Best General Tso Chicken?

Submitted by GroundbreakingBite96 t3_zw1qj7 in rva

I’m very picky when it comes to general tso, the last general tso thread on here was 9 years ago! I tried one of the comments suggestions today (China Panda), and to my surprise it’s definitely one of the only places in Richmond to come close to the Schezuan food im used to in Charlottesville. So far the only two places I enjoy general tso that actually tastes correct will be Full Kee, and China Panda. Although, some places have way overpriced general tso with horrible reviews. Anything close to what full kee or China panda has please let me know! Also not trying to break the bank.

EDIT: I’m sorry I didn’t know General Tso wasn’t actually Sichuan. Sorry again.

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gentlemanl0ser t1_j1scnbi wrote

You mention Schezuan— I hope you’ve checked out Peter Chang and Cheng Du. Definitely the best Schezuan in the area.

As for General Tso I personally think Peking on broad has the best.

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GroundbreakingBite96 OP t1_j1se9h6 wrote

Oh I didn’t realize there was a Peter Chang here! Thank you, I’ll def check them all out.

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sleevieb t1_j1shybn wrote

Uh we have THE Peter Chang.

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Appropriate-Energy41 t1_j1skiom wrote

I had no idea it started in Richmond, wild.

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sleevieb t1_j1sv8r4 wrote

IIRC he was the chef at the chinese embassy and then his first few resteraunts were in Williamsburg but were more of a take out model whereas the Richmond Resteraunt is focused on dine in. Of course they offer take out, and he has other concepts, like the noodle place in the west end next to a Wal-Mart? I don't know if that survived as that concept or what.
He also notoriously bounces around to his many different locations and real Chang-heads/food critics will always want to know where he is cooking to get a taste of that real-real.

Last I heard all the tickets at the Flagship get translated into mandarin for the line Chefs. So good luck substituting anything lol.

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craftbeerva t1_j1sydmg wrote

He opened the first Peter Chang in Charlottesville in 2011, which is still in business, before the RVA locations started popping up though I’m not sure how often he frequents it or if he is be affiliated with that location any more. Before that he opened and trained the staff at Taste of China in CVille in 2009 which is also still around but he’s long gone from there. From this article from a few months ago it reads that he spends most of his time in Bethesda cooking at a spot called Q by Peter Chang but does return to RVA from time to time.

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sleevieb t1_j1t8aj4 wrote

IIRC there is a HUGE chinese population in parts of maryalnd.

At one point the best chinese in DC was in the hotel lobby of like a Holiday Inn that a bunch of Chinese nationals were staying in.

Looks like it was a Days Innhttps://www.onlyinyourstate.com/dc/hidden-chinese-food-restaurant-washington-dc/

https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/ev9zu9/what_would_you_say_is_the_best_chinese_restaurant/

" Because it's attached to the Days Inn where the Chinese Embassy housed their workers while doing renovations (for obvious reasons, they imported their workers). "

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needsexyboots t1_j1t20lx wrote

The noodle place closed in 2018 unfortunately. They had a bean paste noodle that was my absolute favorite meal.

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Visual-Sheepherder36 t1_j2a5ql3 wrote

Had Peter Chang's General Tso for lunch today and it was no better than mall food court bullshit.

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fanrva t1_j1sf49t wrote

It’s a trip. About 25 min from mine in the Fan, but Yu’s China Bistro in Centerville (Goochland just west of 288) has the best general tso in the area imo. Chicken is always fresh, white meat, no odd bits, crispy/crunchy, flavorful, etc. Nice little bits of sliced garlic and green onion. Chef’s kiss.

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MonsieurDucreux t1_j1t3gxi wrote

🤫 SHHHH! The last thing we want is our tiny little gem in the Food Lion shopping center getting overrun with West Enders!

Kidding. I’m a local and have to agree that Yu and her husband turn out the best GTC anywhere in the area. It’s the perfect blend of crispy, tender, sweet, savory and spicy. Definitely worth the trip if you’re up for it. And it’s like a minute off I-64, so it’s pretty convenient, all things considered.

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Substantial_Water t1_j1sfzsu wrote

And they use fresh ginger. Came here to say this, too.

But don’t blow up our spot lol

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badkilly t1_j1t66og wrote

I also recommend. Maybe not on Christmas Eve. I waited 2 hours for my pick up order after the time they said it would be ready. It was wild. There was a whole pile of us in there waiting. I have ordered from there a ton of times and never seen anything like it. Usually it’s a quick in and out.

ETA: We for GTC, so obviously worth the wait.

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ttd_76 t1_j1t2bgn wrote

General Tso’s chicken is not a Sichuan dish. It’s most likely not even a Chinese dish.

If it’s deep-fried, it’s mostly likely not authentic. So go the other way and instead of looking for a place that seems authentic, look for a very fake takeout type of place that caters to mostly Americans. Like it might be best if they actually serve regular American food like French Fries or Fried Chicken. Then you will know they have a deep fryer.

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Daemonrealm t1_j1tc0q6 wrote

General Tso is definitely not Chinese as you mentioned. The official origins have it as a Taiwanese dish first found in 1973. However that’s not the same general Tso we see in America.

TLDR. General Tso is American and what we see today is more than likely heavily influenced version by Mexican cooks in California around the early 90’s.

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Accomplished-Pen-394 t1_j1td5mr wrote

Can verify as an Americanized Chinese person who spent way too much time researching Americanized Chinese food (Chinese born, American raised)

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goodsam2 t1_j1vnfym wrote

I rather like the general Tso's tofu from the eatery.

Huge portion and I love it, plus tofu is had alongside meat all the time in Asian cuisines, whether vegetarian or not.

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himynameisjay t1_j1st81i wrote

Yen Ching on Midlothian ask for ginger.

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airykillm t1_j1vditl wrote

This is a serious question and I'm not trying to be rude: do you mean Ginger as in a person who might work there or ginger as in the root?

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himynameisjay t1_j1wyunp wrote

The root lol and yeah I can see why it could be interpreted that way.

I just know that sometimes the GTC ha me ginger in it and sometimes it doesn’t but it tastes so much better with so I always make sure I specify that I want it.

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Daemonrealm t1_j1stdtp wrote

Yen Ching Midlothian turnpike location only is still the best general Tso I’ve had in the area.

Edit: To add for me what makes it the best is fresh chicken + they get the crispiest of crispy perfectly while not over cooking the chicken and remaining juicy. This is what I see almost everywhere, overcooked dried chicken. There is an actual crunch to it. Also the sauce is thick and plentiful to be added to the rice. I also see a lack of sauce in almost every other place I’ve tried.

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ManBMitt t1_j1u7457 wrote

If you’re looking for Sechuan food, Chengdu is better than anything in Charlottesville. Peter Chang is also very good, though a bit more in the “modern” side.

General Tso isn’t Sechuan though….

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GroundbreakingBite96 OP t1_j2a2b3d wrote

Im biased to the resteraunt Schezuan in Charlottesville because they’re family friends so it’s always extra good for me

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Zorboz t1_j1smgce wrote

Chen’s

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Ghos-t- t1_j1speia wrote

I like it from Tiki Tiki off Patterson Ave in West Ens

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Ocean_waves726 t1_j1siy2z wrote

Idk but don’t go to City Lights off Gayton or gaskins or wherever the heck it is. Most disgusting Chinese food I’ve ever had. Truly horrible.

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fanrva t1_j1sqxpj wrote

15-20ish years ago it was really good. That’s sad.

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blermanstud t1_j1sowrg wrote

Lmao I used to walk there as a kid and loved it. It probably sucked but was a short pump kid and didn’t know any better.

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krampusrumpus t1_j1uw13j wrote

Fresh Wok on Nine Mile will do you right.

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marinog711 t1_j1x9604 wrote

Definitely one of the best … is there dining room back open yet?

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MonsieurDucreux t1_j1t3osl wrote

Here to second Yu’s China Bistro in Centerville, just off the Rockville/Manakin exit on I-64 (Exit 173). I have yet to find a better offering.

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justicedeliverer1 t1_j1veuz7 wrote

If you live around Downtown, The Eatery's General Tsao is great. Plentiful, crispy on the outside and tender inside. Not the best I've had but the best close by.

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GroundbreakingBite96 OP t1_j2a2kb5 wrote

Oooh wait I think I ordered the eatery once and remember it being pretty good

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justicedeliverer1 t1_j2a3x6l wrote

Best General Tsao's chicken in the area. Their fried rice, lo mein and twice-cooked pork are all delicious!

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ConnectionEvery8967 t1_j1vt8je wrote

I echo Yu’s China Bistro for not only the General Tao Chicken, but also their House Lo Mein is amazing. Not to mention friendly, and courteous service.

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Rvacat t1_j1yv48s wrote

Not General Tso's but I recently had Orange chicken from Cheng Du , it was neon orange garbage .

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Krunchy_Granola t1_j1vk9bb wrote

Nice try! My Chinese restaurant is busy enough as it is.

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Djlewzer t1_j1skk2x wrote

Fujian!

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Ryanisreallame t1_j1t8eke wrote

Sorry but no. Fujian is far from the best. Every time I’ve had their food it has been disgustingly sweet.

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