Firecracker chicken is an Americanized Chinese takeout dish consisting of crispy chunks of batter-fried chicken and a sweet-spicy sauce.  While my parents once owned a Chinese takeout restaurant, I had never encountered this dish until recently.After trying it at a large fast casual Chinese takeout chain, I decided to create my own version! A Lesser-Known Regional Chinese Takeout Dish Growing up in the Catskills surrounded by cooks preparing Chinese American takeout food, I’d never heard the term Firecracker Chicken—until several months ago, when Judy and I were traveling.  We had just finished a Caribbean cruise, and were waiting at an airport in Ft.Lauderdale for our flight back home.

It was lunchtime, so we wandered around looking for something to eat.From a distance, we spotted the sign for Pei Wei Asian Diner, which we’d never heard of, but later found out is a U.S.chain with over 100 locations.  Sizing up the menu, Firecracker Chicken was the only dish I didn’t recognize.

The description was something like, “crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce and topped with scallions.” Looking at the folks digging into their lunches at the tables, it looked like many people were ordering it, so so I decided to give it a try! While I waited for my food, I asked a few other Pei Wei patrons who’d ordered this dish how they liked it.Some comments: “I like sweet, but it’s way too sweet!” “I think it’s to

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