Favorite Plate: My love-at-first-bite affair with Ginger’s General Tso’anders Fried Chicken

From the editor: This column, by Anchorage Press contributor Lily Miller, marks the first in a monthly feature we're calling, for now, Favorite Plate.

The concept: readers write in with their favorite single dish that they order at an Anchorage area establishment. Have your own idea? Sent a two-sentence pitch to Press editor Nathaniel Herz at nat@anchoragepress.com. We'll pay for successful pitches, plus buy you an order of the dish to refresh your memory.

I moved to Alaska for a man. 

I know what you're thinking. “Another transplant who will leave the second they break up.” 

You would be right, if I hadn’t met General Tso’ander. 

The man I moved here for couldn’t keep me, but Ginger’s General Tso’anders Fried Chicken could. My longest relationship to date, four years. I have never strayed. My eyes have never wandered. I've never accidentally glanced at the drunken noodles or panang beef curry. I know what I want.

We met on an icy night, the first winter I was here. I was craving something warm and filling that felt like a home-cooked meal. Ginger’s sleek exterior juxtaposed with its cozy, inviting dining room practically dared me to come in, promising a dining experience that I didn’t expect to find in downtown Anchorage.

I browsed the menu and my eyes immediately found General Tso’ander. The description was exactly what I was looking for.

Marinated chicken crusted in chickpea flour, tossed in a blend of Nashville and general tso’s sauces served over jasmine rice and finished with pickled ginger-habanero cucumbers. 

Warm. Hearty. A little spicy. Comfort food with a twist.

The bowl came out, piled high with crispy chicken. I dug in and realized this must be what people mean by “love at first bite.” The chicken was irresistibly juicy, yet somehow still crispy despite being drenched in sauce. The Nashville heat hit my tastebuds first, but before it overwhelmed me, the sweetness of the General Tso’s sauce snuck in. The flavors didn’t compete with each other, and even if they had, I couldn’t pick a winner. 

While the fried chicken is clearly the star of the dish, I quickly learned that the best bites included all three components: the chicken, the fluffy jasmine rice, and crunchy cucumbers that are the perfect mix of spicy and sour. The ingredients on their own are incredible, but when all three combine, they create a mix of flavors and textures that is impossible to stop eating. The rice soaks up the sauce without getting soggy, the chicken’s flavor explodes in your mouth, and the cucumbers add a crisp cut of freshness to even it all out.

Ginger quickly became one of my favorite restaurants in Anchorage, all because of this one dish. 

I know that every honeymoon phase comes to an end. Mine never did. General Tso’ander isn’t a cheap date, but four years later, he’s still my go-to for celebrations, birthdays, and treating myself after a hard day at work. 

My devotion to the General was rewarded on my 24th birthday, the best day of my life. I went to Ginger, like I always do for special occasions. I ordered General Tso'anders Fried Chicken so quickly the server probably assumed I didn’t know how to read the menu.

Halfway through enjoying my birthday dinner, my server came out carrying a second dish of General Tso'anders. I looked up at him, baffled, thinking he must've made a mistake. 

"I'm so sorry,” he said. “We kind of skimped out on the portions of your first dish. The chef made you another one to make up for it." 

I couldn't believe it. It was the best birthday gift I could ask for. Not only was I at my favorite restaurant, surrounded by the people who’ve made Anchorage feel like home, but now I got to take back leftovers of the world’s tastiest fried chicken.

I will never claim to be a particularly adventurous diner, but I know what it means to settle. I didn’t settle for the man that brought me to Alaska, but I will happily commit to General Tso'ander for the rest of my life. I still haven't tried another entrée at Ginger, and I don't feel like I'm missing out. Some people chase variety. I've found the one.

Lily Miller lives, writes and eats in Anchorage.

Ginger, 425 W. 5th Ave., Anchorage. A General Tso'anders entree is $33.