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The Elusive Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing An Epic Quest for the Iconic Taste

As a long-time fan of Applebee’s their Oriental Chicken Salad has always been one of my go-to orders. The tender grilled chicken crunchy noodles, carrots, red bell peppers, and greens are delicious, but the real star of the show is the signature Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing. With its addictive sweet and savory flavor profile, that dressing takes the salad to the next level.

I’m certainly not alone in my love for this salad. It’s been an Applebee’s staple for over 30 years, with legions of devotees. So when I wanted to recreate that restaurant experience at home, getting my hands on some bottles of that exact dressing seemed like an obvious first step. Easier said than done, I quickly realized.

Turns out, purchasing Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing isn’t so straightforward. Applebee’s doesn’t directly sell or distribute their dressing to the public. Believe me, I’ve checked grocery stores, online retailers, everything. The commercial recipe remains a closely guarded secret.

At first, I’ll admit, this apparent scarcity seemed like a hopeless quest. But I didn’t get where I am today by giving up easily. I was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and ultimately taste that dressing again. Armed with persistence and creativity, I dove headfirst into the hunt.

After countless hours of research, I’ve identified several potential avenues to obtain or recreate the elusive Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing:

Directly from an Applebee’s Restaurant
This is a long shot, but I’ve heard whispers of some locations selling dressing bottles on special request. Of course, policies vary by individual restaurant. Reaching out to request a bottle or two can’t hurt. At best, they say yes. At worst, you get a funny look from a teenage host.

Online Resellers
Sites like eBay or Craigslist may offer people reselling dressing bottles, but exercise caution. Verifying legitimacy is crucial, as many might be scams or expired/tampered products. I don’t recommend buying from an unverified source.

Similar Commercial Brands
Asian-style prepared salad dressings from brands like Kraft or Marzetti do mimic Applebee’s flavor profile. They use comparable ingredients like ginger, sesame, soy sauce, etc. Through trial and error, you may find one you enjoy.

DIY Copycat Recipes
This is the route I ultimately pursued. Numerous copycat recipes exist online, with helpful reviews and tips. You can control the freshness and tweak flavors to your tastes. After several iterations, my homemade version comes insanely close to Applebee’s.

Once I accepted that acquiring those elusive Applebee’s bottles would be near-impossible, making my own dressing became an exciting challenge. It satisfied my cravings for that tangy sweetness, while sparking a rewarding creative process.

If you’re also on this quest, I’d strongly suggest the homemade path. Start with a promising online recipe, thenpersonalize from there. Pay close attention to ingredient quality and proportions. With practice, you can absolutely produce a restaurant-worthy Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing from your own kitchen.

I’d recommend using low-sodium soy sauce, and adding honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, and garlic as the base. Whisk vigorously or use a blender for smooth emulsification. Let the dressed salad rest before serving, so the flavors can properly meld.

This homemade dressing also has great versatility beyond salads. I’ve enjoyed it as a marinade, stir fry sauce, dipping sauce, and so much more. The options are endless.

While buying Applebee’s exact Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing remains an elusive proposition, with some culinary creativity, you can fully recreate the delicious experience yourself. Considering Applebee’s has fiercely guarded this recipe for over 30 years, producing somethingindistinguishable is an impressive feat.

Who knows, maybe one day I’ll happen to spot a bottle in my local grocery store. But for now, I’m satisfied mastering my own rendition. The joy of cooking is taking an beloved idea and making it your own. This dressing has been a tasty vessel for that journey – I can’t wait to see where my culinary experiments take me next. The next big challenge? Perfection their queso…