6/10/2021

Presenting the “upscale” version of Panda Express… Panda Inn. To be honest, I wasn’t so sure what to expect. Would the food be exactly the same as Panda Express, but just a nicer environment to sit down? Would the food be the same, but made with more expensive ingredients at Panda Inn? Read on to find out whether or not Panda Inn is worth a visit, or if you should just stick to your neighborhood Panda Express!

The Pre

Reservations:

Not required. We went on a Friday night with no reservations and the wait time was about 30 minutes. Keep in mind this was when restaurants were just re-opening due to COVID, so there was limited capacity.

Attire:

Pretty casual. I realize it is an “upscale” Panda Express but it’s nothing fancy. Just think of your local sit-down Chinese restaurant.

Parking:

Convenient. They have their own parking lot in the back with ample parking spots.

Location:

We went to the Pasadena location, but they do have other locations in California including Hollywood, Glendale, La Palma, Ontario, and Universal City. By looking at their website, it seems that each location serves slightly different food options.

The During

Order:

1. Orange Chicken ($17) - The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Chinese-American food: orange chicken. We HAD to try this dish at Panda Inn. Its basically crispy breaded white meat chicken covered in an orange tangy sauce. Delicious, but not much different from the orange chicken you get at your typical Panda Express.

2. Honey Walnut Shrimp ($21) - One of my favorite things to get at Panda Express, so again, this dish was a must-order. The shrimp is glazed with a sweet honey-mayo sauce, and lightly fried. The quality was a little bit better at Panda Inn, and you don’t get that mushy-glassy cheap shrimp texture that you get at Panda Express.

3. Lo Mein ($16) - With 2 protein dishes already, we needed a carb dish, so we opted for the vegetable lo mein. Its egg noodles with napa cabbage, bean sprouts, spinach, mushrooms, and your choice of vegetables or various proteins. Not too different from the chow mein you can get as a side at Panda Express.

Service:

Don’t expect 5-star service here. It’s nothing spectacular but at the same time it isn’t bad. Our waiter was very brisk in taking our order, the food was brought out promptly, and the bill came shortly after that. No small talk and not much checking in on us to see how we were doing.

Ambiance:

It seems that they’re trying to go for a fancier dining experience, with the white table cloth, dim lighting, and the cutlery neatly placed into a folded cloth napkin. But the ambiance…. it just isn’t there. The décor looks older and musty, and nothing really captured my eye in terms of the artwork in the restaurant.

The Verdict

If you’re craving Chinese cuisine in a casual sit-down restaurant, and are willing to pay extra for it, this is the place for you. However, if you just need a quick fix of Chinese cuisine, I would definitely recommend Panda Express over Panda Inn. The premium you pay to sit down at Panda Inn simply isn’t worth it for the ambiance or quality of food. There is no significant difference that I could taste between a dish at Panda Inn, and its equivalent at Panda Express. Our meal ran close to $70 for 3 people. You could easily get a double entrée that tastes practically just as good at Panda Express, for under $10. And hey, you’re still technically being “served” your meal at Panda Express.

Kha’s Official Rating: 5/10