Panda Express: Menu, Prices, Nutrition, Coupons & More

Panda Express is one of the most recognized fast casual chains in the United States. Millions of people search panda express near me every week when they want a quick Chinese American meal. This guide covers everything you need before your next visit. You will find menu prices, popular dishes, nutrition facts, coupons, careers, and answers to common questions.

Whether you crave orange chicken panda express style or want a lighter bowl with super greens panda express style veggies, this article breaks it all down in plain language.

Panda Express Near Me

Finding a location is usually the first step before ordering. Panda Express operates more than 2,500 restaurants across the United States, plus locations in several other countries. Most cities have at least one store inside a shopping mall, strip plaza, or standalone building near a highway exit.

The easiest way to find a nearby restaurant is through the official website or the panda express app. Both tools use your location to show the closest stores, current panda express hours, and whether delivery or drive thru is available at that spot. Many locations open around 10:00 a.m. and close between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., though hours shift on holidays and vary by state.

If you prefer not to use an app, a quick web search for panda express near me pulls up a map with distance, ratings, and store hours instantly. This works well when traveling or when you are unfamiliar with an area. Some travelers also check airport terminals, since Panda Express has locations inside many major airports and college campuses.

Here is a quick snapshot of what to check before heading out:

• Confirm the store hours for that specific day, since holiday hours differ
• Check if online ordering or delivery is active at that location
• Look for drive thru availability if you are short on time
• Check the panda express app for mobile order pickup windows

Panda Express Menu With Prices

The panda express menu with prices follows a simple build your own format. You choose a base size, like a bowl, plate, or bigger plate, then pick your entrees and sides. This structure makes the panda express menu flexible for different appetites and budgets.

Prices vary by state and city, so treat the numbers below as general estimates rather than fixed prices. Local taxes and regional cost of living affect what you pay at checkout.

Menu Item	Description	Approximate Price
Bowl	1 entree, 1 side	$8.50 to $9.50
Plate	2 entrees, 1 side	$10.50 to $11.50
Bigger Plate	3 entrees, 1 side	$11.50 to $12.80
A La Carte Entree	Single protein portion	$5.50 to $7.70
A La Carte Side	Rice, noodles, or vegetables	$3.00 to $4.60
Family Meal	Feeds 4 to 5 people	$42.00 to $45.00
Appetizers	Egg rolls, spring rolls, rangoons	$2.00 to $2.50
Drinks	Fountain, bottled, crafted refreshers	$2.20 to $3.30

Premium entrees like Honey Walnut Shrimp often carry a small upcharge compared to standard chicken or beef options. This is common across most panda express menu with prices listings since shrimp costs more to source than chicken.

For families, the panda express family meal is usually the better value. It includes multiple large entrees and sides meant to feed several people, which brings the cost per person down compared to ordering individual plates. A typical family meal serving four to five people works out to roughly eight to nine dollars per person, which beats ordering separate bowls for everyone.

Gift cards are also worth mentioning here. You can check your panda express gift card balance online through the official site or in the app. Gift cards make a simple present for coworkers or friends who enjoy takeout Chinese food, and they never expire.

Popular Panda Express Dishes

Some dishes have stayed on the menu for decades because customers keep ordering them. Below are the standout choices people search for most often.

Orange Chicken is the dish that built the brand. Crispy chicken pieces get tossed in a sweet and tangy orange sauce with a mild kick. It remains the single best selling item on the menu and the one most new customers try first.

Beijing Beef pairs crispy beef strips with bell peppers and onions in a sweet and spicy sauce. Fans of beijing beef panda express style dishes often compare it directly to Orange Chicken as the second most popular entree.

Kung Pao Chicken brings diced chicken, peanuts, and vegetables together in a spicy chili sauce. This is the go to pick for anyone who wants heat without ordering a limited time item.

Honey Sesame Chicken Breast offers a lighter, crispier option coated in a honey glaze with sesame seeds. It has a milder flavor profile compared to Orange Chicken, which makes it popular with kids and people who prefer less sauce.

Black Pepper Sirloin Steak is a premium entree with tender steak pieces, onions, and peppers in a peppery sauce. This one tends to sell out faster at some locations since beef sourcing costs more.

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is one of the leaner protein choices on the menu. Because it is grilled instead of fried, it appeals to customers looking for a lower calorie option without sacrificing flavor.

Broccoli Beef and Mushroom Chicken round out the classic lineup with lighter sauces and more vegetables per serving.

A quick list of the most searched entrees:

• Orange Chicken
• Beijing Beef
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
• Black Pepper Sirloin Steak
• Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
• Broccoli Beef
• Honey Walnut Shrimp

On the side dish front, panda express chow mein and panda express fried rice remain the two most ordered bases. Both pair well with almost any entree, though Chow Mein tends to be the slightly more popular choice among regular customers.

Panda Express Nutrition & Calories

Anyone tracking their diet should look closely at panda express nutrition information before ordering. Portion sizes and sauces make a big difference in total panda express calories per meal.

Item	Approximate Calories
Orange Chicken (entree)	490
Beijing Beef (entree)	480
Kung Pao Chicken (entree)	290
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (entree)	275
Honey Walnut Shrimp (entree)	360
Broccoli Beef (entree)	150
Super Greens (side)	90
Fried Rice (side)	520
Chow Mein (side)	510
White Rice (side)	380

A standard bowl with one entree and one side generally lands under 600 calories. A plate with two entrees and one side typically ranges between 700 and 900 calories, depending on the proteins chosen. Bigger Plates, which include three entrees, can climb past 1,200 calories, so portion awareness matters if you order that size.

Is panda express healthy? 

The honest answer is that it depends on your choices. Fried entrees like Orange Chicken and fried rice carry more calories, sodium, and fat. Grilled options like Teriyaki Chicken paired with super greens panda express style vegetables create a much lighter meal. Swapping fried rice or chow mein for Super Greens alone can cut several hundred calories from your plate.

For allergy concerns, Panda Express publishes a panda express allergen menu online that lists common allergens like soy, wheat, shellfish, and eggs across each dish. This resource is helpful for anyone managing food allergies or sensitivities.

On the topic of panda express gluten free options, several entrees like Broccoli Beef and Kung Pao Chicken use a gluten containing soy sauce base, so true gluten free eating at Panda Express requires checking the allergen guide carefully rather than assuming any dish qualifies. Some sides and proteins are safer bets than others, but cross contact in a shared kitchen is always a factor to consider.

Panda Express Coupons, Deals & Promo Codes

Saving money on your order is easier once you know where to look for a panda express coupon code. The brand runs regular promotions through its loyalty program and mobile app.

Here are the main ways to find current deals:

• Download the panda express app and join Panda Rewards for points on every purchase
• Watch for a first order discount when signing up as a new Rewards member
• Check email newsletters for seasonal panda express deals
• Follow social media accounts for flash promotions and limited announcements
• Look for double points days that let members earn rewards faster

Panda Rewards members typically earn points per dollar spent, which convert into free entrees, sides, or drinks after reaching certain thresholds. New app users often receive a welcome offer, such as a free entree with their first mobile order, which is one of the simplest ways to try a panda express coupon without hunting for a code online.

Third party coupon sites sometimes list a panda express promo code, but these change frequently and are not always valid at every location. The safest and most reliable source for an active panda express coupons offer is the official app or website, since third party listings can be outdated.

Around major holidays like Chinese New Year, the brand sometimes offers bonus perks tied to gift card purchases, giving extra value to shoppers buying gift cards for family or coworkers.

Panda Express Careers & Jobs

Panda Express is known for hiring in large numbers since nearly every location is company owned rather than franchised. If you are researching panda express careers, you will find openings ranging from entry level cashier and cook positions to store management and corporate roles at the Rosemead, California headquarters.

The company has built a reputation for investing in employee development. Many managers started as entry level team members and moved up through internal training programs. This career path is part of why panda express hiring posts often mention promotion from within as a core value.

Common entry level roles include:

• Team member or cashier
• Wok cook
• Shift leader
• Assistant store manager
• General manager

Benefits for eligible employees often include health coverage, paid time off, and access to subsidized college courses after a set period of employment. These programs make panda express jobs appealing to students and career changers alike, since the company frames itself as a long term employer rather than a short term stopover.

To apply, most candidates use the careers section of the official website, where open positions are searchable by location and job type. Corporate roles in marketing, supply chain, and culinary innovation are also listed there for candidates outside of restaurant operations.

Panda Express Returning & Limited-Time Dishes

Limited time items are a big part of what keeps regular customers checking the menu. The most talked about panda express returning spicy dish in recent memory is Hot Orange Chicken, a spicier take on the signature entree made with roughly six times more crushed chili than the original recipe.

Hot Orange Chicken debuted in 2024 and sold out quickly at many locations due to demand. Panda Express has brought it back multiple times since, often timed around National Orange Chicken Day in mid July. The chain announced its return beginning July 11, just days before National Orange Chicken Day on July 15. The recipe uses roughly six times more crushed chili peppers than the original Orange Chicken, along with the same scorched dried chilies used in Kung Pao Chicken.

Another notable limited time collaboration was Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken, created with the Korean hot sauce brand Buldak. Panda Express called it the spiciest dish it had released to date when the item launched nationwide. The entree combined traditional Cantonese style sweet and sour flavors with the heat from Buldak’s spicy profile. Panda Restaurant Group

These drops tend to follow a pattern. A dish launches for a limited window, builds a following, disappears, then returns later by popular demand. If you want to catch the next spicy release, following the brand’s app notifications or social accounts is the most reliable method, since these items sell out fast once word spreads.

Beyond spicy collaborations, Panda Express has also tested items like a Sichuan Chicken and Fries Shake Box at select locations, showing the brand continues to experiment with new formats beyond the traditional bowl and plate structure.

About Panda Express

Panda Express began as a fast service spin off of a sit down restaurant called Panda Inn. Panda Restaurant Group was founded in 1973 by Andrew Cherng, along with his wife and his father, a master chef. Andrew Cherng and his father were born in China, while Peggy Cherng was born in Burma and raised in Hong Kong.

Who owns Panda Express? Panda Restaurant Group is entirely owned by co-founders Andrew Cherng and Peggy Cherng, who hold their equity through the Cherng Family Trust. The brand has never franchised, never sold equity to outside investors, and never gone public, which is unusual for a chain with more than 2,600 locations. Companies History

The company grew steadily over the following decades. The chain reached 100 locations by 1993 and crossed 1,000 restaurants along with one billion dollars in revenue by 2007. Today the brand serves customers across dozens of countries beyond the United States, though the vast majority of restaurants remain domestic.

Orange Chicken has been central to the brand’s identity since it launched. The company reported serving 148 million pounds of the entree in 2025 alone, accounting for roughly one third of all entrees sold chain wide. This single dish essentially defined American Chinese fast food for an entire generation of diners.

Panda Express headquarters remains in Rosemead, California, where the company continues to develop new menu items and manage its nationwide operations. The family ownership structure means major decisions, from menu changes to expansion pace, stay under direct control of the Cherng family rather than outside shareholders.

Frequently Asked Questions About Panda Express