100 Favorite Dishes: Sesame Chicken From Red Dragon Chinese Restaurant
Yes, this is sesame chicken, that ubiquitous Chinese-restaurant standby that many people order but that often proves tepid and timid. Yet somehow the owners of Red Dragon (2456 South Colorado Boulevard) in south Denver have managed to add a little wonder to the dish — and frankly, they have made it the city’s best version of this classic since opening in 1993.
The restaurant originally opened off of University Boulevard and Evans Avenue but moved to a new location on Colorado Boulevard a few years ago. Luckily Red Dragon took the recipe for sesame chicken along with the shop’s name when it moved. This sesame chicken is exactly the same golden, sweet and slightly spicy dish I remember eating when I was kid. How the kitchen makes its version so much better than those at other inexpensive Chinese restaurants remains a mystery, as numerous calls to the shop proved fruitless in obtaining information.
Still, there’s something about the thin, crackly coating surrounding each piece of thigh meat that makes Red Dragon’s rendition stand out from the rest. That, and the fact that the cooks don’t dump the nutty, somewhat sticky sauce all over the meal. Instead, the thick liquid is pooled under the chicken; that way it doesn’t make the fried bits soggy and allows you to control how much of the sweet substance you want on each bite. A pile of fried snow-white bean-thread noodles helps add another layer to the crunch, and while that accoutrement don’t do much for the flavor, it does provide a splash of texture and crispy fun. Eat this $10.95 house special in the restaurant or get it delivered; either way, be prepared to fall in love with sesame chicken again.
Hungry for more? All of the dishes in our 2016 countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Masala Beef at Biju’s Little Curry Shop
No. 99: Bacon Shrimp and Grits at Bacon Social House
No. 98: Porchetta and Kimchi Sandwich at Brider
No. 97: Squab-and-Sunchoke Tortellini at Abejas
No. 96: Housemade Burrata at Viand
No. 95: Schweinshaxe at Rhein Haus
No. 94 Kimchi Jeon at Seoul BBQ
No. 93: Zuppa Pomodoro at Parisi Italian Market & Deli
No. 92: The Ocean Salad at Sushi-Rama
No. 91: The Signature Bowl from Churn & Burn
No. 90: Green Chorizo at Los Compadres
No. 89: The Diavola Calzone at Pino’s Neighborhood Pizzeria
No. 88: Biscuits and Green Chile at the Noshery
No. 87: Chirashi at Izu Sushi
No. 86: Brisket and Ribs at GQue Championship BBQ
No. 85: The Tornado at the Chowder Room
No. 84: Korean Fried Chicken Wings at Yong Gung
No. 83: A Meatball Hero at Lil’ Ricci’s New York Pizzeria
No. 82: Shakshuka at Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen
No. 81: Late-Night Ramen at Brazen
No. 80: Potato Tacos at El Tejado
No. 79: Corned Beef Heart at theWay Back
No. 78: The Fried Bologna Sandwich at Snarfburger
No. 77: Sweet Corn Mezzaluna at Bar Dough
No. 76: Duck Confit at Table 6
No. 75: Croque Monsieur at Fire
No. 74: Tahini Cookies at the Preservery
No. 73: The Alferd Packer Salad at MAD Greens
No. 72: The Tuna Poke Bowl at Ohana Island Kitchen
No. 71: Mini Chile Rellenos at La Loma
No. 70: The Combination Banh Mi at Vinh Xuong Bakery
No. 69: The Falafel Waffle at Moxie Eatery
No. 68: Korean Fried Duck Wings at Chow Urban Grill
No. 67: Spaghetti Alla Carbonara at Spatola
No. 66: The Classic Burger from Skirted Heifer
No. 65: The Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado at Poppies
No. 64: Super Pass Key Special at Pass Key
No. 63: How the West Was Won at Dozens Restaurant
No. 62: Manzo With Polenta at Spuntino
No. 61: P & S Snack Mix at the Pig & the Sprout
No. 59-60: Sloppers at Gray’s Coors Tavern and Diego’s
No. 58: Potstickers at Zoe Ma Ma
No. 57: Griddle Cooked Bullfrog at Yum Yum Spice
No. 56: Macaroni and Cheese at Work & Class
No. 55: Lobster, Egg and Caviar Bruschetta at Bar Fausto
No. 54: Orecchiette at Coperta
No. 53: Cheese Steak at Steuben’s Food Service
No. 52: PB&B Acai Bowl at ProsperOats
No. 51: Gold Miner’s Breakfast at River and Woods
No. 50: Bison Pastrami at To The Wind Bistro
No. 49: Spicy Beef Hot Pot at Bronze Empire
No. 48: Brad’s Neo Gyro at Avelina
No. 47: The Egg and Croissant Sandwich at La Fillette Bakery
No. 46: Smoked Brisket Stroganoff Pot Pie From Humble Pie and Kitchen Table
No. 45: Hisbiscus-Flower Tacos at Comal
No. 44: The Juicy Lucy at the Midwestern Saloon
No. 43: Italian combo #2 at Carbone’s
No. 42: Huevos Rancheros at Las Potrancas
No. 41: The Roti Taco at Mister Tuna
No. 40: Mile High Nachos at Racines
No. 39: Classic Rooster at Royal Rooster
No. 38: Toomkha Soup at US Thai Cafe
No. 37: Smoked Lamb Shank at Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Que
No. 36: Banh Mi Tacos at Vital Root
No. 35: Barbecue Sandwiches at Globe Hall
No. 34: Ebelskivers at Three Little Griddles
No. 33: Bagna Cauda Broccoli Rabe at Dio Mio Handmade Pasta
No. 32: Flavorsome Ramen at Sera’s Ramen Enclave
No. 31: Chicken Tenders at the Fainting Goat
Yes, this is sesame chicken, that ubiquitous Chinese-restaurant standby that many people order but that often proves tepid and timid. Yet somehow the owners of Red Dragon (2456 South Colorado Boulevard) in south Denver have managed to add a little wonder to the dish — and frankly, they have made it the city’s best version of this classic since opening in 1993.The restaurant originally opened off of University Boulevard and Evans Avenue but moved to a new location on Colorado Boulevard a few years ago. Luckily Red Dragon took the recipe for sesame chicken along with the shop’s name when it moved. This sesame chicken is exactly the same golden, sweet and slightly spicy dish I remember eating when I was kid. How the kitchen makes its version so much better than those at other inexpensive Chinese restaurants remains a mystery, as numerous calls to the shop proved fruitless in obtaining information.Still, there’s something about the thin, crackly coating surrounding each piece of thigh meat that makes Red Dragon’s rendition stand out from the rest. That, and the fact that the cooks don’t dump the nutty, somewhat sticky sauce all over the meal. Instead, the thick liquid is pooled under the chicken; that way it doesn’t make the fried bits soggy and allows you to control how much of the sweet substance you want on each bite. A pile of fried snow-white bean-thread noodles helps add another layer to the crunch, and while that accoutrement don’t do much for the flavor, it does provide a splash of texture and crispy fun. Eat this $10.95 house special in the restaurant or get it delivered; either way, be prepared to fall in love with sesame chicken again.