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United States·July 15 2026

National Orange Chicken Day

Orange Chicken has its roots in a Chinese dish called tangerine chicken from China's Hunan province. Originally featuring chicken stir-fried in a sweet soy sauce with dried tangerine or orange peels, it underwent significant adaptation in the United States to become what we now know as orange chicken. Chinese immigrants introduced tangerine chicken to the U.S., where it was transformed to cater to American tastes, replacing dried peels with fresh orange peel and creating a sweet and sour chili sauce that differs from the original's savory and spicy profile. Chef Andy Kao, working at a Panda Express in Hawaii in 1987, is often credited with creating the modern orange chicken recipe. Since then, it has become a signature dish of Panda Express and a favorite at American Chinese restaurants nationwide. National Orange Chicken Day, established in 2017, celebrates this dish's global popularity. Orange chicken consists of battered and fried chicken coated in a sweet and sticky orange sauce made with ingredients like orange zest, juice, chili flakes, ginger, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and vinegar. While variations exist, consulting an authentic Chinese recipe is recommended. With its distinctive flavors, orange chicken has become a beloved Chinese-American dish, celebrated annually on National Orange Chicken Day.