Being a teenager in New Jersey all but guarantees spending nearly every weekend at the mall (at least in the early aughts it did). When my friends and I would hit the food court, they’d flock to Sarku Japan for teriyaki chicken with fried rice. Personally, I’d stand in line solo at Panda Express, waiting to dig into succulent, crispy, sweet-and-sour orange chicken atop a fluffy bed of white rice. Admittedly, that’s the only dish I’ve ever had from the chain. So, when I heard about Panda Express’s new Firecracker Steak and Shrimp, I was eager to see if it held a candle to my go-to.
The firecracker steak and shrimp is a boldly seasoned, spicy dish that’ll be available through May 27 while supplies last. It stars sirloin steak pieces and whole shrimp, sautéed with red and yellow bell peppers, onions, string beans and whole, dry chiles. Finally, it’s finished with the chain’s signature Firecracker sauce, which is reportedly funkier and more aromatic than ever, courtesy of fermented black beans and extra dried chiles. (FYI, Firecracker Shrimp used to be on the menu, sans beef, so fans are psyched about this meaty comeback.)
