17 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (2024)

FAQs

What is the most ordered food at Panda Express? ›

A representative from Panda's PR team said that the five top-selling entrées at the restaurant are (drumroll please): Beijing Beef, Broccoli Beef, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Mushroom Chicken, and, of course, the Original Orange Chicken—the dish that Panda Express is credited with inventing.

Panda express uses Stir Fried Wheat Noodles similar to these. I used these Chow Mein noodles for this recipe. You can find them in your local grocery store where they have a dedicated section for Asian ingredients.

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.

ORANGE CHICKEN

Our signature dish. Crispy chicken wok-tossed in a sweet and spicy orange sauce.

The biggest difference between chow mein and lo mein lies in the translations of their names: chow mein is fried, and lo mein is tossed. The experience is somewhat different between the two. Lo mein tends to be saucier and more toothsome, with a texture some describe as “slippery” because of the noodles' softness.

The BEST Chow Mein Sauce:

Combine soy sauce, light sesame oil, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth to make the signature sweet and savory sauce that makes chow mein taste authentic.

Noodles: Chow fun uses chewy wide rice noodles, while chow mein is made with thin, round egg noodles that get a bit crispy when cooked. Sauce: Chow fun can be made wet (more sauce) or dry (less sauce). Chow mein is typically a bit dryer than chow fun.

Just like Panda Express, we use Jasmine rice. You can use any medium or long grain rice for this dish.

Does Panda Express use thighs or breasts? ›

For the best flavor and texture, I highly recommend using boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. It's what Panda Express uses, and they're less likely to overcook and become dry compared to chicken breasts.

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

Meet the billionaire couple behind Panda Express, who built a $3 billion fortune selling 90 million pounds of orange chicken each year and run 2,000 restaurants across the globe. Husband and wife duo Andrew and Peggy Cherng are the co-CEOs of Panda Restaurant Group, the company behind Panda Express.

Oddly enough, they don't use crab or imitation crab in their original recipe. Feel free to add some though, it's delicious! My local Panda Express offers 3 for $2.35. Buying the ingredients myself, I have enough to make 50 Rangoons for just shy of $6.

A Panda Express representative told Thrillist that the large entrees come in 26-ounce servings, which is enough food to feed four people.

The Original Orange Chicken

We doubt anyone will be surprised to see The Original Orange Chicken in the number one spot. 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.

Why California Has So Many Panda Express Locations. The California origins of Panda Express aren't the only reason the chain has such a big presence there. There's the matter of scale: California is the most populous U.S. state; about 12% of the U.S. population lives there.

In 1987, the chain's chef, Andy Kao, introduced the famous Orange Chicken. The first version was served bone-in but nowadays you will find that the dish is boneless. The combination of its good food quality, financial discipline and the boom in the Asian restaurant category brought Panda Express to new heights.

No exceptions! How much should I tip food delivery drivers? So we've already established that you have to tip, and ideally you're giving close to 15 to 20 percent. Scale up if your order is especially large, the delivery distance is far, or you live in the top floor of a fifth floor walk-up.