There are plenty of famous foods invented in New York, but did you know that General Tso’s Chicken, which is a staple of the Chinese-American restaurant canon, was created right here in New York City? Though there is some dispute about the authorship of this dish, what isn’t in dispute is that the first restaurant to serve General Tso’s was in this great state. It really is one of our favorite New York food facts. To learn more, keep reading, below.

General Tso’s Chicken is a deep-fried chicken entree that is at once spicy and sweet. Though it is thought of as a Taiwanese dish, many also think it has roots in Hunanese cuisine.
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The dish is named after Zuo Zongtang, a Qing dynasty leader, but he never got to eat it.
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The dish was said to be first served at a restaurant in America by Peng Chang-kuei—who hails from Hunan—in 1973, when he opened up the establishment known as Uncle Peng’s Hunan Yuan on East 44th Street in New York City.
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Though the dish was a major hit in America, when Peng Chang-kuei later attempted to win over Chinese eaters with General Tso’s, they found it to be too sweet.
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Before General Tso’s made its restaurant debut, Peng claimed he created it as a dish for a US Admiral visiting China around 1952 or 1953. Another story purports that it was created for a Chinese official when Peng ran out of his usual ingredients.
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To further complicate matters, a Chinese immigrant chef named T. T. Wang said they first served the dish, in 1972, at their Manhattan restaurants Shun Lee Palaces. It’s safe to say, though, that this dish was first served at a restaurant in New York!
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There you have it! General Tso’s got it’s big American break in New York. What unique New York food facts have you heard? Let us know in the comments section. For those looking for some great Chinese food in New York City, we recommend this incredible buffet, which has almost as many desserts as it has dishes. Trust us, there is something for everyone here, but it will especially be a treat for fans of Chinese food. Speaking of food, we put together a nice guide to the best road trip snack ideas, which is perfect for those on the road this winter.

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