General Tso’s chicken is a sweet, fried chicken dish that is popular in many Chinese restaurants across North America. The name refers to Zuo Zongtang, a Qing dynasty statesman and military leader. However the dish itself was invented in the United States and has little resemblance to authentic Chinese cuisine. One of the common questions people have when ordering General Tso’s chicken is how to properly pronounce the name.
The Origin of General Tso’s Chicken
General Tso’s chicken was created by Chinese immigrants in New York City in the 1970s. The inventor of the dish is disputed, with both chef Peng Chang-kuei and chef T.T. Wang claiming to have created the original version. However both chefs were inspired by the sweet-sour flavor profile of Hunan cuisine in China.
To appeal to American tastes, the chefs modified the traditional Hunan chicken recipe. They added sugar, vinegar, chili peppers, and cornstarch to create a crispy, sticky, and intensely flavored fried chicken. The dish was an instant hit and spread rapidly across the United States. The name “General Tso” invokes Zuo Zongtang, a respected 19th century military leader, though the dish has no connection to him.
The Correct Pronunciation of “Tso”
Since General Tso’s chicken was invented in America, many people struggle with the correct pronunciation of “Tso.” In Mandarin Chinese, Zuo Zongtang’s surname is pronounced “tsaw” with a soft “ts” sound. The full pronunciation is “dzoh dzong-tahng.”
However, in the context of General Tso’s chicken, most English speakers pronounce it as “so” – rhyming with “no.” This is an anglicized pronunciation that has now become standard in American English. Saying “general tso’s” with the soft “ts” sound would be perceived as incorrect in the context of ordering the dish at a restaurant.
Some other ways General Tso could be mispronounced include:
- “Tzoh” – With a hard “tz” sound instead of “so”
- “Zoh” – Replacing the “t” with a “z”
- “Toh” – Substituting the “s” with a “t”
- “Dso” – Adding an erroneous “d” at the beginning
So in casual American English, the standard, widely-accepted way to pronounce it is “general so’s chicken” – rhyming with “no.” Using the authentic Mandarin Chinese pronunciation is not necessary or expected in ordering the dish at a restaurant.
Ordering General Tso’s Chicken
When dining at a Chinese restaurant in the United States and seeing General Tso’s chicken on the menu, it is perfectly normal to pronounce it as “so” rather than “tsaw.” The anglicized pronunciation has become ubiquitous. Here are some examples of ordering:
- “I’ll have the general so’s chicken, please.”
- “Can I get an order of general so’s chicken?”
- “We’d like two orders of the general so’s chicken.”
You can use the simple “so” pronunciation confidently when ordering. The waiter or waitress will understand exactly what you mean. They are accustomed to hearing this anglicized pronunciation from English-speaking customers on a daily basis.
How to Serve General Tso’s Chicken
Most Chinese takeout places serve General Tso’s chicken with broccoli, but I really love it with the ramen noodles here. Truth be told, I love any noodle any time, but you could swap the ramen for broccoli, another vegetable, or even a combination of both. You could also serve it over rice. This is one of those chicken recipes that goes well with just about anything. I think a mix of stir fry veggies would be delicious with this and super easy when you grab a bag from the produce section or one from the freezer section.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – While my observation is that most General Tso’s chicken is made with chicken thighs, I’m not a huge fan of thighs, so I use chicken breast. I feel like the flavor is a bit cleaner and it allows this super delicious sauce to be the star. That said, you can 100% use thigh meat if that’s your preference.
Cornstarch – In this recipe, we coat the chicken with cornstarch. This not only allows the chicken to get crazy golden brown and crispy, but the cornstarch also helps to thicken the sauce a bit. I even often add a little cornstarch to my dredge when I’m making good ol’ Southern fried chicken.
Hoisin Sauce – While I realize there’s a chance you don’t have hoisin sauce in the pantry right now, it’s totally worth the purchase because it’s a big part of the flavor profile of this dish. Once I started using it in recipes, we almost always have it on hand now. It’s a great dip for things like chicken fingers and nuggets, is a superb glaze for meat, and adds some great flavor to nearly any Asian dish. One thing that I’ve found though is that hoisin sauce flavor can vary wildly between brands. I typically use Kikkoman or Lee Kum Kee. It’s pretty easy to find in your local grocery store these days, but definitely in your area’s Asian market.
Rice Vinegar – Rice Vinegar is also known as rice wine vinegar. I’ll admit, I used to get confused by this all the time. Rice vinegar and rice wine vinegar are the same thing – just different names on the packaging. But “seasoned” rice wine vinegar has added sugar and salt, so it’s a little different. It will work in a pinch, but will change the flavor a bit. Then there’s rice wine. Which, while also made from fermented rice like rice vinegar, is something entirely different. It can’t be used interchangeably in this recipe.
Ground Ginger – I opted to use ground ginger in this recipe because it’s something most folks always have on hand, but I love to use fresh ginger when I have it. I replace the 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger with 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger when I do. Hot tip: Fresh ginger stores incredibly well wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer zip-top bag and grates really well when frozen.
How to Pronounce General Tso? (CORRECTLY) Chinese Dish Pronunciation
FAQ
How do you pronounce tso in General Tso’s chicken?
Is it General Tso or Tao?
What does tso mean in tso chicken?
General Tso’s Chicken (左宗棠雞)
The original recipe was invented by renowned chef Peng Chang Kuei in Taiwan in the 1960s, who named it General Tso’s Chicken as an homage to his Hunanese heritage and their beloved general Zuo Zongtang.
Why is it called tso chicken?
Why Is It Called General Tso’s Chicken? General Tso’s Chicken is said to have been created by a chef in the 1950’s. The chef developed the recipe for a diplomatic dinner and named it after a Hunanese war hero, Tso Tsung-t’ang.
How do you pronounce General Tso?
The answer is not as simple as it seems. The name “General Tso” is actually a romanization of the Chinese character “” (Zū Sī), which means “General Tso.” However, the pronunciation of the name has been adapted and modified over time, leading to various interpretations. Some people pronounce the name “Tsoh” (ZOH), while others say “Tso” (TSOH).
How do you pronounce General Tso chicken?
So, the next time you order General Tso’s Chicken, remember that the correct pronunciation is “dzoo suh,” but if you say “Tso” instead, nobody will judge you. After all, it’s the taste that matters most, not the pronunciation. Here’s a recap of the key points discussed in this article: Q: What is the correct pronunciation of General Tso?
Where did TSO chicken come from?
The dish originated in China. How to say general tso chicken in English? Pronunciation of general tso chicken with 2 audio pronunciations, 1 meaning, 27 translations, 1 sentence and more for general tso chicken.
What is Tso chicken?
Tso chicken is a remarkable dish that was originally created for General Tso during the Ching Dynasty. It consists of chunks of chicken sautéed in a hot and spicy tangy sauce.
Who invented General Tso’s chicken?
It is unclear who invented General Tso’s chicken, but it is probable that it is distantly based on a Hunan chicken dish. The pronunciation of General Tso varies greatly in the United States, with many pronouncing Tso as Tao, Gao, So, or phonetically, as Tso.
Is General Tso chicken the same as Sesame chicken?
One of the most common misconceptions about General TSO’s chicken is that it is no different than sesame chicken. While both dishes are extremely popular, delicious, and share many similarities, there are some crucial differences. They certainly do appear to be similar and, to some people, the taste may be similar as well.