specialist Beyond Meat.
Panda Express is the first and largest family-owned and operated Asian restaurant chain to serve Beyond Meat in North America. This expanded partnership brings together its expertise in American Chinese recipes and Beyond Meat’s plant-based protein capabilities to create a new take on a classic Orange Chicken favorite.
“Our team has been overjoyed by the undeniable excitement and incredible demand generated when we first introduced Beyond The Original Orange Chicken last summer as an innovative twist on our most iconic dish,” said Andrea Cherng, chief brand officer at Panda Express. “After nearly 40 years of creating original American Chinese dishes, quality and innovation remain at the core of who we are. We’re continuously exploring creative ways to present our guests with the comfort and crave-ability they can expect from Panda while appealing to their evolving preferences and tastes.”
Beyond The Original Orange Chicken was first introduced as a limited launch across Southern California and New York City in 2021, selling out across several locations in less than two weeks. Due to its high demand, Panda chefs wok-fired more than 1,300 pounds of Beyond The Original Orange Chicken in just the first day alone. After the successful initial launch, it brought the entree to 70 locations in ten markets. Wok-tossed in Panda’s signature sweet, spicy and tangy orange sauce, this modern take on Panda’s iconic Orange Chicken delivers the crunchy texture and flavor that customers appreciate.
“We are thrilled to offer Beyond The Original Orange Chicken to consumers nationwide for the very first time,” said Dariush Ajami, chief innovation officer at El Segundo, California-headquartered Beyond Meat. “By partnering with Panda Express to introduce new and innovative plant-based options that deliver the delicious taste and experience of their iconic menu items, we’re enabling people to enjoy their favorite dishes with the upsides of plant-based meat.”
