Best General Tao Chicken in Ottawa [General]
2020 Jan 8
General T's chicken is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me so I'm watching this discussion! Like pad thai, it is often far too sweet. GT's sweetness should be offset by significant spicy, sour, and salty flavours.
It's easy to point at the worst GTCs: as TheNatureMan mentioned, Farm Boy's GTC is pretty rock bottom (although I kind of like their vegan GT's). Shanghai 360's GTC is so sweet I can't differentiate it from their sweet & sour chicken (although my son loves it). Even Hong Kong Express, my favourite quick lunch combo place, doesn't have a balanced GTC -- better to choose the delicious spicy chicken there!
I used to enjoy it at Yangtze but found it kind of bland in recent years. I had a decent one recently at Royal Treasure -- crispy batter, nice sourness, but still too much sugar and not enough spice.
The best I ever had was at Jadeland quite a few years ago. I really need to go back there! You can read about that on the food page: General Tso's Chicken
It's easy to point at the worst GTCs: as TheNatureMan mentioned, Farm Boy's GTC is pretty rock bottom (although I kind of like their vegan GT's). Shanghai 360's GTC is so sweet I can't differentiate it from their sweet & sour chicken (although my son loves it). Even Hong Kong Express, my favourite quick lunch combo place, doesn't have a balanced GTC -- better to choose the delicious spicy chicken there!
I used to enjoy it at Yangtze but found it kind of bland in recent years. I had a decent one recently at Royal Treasure -- crispy batter, nice sourness, but still too much sugar and not enough spice.
The best I ever had was at Jadeland quite a few years ago. I really need to go back there! You can read about that on the food page: General Tso's Chicken
2020 Jan 9
Has anyone watched the documentary named The Search for General Tso? It traces the origins of General Tso chicken.
It is a guilty pleasure... but when it is badly made, it feels like wasted calories. Otherwise, so tasty! Cafe saffron, Sen Kitchen at Queen St Fare (least spicy) and Yang Sheng (most spicy) are my favourite.
Pictured is the Sen Kitchen one I recently tried. Nice presentation too.
It is a guilty pleasure... but when it is badly made, it feels like wasted calories. Otherwise, so tasty! Cafe saffron, Sen Kitchen at Queen St Fare (least spicy) and Yang Sheng (most spicy) are my favourite.
Pictured is the Sen Kitchen one I recently tried. Nice presentation too.
2020 Jan 13
Thanks everyone, will report back. Have to try Angry Dragonz and Sen's version. I have seen the movie and found it very fascinating learning the history of Chinese food in North America. I wasn't fully aware of the hardships and racism Chinese immigrants faced when they arrived that led many to opening restaurants and laundromats which weren't career paths that men pursued back in those days. They noticed that many north american's had a sweeter palate and some of the north american chinese food dishes were inspired by the love for McDonald's chicken nuggets and the sweet sauce they are accompanied by.
2020 Jan 21
I recall an old Mad Magazine cartoon that showed a street with a few businesses on it and as your eye went down the street you saw "Best Pizza in the World" then a few shops later "Best Pizza in the Country" and then "Best Pizza in the City" and finally "Best Pizza on the Block"
:-)
Everyone in the building raves over the Asian food they serve there. They have a fantastic Bibimbap as well, and Korean BBQ too.
:-)
Everyone in the building raves over the Asian food they serve there. They have a fantastic Bibimbap as well, and Korean BBQ too.
TheNatureMan
Confession to make, I love general tao's chicken. I know it isn't authentic. I know it's extremely unhealthy. I find that it's like pad thai- when it's good it's incredible and when it's bad it's practically inedible (looking at you, Farm Boy). I was wondering what everyone's place to order it is.