The Dish You're Better Off Ordering At Panda Express Over P.F. Chang's

Orange chicken should balance sweet, tangy, and savory in every bite, but P.F. Chang's version struggles to hit that mark. In fact, in our ranking of P.F. Chang's menu items, this dish landed on the weaker end despite its bold presentation. At first glance, the plate looks promising — the chicken glistens under a bright, almost neon-orange glaze — but that vibrant sauce raises eyebrows, more reminiscent of food coloring than a carefully simmered reduction. Beneath it lies a thick, heavily battered coating that feels more like fried dough than crisp chicken.

The bigger issue comes with the flavor, though. Instead of subtle citrus layered with heat and umami, the sauce delivers an overwhelmingly sweet, soda-like punch. Our taste tester even compared it to Minute Maid, orange concentrate, or Tic Tacs — unmistakably orange, but not in a good way. The chicken itself was well-cooked, but lost under the syrupy coating. What should have been a balanced dish ended up cloying, without the complexity you'd expect from a restaurant that prides itself on upscale Chinese-American dining.

Across town, Panda Express shows why its orange chicken has become a cult classic, and why we ranked it as the best menu item at the restaurant. It's the chain's absolute best and most popular item for a reason: The balance works. Bite-sized chicken pieces stay crisp under a sauce that's sticky without being overpowering, tangy without veering into candy territory. There's a light heat tucked behind the sweetness, giving it depth rather than just one loud note of orange. The flavors feel approachable yet layered enough to keep you coming back.

What Panda Express gets right is restraint. Instead of drowning the chicken in a thick, soda-like glaze, the sauce clings just enough to highlight the texture of the meat. It's satisfying, consistent, and designed to hit the comfort food sweet spot every time. For many diners, Panda Express orange chicken is the very definition of Chinese-American fast food done right. Compared side by side, the difference is clear: Panda Express elevates a humble takeout classic, while P.F. Chang's turns it into something that feels more like a gimmick than a dish worth ordering.