A single order of General Tso’s chicken at Oriental Palace can account for nearly half your daily calorie allowance. Understanding the Oriental Palace Nutrition and Calories is the first step to making smarter choices when you order takeout. You do not have to give up your favorite dishes, but you do need to know what is actually in the box.
Most people assume that a Chinese takeout meal is a healthy alternative to fast food. The truth is that the sauces, frying methods, and portion sizes add up quickly. Let’s break down the menu so you can decide what fits your daily goals without guessing.
Oriental Palace Nutrition And Calories
When you look at the menu, the numbers might surprise you. A standard entree at Oriental Palace usually weighs between one and two pounds. That is a massive portion. The calories are not just in the chicken or beef; they are in the cornstarch coating, the oil used for frying, and the sugar-laden sauces.
We are going to look at the most popular items on the menu. We will compare them side by side. This way, you can see exactly where your calories are going and how to adjust your order.
Appetizers And Soups
Starters can be a trap. They seem light, but they are often fried or loaded with sodium. Here is what you need to know before you order the appetizer platter.
- Egg Roll (1 piece): Approximately 200 calories, 10 grams of fat. The wrapper is fried, and the filling often contains pork and cabbage soaked in oil.
- Spring Rolls (2 pieces): Around 180 calories. These are lighter than egg rolls but still fried.
- Wonton Soup (1 bowl): About 100 calories. This is a safe bet. The broth is light, and the wontons are small.
- Hot and Sour Soup (1 bowl): Roughly 120 calories. Be careful with this one. It often has a lot of cornstarch to thicken it, which adds carbs.
- Fried Dumplings (6 pieces): These can hit 350 calories. The pan-frying adds a significant amount of oil.
If you want to save calories, stick to the clear soups. The wonton soup is your best option. It fills you up without blowing your budget.
Chicken Dishes
Chicken is lean, but the way it is prepared at Oriental Palace changes everything. The most popular chicken dishes are usually battered and fried before they hit the wok.
Here is the breakdown for standard servings. Remember, these are estimates for a single entree portion, which is usually enough for two meals.
- General Tso’s Chicken: 1,300 to 1,500 calories. This is the biggest offender. The chicken is deep-fried, then tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce with a ton of sugar.
- Orange Chicken: 1,200 to 1,400 calories. Similar to General Tso’s, but the sauce has more orange zest and sugar.
- Kung Pao Chicken: 800 to 1,000 calories. This is a better option because the chicken is usually stir-fried, not deep-fried. However, the peanuts and oil add up.
- Lemon Chicken: 1,100 calories. The chicken is fried, and the sauce is basically sugar and lemon juice.
- Moo Goo Gai Pan: 500 to 600 calories. This is a vegetable and mushroom stir-fry with chicken. It is the healthiest chicken dish on the menu.
The difference between General Tso’s and Moo Goo Gai Pan is almost 900 calories. That is a full meal for most people. If you are counting calories, the preparation method matters more than the protein.
Beef And Pork Options
Beef and pork dishes often use fattier cuts of meat. This means they can be higher in calories even before the sauce is added.
- Beef with Broccoli: 700 to 900 calories. The beef is usually velveted (marinated in oil and cornstarch) and stir-fried. The broccoli is healthy, but the sauce is heavy.
- Mongolian Beef: 900 to 1,100 calories. This dish has a sweet sauce and the beef is often fried briefly.
- Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce: 800 to 1,000 calories. The pork is fatty, and the sauce is thick.
- Sweet and Sour Pork: 1,200 calories. The pork is battered and deep-fried, then coated in a sugary red sauce.
Beef with Broccoli is your best bet if you want red meat. Ask for the sauce on the side. That alone can save you 200 calories.
Shrimp And Seafood
Seafood is generally lower in fat than beef or pork. However, the preparation at Oriental Palace can ruin the health benefits.
- Shrimp with Lobster Sauce: 600 to 700 calories. This is a good option. The sauce is egg-based, not sugar-based.
- Kung Pao Shrimp: 700 calories. Similar to the chicken version, it is stir-fried with peanuts.
- Shrimp Fried Rice: 1,000 calories. The rice is fried in oil, and the shrimp is usually small. The calories come from the rice, not the shrimp.
- Sweet and Sour Shrimp: 1,100 calories. The shrimp is battered and fried, just like the pork.
If you want shrimp, stick to the stir-fried options. Avoid anything that says “battered” or “crispy.”
Fried Rice, Lo Mein, And Chow Mein
The sides can be just as caloric as the main dish. A serving of fried rice is not a side; it is a meal in itself.
- Vegetable Fried Rice (1 cup): 250 calories. It sounds light, but the rice is coated in oil.
- Chicken Fried Rice (1 cup): 300 calories. The chicken adds protein but also some fat.
- Pork Lo Mein (1 cup): 350 calories. The noodles are tossed in oil and soy sauce.
- Chicken Chow Mein (1 cup): 200 calories. This is usually more vegetables than noodles, making it a better choice.
- Steamed Rice (1 cup): 200 calories. This is the safest option.
If you are eating a high-calorie main dish, you do not want to add fried rice on top of it. That is how you end up with a 2,000 calorie meal.
How To Order Smart
You can still enjoy Oriental Palace without wrecking your diet. It just takes a little planning. Here are some steps you can follow.
- Ask for sauce on the side. This is the single most effective trick. You control how much sauce you eat.
- Order steamed instead of fried. Ask for steamed chicken or shrimp instead of the battered version.
- Skip the rice. Or order steamed rice and only eat half of it.
- Split your meal. Eat half the box and save the rest for tomorrow. The portions are huge.
- Start with soup. A bowl of wonton soup will fill you up so you eat less of the main dish.
- Add extra vegetables. Ask for extra broccoli or mixed veggies to bulk up the meal without adding calories.
These steps can cut your total calories in half. You do not have to feel deprived. You just have to be smart about the extras.
Hidden Sodium And Sugar
Calories are not the only thing to watch. The sodium levels at Oriental Palace are incredibly high. A single serving of General Tso’s can have over 3,000 milligrams of sodium. That is more than the daily recommended limit.
The sugar is also a problem. The sauces are loaded with sugar to balance the salt. You might be eating 50 to 80 grams of sugar in one meal. That is equivalent to drinking a can of soda, but you do not taste it because of the savory flavors.
If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you need to be extra careful. Ask for low-sodium soy sauce. Request that they go light on the sugar in the sauce. Most places will accommodate you if you ask.
Healthy Alternatives On The Menu
There are some dishes that are consistently lower in calories. If you want to keep it light, look for these options.
- Steamed Vegetable Delight: Around 300 calories.
- Moo Goo Gai Pan: Around 550 calories.
- Shrimp with Lobster Sauce: Around 650 calories.
- Beef with Broccoli (sauce on the side): Around 500 calories.
- Chicken with Snow Peas: Around 600 calories.
These dishes are stir-fried with minimal oil. They rely on the natural flavor of the ingredients. They are not as exciting as the crispy fried options, but they will not leave you feeling sluggish either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Oriental Palace food healthy?
A: It depends on what you order. Stir-fried dishes with vegetables are decent. Fried and battered dishes are very high in calories and sodium.
Q: What is the lowest calorie item at Oriental Palace?
A: The steamed vegetable dishes are the lowest. The wonton soup is also a light option.
Q: How many calories are in a pint of fried rice?
A: A pint is about two cups. That is roughly 500 to 600 calories for the fried version.
Q: Can I eat General Tso’s chicken on a diet?
A: You can, but you should only eat half the portion and skip the rice. Even then, you are looking at 700 calories.
Q: Does asking for brown rice help?
A: Brown rice has more fiber, but the calorie difference is minimal. The bigger issue is the sauce and the fried meat.
Final Thoughts On Portions
The biggest problem with Oriental Palace is the portion size. What they serve as one meal is actually two or three servings. If you eat the whole box, you are consuming a days worth of calories in one sitting.
Try to repackage your food as soon as it arrives. Put half in a container for tomorrow. This simple habit will save you hundreds of calories every time you order.
You can enjoy your favorite Chinese food. You just need to be aware of what is in the box. The numbers are high, but they are manageable if you plan ahead. Remember the keyword: Oriental Palace Nutrition and Calories. Keep it in mind every time you pick up the phone to order.
Take control of your meal. Ask for the sauce on the side. Order steamed rice. Split the entree. These small changes make a big difference. Your body will thank you tomorrow morning.
So next time you are at Oriental Palace, do not just grab the first thing on the menu. Think about the calories. Think about the sodium. Make a choice that fits your goals. You have the information now. Use it to make a better decision.
Eating out does not have to be a cheat day. It can be a regular part of your routine if you stay informed. The menu is full of options. Some are traps, but many are fine. Just stick to the stir-fried items and skip the fried rice. You will be fine.
I hope this breakdown helps you navigate the menu with confidence. The numbers are not meant to scare you. They are meant to inform you. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to food. Enjoy your meal, but enjoy it wisely.
Remember to drink plenty of water with your meal. The high sodium will make you thirsty. Water helps flush out the excess salt. It also helps you feel full faster, so you eat less.
If you are tracking your macros, you now have a rough estimate for every major dish. Use these numbers as a guide. They are not exact, but they are close enough to help you plan the rest of your day.
One last tip: do not order the crab rangoon. Those little fried wontons are around 100 calories each. If you eat four, that is 400 calories before your meal even arrives. Skip them and save your calories for the main event.
You now have everything you need to make a smart choice at Oriental Palace. The calories are high, but you can manage them. It is all about portion control and preparation. Good luck, and enjoy your next meal.