Panda Express has announced the return of Beyond The Original Orange Chicken to its menus across the United States. This plant-based version of the hugely popular dish, created in partnership with Beyond Meat, is making a comeback due to substantial consumer demand.
The dish, designed to replicate the crunchy texture and flavor of Panda Express’s traditional Orange Chicken, was initially launched nationwide in September 2022 after successful trials in Southern California and New York City in 2021.
The trial phases saw the dish selling out in less than two weeks, prompting its expansion to 70 additional locations. In 2022, Panda Express also tested two other Beyond Meat dishes at its Pasadena, California location: Mapo Tofu with Beyond Beef and String Beans with Beyond Beef.
Petition demands comeback
Speaking to vegconomist on the news, Panda Express states, “As the #1 most requested dish on our social media and the subject of a Change.org petition that received over 7,000 signatures, Panda is thrilled to give the fans what they want and bring Beyond The Original Orange Chicken back to hundreds of restaurants nationwide.”
The company notes that social media influencer @dudewithsign, an Instagram account featuring Seth Phillips holding protest signs which has around 8 million followers, publicly urged Panda Express and Beyond Meat to reintroduce the dish, contributing to the heightened public demand.
“If our fans continue to love and demand it, there’s potential to expand availability of Beyond The Original Orange Chicken.”
Responding to these requests, Panda Express and Beyond Meat have confirmed that the dish will be available at hundreds of participating locations nationwide. This reintroduction aligns with the upcoming National Orange Chicken Day on July 15, providing plant-based food enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy the dish once more.
The #1 most requested dish
“Following a successful regional market test in 2021 and a limited-time national rollout in 2022, our teams have learned there’s a clear consumer appetite and demand for this product,” adds the Panda Express spokesperson.
“So by reintroducing the dish to select locations, we can deliver on this demand and show our guests that we’re committed to continually innovating our menu offerings and providing them with delicious plant-based alternatives to our iconic dishes made with the addictive flavors they know and love. If our fans continue to love and demand it, there’s potential to expand availability of Beyond The Original Orange Chicken.”
To find this dish at a Panda location near you, visit https://www.pandaexpress.com/promo/beyondoc