Dynamite Sweet and Sour Chicken: Menu Status and Calories

Panda Express Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken is a limited-time offering made with Buldak, featuring crispy chicken, red bell peppers, and onions in a spicy-sweet sauce. It launched nationwide on March 9, 2026, and its advertised window ran through May 25, 2026 or while supplies lasted. No official discontinuation or return date has been announced, so check the Panda Express app for current availability.

What Is Panda Express Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?

Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken is a collaboration between Panda Express and Buldak, the spicy ramen brand owned by Samyang Foods. It debuted as a test item in select cities before expanding to every U.S. Panda Express location.

When did it launch, and is it a permanent menu item?

Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken first appeared as a test run from August 6 to October 7, 2025, in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle-Tacoma, according to The Fast Food Post and Tasting Table. It went nationwide on March 9, 2026, per a Panda Restaurant Group press release, and was always positioned as a limited-time offering (LTO) rather than a permanent menu addition.

What Does Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken Taste Like?

What ingredients are in Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?

The dish features crispy marinated chicken breast chunks in a puffed rice batter, wok-tossed with red bell peppers and onions in a custom Buldak sauce. Sources describe it as “swicy”  sweet and spicy  with balanced tanginess upfront followed by a lingering, intense burn. Pineapple is not listed as an ingredient in any official source, despite appearing in some menu descriptions elsewhere.

Panda Express describes the sauce as 5.5 times spicier than its Blazing Bourbon Chicken, making it the brand’s spiciest dish to date, according to Evelyn Wah, Panda Express’s VP of Brand Innovation. Tasting Table’s August 2025 review called the heat “instantaneous,” comparing it to the kick of Buldak ramen, though the reviewer felt the sweet and sour notes were harder to detect than the spice. The outlet recommended pairing the dish with steamed white rice to balance the heat.

How Many Calories Are in Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?

Why do calorie counts for this dish vary so much?

Reported nutrition figures differ because they come from two separate points in the product’s rollout. The Fast Food Post’s nationwide-launch coverage lists a 5.7 oz serving at 400 calories, 3g saturated fat, 44g carbs, and 17g protein. Tasting Table’s August 2025 preview reported 270 calories and 17g protein for the test version, with wheat and soy listed as allergens.

Sodium content has not been published in any source reviewed, and the item does not currently appear on Panda Express’s official nutrition calculator. Use the app’s nutrition tool for the most current figures before ordering if you’re tracking sodium intake.

Was Panda Express Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken Discontinued?

Is Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken discontinued?

There’s no official statement confirming discontinuation. The national rollout was always framed as available “through May 25, 2026 or while supplies last,” and that window has since passed without a public update. The honest answer: the LTO period appears to have ended, but Panda Express has not issued a formal discontinuation notice, so availability may vary by location.

Will Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken Come Back?

Does Panda Express bring back discontinued menu items?

Yes, regularly. Panda Express has a track record of testing items regionally, gauging demand, then relaunching them nationally or seasonally. Firecracker Steak and Shrimp ran as an LTO until May 27, 2024, and items like Cantonese BBQ Brisket and Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken have returned as limited-time offerings in 2026. This same pattern  regional test, then full launch  is exactly how Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken reached nationwide status in the first place, so a future return is plausible but unconfirmed.

A Reddit thread in r/PandaExpress shows fans pushing for permanence: “PLEASE WHOEVER WORKS FOR PANDA CORPORATE – KEEP THIS PERMANENT FOR SPICY LOVERS I would order hundreds worth between locations every month.”

What Can I Order Instead of Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?

What are the closest alternatives to Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?

If Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken isn’t available at your location, a few menu items offer similar textures or heat levels. Choose based on whether you want the same sweet-and-savory profile or a comparable spice level.

Note: “Buldak Chicken” isn’t a separate menu item  it’s shorthand fans use for Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken, since Buldak is the collaborating brand behind the sauce.

What Are People Saying About Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?

What do reviewers and fans think of Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?

Reactions lean positive on heat and texture, with some noting the sweet and sour balance gets overpowered by spice. A Reddit user in r/fastfood wrote: “It is actually spicy, which is a nice change for Panda, but it is still Panda breaded chicken. I rate the spice level as very high for fast [food].” Tasting Table described the experience as “a blowtorch to the tongue, a runny nose, and a punch that’s unforgettable,” while noting they “might not swap it for old reliable” (the Original Orange Chicken). A reviewer in the Facebook group NEA Food Reviews summed it up simply: “the Dynamite sweet & sour chicken from Panda Express is definitely , but in a good way.”

Panda Express Dynamite Sweet and Sour: Quick Facts

If you’re searching for “panda express dynamite sweet and sour,” here’s the short version: it’s a Buldak collaboration dish with crispy chicken, bell peppers, and onions in a spicy-sweet sauce, launched nationwide on March 9, 2026, with pricing starting at $5.40 and no premium upcharge over standard entrées.

Dynamite Chicken Panda: What Fans Call It

Many customers search for “dynamite chicken panda” rather than the full official name. This is simply fan shorthand for Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken  there is no separate item by that name on the menu.

Panda Dynamite Sweet Sour Chicken: Where to Find It

Because availability has shifted since the national launch, your best bet for checking current status of panda dynamite sweet sour chicken is the Panda Express mobile app or website, which reflects real-time menu availability by location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How spicy is Panda Express Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?
Panda Express states the sauce is 5.5 times spicier than its Blazing Bourbon Chicken, making Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken the brand’s spiciest dish on record as of its 2026 launch.

How many calories does Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken have?
Reported figures range from 270 calories (2025 test version) to 400 calories for a 5.7 oz national-launch serving, depending on the source and recipe version used.

Does Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken contain pineapple?
No. Official sources describe the dish as chicken wok-tossed with red bell peppers and onions in Buldak sauce  pineapple isn’t listed as an ingredient.

What allergens are in Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken?
Tasting Table’s 2025 preview coverage listed wheat and soy as allergens; always confirm current allergen information through Panda Express’s official nutrition resources before ordering.

Is Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken a permanent menu item?
No. It launched as a limited-time offering tied to a Buldak collaboration, with an advertised availability window through May 25, 2026 or while supplies lasted.

Who makes the Buldak sauce used in this dish?
Buldak is produced by Samyang Foods, a South Korean company whose CEO of Samyang America, Youngsik Shin, was quoted in Panda Express’s March 2026 launch announcement.

What percentage of Americans enjoy spicy food, according to Panda Express’s data?
Panda Express cited Datassential research showing 65% of Americans like spicy foods, with 34% of that group actively seeking out spicy food experiences.

What’s the difference between Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken and the classic Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast?
Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken is the Buldak-spiced LTO, while the classic Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast is a separate, milder item listed at roughly 300 calories for a 5.5 oz serving on nutrition databases like CalorieKing.

Did Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken cost extra?
No. Panda Express confirmed the item was included in bowls, plates, and family meals at no premium upcharge, with starting prices around $5.40 depending on location and order type.

What free item came with Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken orders?
Each order included a free Buldak Original Hot Sauce Stick, letting customers adjust their heat level, while supplies lasted during the promotional period.