The chain’sstint in the burrito game back in 2022is a perfect example of its willingness to experiment.
Consumers eat up what Panda serves, despite the lack of authenticity.
All five of the top-dog dishes can’t share the podium.
Photo: Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Let’s dig in and see which one had good fortune.
Broccoli Beef
The Broccoli Beef at Panda Express is considered a “Wok Smart” choice.
This means it contains at least nine grams of protein and no more than 300 calories.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
But, I was ready to give it another go alongside a helping of fried rice.
The look:My memory didn’t fail me, as this dish was once again exceedingly broccoli-heavy.
I counted six small strips of brown beef nestled among sizable pieces of the green veggie.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The meat is also sliced thinly, and everything is coated in a reddish-brown or copper-colored sauce.
The taste:For me, this one falls flat.
If you told me the sauce for a dish was basic beef broth, I would believe you.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
As for the broccoli florets, they are large and awkward to eat.
Their massive size may explain why some of the stems were undercooked and nearly too hard to bite into.
So, for these reasons, it landed at the bottom of my list.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
It’s also one that saw near-immediate success.
The dish is said to haveoriginated in Hong Kong, where British influence pops up in the cuisine.
After cooking in a wok, glazed walnuts are thrown in for crunch.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The look:Orange creamsicle-colored breaded shrimp.
The glaze is evenly spread and not overly applied.
Only five walnuts could be found, so I cut some in half to spread them around.
The shrimp was teetering towards underdone, with a mucousy texture.
I would have preferred something a tad more firm.
What would have made this dish better is another handful of walnuts.
They are candied like the kind you buy at a fair, with a soft crispness.
I could have eaten an entire bowl of the nuts alone.
Chicken marsala is an Italian-inspired example.
Coq au vin from France often marries the two.
In Chinese cuisine, the chicken and mushrooms come together in stir-fries, soups, and more.
Panda Express offers a simplified version of the pairing, with its Mushroom Chicken.
In the entree, both ingredients are bathed in ginger soy sauce and joined by zucchini.
The look:Probably the least appealing entree of the bunch.
Tan pieces of chicken meld together with the gray mushrooms, making it hard to identify what is what.
Without the bright green zucchini chunks, it would be a jumbled mess of lusterless ingredients.
The taste:Light and fresha pleasant surprise given its not-so-appetizing appearance.
The white meat chicken is finely cut, but tender enough to almost melt in your mouth.
And, the mushrooms are juicy and not overly mushy.
I could have done with or without the zucchini.
But, it was cooked well and I can appreciate a bonus serving of veggies.
The entree uses beef that is crisped similarly to the Orange Chicken.
I ordered it served on top of chow mein noodles.
The look: Tiny nuggets tossed in a fair amount of deep amber or rust-colored sauce.
Some pieces were so small I wondered how any beef could be hiding underneath the breading.
But, all look like they pack some heat.
Small squares of onion can be seen.
The taste:The piquant smell all but singed my nose hairs, but the taste isn’t offensive.
The bell peppers are where I noticed the spice most.
I think they are better at soaking up the seasoning and sauce.
But, all in all, it’s an entree that I would order again.
Technically, Panda Express opened its doors a good four years before inventing the Original Orange Chicken.
It is a tried-and-true moneymaker entree, racking up the highest amount of sales each year.
I paired a bowl of the high-profile entree with fried rice.
The look:Mouthwatering, I’m not going to lie.
This dish also has to be the best bang for your buck, with the heartiest portion of meat.
I counted close to 20 pieces in my bowl.
The taste:It’s the best-selling Panda Express entree for a reason.
Full transparency, I was secretly rooting for some of the other dishes on this list to step up.
(After all who doesn’t like a good underdog story?)
But, the Original Orange Chicken prevailed.
This batch happened to be especially crispy with moist, flavorful chicken.
The sauce is where the dish excels.
I wouldn’t say it’s spicy.
It is savory and bold, while also showing off some sweet and zesty notes.
And, I can confidently say that Panda Express creates one of the best renditions in the game.
