Playing With Fire

Panda Express teamed up with Samyang Foods, maker of the viral Buldak instant noodles, to develop Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken featuring Buldak Hot Sauce. Following a successful 10-market test, the chain took the dish nationwide in March 2026. Crispy marinated chicken in puffed-rice batter is wok-tossed with red bell peppers and onions in a custom-formulated buldak sauce, layering formidable heat onto the familiar sweet, tangy profile of sweet-and-sour chicken. Panda Express describes the sauce as five-and-a-half times hotter than the one used for its Blazing Bourbon Chicken.

The collaboration marks an important crossover moment for buldak. Rather than asking consumers to adopt the traditional Korean dish—or even another noodle preparation—it brings the viral flavor to an established American menu favorite, signaling its potential to move from social media sensation to a more familiar heat choice.