Panda Express

I’m officially done with Panda Express. I went today because I heard they had a new shrimp item. I sampled it; it wasn’t compelling in the least, and had the same old mass of filler in it anyway. But here’s my biggest complaint about Panda Express: There are a few items on their menu (the shrimp items, the steak item) they add $ 1.25 or so to because they are premium items. I understand and accept the concept of a premium item, and am always happy to pay a little extra for that premium item. But here’s the thing: If you’re already charging me more for the premium item, you should then go ahead and treat it like every other item in terms of portion. I’m already paying more for it, don’t then ration it to me! The premium status of an item is justification for charging more for it, or for rationing it, BUT NOT BOTH. I’m paying you more for the honey walnut shrimp; the one spoonful of it, followed by the very carefully selected two or three more shrimp in the second spooning, just adds insult to injury. I’ll opt for the Rice Garden down the street from now on when I crave crappy cafeteria Chinese food.

It had been some months since my last visit to this Panda, always reliable for lunch or an early dinner. Everything was fresh today so perfect timing. I had my usual Orange chicken and Kung Pao chicken with Chow Mein. The Kung Pao was especially spicy today. One drawback, what happened to the trays to carry the food to our tables?
Did I mention that they’re located inside of the Los Angeles Central Library building?

Great place to eat and nice area to sit. I thought it was going to take long but they were quick. Some good views when you sit or they have seating areas outside.

I don’t always have Panda…
So I have known of this place for a while and actually use it as my «life saver» when I need to get a rush healthy meal. Yes you read that right, Panda can be healthy too.
So when I do eat here I get all veggies and the teriyaki chicken (without the sauce). Its real quick, healthy and easy meal if you are ever in a rush. They do have real good options and all though it is a fast food Chinese food place I do enjoy their options.
So this location is inside the Los Angeles Public Library in downtown LA. It is a good size with plenty of seating. It does get real packed so avoid the middle of lunch rush hour. Either way the line moves fairly quickly.
The staff here are real nice and helpful and very quick which is good. I would recommend this location to all if you are in a pinch for a quick bite.
I will be back for sure.

*** Pit stop review (Downtown LA) ***
This is a little hidden Panda Express in the center of downtown LA. I accessed this food court by walking up 5^th street going up the escalators. This is one of those places that you wouldn’t ever know about unless you worked in the building or surrounding buildings.
The only thing to keep in mind is to get here off peak hours. The lines can easily go out the doors and around the corner.
The food is pretty standard Panda Express. I did try the sample BBQ ribs. It’s a little to dry and sweet for my taste. I just stuck with what works, the teriyaki chicken and kung pao.
Food = Good
Seating area = Clean outside seating
Service = Very friendly
Restroom = unknown

It’s nice that you can order a kids’ meal to avoid wasting food. You see, their regular portions are pretty large — heavy on the rice and chow mein. It’s horrible that you feel punished for doing so. Renee. must be an owner at this location because the kid portions she dishes out are extremely scant. With a fake smile to boot!!! Where is the happy medium? Oscar, Maria and the rest of the staff are nice.

I’ve been visiting this location for the past 2 months now and it seems that the line keeps getting longer and longer. I visit Panda not only for the flavors, but because you expect a fast service since the food is ready.
The workers are doing the best they can and as fast as they can but during lunch rush the line is super long. This is DTLA ppl are on the run, ppl can’t wait 15 minutes just to get food that’s already prepared, that’s why it’s called panda «EXPRESS».
There are 2 cash machines but only one cashier, at other Pandas they have two workers working the line, here there’s only one and when the poor girl can’t handle it anymore, the chef comes to the rescue. Guess what, it’s not working out. As much as I love panda’s food, I can’t afford a 15 min wait.
Please during rush hour, get one more person to help the poor employees that are sweating to get things as fast as possible. The rest of the store is fine, clean, and the food tastes like Panda Express is supposed to taste.

Come here all the time for lunch. Line gets big, but moves pretty fast.

Cheap (compared to other restaurants in the area) and fast. Like other restaurants in DTLA, there will be a wait around lunchtime (11:30−1). They almost always have what I want during peak hours, but in the late afternoon, their entrees are much more limited. I recommend calling ahead if you want something specific and are planning to visit after 1:30.

I only go to Panda Express when my friends ask me to go with them. It’s convenient for lunch since it’s cheap and fast, just like my gym girlfriend =P
I told myself not to get orange chicken this time.
I didn’t get orange chicken on my last visit. I kept my promise; I got orange chicken chicken WITH BACON.
2 items combo ($ 6.99): half fried rice, half chow mein, broccoli beef and orange chicken with bacon. I didn’t really care for the bacon. It didn’t do anything to elevate the flavor but it’s only $ 0.50 more.
3 stars! I ate half of it.
QUICK TIP: THIS PANDA IS LOCATED INSIDE THE LIBRARY.
Panda Express is almost yummylicious!

Did you know that Panda means diarrhea in Chinese. I got seriously sick from this place. Started with chills and then massive diarrhea for one week. Thanks Panda!!!

I’m not usually a huge fan of Chinese food but the orange chicken here is really good. Since it’s so close to work I can just walk downstairs and get a good meal on the cheap. Some people complain that it’s not the real deal but I enjoy it as a quick meal.

Maybe I just went on a good day but Everything was exactly what you’d expect from a Panda Express.
I went at about 12:10(the beginning of lunch hour) and there was a pretty big line, 15 or so people in front of me. The crew was moving through the line very fast and were on top of replacing stuff as it ran out.
That being said, the location inside is rather cramped where the line forms, so if it’s packed be ready to have your bubble invaded a little bit.
I see lots of complaints about the staff/​food.
1) It’s a panda ****ing express, not gourmet chinese food. Anybody who doesn’t realize how hit or miss fast food is really shouldn’t be rating it. Go to any fast food place for a week straight and see how different the food is day to day.
2) It’s the only panda express in downtown, so if you go anytime between 12 and 2, expect that the pickings may be slim because stuff like this tends to get absolutely slammed.
This is all VERY easy to say from one visit, but lots of people tend to be hypercritical on a fast food place. That’s exactly it, it’s shitty greasy fast food nomatter how you slice it, lower your expectations or start brown bagging.
I’ll definitely be back here though, seems like all the other fast food chinese places within walking distance of my office have closed down.

It’s ok, not amazing, but just what you would expect from any Panda Express on Earth. May be that it is a little more expensive than some due to the real estate that it occupies. It sits in the DTLA library – which is really cool. They do have some park benches outside as well for those of you who like sun.
This is perfect for the days when you are stuck at the library studying/​reading and find yourself starving and too broke for Café Pinot. We all need options.

I am rarely disappointed by Panda but they let me down today.
I went in around 1:20 pm and there was a pretty good size line (8 people or so). I was wondering why the line wasn’t moving when I saw that they were out of nearly all of their dishes. There was no Orange Chicken, Sweetfire Chicken, Walnut Shrimp, Mandarin Chicken, Rangoon, Steamed Veggies. there were more empty containers but I don’t recall them all.
The worst part was that it wasn’t even close to being ready. They had just started making it so we all stood around for close to 10 minutes before the first item (Orange Chicken) made it out. It would be another 10 minutes for another item, but rather than wait, I took the Orange Chicken and one of the few choices left.
And guess what? The other item had a $ 1 extra charge (Shanghai Steak, I think), which of course they didn’t waive regardless of the wait and the limited selection.
Pretty disappointing, Panda.

When you just want something cheap, fast, and familiar… this is it!

Got a few interesting text messages when my friends saw me checking in at PANDA EXPRESS for lunch. (sigh)
Yes, I cannot believe I had lunch at PANDA EXPRESS either, OK? For someone that loves to tell my friends «Panda Express is not ‘real’ Chinese food», I didn’t really care what I would be getting for lunch when I arrived because I was cold & wet from the downpour, and I was not ready to go roam the streets of DTLA for other lunch options in my high-​heels and in the rain AGAIN.
I looked at the pans under the headlamps and debated when I wanted to get. Fried Rice looked undercooked, and Chow-​Mein looked oily (sigh). Finally decided to go with Chow-​Mein because I rather have something oily and undercooked/​dry. Also ordered some Sirloin and Steamed Vegetables to help me wash it down.
No big complaints from me, even though everyone is looking for a shelter from the rain, it was nice and quiet at this location. Chow-​Mein was oily, but the Sirloin and vegetables made up for it. Personally would not want to come back to this location for lunch because I don’t like PANDA EXPRESS and their so-​called Chinese Food, but if you are looking for «cheaper» lunch options in the DTLA area, I guess you can come give this location a try.

If you have the means, the location at the WaterCourt is much cleaner and nicer, food-​wise.
This particular location, no matter how fresh the food is, has the most dried-​out looking portions of food. I came yesterday at the end of the lunch rush and the fried rice looked as if it was cooked that morning at about 8 am. Nevertheless I was hungry and still ate here.
Because of its central location you should be wary of the homeless people that do roam here from time to time. They do like to come inside the food area for shelter and the quiet atmosphere. If it’s empty, it’s the perfect place to bring your computer (free wi-​fi provided by the library) and waste a few hours, or read a book. There’s an outside eating area but I’m a bit wary of eating out there at least at this location.

Wasting a patron’s time at fast food restaurant is absolutely unforgivable, so good bye sweet Panda Express! Get thee to a
nunnery, go: farewell! Make no further mockery of my precious time, wastrels! You are a spot on this library’s hallowed grounds!
I asked for nothing more than a simple hot and sour soup, and you pointed to that poor excuse for an egg-​drop soup, lisping, «This is all we have; you want wait 10 minutes?»
And with angelic patience, I replied, «Yes, I will wait.» I assumed the hot and sour soup would be arriving in 10 minutes.
10 minutes passed. Then 15.
You then proceeded to put the now 15-​minute old «Egg Flower» Soup into a container, the same stew that was festering under your godless hotlamps when I arrived.
What is this about? Do you think your soup improves with age? It does not. Do you it chemically combusts into the more acidic, sour flavor toward the end of its shelf life? Likewise, it does not. Do you think you can fool me? You cannot! Do you think my judgment and preferences will wither in the span of 15 minutes? They will not. My patience, however, did.
So alas, it is good-​bye. Nay, just bye, for there is nothing good about it!

4 stars. A good place to get a bite when visiting the LA Central Library. Service is quick and the food is pretty standard Panda Express fare, which is to say, quite fresh and tasty FAST FOOD. There is ample seating in the dining room and even some tables outside for those who enjoy Panda al fresco.
Verdict: a Panda Express joint in the Central Library makes for a quick and relatively economic option when hungry after/​before reading.