The vegan fried rice was pretty forgettable and, in my opinion, needed a lot more veggies to amp up the flavor profile. But I thought the eggplant tofu was cooked really well. Both of the main ingredients were nicely sauced and paired great together.
But the standout of this plate was easily the crispy almond chicken. I'm actually somewhat allergic to almonds — not in a life-threatening, EpiPen-needed way, but sometimes it'll make my throat itch and my tongue taste like metal — but I couldn't resist trying at least one piece of the chicken, which looked absolutely delicious.
The dish features crispy chicken (which has the same rice puff breading as the sandwich) topped with almonds, green onions, and a garlic soy sauce. And, honestly, it's addictive. The chicken is perfectly crunchy, with a satisfying texture that rivals the original orange chicken. And the sauce strikes a perfect balance between sweet and savory. It was so good, I had to have another.
Within a few hours, my throat began to itch and I had to pop a Benadryl, so I'll likely never chance eating the crispy almond chicken again. But I'm so glad I got to have those two pieces because they were fantastic.
But, if you have a serious nut allergy, please don't try this at home. I am not to be emulated!