Why Everyone’s Addicted To The Chinese Chicken Salad 

I knew the wonderful, elegant and charming Madame Wu well in the 70’s and 80’s and even traveled with her to Las Vegas where we did a demonstration of her famous Chinese Chicken Salad at the MGM Grand to a couple of hundred wives of golfers playing at the Bob Hope classic tournament. The food at the famous Wu’s Garden Restaurant in Santa Monica was always excellent and the two most popular dishes were her Chinese Chicken Salad and Wu’s Beef. The restaurant saw almost every celebrity of the day there - it was one of the places to be seen. I have the original recipe which is contained in her first cookbook. Madame Wu’s Art of Chinese Cooking. It is a simpler recipe, with everything cut finely, with the highlight coming from puffed up rice vermicelli, which was made by putting in the dry packaged noodles into hot oil for a couple of seconds. That was the main crunch - with thin strips of fried wonton wrappers and sliced almonds tossed in. The chicken was lightly seasoned and fried then shredded. Just iceberg lettuce was used. The dressing is lighter without orange juice, but I think that orange makes a great addition and I have used it myself. Madame Wu used to dine at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, Spago, and he came up with his version as an honor to her. Then other restaurants started making it, like Chin-Chin’s on Sunset. But, like you said, there are many variations and they can all taste good! I did the research and some writing for her 2nd book, Madame Wu’s Ying and Yang Recipes. Madame Wu passed away last year at 104. She was quite an amazing woman and I am fortunate to have known her and her lovely family. I am still in touch with one of her sons.

I’m 46 years old. I made this salad tonight because it looked so good… I’ve never had a salad in my life, honest to god! I flippin’ loved it! Now I’m thinking I may have been missing out!!! Thank you man!

I was trained under Madame WU years ago! I trained in West Los Angeles, on Wishire Blvd. , with chiefs from the San Francisco Hotels . It was an eight week cooking course of Chinese Gourmet foods. Over half of your ingredients are not from her recipe. I will try your recipe and see IF it is equivalent or perhaps surpasses Madame WU's original recipe. I will save this blog and report back with my findings. Thank you for giving Madame WU the credit she whole heartedly deserves ! God bless you and Madame WU !!!

My family has had an asian chicken salad recipe for a few decades, but it involves using Napa cabbage, Ramen noodles, baked & diced breasts, and a simplified dressing using Rice wine vinegar, Sesame oil, and the ramen chicken packets. Toasted almonds and sesame seeds are part of our recipe as well. I like the idea of fried breaded cutlets and the cut fried wonton wraps - I will add those for a bit more crunch... and fancy up the dressing with your additions..- Thanks!

I have to say that having eaten this salad in California since the late 1960’s it NEVER included chicken that was breaded and fried. It is certainly delicious like that but the early versions were always made with grilled chicken. That was one reason it was so popular; grilled chicken was lower in calories and fat so the salad was something delicious while still fitting into a low-calorie diet. Californians were obsessed were obsessed with dieting because of the beach culture and the movie industry being located there.

I made this tonight and followed the recipe to a tee. This was outstanding...absolutely delicious. Everything about it was perfect. Thank you!

My 1970s intro to this beloved dish was at Kee Joon's near San Francisco Airport. As best I can recall, their version included little Mandarin orange slices.

I saw a wonderful documentary on Madame Wu....a fascinating, sophisticated woman. I am not surprised this delicious wonderful salad came from her. Will make this one soon.

This is one of my favorite things! I crave it in the summer. Your version looks delicious!!

Your videos are so addictive and I love your passion for really great healthy food. This salad looks so amazing and makes me hungry...Thanks so much for sharing 😊 ❤

My favorite salad of all time! I have a few cucumbers and sugar snap peas laying so I’ll add those but can’t wait! Love all the textures and flavors🔥👊🏼

I just made this, and it’s fantastic! Thank you!

Cant wait to try love the crunchy textures of these ingredients!

That looks absolutely amazing. I’m gonna try that. Thank you for the recipe.

Thank you so much for correcting the page problem. So excited!

Great recipe and music, as always, keep up the excellent work. 🙌

Made this week and wow! Love the layers of flavor. No radicchio so I use purple cabbage. The chicken is SO light and crispy I could eat that on a different salad every day! Bravo!

looks so delicious making this week!!!

Man I used to serve this over a decade ago in New Jersey.

That is BEAUTIFUL! I also likeit with cilantro.

Making this for sure! Looks delicious!

The best dressing. Love this salad

That looks effin great! I love your videos 😀

The salad I never knew I needed. Thanks for sharing!!

Thank you so much for sharing your work. You are by far my go-to and favorite!! Love, Love, Love your channel. I was literally craving this meal. How did you know?? 😂

The salad looks so good and dressing, wow. Having trouble bringing up recipe though. Says page doesn’t exist.

Incredible! Simplified and greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I keep coming back to this salad. So delicious 😋😘

That’s why I love the way you cook

Thank you! I love panko fried chicken, especially in a curry! This sounds amazing!

Asian salads are unmatched. The dressing is just so good.

This salad looks absolutely delicious and beautiful. I love this salad.

This looks delicious and easy, yum!

That looks like an excellent recipe. Will make it this weekend!

Thank you for reminding me of the dish I loved so much growing up in LA. I remember Madame Wu's Garden❤️ What a Lady! Here in the South they do chicken about the same way. I'm going to try your wonton method instead of maifun rice sticks. Great detail, very helpful. Gorgeous presentation.

This salad is amazing and will be in our regular rotation year round! Sooo good!

I made this tonight for me and my family was so good. love your show

Wow!! 😮. This salad Yummy 🤤 thank you!!

Thank you for sharing 😊 beautiful!!! Looks so delicious and easy too.😊

I just made this salad for dinner last night. It's so good.

Thank you. Be blessed

Just discovered you. You’re an amazing chef. You’re beyond talented. ❤❤❤

I love crunch and that’s when the reasons that I love the salad is so much of it is crunchy but you also get a ton of protein. I think I’ll make those after the holiday.

I made this recipe, it was amazingly delicious! Wonderful flavors and textures. Must try!

I'm a native Californian (like it matters) but I've been eating this Chinese Chicken Salad all my life - and there are many iterations. This one being my favorite but it's all good! What's not to like about chicken, salad ingredients, asian dressing, some crunchy stuff....Thank you for making this one for us, it's perfection!

You just made me love Chinese chicken salad.

This is a really good Asian salad dressing recipe. Actually comes very similar to one of my favorite lunch places for salad. I also tried adding the tablespoon or two of peanut butter to give it more of a Thai peanut flavor which was awesome and it also help thicken it up

Thank you. I will definitely make this salad. I like all of the ingredients.

It's the crunch and tang baby! Been making a beautiful version of this for decades and it is so addictive. Will def try your version bud. BTW . . . your Stuffing recipe has become quite a hit with friends and family. Stay strong and thanks for the great recipes and passion for food.

Excellent!!! Thank you.

This looks so delicious, my mouth is watering right now. I can't wait to make this...

I may never make this complete salad, but I will be making that dressing!

This looks like a really tasty salad! Your finished chicken cutlets also look like a good starting point for chicken katsu, if one were so inclined.

This looks so good i know when i make this ill be eating ir all week.

That is a beautiful salad, my friend, yum! 😍❤

Yum yum! Gonna make this soon for a yummy lunch. Even tho it’s winter here in Oz.

OMG I want this NOW!

Looks delicious I’ll be making one soon

Wow Yummy. I can’t wait to try that salad.

My favorite Chinese chicken salad is still the first one I had 20 plus years ago in the Bay Area. The greens were so finely chopped and had no dressing. The chicken was lightly seasoned and very finely shredded, not course and not chopped. Each forkful was just an amazingly satisfying experience. That restaurant closed about year after i first had that salad and i have never able to find a recipe quite like it.

I’ve been to this place. The food is delicious!

Loved experimenting and working with an oil frier when working in a restaurant. Didn't even hate cleaning it. Hate deep frying at home, though.

That bit about not liking doing the breading but the feeling as the chicken is frying? I feel the exact same way when I make my karaage chicken.

I’ve lived in California for 4 decades, and I’ve never come across a Chinese chicken salad as top notch as this! This is Chinese chicken salad Extraordinaire!!! Excellent, Stephen. You are top notch!

In the past I've used hoisin and a little less honey instead of mustard and agave. Def gotta try your version now.

oh gosh...I can die for this salad ....

Looks delicious!

Love your channel!😊😊😊❤❤❤

Definitely one of my favorites 😋

Oh my goodness, that looks fantastic! I can't wait to try it; we love salads. My husband and I don't like mustard, so I'll substitute some tahini to thicken the dressing.

Wow love the idea of this. I used to make a similar recipe in one of my restaurants… so yummy and fresh. I think I used mayo and honey as the base, but can’t remember hehe , was years ago. I would try this for sure

The Bayonne Golf Club jacket is a power move 💪

I do love Asian flavors and am eager to try this one. Thanks for the extra detail on the dressing amounts. :)

That looks crazy good. I’m going shopping for ingredients!

I used to get Chinese Chicken Salad at The Sidewalk Cafe in Venice Beach. It was not w breaded chicken, nice shredded chicken chunks instead. That dressing was the best. I learned that sesame oil is a favorite flavor of mine!

ohhh that looks soo delicious!!!!

Wow!! What a delicious salad the chicken was a bit of work, but it looked so worth it yummy 😋

Wow looks delicious 😋

That looks delish!

Love this ❤

Beautiful!

Ya know I have watched a few of your videos but not made many although your turkey was outstanding. After watching this recipe you will be very happy to know I really think you know what you are doing. I really like Chinese chicken salad and your version is by far the best. Nicely done.

The link to the recipe appears to be broken. We love food like this and cant wait to try it.

This is the first time I've ever seen the chicken breaded and fried. Looks delicious. There are so many variations of what others call Wolfgang's Chinois Chicken salad...Some say that he also adds julienned Mango.

Joan’s on Third has the absolute best dressing for the Chinese chicken salad!!

I make a similar dressing but I like to mix in a tablespoon or so of Tahini to help thicken and emulsify the dressing. Touch of Mirin for sweetness and rice vinegar for the acidity. good stuff.

One of your best!

That looks radicchiolous

I was first introduced to Chinese Chicken Salad by Pick Up Stix in San Clemente, CA many years ago. Have been addicted to some version or other since then! I will have to try your Dijon mustard in the dressing.

gorgeous!!!🙌

Love the name of your channel and this recipe, just that I would first wash the lettuces, where I live if I don't do that I can get sick with some kind of bacteria or parasite. But other than that it looks delicious!

❤wow I learn so much from you thank you

Looks amazing! Miss those CA salads! Subscribing!

Love this...guess what we're having this weekend!!

YEP, I'm making this salad!

Wolfgang puck add finally sliced fennel. That paste it to another level. Gourmet!

I’m making it now and I have to say I’m impressed that I sliced the chicken correctly. By the way, I love your cooking.

Salad would be good with Ganny Smith apples and dressing would be good with some miso

i would add some ginger and garlic to the dressing

Looks delicious 😋