General Tso's vs. Sesame Chicken

[B Dids]

Depends.

The General Tso's at this place in Seattle, "Snappy Dragon" is amazing, it's made with a very sweet sauce, plumb maybe.

General Tso's is one of those dishes like Phad Thai, that varies radically from place to place.

[istewart]

Depends on the place. I've been to quite a few places where your assertion is correct. Good either way I guess.

[tonypaladino]

I've been to places where they are both the same, just with sesame seeds. I've also been to places where Tso's is breaded, sesame is not. It all depends on the place.

[Slow Play Ray]

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Sesame is sweeter, tso's is spicy and better .

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I went with the Sesame last night. I am sorry I did - never again.

[jaydub]

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Sesame is sweeter, tso's is spicy and better .

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I went with the Sesame last night. I am sorry I did - never again.

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ehh, depends on mood and person, well done, either can be phenomenal. for me, the general owns but some don't like the spicy. besides which sesame beef is much better than the chicken version. never seen tso's beef however.

on breading, it's up to the place, any decent one will do as you ask.

can anyone elaborate on the "not real dishes". i worked with a chinese woman who remarked on how certain places didn't serve real chinese food but never got an elaboration. i suspect, from dining in really good chinese restaurants, that i may know but am not sure.

[Popinjay]

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can anyone elaborate on the "not real dishes". i worked with a chinese woman who remarked on how certain places didn't serve real chinese food but never got an elaboration. i suspect, from dining in really good chinese restaurants, that i may know but am not sure.

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I am not sure but I suspect saying most American Chinese restaurants serve real Chinese food would be like saying Taco Bell served real Mexican food.

[Luzion]

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can anyone elaborate on the "not real dishes". i worked with a chinese woman who remarked on how certain places didn't serve real chinese food but never got an elaboration. i suspect, from dining in really good chinese restaurants, that i may know but am not sure.

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I am not sure but I suspect saying most American Chinese restaurants serve real Chinese food would be like saying Taco Bell served real Mexican food.

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General Tso's or Sesame Chicken is not "real" Chinese food. Its Americanized. You would have to live in an area with a relatively large Chinese population in order to go eat at some authentic Chinese restaurants that caters to that large Chinese population.

[jaydub]

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General Tso's or Sesame Chicken is not "real" Chinese food. Its Americanized. You would have to live in an area with a relatively large Chinese population in order to go eat at some authentic Chinese restaurants that caters to that large Chinese population.

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But can you elaborate as to why and how? As for large populations, LA/SF/DC, I've lived in each and suspect they meet your criterion.

[Luzion]

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But can you elaborate as to why and how? As for large populations, LA/SF/DC, I've lived in each and suspect they meet your criterion.

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Ok... a quick history lesson then? As I recall, Chinese food caught on in the San Francisco and New York chinatowns in the early 1900's. Many of these restaurants didnt have access to real authentic Chinese ingredients, so they cooked with what they had available. They invented various dishes that still had that "chinese flavor" which appealed to their growing American customer base. I think General Tso chicken was first made in New York.

Nowadays, restaurants have access to authentic Chinese ingredients, but a lot of Americans are used to the various Americanized/stereotypical dishes like fried rice, chow mein, sweet & sour pork, general tso's chicken, orange chicken, etc etc. So some restaurants still tailor to the average American who doesnt know or doesnt care if what they are eating is "authentic." Other Chinese restaurants may tailor to Chinese Americans and serve more authentic stuff. Thats why I said you need to live in an area with a relatively large Chinese population if you want to increase your chances of eating something authentic.

[Ulysses]

Luzion,

Do you have favorite SF or NYC Chinese places? I like Yuet Lee in SF a lot.