Orange chicken is an Americanized version of Chinese Tangerine Chicken. Orange chicken is made with oranges. The chicken pieces are usually battered and deep fried and then swimming in a sweet and sour sauce.   Mandarin or tangerine chicken is usually NOT deep fried. It is usually made with mandarin or tangerine oranges that are a little sweet and also a little sour. However, the most prominent distinction is that tangerine chicken is usually spicy. Whereas, orange chicken’s prominent flavor is sweet.