I tried Panda Express' new orange chicken sandwich, and it's the chain's most exciting new dish in years

From Taco Bell's Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco to Jack in the Box's Spicy Cluck'n Sourdough (which I absolutely loved), the fast-food giants are starting to get creative when it comes to the ongoing chicken sandwich wars.

It's been a blast watching major chains experiment with the beloved menu item, and I was even more excited when I learned that Panda Express was jumping on the bandwagon.

The sandwich includes chicken breast cooked in a crispy rice puff batter, shredded cabbage, butter pickles, King's Hawaiian buns.

It also features two sauces: a new spicy aioli, plus the signature orange chicken sauce that helped turn Panda Express into a global phenomenon.

Chef Jimmy Wang, the chain's director of culinary innovation, told me that the Panda Express team wanted to create a new menu item that customers could enjoy on the go.

"We know convenience and ease are incredibly important to guests, especially these days," he said. "The idea started with us thinking of a handheld option that's easy to eat, and in a way that people are really familiar with."

One of the team's biggest challenges was finding a bread that would travel well, and pair nicely with plenty of different ingredients.

"We tried steamed bao buns, sesame buns, thick toast, pita-like bread, and others," Wang told me. "And the texture of the bread was key, too, because we have a lot of crunchy elements. We also tried toasting the bread, but toasted bread tends to get a little tough and doesn't travel as well."

Wang said the team also wanted the sandwich to still "feel like a meal you might get at Panda," which is why they made sure to include veggies and a delicious carb, plus go "all in on the sauce."

Panda Express is currently only offering the orange chicken sandwich at its Innovation Kitchen in Pasadena, California, where it tests out new menu items on the lucky local residents. In addition to the sandwich, you'll find the elusive orange chicken burrito, various wraps, more than 15 different drinks, and even new vegan options on its special menu.

Since it was my first time at the special location, I decided it was only right to explore everything the Innovation Kitchen had to offer.

The Innovation Kitchen is far bigger than any Panda Express I've ever been to, and, believe me, I've been to many. There's a mix of high-tops, booths, and regular tables scattered around the dining room, along with the chain's assembly-line ordering system.

And nestled alongside classic Panda Express dishes like chow mein and Beijing beef are test items like vegan fried rice, eggplant tofu, and the crispy almond chicken that recently hit menus across the US.

I'm going to miss many things that I got to try at the Innovation Kitchen, and this tea bar is definitely near the top of that list.

There's truly a drink for everyone at the Panda Express tea bar. How could there not be when there are currently 14 different drinks on the menu?

From milk teas and fruit teas to various lemonades and smoothies, the variety on offer is pretty incredible. Plus, for any drink, you have the option to add boba, jelly, aloe vera, chia seeds, or pudding.

I settled into a comfy plush chair and decided to sample three drinks before digging into my feast.

I ordered the Thai milk tea, ginger lemonade, and strawberry fruit tea from the menu. My Thai milk tea was just sweet and creamy enough, and honestly tasted better than what I've had at many restaurants. I finished my entire cup within minutes and was tempted to order a second.

The strawberry fruit tea was perfect for the hot California morning, and I loved that it had actual fruit at the bottom of the cup. But be wary of the ginger lemonade if you're not a ginger lover. It completely dominates the drink's flavor, giving each sip its signature sharpness.

The vegan fried rice was pretty forgettable and, in my opinion, needed a lot more veggies to amp up the flavor profile. But I thought the eggplant tofu was cooked really well. Both of the main ingredients were nicely sauced and paired great together.

But the standout of this plate was easily the crispy almond chicken. I'm actually somewhat allergic to almonds — not in a life-threatening, EpiPen-needed way, but sometimes it'll make my throat itch and my tongue taste like metal — but I couldn't resist trying at least one piece of the chicken, which looked absolutely delicious.

The dish features crispy chicken (which has the same rice puff breading as the sandwich) topped with almonds, green onions, and a garlic soy sauce. And, honestly, it's addictive. The chicken is perfectly crunchy, with a satisfying texture that rivals the original orange chicken. And the sauce strikes a perfect balance between sweet and savory. It was so good, I had to have another.

Within a few hours, my throat began to itch and I had to pop a Benadryl, so I'll likely never chance eating the crispy almond chicken again. But I'm so glad I got to have those two pieces because they were fantastic.

But, if you have a serious nut allergy, please don't try this at home. I am not to be emulated!

I could see inviting streaks of the orange chicken sauce on the fillet, while the pickles and cabbage peeked out from underneath. And the King's Hawaiian bun looked soft and plump.

It was time to dig in.

The orange chicken sandwich is packed with bold flavors that surprisingly never overpower each other. Chef Wang told me this was Panda Express' goal from the beginning.

"After putting together all the components, we did the 'one bite' test to see if all the ingredients, flavors, and textures work together," he said. "Texture is very important to our orange chicken sandwich."

The chicken breast is juicy on the inside and deliciously crispy on the outside thanks to the rice puff batter, while the cabbage and pickles provide some freshness and sharpness to balance out the two sauces. The orange chicken sauce is that sweet and tangy dance on the tongue that we all know and love, but the addition of the new spicy aioli adds a delicious kick that really makes the sandwich feel special.

My only critique is that I wish there had been more orange sauce! I was surprised to find that the sauce had only been applied under the top bun of the sandwich, rather than coating the chicken breast — which I think could've really made the titular flavor stand out more.

What impressed me most about the orange chicken sandwich was that Panda Express wasn't afraid to transform its most popular menu item, even while taking inspiration from it. It's something completely different from Panda Express, and that's always so much fun to see as someone who writes about food for a living.

I think Panda Express' orange chicken sandwich is a fun and exciting entry into the fast-food chicken sandwich wars, where too many chains are content with playing it safe.

And I think it'll be a huge hit if Panda Express releases it nationally.