Panda Express: Orange Chicken Kitchen

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Get ready for the ultimate ‘swicy’ comeback! Panda Express, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S., is officially bringing back Hot Orange Chicken to all 2,500+ restaurants nationwide, starting today for a limited time. Just in time for National Orange Chicken Day on July 15th, this fan-favorite’s return is sparking a summer sizzle, complemented by an immersive ‘Orange Chicken Kitchen’ experience.

The Original Orange Chicken, first introduced by Panda in 1987, revolutionized American Chinese cuisine, becoming a widespread cultural phenomenon. The crispy chicken wok-tossed in an irresistible sweet and semi-spicy orange sauce accounts for one-third of all entrées sold at Panda, with the brand serving up 137 million pounds of the dish last year alone. As summer heats up, its fiery counterpart, Hot Orange Chicken, is here to turn up the flavor and spice. This ‘swicy’ sensation, which quickly sold out nationwide during its 2024 debut, delivers the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

‘Orange Chicken Kitchen’ NYC Pop-up

To amplify the Orange Chicken love and celebrate National Orange Chicken Day, Panda is rolling out the ultimate fan experience: the ‘Orange Chicken Kitchen’ immersive pop-up. This limited-time activation is designed especially for the brand’s biggest ‘stans’ and includes features like:

• A journey through the Orange Chicken eras with an exclusive ‘I Love Orange Chicken’ menu, including an all-new wing recipe inspired by the OG bone-in Orange Chicken, a classic throwback to Orange Chicken with Bacon which first launched in 2014, and, of course, the newly returned Hot Orange Chicken.
• Larger-than-life art installations to share Orange Chicken love on social feeds.
• A dedicated lounge space drenched in signature orange.
• Exclusive giveaways.
• Guests who order a plate from 2-4pm in-store at Panda’s NYC Midtown location (835 3rd Avenue) during the ‘Orange Chicken Kitchen’ takeover will receive a free small entrée of The Original Orange Chicken or Hot Orange Chicken.

Hours: July 15th-18th: 10:30am to 10:30pm
July 19th-20th: 10:30am to 9:30pm

Open to the Public