kung pao
adjective
ˈkəŋ-ˈpau̇ 
ˈküŋ-,
ˈku̇ŋ-
: being stir-fried or sometimes deep-fried and served in a spicy hot sauce usually with peanuts
kung pao chicken
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Noodle Bar: This Asian restaurant serves a mix of authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes, including soup and stir-fried noodles, fried rice and chef specials like Peking duck and spicy kung pao seafood. 
San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 The discount diner who is ordering the kung pao chicken dumplings or steak and cheese sandwiches at a great price pays a fraction of the value of the food ordered. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2022 Dumpling flavors, starting at $5 a serving, include PBJ, pastrami, pepperoni, bacon cheeseburger, cheesesteak, kung pao chicken, short rib, French onion soup, crab soup, seafood, chicken and ginger. Susan Dunne, courant.com, 25 Mar. 2022 Tiger’s Chinese Cuisine also serves a number of dishes better known in the U.S. and commonly found in Chinese restaurants here such as General Tso’s chicken, Mongolian beef and kung pao shrimp in addition to its wide range of Sichuanese offerings. Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Mar. 2022 The red oil might be more familiar to those who’ve eaten Sichuan versions of dishes like mapo tofu or kung pao chicken, but the strikingly fragrant green oil is a revelation. Andy Wang, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2022 The restaurant offers entrees like kung pao, sweet and sour and teriyaki chicken in addition to a variety of stir fry, curry and soup offerings. Garrett Moore, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2022 Inside, a towering trompo of pork revolves next to ingredients for popular Chinese, Thai and Japanese dishes like kung pao pork, pad thai and chicken teriyaki. Ariel Cheung, chicagotribune.com, 29 Dec. 2021 Everybody loves kung pao dishes from their local takeout. Kristine M. Kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2021 See More
San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 The discount diner who is ordering the kung pao chicken dumplings or steak and cheese sandwiches at a great price pays a fraction of the value of the food ordered. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2022 Dumpling flavors, starting at $5 a serving, include PBJ, pastrami, pepperoni, bacon cheeseburger, cheesesteak, kung pao chicken, short rib, French onion soup, crab soup, seafood, chicken and ginger. Susan Dunne, courant.com, 25 Mar. 2022 Tiger’s Chinese Cuisine also serves a number of dishes better known in the U.S. and commonly found in Chinese restaurants here such as General Tso’s chicken, Mongolian beef and kung pao shrimp in addition to its wide range of Sichuanese offerings. Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Mar. 2022 The red oil might be more familiar to those who’ve eaten Sichuan versions of dishes like mapo tofu or kung pao chicken, but the strikingly fragrant green oil is a revelation. Andy Wang, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2022 The restaurant offers entrees like kung pao, sweet and sour and teriyaki chicken in addition to a variety of stir fry, curry and soup offerings. Garrett Moore, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2022 Inside, a towering trompo of pork revolves next to ingredients for popular Chinese, Thai and Japanese dishes like kung pao pork, pad thai and chicken teriyaki. Ariel Cheung, chicagotribune.com, 29 Dec. 2021 Everybody loves kung pao dishes from their local takeout. Kristine M. Kierzek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Chinese (Beijing) gōng bǎo "palace guardian" in the name of such dishes (as gōng bǎo jī dīng "kung pao diced chicken")
Note: The dish allegedly received its name because it was frequently served to Dīng Bǎozhēn (1820-86), a Qing (Ching) dynasty offical who served as the governor of Sichuan province (1876-86); his unofficial title was gōng bǎo.
First Known Use
1976, in the meaning defined above