Best Places In The SBC For General Tso’s Chicken
I love Chinese food. LOVE! I could eat it every day. There are so many choices on every menu. And when it is fresh, there is nothing like it.
As a rule, I judge a Chinese restaurant's quality with how well they prepare my favorite dish, General Tso's Chicken. Hunks of fried chicken meat coated in a sweet-spicy-sticky sauce that is loaded with hot chilies, all sitting beside a pile of fried rice is my benchmark for any Chinese place when I eat there the first time.
If they pass the GTC test, I'll be back for more.
But who is General Tso? Was he a real person? Did he make this chicken dish? Turns out, yes and no. According to Wikipedia:
Zuo Zongtang (Chinese: 左宗棠; pinyin: Zuǒ Zōngtáng, pronounced [tswɔ̀ tsʊ́ŋtʰɑ̌ŋ]; Courtesy name: Chinese: 季高; pinyin: Jìgāo) (November 10, 1812 – September 5, 1885), spelled Tso Tsung-t'ang in Wade-Giles and known simply as General Tso in the West, was a Chinese statesman and military leader in the late Qing Dynasty. Zuo was a Marquis of the Second Rank.
But being that General Tso's Chicken is a completely American-Chinese dish, the real General Tso never would have eaten it. Apparently, the naming of the dish is a misuse of his family name, which is another word for "great meeting hall." The chicken is done in "banquet style" and has nothing to do with the good general.
But enough about the history. I bet you want to know my favorite places for General Tso's. Lets get to it!
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Lucky Palace
Lucky Palace has been around for years, and have maintained excellent quality throughout. They are located on Diamond Jacks Blvd in Bossier City, which makes them fairly centrally located.
One of my absolute favorite things about Lucky Palace is the fact that they deliver. Hot General Tso's brought right to the comfort of my home, and I don't even have to put on pants! That's a win in my book!
750 Diamond Jacks Blvd
Bossier City, LA 71111
+1 (318)752-1888 - 4
Jade Express
Jade Express is a tiny place located near University Health. It's a popular lunch spot for the employees at the hospital, and there's a reason why. Jade Express offers decent food at a good price, but what clenches it for me is the steam table.
You can walk in and take your pick of some of their most popular menu items and get a to-go plate right then! And they ALWAYS have General Tso's Chicken hot and ready!
1430 Kings Hwy
Shreveport, LA 71103
+1 (318)221-8598 - 3
Great Wall
This long-time favorite of mine has brought fresh, delicious food to diners since 1985. Their generous lunch portions and the fact that they are located about a mile from the radio station's front door keeps me coming back!
What sets their GTC apart from most is how crisp the fry is on the pieces of chicken, while still maintaining a sizable and moist morsel of poultry. Mix that with their "blow your head off" hot mustard, and you have instant yum!
7008 Pines Rd.
Shreveport, LA 71129
(318)686-6602
+1 (318) 686-6602 - 2
China Dragon
Before I got back into broadcasting, I used to work at a store near Youree and Southfield. This tasty little place is located in a shopping strip near the intersection. I could call them for a to-go order, get in my car, drive the three minutes to get there, and my order would be ready.
Nine out of ten times, I would order their General Tso's. Not only do they use good sized pieces of chicken, but their sauce has a little tang to it that sets it apart from everyone else. Plus they throw a few pieces of broccoli in the mix. That way I feel as though I'm eating "healthy."
4420 Youree Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105
+1 (318) 868-8882 - 1
Ming Garden
Ming Garden is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the history of ever. I have never had a bad dish at this iconic establishment. There is no wonder they have kept people coming back for nearly 30 years!
The reason they are number one on my General Tso's list is because they do everything right. The sauce is only slightly sweet and a little more spicy than your average fare. The chicken pieces are fried in a light batter that doesn't become soaked to the point where it looses its crispy exterior. All of that, plus the chicken pieces are HUGE! It's like you get five or six whole boneless chicken thighs per every order! If you want General Tso's done right, go to Ming Garden. You will not regret it.
1250 Shreveport Barksdale Highway
Shreveport, LA 71105
(318)861-2741
+1 (318) 861-2741
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