TASTE
Sesame chicken: Sweet, sticky, rich and delicious, you've got to love that sesame chicken taste! The crispy coating of the chicken and the deep frying cooking method gives the chicken a pleasant crunch, while the sesame chicken sauce is sweet, tangy and mild.
General Tso's chicken: Just like sesame chicken, general tso's chicken features deep fried crispy bites. However, unlike sesame chicken, a general tso chicken recipe has heat. How much depends on the preferences of those eating it, but it can often be very spicy as well as sweet.
SPICES
Sesame chicken: In sesame chicken dishes, spices take a back seat. There are a few spices, of course, but they tend to be of the milder variety. So, expect light undertones of garlic and ginger, but for the majority of the flavor to come courtesy of that delectable sweet honey sauce mixture.
General tso's chicken: Spices play a key part in the flavor profile of general tso's chicken. Hot chili pepper flakes or powder, or even fresh chilies, are a key ingredient, as is ginger and garlic.
The heat of general tso's chicken is adaptable, with the amount and strength of chili varying depending on your preferences.
ORIGINS
Sesame chicken: Some say that sesame chicken's origins can be traced back to the southern Chinese region of Guangdong. However, the exact dish as served up in Chinese restaurants in the U.S. isn't part of Chinese cuisine.
Its exact origins are unknown, although it is thought to have been brought to the U.S. in the 1970s by Chinese immigrants. It closely resembles an authentic Sichuan dish called la zi ji. La zi ji contains fried chicken breast pieces with peppercorns, toasted sesame oil, and chili.
General Tso's chicken: There are several different stories about the origins of General Tso chicken.
The dish is named after 19th century Chinese military leader Tso Zongtang, although he had no direct association with the dish – his descendants in China claim they've never even heard of the dish!
Chinese American chef Eileen Yin-Fei Lo claims that the dish takes its name from the Chinese word for meeting hall 'Zongtang', and that the association with General Tso was a mistake.
Other food writers claim that a Taiwanese chef invented the recipe and brought it to New York in the 1970s, specifically Peng's Restaurant, which claims to be the first restaurant in the U.S. to serve General Tso chicken.
Another New York restaurant, Shun Lee Palaces, claims to have been the first restaurant to serve the dish.
FAQs
General Tso's chicken: Just like sesame chicken, general tso's chicken features deep fried crispy bites. However, unlike sesame chicken, a general tso chicken recipe has heat. How much depends on the preferences of those eating it, but it can often be very spicy as well as sweet.
What is the difference between General Tso chicken and sesame chicken? ›
General Tso's chicken is a spicy and tangy dish made with a mix of chicken breast and thighs, while sesame chicken is a sweeter option made with succulent chicken thighs. Whether you're in the mood for something spicy or sweet, both dishes offer a delicious and crispy meal that's sure to satisfy your cravings.”
What is comparable to General Tso Chicken? ›
Sweet and sour chicken: The two are super similar. The main difference is that General Tso sauce has more ginger flavor, as well as a little more heat from the hot sauce or chili flakes.
What is better, Szechuan chicken or General Tso's? ›
General Tso's chicken is about the most dangerous Chinese dish on the menu—dark meat battered and deep-fried, then cooked with vegetables in a sweet, spicy sauce. Szechuan chicken, made with leaner, white meat and sautéed with vegetables, is a far better choice.
What is the difference between General Tso chicken and General Tao chicken? ›
General Tso's chicken (also known as General Tao's or Tsao's chicken) is an iconic Chinese-American takeout of deep-fried chicken coated in a thick sweet sauce. You can also make it spicy for those who like a little kick.
What is the taste of General Tso Chicken? ›
It falls somewhere between the tangy, caramelized, thick sauce of orange chicken and the peanut-y, peppery heat of kung pao. Our General Tso's chicken recipe uses reduced-sodium soy sauce and reduced-sodium chicken broth to make the sauce. If you want a saltier dish, swap for regular chicken broth and soy sauce.
Do Chinese people like General Tso's chicken? ›
You might be surprised to learn that General Tso's chicken, a staple on Chinese-American menus, is almost entirely foreign to people who live in the country from which it supposedly originated. While the dish isn't exactly authentic Chinese food, its namesake was a very real (and very powerful) general.
Which is healthier kung pao or General Tso? ›
General Tso's chicken is battered, deep fried, and tossed with a spicy sauce. Kung Pao chicken, on the other hand, is not deep fried and instead is wok seared and tossed with a marinade. The choice here depends on the restaurant, but in most cases Kung Pao chicken is the winner.
What is the difference between General Tso and Hunan style chicken? ›
General Tso's Chicken is battered and deep fried whereas Hunan Chicken is lightly dusted in cornstarch and stir fried or lightly pan fried. General Tso's Chicken is sweet and mildly spicy, far less spicy than Hunan Chicken, with the zing coming from a generous amount of ginger verses chili peppers.
Is General Tso Chicken just orange chicken? ›
General Tso's chicken is typically spicier and has a more complex flavor profile, with a sauce that includes soy sauce, vinegar, and chili peppers. Orange chicken, on the other hand, has a sweeter and tangier sauce made with orange juice and zest.
Have you ever eaten at P.F. Chang's? They have “Chang's Spicy Chicken” on the menu, which is basically their version of general tso's. It has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and the sauce is light in color, which indicates it's not overloaded with soy sauce.
What is closest to General Tso's chicken? ›
General Tso's Chicken is a Chinese-American dish of fried chicken pieces that are breaded and tossed in a tangy sauce. This dish is very similar in style to sesame or orange chicken.
What does TSO mean in General Tso Chicken? ›
The dish was retroactively named after Zuo Zongtang (Tso Tsung-t'ang) (1812–1885), a Qing dynasty statesman and military leader from Hunan Province.
Does General Tso Chicken taste like Orange Chicken? ›
General Tso's chicken is typically spicier and has a more complex flavor profile, with a sauce that includes soy sauce, vinegar, and chili peppers. Orange chicken, on the other hand, has a sweeter and tangier sauce made with orange juice and zest.
What is Orange Chicken called at Chinese restaurants? ›
cheng zi ji (traditional Chinese: 橙子雞; simplified Chinese: 橙子鸡; pinyin: chéngzi jī; Jyutping: caang4-2 zi1 gai1; lit. 'orange chicken'), a calque.
Does General Tso's sauce have sesame? ›
SAUCE: SUGAR, WATER, MIRIN SALTED COOKING WINE (WATER, DEXTROSE, RICE, CORN SYRUP, SALT), SOY SAUCE (WATER, WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SALT, SPICES, SESAME SEEDS, MINCED GARLIC (GARLIC JUICE, DEHYDRATED GARLIC, SALT), GUAJILLO PEPPER PUREE (GUAJILLO PEPPER, WATER, SALT), ...
