I tried Panda Express' new Beyond Meat orange chicken. It was delicious and now I'm sold on plant-based chicken.

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I tried Panda Express' new Beyond Meat orange chicken. It was delicious and now I'm sold on plant-based chicken.
  • Panda Express and Beyond Meat have teamed up to offer plant-based orange chicken.
  • The twist on Panda Express' signature item will appear in New York City and Southern California restaurants starting July 26.
  • I tried the new menu item and couldn't tell the difference between the plant-based and the real deal.
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A new menu item is coming to Panda Express this summer that's a plant-based twist on a popular menu item.

A new menu item is coming to Panda Express this summer that's a plant-based twist on a popular menu item.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

A vegan option of Panda Express' signature orange chicken will be offered in a brand-new partnership with Beyond Meat.

A vegan option of Panda Express' signature orange chicken will be offered in a brand-new partnership with Beyond Meat.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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Beyond Meat just unveiled its vegan chicken offering this month and Panda Express is its first industry partner, as well as the first national Asian dining chain to offer a plant-based menu option.

Beyond Meat just unveiled its vegan chicken offering this month and Panda Express is its first industry partner, as well as the first national Asian dining chain to offer a plant-based menu option.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

I tested out the new item to see if it could live up to the original orange chicken. Here's what I found.

I tested out the new item to see if it could live up to the original orange chicken. Here's what I found.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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I'm a huge fan of Panda Express. As an avid traveler, I seek out the chain whenever I'm in an airport and my favorite dish, unsurprisingly, is orange chicken.

I'm a huge fan of Panda Express. As an avid traveler, I seek out the chain whenever I'm in an airport and my favorite dish, unsurprisingly, is orange chicken.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

It's a dish of which I'm very protective and knew that the bar was very high for Panda Express and Beyond Meat to create a plant-based product that lived up to my high standards for the dish.

It's a dish of which I'm very protective and knew that the bar was very high for Panda Express and Beyond Meat to create a plant-based product that lived up to my high standards for the dish.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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Plant-based orange chicken is the culmination of more than a year of work as Panda Express spent a lot of the pandemic focusing on giving consumers more menu options to meet emerging dietary trends.

Plant-based orange chicken is the culmination of more than a year of work as Panda Express spent a lot of the pandemic focusing on giving consumers more menu options to meet emerging dietary trends.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

"We're thinking about plant-based protein, plant-based diet," Jimmy Wang, Panda Express' executive director of culinary product innovation, said.

"We're thinking about plant-based protein, plant-based diet," Jimmy Wang, Panda Express' executive director of culinary product innovation, said.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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"We see that people are starting to really become 'flexitarian,'" Wang said, noting that orange chicken in its animal-based form is the chain's most popular dish.

"We see that people are starting to really become 'flexitarian,'" Wang said, noting that orange chicken in its animal-based form is the chain's most popular dish.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Beyond Meat was an ideal choice for Panda Express as the company has been pushing the bounds of what's possible in the plant-based world. "They know what we are looking for and they love collaboration," Wang said of Beyond Meat.

Beyond Meat was an ideal choice for Panda Express as the company has been pushing the bounds of what's possible in the plant-based world. "They know what we are looking for and they love collaboration," Wang said of Beyond Meat.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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All that in mind, it was time to taste the finished product. At first look, I couldn’t tell the difference between the plant-based product and the original, animal-based orange chicken I’ve eaten countless times in the past.

All that in mind, it was time to taste the finished product. At first look, I couldn’t tell the difference between the plant-based product and the original, animal-based orange chicken I’ve eaten countless times in the past.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

After a brief introduction to the new item by Wang, it was time to tuck in.

After a brief introduction to the new item by Wang, it was time to tuck in.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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I took one bite and was instantly hooked. The plant-based nugget had the same taste and texture as its animal-based predecessor, and I couldn't believe there was no real meat inside.

I took one bite and was instantly hooked. The plant-based nugget had the same taste and texture as its animal-based predecessor, and I couldn't believe there was no real meat inside.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

I came in thinking that Panda Express was going to try to disguise the vegan aspect by dousing it in extra sauce but that wasn't the case. A light coating of the sweet and sour sauce was all that accompanied the nugget.

I came in thinking that Panda Express was going to try to disguise the vegan aspect by dousing it in extra sauce but that wasn't the case. A light coating of the sweet and sour sauce was all that accompanied the nugget.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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My first vegan chicken experience was a success. It was hard to resist grabbing another one.

My first vegan chicken experience was a success. It was hard to resist grabbing another one.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

I went into Panda Express having never tried plant-based meats and came out a changed man.

I went into Panda Express having never tried plant-based meats and came out a changed man.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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Panda Express had given us a small box to bring home for further sampling, and the dish even held up when I ate it more than an hour later.

Panda Express had given us a small box to bring home for further sampling, and the dish even held up when I ate it more than an hour later.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Stores will see the plant-based product starting July 26.

Stores will see the plant-based product starting July 26.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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The rollout is quite limited, however, with only New York City and Southern California stores featuring it and for a limited time.

The rollout is quite limited, however, with only New York City and Southern California stores featuring it and for a limited time.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

That means the airport locations that I frequent will likely not have the vegan chicken available to order.

That means the airport locations that I frequent will likely not have the vegan chicken available to order.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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Additional stores may include the offering if it's successful but that remains to be seen.

Additional stores may include the offering if it's successful but that remains to be seen.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Appetizers, bases, and side dishes are also getting a plant-based refresh.

Appetizers, bases, and side dishes are also getting a plant-based refresh.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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Golden potstickers will be offered with "Beyond Beef" in addition to cabbage and scallion. A quinoa brown "cauli-fried" rice crafted with quinoa, cauliflower rice, cabbage, and scallion will also be offered as a rice alternative.

Golden potstickers will be offered with "Beyond Beef" in addition to cabbage and scallion. A quinoa brown "cauli-fried" rice crafted with quinoa, cauliflower rice, cabbage, and scallion will also be offered as a rice alternative.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

Two more plant-based entrees will also be added to the menu, though not any that incorporate Beyond Meat's products.

Two more plant-based entrees will also be added to the menu, though not any that incorporate Beyond Meat's products.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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One is a kung pao mushroom and potato consisting of baby king oyster mushrooms, potatoes, bell peppers, peanuts, scallion, and dried and crushed chili, coated in kung pao sauce. Wok-fried seasoned veggies are also on the menu consisting of baby broccoli, kale, and sugar snap peas, coated in a light garlic sauce.

One is a kung pao mushroom and potato consisting of baby king oyster mushrooms, potatoes, bell peppers, peanuts, scallion, and dried and crushed chili, coated in kung pao sauce.  Wok-fried seasoned veggies are also on the menu consisting of baby broccoli, kale, and sugar snap peas, coated in a light garlic sauce.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

The other is the mapo eggplant tofu, a Chinese eggplant dish with eggplant, tofu, bell peppers, and scallion, coated in Sichuan peppercorn sauce.

The other is the mapo eggplant tofu, a Chinese eggplant dish with eggplant, tofu, bell peppers, and scallion, coated in Sichuan peppercorn sauce.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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The plant-based move is also part of Panda Express' push to dispel myths and stereotypes about the restaurant.

The plant-based move is also part of Panda Express' push to dispel myths and stereotypes about the restaurant.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

One such myth is that Panda Express food is cooked in a microwave

One such myth is that Panda Express food is cooked in a microwave
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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Panda Express says the myth remains even as some locations have an open chicken where patrons can see the food being cooked.

Panda Express says the myth remains even as some locations have an open chicken where patrons can see the food being cooked.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

It's not clear whether all of Panda Express' traditional menu items would work with Beyond Meat's plant-based formulas, Wang says, but the chain will certainly try.

It's not clear whether all of Panda Express' traditional menu items would work with Beyond Meat's plant-based formulas, Wang says, but the chain will certainly try.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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Fans of the original animal-based product can rejoice the chain will likely offer both options to satisfy all of its customers.

Fans of the original animal-based product can rejoice the chain will likely offer both options to satisfy all of its customers.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider

But one thing is clear: the more things are changing at Panda Express, the more they are staying the same in terms of taste.

But one thing is clear: the more things are changing at Panda Express, the more they are staying the same in terms of taste.
Taste testing Panda Express' Beyond Meat Orange Chicken. Thomas Pallini/Insider
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