Orange Chicken Day – Jul. 15, 2026

Expected Orange Chicken Day Deals

While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that Orange Chicken Day brings delicious deals from popular eateries. Expect Panda Express to offer special discounts or combo meals on their signature dish, potentially including free upgrades or limited-time offers. Other Asian-inspired fast-casual restaurants like Pei Wei and PF Chang’s may also feature promotions on their orange chicken entrees. Grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, often highlight their frozen orange chicken options, making it easy to celebrate at home. Look for deals on sauces from brands like Lee Kum Kee and Kikkoman, as well as frozen chicken products from Tyson, to craft your own version. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 15 approaches.

History of Orange Chicken Day

Celebrated annually since the year 2017, National Orange Chicken Day is a literal feast for the senses. While it is not clear who officiated this holiday, the origin of the dish itself can be traced back to some controversial claims.

More than 2,100 years ago, Hunan cuisine reached its peak standard due to the sheer range of dishes it offered (over 4,000), along with its cooking techniques. Located in the southeastern regions of China, the Hunan Province is known for its spicy and sour food, with one-star ingredients shining in each dish. The colors were vibrant, the fragrance fresh, and the food greasy and immensely satisfying. Therefore, the tangerine chicken was most likely the precursor of the orange chicken dish which we all enjoy today. Tangerine chicken originated in the Hunan Province and its Chinese name literally translates to “dried citrus peel chicken.” It had a more fresh and spicy flavor than the orange chicken, which evolved in later days.

During the 1800s, Chinese immigrants from China’s Guangdong District migrated to the U.S. in pursuit of the “American Dream.” They brought with them this style of making chicken with dried orange peels, but it was not deep-fried with any batter or coating, nor was it sweet. Due to a lack of job opportunities at the time, coupled with social issues like racism and anti-immigrant sentiment, Chinese business owners opened up restaurants to cater to the growing immigrant population coming in from China. By the 1970s, most of the original meat dishes from traditional Chinese cuisine were adapted to suit the American palate (i.e. made sweeter, less spicy), as Chinese food increased in popularity among Americans.

This included the evolution of tangerine chicken into orange chicken, and many competing chefs claim to have invented it. One such chef is T.T. Wang of New York’s Hunan Restaurant, whose orange beef is very similar to orange chicken. Others say it’s a version of General Tso’s Chicken (another popular Americanized-Chinese dish). Perhaps the most famous version of the dish is Andy Kho’s, who was a chef in Panda Express, Hawaii, and invented their specialty dish in 1987. Whatever the case, we’re just glad to have a reason to reach for that takeout menu and order ourselves up a serving or two of this culinary delight.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Orange Chicken Day