✔ Updated · sauce, heat + sweetness compared
Sesame chicken, orange chicken and General Tso's are all crispy fried chicken in a glossy sweet sauce, so they look almost identical on a takeout menu. In our house it’s a three-way vote every takeout night.
Sesame chicken is the sweetest and mildest, with a soy and honey or brown sugar glaze topped with toasted sesame seeds. Orange chicken gets a bright, tangy flavor from orange juice and zest and has little heat. General Tso's is the boldest: darker, tangier and spicy from dried red chilies. All three use battered, fried chicken.
- Sweetest: sesame chicken, with a mild soy-honey glaze and sesame seeds.
- Most citrusy: orange chicken, made with orange juice and zest.
- Spiciest: General Tso's, with dried red chilies and a tangy vinegar kick.
- Same base: all three start with battered, deep-fried chicken and a soy, sugar and cornstarch sauce.
The real difference is the sauce: nutty and sweet, bright citrus, or tangy with chili heat.
Sesame Chicken vs Orange Chicken vs General Tso's at a Glance
| Sesame chicken | Orange chicken | General Tso's chicken | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Sweet, savory and nutty | Sweet, tangy and citrusy | Sweet, sour, savory and spicy |
| Heat | None to very mild | Mild; some versions add chili flakes | Medium; dried red chilies |
| Key sauce ingredients | Soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds | Orange juice and zest, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, ginger, garlic | Soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, hoisin, garlic, ginger, dried chilies |
| Sauce color | Amber to light brown | Bright orange | Dark red-brown |
| Garnish | Toasted sesame seeds, green onion | Orange zest or slices, green onion | Dried chilies, often steamed broccoli |
| Texture | Crispy coating with a thick, sticky glaze | Crispy coating with a lighter, glossy sauce | Crispy coating with a thick, clingy sauce |
| Origin | Chinese-American takeout; exact origin unclear | Chinese-American; popularized by Panda Express in the late 1980s | Created by chef Peng Chang-kuei in Taiwan in the 1950s, reworked in New York in the 1970s |
| Nutrition basics | Similar to the others; often the sweetest | Similar; high in sugar from juice and added sugar | Similar; often a little less sweet, more sodium |
| Best for | Kids and anyone who wants mild and sweet | Fans of sweet-and-sour flavors | Anyone who wants a little heat |
What Is Sesame Chicken?
Sesame chicken is a Chinese-American takeout dish of battered, fried chicken pieces tossed in a sweet soy glaze and finished with toasted sesame seeds. The sauce usually combines soy sauce, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar and a little sesame oil, thickened with cornstarch.
It is the sweetest and gentlest of the three, with no chili heat in most versions. The sesame seeds and sesame oil add a toasty, nutty finish that sets it apart.
What Is Orange Chicken?
Orange chicken is fried, battered chicken coated in a glossy sauce made with orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, ginger and garlic. It is loosely based on Hunan-style dishes made with dried citrus peel, but the sweet, saucy version most people know was popularized by Panda Express in the late 1980s.
The citrus keeps it bright and tangy rather than heavy. Some versions add a pinch of chili flakes, but it stays mild. Try this Panda Express orange chicken copycat recipe at home.
What Is General Tso's Chicken?
General Tso's chicken is named after Zuo Zongtang, a 19th-century Qing dynasty general from Hunan, although he had no link to the dish. Chef Peng Chang-kuei created the original in Taiwan in the 1950s; it was sour, salty and spicy. Chefs in New York sweetened it in the 1970s, and that version spread across America.
Today it is crispy chicken in a dark, tangy sauce of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and hoisin, with whole dried red chilies for heat. It is often served with steamed broccoli.
How They Are Made
All three dishes follow the same basic method. Only the sauce changes.
- Cut and marinate: cut boneless chicken thighs or breast into bite-size pieces and season with soy sauce, a little Shaoxing wine or egg white and cornstarch.
- Coat: dredge the pieces in cornstarch or a light flour-and-cornstarch batter.
- Fry: deep-fry at 350°F until golden, crisp and cooked through to 165°F inside. Many cooks fry twice for extra crunch, and I think the second fry is worth the few extra minutes.
- Make the sauce: simmer the sauce ingredients, then thicken with a cornstarch slurry until glossy.
- Toss and serve: toss the hot chicken in the sauce right before serving so the coating stays crisp, then garnish with sesame seeds, orange zest or chilies.
Which One Should You Order?
Pick sesame chicken if you want something sweet and mild that kids will eat. Pick orange chicken if you like sweet-and-sour flavors with a fresh citrus lift. Pick General Tso's if you want the most savory, complex sauce with some heat.
For a group, orange chicken and sesame chicken are the safest crowd-pleasers. General Tso's is the best match for fans of spicy food, which is why it's always my order.
Can You Substitute One for the Other?
Yes. Since the chicken and frying method are the same, you can turn one into another by changing the sauce. Add orange juice and zest to a basic sweet soy glaze for orange chicken, add dried chilies and extra vinegar for General Tso's, or add sesame oil and toasted seeds for sesame chicken.
For a lighter take on any of them, bake or air-fry the coated chicken at 400°F until crisp and 165°F inside, then toss it in the sauce. Reheat leftovers to 165°F, ideally in an air fryer or oven so the coating crisps again.
What to Serve With Them
All three go well with steamed white or brown rice, fried rice or chow mein, plus a green vegetable such as steamed broccoli or stir-fried bok choy. Egg rolls or spring rolls round out a takeout-style spread; see spring roll vs egg roll for the difference.
For a full copycat meal, pair them with Panda Express fried rice or Panda Express chow mein.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between sesame chicken and orange chicken?
Sesame chicken has a sweet soy and honey or brown sugar glaze with sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds, so it tastes nutty and mild. Orange chicken uses orange juice and zest in the sauce, so it is tangier and brighter. Both use battered, fried chicken and neither is very spicy.
What is the difference between General Tso's and sesame chicken?
General Tso's chicken has a darker, tangier sauce with dried red chilies, so it is spicy and more savory. Sesame chicken is sweeter and mild, with no chili heat, and is topped with toasted sesame seeds. The chicken and frying method are almost the same.
Which is spicier, orange chicken or General Tso's?
General Tso's chicken is spicier. Its sauce is cooked with whole dried red chilies, which give it a medium heat. Orange chicken is mostly sweet and tangy from orange juice and zest; some restaurants add a pinch of chili flakes, but it stays mild.
Which is the healthiest: sesame, orange or General Tso's chicken?
They are very similar nutritionally because all three use battered, deep-fried chicken in a sugary sauce. Differences come down to portion size and how much sauce is used. For a lighter version at home, air-fry or bake the chicken and use less sugar in the sauce.
How do you pronounce General Tso?
In American restaurants it is usually said "General So" or "General Tsao." The general it is named after, Zuo Zongtang, is pronounced roughly "dzwaw dzong-tahng" in Mandarin, but either takeout pronunciation is understood when ordering.
