Mandarin chicken
Created | Updated Mar 6, 2002
Mandarin chicken is quite probably one of the best, most wonderful foods ever to be produced on Earth. It consists of bits ripped off an unfortunate chicken, which are then deep fried and covered in some sort of sauce. We don't know what it (the sauce) is, but we know we like it.<p>
Mandarin chicken is spicy. Not too spicy. Just enough to make you order another $1.50 cup of hot tea. The dish is supposedly Chinese in origin, but like most Chinese foods available outside of China, bears little resemblance to the real thing. This fact does not prevent it from being absolutely wonderful to eat.<p>
The best place to get Mandarin chicken is the Mandarin House, in Durham, NC, USA, c. 1998. The best way to get there is by time machine, because the Mandarin House is now closed. In its place, as of 1999, stands the Grand China Buffet, which is slightly cheaper but doesn't have Mandarin chicken. Mandarin chicken is not included on the menu in most Chinese restaurants.<p>
A similar, more commonly available dish is General Tso's Chicken. General Tso's usually includes broccoli and carrots, and may or may not be spicy. It's a close second. The best place to get General Tso's chicken is at the Grand China Buffet's buffet.<p>
<i><u>Addendum, 09/25/99</u>:You will no longer require a time machine to get Mandarin chicken. The Mandarin House has once again replaced the Grand China Buffet! It is now called the Mandarin Garden, but they have the same owner and (more importantly) the same chef as before.</i>
Mandarin chicken is spicy. Not too spicy. Just enough to make you order another $1.50 cup of hot tea. The dish is supposedly Chinese in origin, but like most Chinese foods available outside of China, bears little resemblance to the real thing. This fact does not prevent it from being absolutely wonderful to eat.<p>
The best place to get Mandarin chicken is the Mandarin House, in Durham, NC, USA, c. 1998. The best way to get there is by time machine, because the Mandarin House is now closed. In its place, as of 1999, stands the Grand China Buffet, which is slightly cheaper but doesn't have Mandarin chicken. Mandarin chicken is not included on the menu in most Chinese restaurants.<p>
A similar, more commonly available dish is General Tso's Chicken. General Tso's usually includes broccoli and carrots, and may or may not be spicy. It's a close second. The best place to get General Tso's chicken is at the Grand China Buffet's buffet.<p>
<i><u>Addendum, 09/25/99</u>:You will no longer require a time machine to get Mandarin chicken. The Mandarin House has once again replaced the Grand China Buffet! It is now called the Mandarin Garden, but they have the same owner and (more importantly) the same chef as before.</i>
