Panda Express
http://www.pandaexpress.com/
I already know what you are thinking: if WIBIA gives this place a “Yes”, then I am going to lose my shit. You would probably have every right to, because I am not sure if I know anyone that likes Panda Express. However, they are everywhere so they have to be doing something right?
The place was super clean, service was friendly and the food looked safe to eat. When I say safe, I didn’t feel as if I was going to get diarrhea in the next fifteen minutes. Very colorful places, lots of veggies in the cooler…it looks half way decent.
What I Ate: Two Entrée Plate with Chow Mein and Kung Pao Chicken; around $6.
Anytime I can see the food, I just pick what looks the freshest and I usually don’t care what it is. Same as with Chipotle, I pick the meat that looks the best.
The Kung Pao Chicken was exactly what I expected, overly sweet sauce and a ton of it. The quality of the meat was on par for cheap Chinese take out, but there wasn’t anything going on here.
The Chow Mein was actually pretty tasty. Onions, celery, cabbage and bean sprouts made it really crunchy. It reminded me of a warm version of the Asian salad with the Ramen noodles in it. Overall, not bad.
Would I Buy It Again? No. It didn’t suck as much as I thought it would, but I had really low expectations. However, this part of the city has a myriad of good local Chinese restaurants and I am five minutes away from two of my favorites.
However, there were a lot of families that are there and if I am traveling and burgers and fries doesn’t sound good and I need a quick meal, then Panda Express is an option…albeit, not that good of one.
-wibia
Tags: chinese, chow mein, Food, kung pao chicken, panda express
That is a lot of food for six bucks, but I know of independent Chinese places that can compete with that price and they have better food! I love Chinese take-out (or eat-in), but I’ve never had the desire to try Panda Express. There are just too many other good choices.
I won’t hate on Panda. I actually like Panda Express. Sure there are plenty of local non-chain, more authentic Chinese joints everywhere… but there’s something about Panda that I love. I think it’s tasty and super quick.. and cheap. I’ve never had a bad PE experience. Panda is OK with me. For Chinese chains, I’d pick Panda 100 times out of a 100 over an overrated place like P.F. Chang’s.
Have you had Pei Wei? I like them too.
I actually didn’t realize there are stand-alone[ish] Panda Expresses out there — I thought they were all in mall food courts. And in that respect, it’s decent. But heck, I think Sbarro is okay too, so what do I know.
Panda Express is the worst Chinese food I’ve had anywhere. The last time I ate there I spent over 10 bucks to get a 2 dish plate, an egroll and a drink. The entrees were mediocre at best, and the eggroll was one of the worst things I’ve ever tasted. Every other Chinese restaurant I can think of is cheaper and has better food.
I need to try Sesame sometime from your recommendation, but I think Panda is a bit better than your view of it. It is dependable, and that is ultimately what you exepct from a chain. The plethora of the mediocre “super ultimate buffets” actually have me appreciate Panda more over time. And I do have a weakness for the those orange chicken nuggets. But, ultimately I feel like you that Panda is an okay option, but there are better.
I always thought kung pao chicken was supposed to be spicy, not sweet. Hmm maybe I’m confusing it with something else. I rarely order Chinese fast food and when I do I usually get lo mein and shrimp toast.
I used to go to Panda Express pretty regularly when I worked next door to one.
Always go right when they open if possible, so the food hasn’t been sitting around too long. Their chow mein and orange chicken are the two best things they have and are worth the price. Anything with veggies in it never seemed cooked properly to me. I learned to appreciate Panda because at least the food was hot, cheap and I could see it before I ordered it. Far better than a lot of fast food places in my book.
I’ve always enjoyed their orange chicken, but I only eat it maybe once a year when I find myself hungry and at the mall.
You seem to be up around West 86th Street a lot for lunch. Have you tried Rice Cooker off Oak Street in Zionsville? It’s a really well established old dine-in Chinese restaurant (about 30 years?) and has some of the best Chinese food I’ve tasted in Indy. Excellent customer service, too.
Panda Express just built a free standing shop on 96th. Why oh why go there when King Chef is right across the street?
@Adam..Agree, it is all about the market.
@Ryan: 100% agree, I rather go to Panda than PF Changs. I think the food is the same anyway. Pei Wei is not bad, we are getting our first one here in Indy in a month or so.. My understanding is that Pei Wei is a subsidiary of Changs?
@Brent: Ha. If that is the worst thing you ever tasted, you are lucky.
@Indy Grub Review: Good point. If I had a choice of take out from the Ultimate Buffett or Panda, I would probably pick Panda. Sesame is hit and miss depending on what you order, but I maintain they have the best hot and sour soup.
@Rachel: You would think it was spicy, but it had a notation that it was spicy. Maybe to a 3 year old it is spicy..
@Stella: I like the fact that you can see things and then pick…
@Naptown Nosher: Nope, it is on the list. I live on the NW side, so most of these are a quick weekend lunch.
@Dtiz: Agree.
I think ALL chinese places are hit-or-miss. I’ve had PE and it’s been exactly what I was craving, and I’ve had it when it was inedible. Even my favorite chinese take out place is off the mark sometimes.
I only had Rice Cooker once and while I enjoyed the amount of food I got for the price, I didn’t find it appetizing. It probably didn’t help that someone found a hair in their food.
My boss suggested #1 China Buffet (I think that’s the name but it’s right across the street from the Rice Cooker) and it was the best buffet I ever had. Get there when they open at 11. Egg rolls were perfect, General Tso’s chicken had the perfect semi-spicy sauce.
(Also, sorry to ramble on, but since you’re on the NW side, you should add A’mores to your list. They have the best made to order calzones. I don’t like marinara sauce but theirs is from scratch and really light and fresh.)
In my area, the nearest Panda Express is about 50 miles away. So one time, I flew to Denver to get my Panda fix! Sadly, I actually scheduled a flight I was taking so that I would have a stop at an airport WITH A PANDA, and make sure I had time to get it!
Such an embarrassing story it is, that this will be the only time I tell it.
@Kayla: while I am not a fan of the Panda, I am a fan of that story! LOL! That is dedication!
Like some of the commenters, I think Panda Express is okay as well. Every once in a while, I’ll find myself fiending for their chow mein and orange chicken, everything else on the menu is pretty generic to me. I have a particular place of hate for their eggrolls though.
Oh! But you have to try to find a really crowded Panda and get the Orange Chicken, with the high food turnover, it is like day and night from the normal stuff; it’s crunchy, the sauce hasn’t soaked in all the way, it’s juicy and pipping hot! Totally worth the wait!
Does anyone remember the old Mark Pi’s Express that was on W. 38th near Worst Buy? I used to stop by there almost time I came to Indy.
I mostly get my cheap Chinese fix at General Tso’s Inn at Twin Aire Plaza on Southeastern now…
The Panda Express on 96th in front of Menard’s is closed. I drove by there on my home this morning and noticed that the signage is down.
@Ploughman: Do you just drive around and check to see if places are closed? LOL, just kidding! We certainly appreciate the updates. I’m not surprised that one closed…there’s another about a mile down the road in front of Meijer. I’m sure the only reason that one in front of Menard’s stayed open so long was to fulfill the terms of their lease.
@indianapoliseater: I seem to be in the right place at the right time. I planned on eating lunch at Snooty Fox and saw closed sign; I go by El Rodeo on my way to exercise and Panda Express is on the way home from exercise. JUST PURE DUMB LUCK, I guess. The Panda Express in front of Meijer’s is still open (on way to brother-in-laws this a.m.)