Sesame chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish featuring crispy pieces of fried chicken coated in a sweet, savory sauce and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. While it resembles traditional Chinese dishes that combine fried meats with flavorful sauces, sesame chicken itself was developed in North America as part of the Chinese-American culinary tradition. Likely inspired by similar dishes such as General Tso’s chicken or la zi ji (spicy Sichuan chicken), it was adapted with a milder, sweeter flavor and the distinctive sesame garnish to suit Western tastes, becoming a favorite in Chinese takeout.