Panda Express

Visitors who come here from the mainland should not expect authentic Hawaiian cuisine, a Michelin-​star chef-​prepared meal or an ocean view.
It’s fast food and it’s consistent, satisfying grub. It’s like 90% of American-​Chinese food restaurants. Try the honey walnut shrimp, a very tasty and comforting selection.

I’ve heard that Panda Express is pseudo faux Chinese cuisine, compared to PF Chang’s. While it does look like Chinese food, the tendency to make it anything but authentic is beyond me.
I spent my Sunday afternoon, right after I finished the Maui oceanfront half marathon on January 17, 2016. I did not know where to go except to find food at an affordable place. While driving around Lahaina, I found a pretty good Chinese cuisine and it was close by to the wharf cinema center in Lahaina town. I actually spotted the Starbucks first and immediately pulled into the parking lot and saw the panda express next door. For the most part, I ended up getting lunch here at panda express and then had a drink at Starbucks while eating my meal. Starbucks always had a nice atmosphere to have a meal or just to hang out while using their Wi-​Fi in a comfortable setting. The overall experience here at panda express can be classified as decent, positive, and good. If you are in need of Chinese cuisine while on your Maui stay, come on in here. It may not be as authentic as you’d like it to be, but it’s quite affordable and a quick meal to have with or without your family.
Panda Express is your stereo typical Chinese fast food restaurant. With many trays of entrees and your fortune cookie at the end of the food train, that’s usually how things go — at least when you come to a Panda Express. No real ordering, as they prepare the main popular stuff that most people like and come back for on a daily basis. I usually enjoy the chao mein and the beef broccoli whenever I do Chinese fast food take out places. The orange chicken is always a good favorite of mine too. Usually whatever looks appetizing I would gladly do. Fried rice is always a savory treat during the layovers at any airport or stop that requires nourishment while you are on the go. Panda Express here in the heart of Lahaina, Maui is no exception. The trays of steamy goodness really illustrates the growing appetite of the Chinese cuisine all over the world. The deliciousness of the cuisine is always in demand anywhere in the world. They accept the major credit cards, so that’s usually a good plus. The parking here is very ample and sitting at the adjacent Starbucks to enjoy your meal with a Frappuccino, free Wi-​Fi, air condition, and house music is wonderful as well. This Panda Express is located next door to the Lahaina Gateway shopping complex and across the street from the Lahaina Cannery Mall on Keawe Street.
Panda Express’s Chinese restaurant is surprisingly large enough and is a stand-​alone building not connected to anything, just like the adjacent Starbucks. The restaurant can hold maybe about 30 people at one time and is casually organized like any fast food restaurant. Ordinary tables and chairs that are assumed cleaned periodically to ensure cleanliness. For me, I just wanted to get take out, as aforementioned that I ate my meal at the next door Starbucks, because I do that sort of thing. This visit to Panda Express was uneventful. Not much to do on a Sunday afternoon on Maui, but run and run some more. Then party with friends at the finish line and head on over to Panda Express for a quick lunch to decompress and reflect on what the heck happened from 5:30am to 9:45am earlier in the day. To be sure, Panda Express was delicious equivalent to whatever will feed your inner beast, child, whatever you have. On this visit to Panda Express Lahaina, I got the chao mein, since that’s usually the staple noodle dish that pleases most people. For the sides, they had the honey walnut shrimp, so I got that, along with the classical beef broccoli, which was decently average, but savory rewarding for sure.
The service here was decent, fast, and just machine like. Not much of a smile or anything, but you can’t be that picky when it comes to fast food customer service. Sometimes, they just don’t want to be there. Sometimes, I feel exactly the same way at the office. Either way, this visit to Panda Express is average. It’s worth a pitstop if you are craving Chinese and on a budget while vacationing on Maui. Give this place a shot and you may be in for a treat.
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B–

People this is a fast food joint people! This isn’t one of those fancy hotel restaurants. This is a freaking Panda Express and one of the best ones I’ve ever been to! I live in LA and these are everywhere and the quality of the food along with the nice people working there really impressed me! I’ve been here a few times since the beginning of my stay and have been impressed each time. It’s fast food so don’t be pretentious like a lot of the people at the hotels across the street (where I stayed), HA!

I was very disappointed. I came at 9:00 pm. they told us at the drive thru window that they were out of a couple things and I could understand that. so me and my husband ordered out of the options that they did have. once we came to the last window the lady told us that they didn’t half any chow main or chicken that we ordered… if they were out of all these items why are they staying open.

Pretty unimpressed with this Panda Express. Service was fine but food was mediocre at best… salty, greasy, ick.

Not authentic Chinese food but, it’s pretty dang good
Oh, and the place is clean. Really on fleek.

Portions are smaller than other panda’s on the island. The boxes /​plates are smaller too. Still hungry.
Oh and the prices are more expensive.

Large portions and what you would expect from any Panda Express. I had the orange chicken with the fried rice. Both were good but definitely salty. Considering the many places to eat on Maui, should have used Unilocal to find the perfect place for dinner. If you’re in the mood for Chinese, you may want to consider some other places.

Ate at Panda Express because we were stuck in some heavy traffic heading back to Lahaina so for a quick dinner I said let’s just eat at Panda Express. It’s in the same shopping center as Walgreen’s.
2-​entrée plate & 1 side is $ 8.79 + tax .37c = $ 9.16. I got chow mein seemed to be made fresh, tiny thing of mixed veggie, & some kinda gross hot & sour soup. Don’t get the soup! I should have gone with the Kung Po Chicken that looked good to me.
Charged it. Got a stale fortune cookie too.

Quick and pleasant service. I had the fried rice with barbecue pork and honey walnut shrimp. The shrimp wa great as usual, the pork was unusually tender. I’ll have more.

As usual, this Panda was clean and had friendly staff. We took advantage of the promotion they had where if you buy a $ 25+ gift card, you get a 2-​item entrée for free (saved us about $ 7).

we ate here for dinner. thank goodness they were open late.
get the orange chicken, green beans & chicken, & beef & broccoli.
you have to pick chow mein or rice for a plate meal or get charged
for a tiny little entrée plate. hello… i think i could eat that in
one bite.
anyway, the staff is attentive & friendly to take your order.

Good food and friendly service