Panda Express Menu with Prices - Fresh Wok Cooking and Asian-American Cuisine
Panda Express has revolutionized fast-casual dining by bringing authentic Chinese cooking techniques and Asian-American flavors to a convenient, accessible format. Since Andrew Cherng opened the first Panda Express in 1983 at the Glendale Galleria in California, the chain has grown to become America's largest Asian fast-casual restaurant, serving over 3 billion servings annually. The panda express menu with prices offers an extensive selection of wok-prepared entrees, fried rice, chow mein, and appetizers that combine traditional Chinese cooking methods with American tastes and preferences. From their famous Orange Chicken to their Honey Walnut Shrimp and Beijing Beef, Panda Express continues to deliver fresh, flavorful meals that satisfy both authenticity seekers and casual diners looking for quick, satisfying Asian cuisine.
The Panda Express concept emerged from Andrew Cherng's vision of making Chinese food more accessible to American consumers while maintaining the quality and cooking techniques that define authentic Chinese cuisine. The company's commitment to "wok cooking" means that most entrees are prepared fresh throughout the day using traditional Chinese cooking methods, ensuring that customers receive food that's both authentic in preparation and optimized for American tastes.
Panda Express's most iconic dish, Orange Chicken, represents the perfect fusion of Chinese cooking techniques with American flavor preferences. This dish features battered and fried chicken pieces tossed in a sweet and tangy orange sauce that balances citrus brightness with subtle heat. The chicken is prepared fresh throughout the day, ensuring optimal texture and flavor, while the sauce provides the perfect coating that clings to each piece without being overwhelming. Orange Chicken has become so popular that it's often considered the gateway dish that introduces American consumers to Chinese-American cuisine.
The Beijing Beef offers a different flavor profile with its crispy beef strips tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce with bell peppers and onions. This dish showcases Panda Express's ability to create complex flavors through traditional wok cooking techniques while maintaining the visual appeal and accessibility that American diners appreciate. The beef's crispy texture contrasts beautifully with the tender vegetables and glossy sauce.
Honey Walnut Shrimp represents one of Panda Express's premium offerings, featuring large shrimp with candied walnuts in a creamy sauce. This dish demonstrates the restaurant's capability to prepare seafood with the same attention to quality and flavor that defines their chicken and beef offerings. The combination of sweet, creamy, and nutty flavors creates a sophisticated dish that rivals those found in full-service Chinese restaurants.
The Kung Pao Chicken provides options for diners who prefer spicier flavors, featuring diced chicken wok-tossed with peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers in a savory sauce. This dish maintains authentic Sichuan flavors while adjusting the heat level to accommodate mainstream American palates. The combination of tender chicken, crunchy peanuts, and aromatic spices creates a complex flavor experience that demonstrates Panda Express's understanding of traditional Chinese cuisine.
Panda Express's chow mein represents their interpretation of this classic Chinese noodle dish, featuring soft noodles wok-tossed with cabbage, celery, and onions. The noodles are prepared fresh and maintain the proper texture that defines quality chow mein, while the vegetables provide crunch and freshness that balance the dish's overall composition. This side dish has become as popular as many entrees and often serves as a base for customers creating their own combination plates.
The Fried Rice at Panda Express showcases traditional Chinese rice preparation techniques, featuring day-old rice that's wok-fried with eggs, peas, carrots, and green onions. This preparation method ensures that each grain of rice maintains its individual texture while absorbing the flavors from the other ingredients. The result is a side dish that perfectly complements their various entrees while standing on its own as a satisfying option.
Steamed Rice provides a simple, authentic base that allows the flavors of Panda Express's various entrees to shine through without competition. Prepared fresh throughout the day, this rice maintains the proper texture and moisture that defines quality steamed rice while providing the neutral backdrop that's essential to Chinese dining.
The SweetFire Chicken demonstrates Panda Express's ability to create new dishes that maintain their quality standards while exploring different flavor profiles. This dish features crispy chicken pieces tossed in a pineapple and red bell pepper sauce that provides sweetness balanced with subtle heat. The combination creates a dish that's both familiar and exciting, appealing to adventurous diners while remaining accessible to traditional tastes.
Panda Express's appetizer selection includes items that showcase different aspects of Chinese cuisine while maintaining the convenience factor that defines their concept. The Chicken Egg Rolls feature a crispy wrapper filled with seasoned chicken and vegetables, providing a traditional starter that's perfect for sharing or enjoying as a light meal. The Cream Cheese Rangoons offer a more Americanized option with their sweet cream cheese filling wrapped in crispy wonton skins.
The Chicken Potstickers represent Panda Express's interpretation of these popular Chinese dumplings, featuring seasoned chicken filling wrapped in delicate dumpling skins and pan-fried to achieve the perfect balance of crispy bottom and tender top. These dumplers are served with a soy-based dipping sauce that enhances their flavor while maintaining authenticity.
Panda Express's commitment to freshness extends beyond their entrees to include their preparation methods and ingredient sourcing. The company has made significant investments in supply chain management to ensure that ingredients meet their quality standards while maintaining the consistency that customers expect across thousands of locations.
The restaurant's pricing strategy emphasizes value while maintaining quality, with various combination options that allow customers to sample multiple items at attractive prices. The Plate options include one, two, or three entrees with choice of sides, providing flexibility for different appetites and preferences while ensuring that customers receive generous portions at reasonable prices.
Family Feast options provide larger portions designed for sharing, making Panda Express a viable option for family dinners or group meals. These larger format offerings demonstrate the restaurant's understanding that their food can serve various dining occasions beyond quick individual meals.
Panda Express's catering services extend their restaurant experience to larger groups and special events. Their catering menu includes party-sized portions of popular items, making it possible to bring their Asian-American cuisine to offices, celebrations, and other gatherings where convenient, flavorful food is needed.
The company's commitment to nutrition and transparency includes providing detailed nutritional information for all menu items, helping customers make informed choices about their meals. They've also introduced lighter options and have worked to reduce sodium content across their menu while maintaining the flavors that customers expect.
Seasonal and limited-time offerings keep the Panda Express menu exciting throughout the year, with special items that often showcase regional Chinese dishes or innovative fusion creations. These special offerings frequently become permanent menu items based on customer response, demonstrating the company's responsiveness to customer preferences.
Panda Express's beverage program includes traditional options like hot tea alongside American favorites like soft drinks and juices. Their fortune cookies, while not traditionally Chinese, have become an expected part of the Panda Express experience and provide a sweet ending to meals while maintaining the cultural connection that customers appreciate.
The restaurant's commitment to speed and efficiency ensures that customers can enjoy freshly prepared Chinese-American cuisine without the wait times associated with traditional Chinese restaurants. This combination of quality, speed, and value has made Panda Express a popular choice for lunch breaks, quick dinners, and casual dining occasions.
Employee training at Panda Express emphasizes proper wok cooking techniques and food safety procedures, ensuring that the quality customers experience in one location will be replicated across the chain. This attention to training and standardization has been crucial to maintaining consistency as the company has expanded nationwide.
Technology integration includes mobile ordering and delivery partnerships that make Panda Express more accessible while maintaining food quality. The company has invested in packaging and delivery methods that ensure their wok-prepared foods maintain optimal temperature and texture during transport.
With over 2,200 locations across the United States and continued expansion plans, Panda Express remains committed to delivering fresh, flavorful Asian-American cuisine through consistent quality and innovative menu development. Their success demonstrates the American appetite for authentic cooking techniques combined with familiar flavors and convenient service.
Whether you're craving their famous Orange Chicken, want to try their premium Honey Walnut Shrimp, or prefer the authentic flavors of Kung Pao Chicken, Panda Express delivers the fresh, wok-prepared cuisine that has made them America's favorite Asian fast-casual restaurant. The combination of traditional cooking methods, quality ingredients, and convenient service creates dining experiences that satisfy both authenticity seekers and casual diners looking for flavorful, satisfying meals. For those interested in exploring more restaurants that combine authentic cooking techniques with convenient service, visit SoFoody for more restaurant menus and discover the diverse world of fast-casual dining options that prioritize both quality and convenience.
