From the Wok · Most-Ordered · Signature
Crispy fried chicken pieces tossed in a sweet-tangy orange glaze. The most-ordered American-Chinese dish on the menu, and the standard by which every other orange chicken in the area gets judged.
Orange chicken is an American-Chinese restaurant invention — not a traditional Chinese dish — and Ugly Dumpling doesn't pretend otherwise. What they do instead is execute it at the highest level: chicken fried to order in a light batter, tossed immediately in a house orange glaze made with real citrus, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar.
The texture window is short. Orange chicken needs to be eaten within a few minutes of being plated — the steam from the hot chicken starts to soften the crust almost immediately. Ugly Dumpling's kitchen fries to order rather than holding pre-cooked batches under a heat lamp, which is the single biggest reason their version consistently beats competitors nearby.
The glaze is sweet-forward with a genuine citrus tang that cuts through the richness of the fried chicken. It's not the gummy, corn-syrup-thick sauce you get at fast-casual Chinese chains. There's enough acidity to keep each bite from becoming cloying. Pair with White Rice ($3) — the sauce over plain rice between bites is essential.
At $16, it's tied with the Pork Chop Fried Rice and Chicken & Broccoli. For groups, one order of Orange Chicken and one of the fried rices is a strong two-dish combination that covers protein, carbs, and both sweet and savory preferences.
Per full order (dish only, not including rice). Figures are estimates; actual values may vary.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 640 |
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 72 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Sodium | 980 mg |
Contains Wheat, Soy, Chicken, and Egg. Not gluten-free. Not suitable for egg-free diets. For GF chicken options, see Chicken Fried Rice.
Order White Rice ($3) on the side — this dish doesn't include it. The orange sauce over plain steamed rice between bites of crispy chicken is the proper way to eat it. Total with rice: $19.
Made with real orange, rice vinegar, and soy — not a corn-syrup concentrate. The glaze has genuine citrus tang that keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying. Noticeably different from fast-casual versions.
The chicken is battered and fried fresh for each order rather than held in a warmer. This is why the crust stays crispy long enough to matter. Eat it quickly — the window is real.
If your group has one person who says they "don't really eat Chinese food," order this. It's familiar enough to win them over, and good enough to make them want more. The most-ordered dish at the table for a reason.
