Best Restaurants to get Orange Chicken

I like to consider myself an orange chicken connoisseur. With a babysitter’s budget, I can’t always treat myself to Bo Lings, but sometimes I want a step-up from Panda Express. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to find three tasty, authentic and inexpensive Chinese restaurants with orange chicken to fill the hole in my less-than-satisfied wallet – and belly.

Rainbow China

Before anything else, everyone I talked to recommended Rainbow China on State Line, so I knew this had to go on the list of orange chicken restaurants. I gathered up a group of girlfriends and we decided to try it together.

Due to the dimly lit, drab atmosphere of the restaurant, we opted for the take-out option. There was a crowd in the restaurant, but they were all waiting for take-out too. With the apparent popularity, I knew we had made the right choice. Those who were eating in had their food served on paper plates, emphasizing the casual layout even more.

I ordered orange chicken with a side of fried rice. My $8.95 order of orange chicken was a little on the chewy side, and could’ve been more crispy to enhance the quality of the chicken. The portion was huge, though, which helped make up for the price. I split it with a friend and still had leftovers. Overall, this was my least favorite of the three restaurants I tried, so I won’t be going back as long as the other two are still around.

Photo by Diana Percy

Princess Garden

My family has been going to Princess Garden for a couple years now, just off of 85th and Wornall. The service couldn’t be any better – the same man remembers and greets us with a smile every time. Unlike the other restaurants I tried, this is the only one I’d actually eat in at, as it’s much more spacious and would be perfect for anything ranging from a first date with the cutie in your math class to a family dinner to a birthday dinner.

This orange chicken is different from the others, as it’s a non breaded chicken so it tastes authentic and less processed. This helps bring out the taste of the actual chicken without the breading, so it’s more savory than sweet. The $9.75 order is reasonably priced given that it makes for two servings. This along with a couple orders of general tso’s chicken and fried rice make for a full meal to feed a family of five.

Photo by Diana Percy

Wok N Roll

Located in a strip mall off of Metcalf and 83rd St., this hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant is a hidden gem. At first, I was reluctant to walk inside due to the small, almost run-down appearance from the outside. Once I opened up the glass door, however, the Chinese food smell assured me I made the right choice coming here. Still, it wasn’t the type of restaurant to eat in at, so I took this to-go too.

The $6.75 order of orange chicken, which came with a side of white or fried rice (I opted for white), did not disappoint. The chicken was sweeter than the others, and was a step up from Rainbow China, but not quite as good as Princess Garden. The portion size would’ve been enough to feed three, so I brought the leftovers for lunch the next day. I’d recommend Wok N Roll to anyone who wants a fast, easy and delicious take-out option.

Photo by Diana Percy