Crispy Wonton Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

I'm just here to say do yourself a favor and read the absolutely beautiful article Eric Kim wrote to introduce this recipe. It'll give you a big lump in your throat (NY Times Magazine, June 22, 2022).

Crispy, fried shallots or onions (store bought) is a brilliant substitute to the fried wontons...

I make a very similar cabbage-based version of this based off a Marion Grasby recipe. I like it because it uses up the wonton bags all the Chinese takeouts include here in NYC. I started adding duck sauce packets to the dressing, which is the only useful application I ever found (serving same purpose as apricot preserves here). Try adding in a diced red chile, some crushed peanuts, and fried shallots too!

Sometimes I think there should be a 24-hour "grace period" before comments are allowed here and elsewhere; it would give what is truly a negligible impulse -- "Oh, I should say this!" -- time to pass. Most people would move on after twenty-four hours to other opportunities to comment on other things, and the comments that do get made might be more pertinent. You're exactly right.

I’m having a hard time reading the notes in this recipe. No subs! No changes!!! Don’t mess w the The memory being invoked here. Eric not only gets the recipe right but all of the nostalgia too.

Pita chips would probably work pretty well.

I was wondering if fried chow mein noodles would be a good substitute, too.

I would take my late mother and father to Souplantation whenever they visited me in Southern California. My Dad would always ask if he could get me anything more, “It’s on me!” and we could groan from the dad joke. My mother perfected the art of removing the chicken from the chicken noodle soup and adding it to her salad. I miss my parents and I miss Souplantation. What a beautiful piece. Thank you Eric.

The first thing my father (now gone) always did after picking me up at the airport in Sarasota, FL was take me to Sweet Tomatoes (now, also gone). Sometimes, life just isn't. Life isn't always fair, especially when there's no great fare to get you through the day.

Cooked wonton wrappers for the first time, they were delish and I loved the crunch. I added mandarin for some extra sweetness and the salad dressing was perfect. Thank you.

Wonton substitute: Crush a third or half package of ramen noodles into smallish pieces and fry in butter until brown, adding a handful sesame seeds at the last minute. Salt if using unsalted butter.

I added mandarin oranges and toasted almond slivers. Delicious!

Chili powder might suffice in a pinch, but tastes fairly generic. To get some flavor closer to Asia, sambal oelek or even sriracha would make for a more distinct and fresher flavor.

Sweet Tomatoes was Soup Plantation here. Still mourning so thank you for the recipe! I always went for this salad first.

Yes, read the article. This is why I favor recipes with "stories" attached instead of just a recipe by itself. All of us who loved Sweet Tomatoes & this salad would love the recipe alone but with this beautiful story that has parts we've all experienced makes me save it on my hard drive. Thx, Eric, for both of them.

Followed recipe and used store bought wonton strips. Came out amazing!

Really good, definitely will make again. DH likes lots of veggies in his salads so I added cucumber, one shredded carrot, frozen peas (thawed, of course) and the rest of the Napa cabbage I had in the fridge. Didn't have the wonton wrappers so used a thin pita chip (not best option, but ok). DH went back for a big bowl of seconds!

Delicious! The dressing is wonderful as is and I used all other ingredients (subbed purchased wonton crisps) but wanted to bulk it up a bit since I was serving for dinner main course. Added red cabbage & carrots for colour & crunch, fried shallots, peanuts and avocado. Think next time (and there will be a next time) I’ll add some orange segments too!

I’ve made this salad several times. I love it. But skip frying the wontons and pick up some crispy soup chips (fried wonton strips) from your favorite Chinese restaurant.

This recipe is dynamite! Easy and super delish. The chili powder in the dressing is the secret to the success of this recipe.I double the dressing, add shredded red cabbage & carrots plus chopped Persian cucumbers to the mix to make it a little more hearty (but leave out the chicken since I don’t eat it.)

No jam more wontons

True confessions I buy the pre-packaged wonton crisps. And I sub basil for cilantro because I'm growing the former.

We made this with homemade plum jam and chicken tenders (!!!) from the hot food section at our local grocery store, plus crushed ramen noodles instead of wontons as they did not have them. It was pure Americana bliss- like the best salad you’ve ever had at your soccer team potluck circa 2008. Will be making this into wraps for lunch

I did not use the soy, chili powder or onion powder and it was just fine without it. I also let the chicken marinate in the sauce for about an hour. And I made my own wonton strips. It was really good! 😉

I found this recipe whilst looking for ways to use the giant hater of peach preserves my husband had purchased at Costco. I’ve made this three times so far this summer and it’s the best way I’ve found so far to get my kids to eat salad. Delicious.

I absolutely love this salad and the story behind the recipe. It's become a regular on the rotation at my house. My husband doesn't like romaine, so I made it with red leaf. Probably doesn't hold up against the dressing as well, but it's really easy to adjust the amount of dressing to compensate. Also, if you have the time, it is well worth it to fry the wonton strips-- I don't think I can ever go back to the pre-packaged ones!

Excellent just as written . . . except . . . I think I should have added the dressing LAST as even though I had the exact amounts of lettuce and herbs prescribed, my salad was drowning in dressing. (And we also like a little more chicken in our salads.)Otherwise . . .

A perfect OG American Chinese chicken salad. And perfectly good with chow mien noodles or ramen noodles when the grocery store doesn’t have any wonton skins.

I love, love, love this salad. Fried wonton is a bit messy and fussy to make for this. So I've now substituted crunchy chow mein noodles. Tastes just as good and quick. It is staple during our hot summers in Tucson.

Target carries in stock in its stores Wonton Strips under its "Good and Gather" label.