The first thing you notice when you step into a Panda Express is the aroma, bold and in your face. If you’re lucky enough to get in line without much of a wait, you might find yourself suddenly panic-stricken. What’s it going to be today?
Boasting nearly 20 different items, Panda Express prices are friendly on our wallets in the best way fast food can be. Wondering what to order in a Panda Express? Here’s our guide to the entire Panda Express menu, ranked from best to worst by taste.
Prices and availability may vary.
1. The Original Orange Chicken
Price: $4.90 a la carte
I have eaten a lot of American-style Chinese food in my life, and I can say with 100% certainty that I have never had orange chicken that compares with Panda’s. It’s just one of those titans that can’t be dethroned. It’s the best Panda Express entrée by a mile.
That golden crunch, when hot of the wok, is out of this world. The sauce is heaven. The chicken is always tender. It’s potentially one of the most consistent dishes in the entire world of fast-food.
Can you find better chow mein? Sure. Can you find better broccoli beef? Of course. But look high and low, from New York to Los Angeles. I’d be surprised if you found better orange chicken in this country.
It’s got a firm grasp on the crown, and I can’t imagine anybody is even close to claiming it.
2. Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
Price: $4.90 a la carte
I don’t intend to keep my love for Panda Express a secret; it’s a wonderful restaurant. Even so, I had never actually tried the honey sesame chicken breast before, and wow. I was so swept up in this that for a minute I thought I was going to hand it the number one spot.
I recovered from my fugue state, but there’s no denying how excellent this dish is. It definitely ranks among Panda Express’ best items. A milder flavor than orange chicken isn’t the worst thing, and I swear to you that somehow this one stays crispier, longer. Winner, winner, sesame chicken dinner.
3. Kung Pao Chicken
Price: $4.90 a la carte
Of all the Panda Express dishes that claim to be spicy, kung pao chicken is the only one that actually might live up to its claim. KPC has a nice crunch from the peanuts, rounded out by zucchini and bell peppers. I also found the crispy remains of a dried chili, like a fossil from a spicier civilization; a skull and crossbones, warning us. Ye intruders, beware.
4. Grilled Chicken Teriyaki
Price: $4.90 a la carte
If you’ve ever doubted the integrity of the food at Panda Express, look no further than its grilled teriyaki chicken. This is real, dark-meat chicken, sliced up directly in front of you. It’s one of the best entrees at Panda Express. As one of the healthier options on the menu (without the sauce), it’s a win-win.
Looking for more delicious deals? Check out our roundup of the best new fast food deals this month.
5. Mushroom Chicken
Price: $4.90 a la carte
Zucchini lovers, step forth. Mushroom chicken is full to bursting with big zucchini slices and drenched in brown sauce alongside mushrooms and chicken breast. Plus, it’s only 220 calories to boot.
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6. Beyond The Original Orange Chicken
Price: $6.15
At this point, it should no longer be surprising that Beyond Meat can fool even the most avid carnivores. While the differences between the plant-based orange chicken and the original are obvious when eaten back-to-back, I’m willing to bet it would take me a few bites to realize the difference if I wasn’t told what I was eating.
That’s probably the best review Beyond can ask for, but once you sit with it for a minute, you can start to tell. There’s less umami here and definitely more chew. All that to say: This is 100% passable for orange chicken. Vegans, rejoice. It’s one of the best plant-based fast food options out there.
7. Chow Mein
Price: $4.40 a la carte
What do I even say about the most beloved chow mein in the game? I’d be willing to bet 75% of customers walk out the door with those heavenly, wok-fried noodles in their bag and those that don’t probably spend the rest of the week regretting that decision.
The chow mein is easily one of the best Panda Express sides. Like orange chicken, it’s a must-order.
8. String Bean Chicken Breast
Price: $4.90 a la carte
We’ve got a semi-healthy option here, as the chicken you’ll find in this dish is a lot leaner than some of Panda Express’s other chicken options. This definitely feels healthier as you eat it, and in the fast food world, that’s kind of refreshing.
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9. Black Pepper Angus Steak
Price: $6.15 a la carte
Beef is not where Panda shines. The steak is notably better than its broccoli or Beijing counterparts, though still a little bit too tough and chewy. I’d add more mushrooms, but that’s just one incredibly refined diner’s opinion.
10. Broccoli Beef
Price: $4.90 a la carte
Broccoli beef is classic. Simple, unctuous, and to the point, the enormous broccoli pieces will help distract you from how chewy the beef is.
11. Black Pepper Chicken
Price: $4.90 a la carte
Yeesh, Panda’s not kidding. This is pepper chicken alright. Pepper is, in fact, the only flavor you can taste, so if you’re averse to pepper, steer clear. Or save some of it to put under somebody’s nose so they can start sneezing like a cartoon character.
12. Veggie Spring Rolls
Price: $2 for two pieces
Very rarely in my life have I walked out of Panda without a few veggie spring rolls on the side. Yeah, they’ve got that slime, but you need that slime. You love that slime. Spring roll slime (dibs on that band name) is all part of the experience. It’s one of the best appetizers at Panda Express.
13. SweetFire Chicken Breast
Price: $4.90 a la carte
This, unfortunately, is one iota of sliminess too far for me. Like other sweet and sour chicken dishes, the glaze is heavy here. I do love the pineapple, but we all know how hotly debated the inclusion of pineapple in savory food can get. SweetFire is fine, but there are better options.
14. Super Greens
Price: $4.40 a la carte
I feel bad ranking these so low, because really, they’re pretty good. As somebody who loves to get some garlicky greens on the table at a Chinese restaurant, these are a necessity for me. A Panda Express plate with greens takes a major leap towards a real restaurant experience.
Sure, sometimes they give you a kale stem longer than your own finger and sometimes the cabbage is crunchy and hard as a diamond, but it does the trick.
15. Beijing Beef
Price: $4.90 a la carte
Too chewy. Not that spicy. Very boring.
16. Chicken Egg Roll
Price: $2 for one piece
The chicken egg roll, gigantic and deep-fried, is a strange one to me. It’s kind of like a chimichanga, by way of an underground New York-Chinese restaurant. You could easily turn two or three of them into an entire meal. That said, it’s always got a nice, golden char, which makes for a wonderful crunch.
17. Cream Cheese Rangoon
Price: $2 for three pieces
Look, these are good, okay? It’s a fried wonton stuffed with cream cheese and chives. That type of thing is always going to be good.
The problem is that it pretty much has no business anywhere in a Panda Express meal. The notable lack of crab makes these things utterly useless.
18. Honey Walnut Shrimp
Price: $6.15 a la carte
Stellar candied walnuts. Soggy, low-grade shrimp, some of which have tails. A devastating combination.
19. Fried Rice
Price: $4.40 a la carte
It’s important to note that while here we are, at the bottom of the ranking, we still have a pretty good dish. Panda’s fried rice isn’t anything to write home about, but it will get the job done in a pinch. If this is the worst that Panda can do, things are going well.
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