17 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (2024)

FAQs

What's the most popular item at Panda Express? ›

The Original Orange Chicken

In fact, at every Panda Express we've ever been to, the dish is served from a bowl on the counter that's nearly twice the size of all the others. It's a true testament to the food's consistent popularity. And the dish isn't just a bestseller because of hype — it's actually pretty good!

FRIED RICE

Steamed white rice with soy sauce, eggs, peas, carrots and green onions.

The most famous dish at Panda Express is the Orange Chicken. Inspired by flavors of the Hunan Province in China, Chef Andy Kho developed it in 1987, and it has been a consistent part of the menu ever since. Distinguished with its orange-flavored chili sauce, it has spawned several 'copycat' recipes.

Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food. Panda Express uses only 100% pure soybean oil in the preparation of recipes.

Unfortunately, if it's a nutritious meal you're on the hunt for, this one isn't it. "Panda Express's Orange Chicken and Chow Mein are considered unhealthy due to their high levels of sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats," says Young.

Or the nutrition side of things? Fried rice has 570 calories (extra calories are from fat) and 900mg sodium. However, chow mien has fewer calories of 400, but a huge amount of sodium 1,060mg! Another thing that you could look at would be the number of vegetables in each dish perhaps.

Substitute Chow Mein and Fried Rice with Brown Rice: - Brown rice contains extra nutrients, fiber and protein. - It will keep you fuller longer and give you added benefits. 3. Ask for sauces on the side: - Grilled Teriyaki Chicken with the sauce in a side container.

So what's the healthier order, fried rice or lo mein? Short answer: lo mein. Yes, both dishes usually come slathered in sauce, but the rice offers the unfortunate double-whammy of being fried in oil first.

Is Panda Express owned by McDonald's? No. Husband and wife co-founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng still own and run their privately-held company, The Panda Restaurant Group.

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is the parent company of Panda Inn, Panda Express and Hibachi-San. It was founded by Andrew and Peggy Tsiang Cherng and Andrew's father, Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng; the family originated from the Yangzhou region of China's Jiangsu province.

Did Panda Express stop using MSG? ›

Panda Express claims that they do not add extra MSG to their food, but they issued disclaimer that ingredients they use could include MSG. Panda Express is "fast food" and the largest Chinese fast food chain. There are probably many better options for Chinese Food in most metropolitan areas.

I asked the chef there how they make their meat so tender and it's like what most people have been guessing. She said, “The marinade and baking soda are what make it tender.” I marinade the meat that I stir fry with baking soda all the time and it works.

You can order the super greens at Panda Express as either an entrée, side dish, or kid's meal. It's made of a blend of healthy veggies that includes broccoli, cabbage, and kale.

Chinese American healthy side dish comprised of cabbage, kale, and broccoli in a garlicky sauce. What is in panda express super greens? In addition to the cabbage, kale, and broccoli, Panda Express uses a stock-based garlic sauce thickened with starch. Veggies are sautéed in butter and seasoned with salt.

Panda Express is the biggest Chinese fast food restaurant chain in the United States. Famous for its orange chicken and chow mein, it has over 1800 locations and 27,000 employees around the world.

Behind Panera in the top meal price spot came Chipotle at $14.34, then Shake Shack, followed by Panda Express at $10.32 per meal, then Wendy's at $9.89, Taco Bell at $9.69, McDonald's at $8.87, and Chik-fil-A at the cheapest.

pandaexpress.com's top 5 competitors in March 2024 are: subway.com, pfchangs.com, pandaguestexperience.com, arbys.com, and more. According to Similarweb data of monthly visits, pandaexpress.com's top competitor in March 2024 is subway.com with 13.5M visits.

I thought McDonald's would be a cheaper option while Panda Express is of higher quality and therefore more expensive. But from what I've found, Panda Express offers healthier food, there's more of it, and it's even cheaper! So as you can see, it's not just a matter of McDonald's versus Panda Express.