When it comes to spicy food, we want heat and we want flavor. And luckily for us, Panda Express understands what we want and need. Which is why we were so excited to learn that they were giving us a brand new menu item that was all about bringing the heat.
We had the chance to try the Blazing Bourbon Chicken for ourselves on the first day it launched (Sept. 4) and to say we are impressed would be an understatement. This is a spicy chicken dish done right. And I would expect nothing less from Panda Express.
Panda Express always delivers delicious dishes. And while I am a long time fan of their Honey Walnut Shrimp and the Black Pepper Sirloin Steak, I am always up for trying new things that hit the menu. And I am so glad I tried the Blazing Bourbon Chicken. This dish is sweet and spicy (or swicy), while also delivering chicken that is still moist and flavorful. The heat will definitely make you sweat, but that's what we want.
Panda Express brings the right balance of heat to the menu with the Blazing Bourbon Chicken
It is said that this new addition to the menu is the spiciest thing Panda Express offers and we believe it. According to the brand, this "dish contains crispy boneless chicken bites and fresh veggies, wok-tossed in a spicy and sweet bourbon sauce fused with the signature Hot Ones™ Last Dab Apollo hot sauce – all topped with sesame seeds." Sounds amazing right? We think so. And the way Panda Express describes their dish is exactly what we experienced. The crisp bites of chicken, the veggies and of course the blend of hot sauce and sweet bourbon sauce. Everything marries together to create the perfect bite for fans of sweet heat.
The only thing I would say is that if you are sensitive to the heat, this one might not be for you. And there were a few bites that we definitely didn't get the sweet, but we sure got the heat. But that was okay because this dish was a star.
According to Chef Jimmy, Executive Director of Culinary Innovation at Panda Express, "We're excited to welcome Blazing Bourbon Chicken to our menu and give more guests the opportunity to experience the bold flavors of this dish. Our inspiration began with a traditional bourbon base sauce, but we wanted to take it up a notch by experimenting with heat - something our guests have been asking for. Our culinary team partnered with Hot Ones™ to deliver an unexpected flavor kick, resulting in a unique American Chinese take on bourbon chicken – crispy, flavorful, and packing a comforting heat that makes it the spiciest dish on our menu."
While we may not want to bring the heat every time we head to Panda Express, this is definitely the perfect dish to kick off the fall with. And of course, we are planning to enjoy this one a few more times just to get our Swicy on.
Are you a fan of spicy food? Will you be giving the Blazing Bourbon Chicken a try on the Panda Express menu?