Kung Pao chicken is one of the most famous dishes of Sichuan cuisine, named after a Qing dynasty official's title. It relies on the «chao» technique — very fast stir-frying over extremely high heat for mere seconds — keeping the chicken tender inside and crispy outside.

Kung Pao is known for its unique balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and salty flavors, finished with roasted peanuts and dried chilies for its signature crunch.