Why people flock to this egregious eatery which is nothing more than a giant slap in the face to Chinese cuisine is beyond me. Now, while a wide variety of our Chinese food establishments don't make more traditional dishes such as Mapo Doufu, zongzi, or mooncakes (which, in all fairness, are a special occasion item), almost anything you order will blow Panda Express out of the water. I feel Panda Express would better served if they chose a different direction for their business:
Perhaps the idea of Express Pandas is why my five year old so enthusiastically wanted to go there. Honestly, I prefer my Pandas doing Kung Fu and being voiced by Jack Black rather than hustling gummy chicken covered in fried goo. Pandas everywhere shake their heads at the sight of Eddie and Tom-Tom as they discuss "Experiencing Pandamonium." They couldn't have been more accurate than likening eating at Panda Express to the capitol of Hell.
My husband, son and I shared a plate of chow mein, orange chicken, "wok smart" black pepper chicken, honey walnut shrimp and spring rolls. Rather I should say we shared a plate of over-starched noodles, chewy tangy fried lumps, peppered gummy pieces, sweet thawed shrimp, and over-fried flavorless Chinese taquitos. Every bite was filled with an odd texture-flavor combination. The "wok smart" Black Pepper Chicken was coated in oil and grease, so I'm curious as to how that is a healthy option. In theory, it's only 250 calories per serving. However, things always look better on paper than in actual practice. It was tremendously unsatisfying and disappointing. Their saving grace? Dr. Pepper. You can never go wrong with Dr. Pepper. After all, it's fresh and good FOR LIFE.
So where do I get my Chinese fix? Glad you asked. If you want the best Sweet and Sour anything you've ever had in your life, check out Hong Kong House Chop Suey right here in Lansing, Illinois. Hong Kong House follows a more traditional Cantonese menu and, oddly enough, their Chop Suey is pretty tasty. If you prefer a more Szechuan style, opt for the China Chef (also located right here in Lansing). China Chef does a fantastic job of blending flavors and spice in a way that won't kill all your taste buds and actually leave you full. With over a hundred Chinese restaurants in the Chicagoland area and six in our meager village alone, why would anyone bother patronizing Panda Express?
Chop Suey is technically an American dish.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of culinary mythology that surrounds Chop Suey. Some say it started in the Transcontinental Railroad while others say it originated in Taishan, a district of Guangdong Province, which was the home of many of the early Chinese immigrants to the US. To each their own, really.
ReplyDeleteOh and there's another story involving the Chinese Ambassador's visit to the White House.
ReplyDelete