Panda Express Wants You To Make Kung Pao Chicken Quesadillas
Last summer, Panda Express stole the social media spotlight when internet foodies uncovered that two of its locations house a non-Asian food-inspired menu item. As Food Network reports, at its Westwood Blvd Los Angeles-based eatery and Panda Express Innovation Kitchen fans of the chain can wrap their walnut shrimp and white rice in a tortilla — a prospect that fascinated TikTok. In fact, one video of a user showing off their chow mein and orange chicken-infused burrito earned over 84,000 shares. However, while this Panda Express Mexican and Asian fusion creation may seem like a novelty, commercially sold Asian-Mexican-inspired eats have actually been around for quite a while.
For example, Chino-Mex is an Arizona-based chain that boasts serving Chinese favorites and tacos "on one dish." And in NYC you'll find Takumi Taco, a Japanese and Mexican restaurant selling both Japanese curry beef and braised short rib with a corn tortilla. And while burritos bursting with chow mein was the first time Panda Express dipped its toe in the land of Mexican-Asian fusion food, it doesn't seem to be finished with combining these culinary worlds just yet. Because the chain made a post on its Instagram asking its fans to use its famed Kung Pao Chicken to whip up chicken quesadillas.
Embrace Mexican-Asian fusion food with Panda Express' Kung Pao chicken quesadillas
Per its website, while Panda Express's orange chicken is its most talked about menu item Kung Pao chicken is the smarter one. As Panda Express reports, this fast food favorite is a "Szechwan-inspired" eat that features chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers. And the chain notes on its Instagram, Kung Pao chicken's extra greens and delicious flavor make it the perfect ingredient for a low-effort batch of chicken quesadillas.
According to the restaurant's Instagram post, to try this "Panda Hack" you only need shredded cheese, Kung Pao chicken, and tortillas. First, you'll need to heat up those wraps one at a time. Though you can always fry your tortillas with a little oil like Melaine Cooks suggests if you prefer them browned. After your tortilla is nice and hot, you can then divide out the Kung Pao chicken and cheese into the wrap and close it. Once your cheese is melted, you are free to dig into this Asian cuisine meets Mexican food meal.
More Mexican food twists on Panda Express classics
If Kung Pao chicken quesadillas get you hooked on this unique culinary fusion, here are some other ways you can combine your favorite Panda Express entrees into delicious Mexican food classics. First of all, Kung Pao chicken isn't the only Panda Express meat that belongs in a quesadilla. According to one recipe from Cdkitchen, the orange chicken will also make for a mean quesadilla filling. However, instead of making the orange chicken yourself, you can just head to Panda Express. Then, you can pile your quesadilla high with Panda Express's signature dish, shredded cheese, yellow onion, garlic chili powder, and (depending on your heat tolerance) jalapeños for an Asian-Mex masterpiece.
And remember those Panda Express burritos we mentioned that made the internet go crazy? The chain actually posted a recipe for the unique meal on its website. According to Panda Express, to make this decadent dinner you just need your choice of Panda Express protein, fried rice or chow mein, cheese, tortillas, and a Panda Express Chili Sauce packet. As the chain reports, you should start off by air frying your protein. Then, you should get the moisture out of your noodles by heating them in a pan with canola oil for around four minutes. After combining the cheese with your rice or noodle base, you should heat up your tortillas before putting together the dish that had TikTok questioning everything.