Friday afternoon lunch with Stitch! I usually have very low expectations for mall food service but Karen and her teammates Arthur and Briana we so helpful and friendly. Felt like they genuinely enjoy working there. We don't don't typically eat at Panda Express but they were hosting a fundraiser for a small local dog rescue so of course we had to come and support. We ordered the Big Plate with classics: Broccoli Beef, Orange Chicken + Walnut Shrimp with chow mein and a chicken eggroll. There was a steady line the whole time we were there. Dining hall was mostly clean, a mall associate coming around to wipe tables and push in chairs. We grabbed a table that could fit Stitch's stroller. Food was tasty and more than enough for two. It was nice to have a quick and easy meal served with a smile. Great job Karen + team we'll be back next time we're at the mall. read more

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This was once a good location. Sadly, not anymore. On this day, they had a big on-line order. They were busy getting food ready for that order. The food that is usually ready and waiting for in-person customers were mostly empty. They said it would be a long wait for fresh food. A similar situation occurred the last time I visited here. I frequent Panda locations and this is not the norm. I visited during lunch time and people have limited time to grab their food. Most Panda locations have fresh food available without a wait. read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Usually, I'm a huge fan for the basic Chinese food as my kiddo loves it, but today, was disgusting. Cold chowmein and soggy walnut shrimp that tasted fowl. read more

Panda Express - Soggy walnut shrimp - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

service was fast and the food was very tasty! I tried the cantonese bbq brisket today and I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed it! I was helped by Michelle and she was quick with service while also being very nice and helpful. read more

Fairly good for a food court. There always seems to be a line, so the food is fresh. Not necessarily the healthiest choice, but good prices and tasty chow. Food court, ambience. Four solid stars. read more

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The food was amazing the service was great the location is great and convenient for that quick bite to eat. Love this Panda Express Michelle is a great leader and deserves credit for her amazing hard work and cheerful smile that brighten up the room read more

Good was good and freshly made. Staff were friendly and really efficient. I had Orange Chicken and Sesame Chicken with brown rice and green veggies. Very reasonable price and generous portions. I loved that they had a fundraiser for the day for A local small animal rescue, (Surviving Cruelty Animal Rescue) which they wer donating 20% of their sales to people who had the flyer. I will be back. read more

Long time UTC food court changed a lot, but Panda Express still around and with the biggest line to order. So we took one plate with 2 entries and one side. Orange chicken was too spicy for my bosses taste, noodles were cold (white rice probably would be better option) and my coconut shrimps were good. Well, with Panda Express it's predictable food, nothing special. read more

Never properly staffed only like 3 people working with 20 people in line. Horrible. I feel bad for the workers. They look like they are working hard and are nice the shame in the people in charge. read more

We decided on fast and easy dinner tonite. Beijing beef and orange chicken was tasty. read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

This location has great food and wonderful service! As the location is inside a busy mall the area was very busy on a Sunday afternoon. read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

The orange chicken was so spicy it made me fall in the ground and It was extremely painful and hurt my stomach very bad

They say they close at 9:00pm but they actually close at 8:00pm. Change your hours on Google.

Not sure why this location has bad reviews so felt the need to review. It was busy so it was a little slow, but staff was friendly. Same quality as all locations we have visited. They were making food fresh and hot. read more

Tried this location last week and ordered a plate with beef broccoli and orange chicken... but only got 4 pieces of broccoli and even less beef (no joke). Gave this location a second chance today, and same thing. It's like the worker(s) act like the food is coming out of their paycheck so they skimp your order. & yes my picture was taken a minute after I received my order. What a joke. My plate looks like it's been half eaten, when I haven't even had a single bite yet. read more

Panda Express - This was supposed to be plate, but it looks more like half a plate. - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

ngl this shi was like pretty trash. portions are meh. orange chicken was the only thing smacking on this plate. the teriyaki was kinda slimy feeling bruh. like the texture was just not there. rice was meh. service was trash. they took hella long to take care of me even tho i was one of the only dudes in line... read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Decent but not impressive. Stopped by Panda Express for a quick lunch and had the orange chicken and fried rice. Food was hot and fresh, but flavors were just okay. Portion sizes were generous, but overall experience was pretty standard for a fast food chain. read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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IMPROVE YOUR SERVICE I realize it was end of the day but maybe a "Good Evening" thanks for stopping in, also the normal serving size was not what I got. Don't worry I won't be back....Pesky Paying customers! read more

Sometimes your boy just needs to satisfy his Chinese Food craving with some Orange Chicken, half rice half noodles and Kung Pao Chicken! Don't forget the hot mustard, chili paste and my fortune cookie! This location is in the food court at UTC and has a fast working staff who are also friendly. I'm just glad the mall has finally opened up and people are all able to enjoy the place. I'll be back again for sure. Panda, Panda, Panda, Panda. read more

Panda Express - The goods - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

I've tried Panda Express a few times, but their Chicken Teriyaki is consistently disappointing. The chicken is extremely chewy, doesn't taste fresh, and has an almost "old" flavor to it. As for the noodles, they lack flavor and feel like an afterthought rather than a main side. The overall quality just doesn't meet expectations, and I'd say there are much better options out there for a quick bite. read more

This a chain food restaurant and so it is easy to know what to expect and the quality of the food.. though I have to say the service here is the best. Though I think the secret is out because there is always a long line of people who want to eat here.. So how you can beat the rush and get some good food and great service read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

bad customer service I rarely do a bad review but I was so disappointed with this location,I order on line to a faster pick up came to the restaurant took about 8 minutes to get attended, after the guy ask me for my confirmation number, while I open my phone this guy answered the phone and as he was talking on the phone he was attending other customers with their orders and ignoring me gets off the phone and leaves, this other worker comes and ask me if I need it some help till then I got my order I was about to leave and i checked my order and was missing plates sauce and forks that I had ad to my order on line , believe me I love their food but this time I was very disappointed about their service took me about 20 minutes to pick up my order read more

This place has great, expedient, friendly service. There was a woman there named Adriana that helped us. While I was there ordering for my large family, she handled everything so well. If she's not already the boss, she should be. I just wanted to come on here, and give her a shout out, because she deserves recognition for her hard work. The next time I'm at the UTC mall, I'll definitely go back to this restaurant. read more

Ordered a Big Plate Asked Girl for 1/2 Chow Mein & 1/2 Vegetables???? SHE PUT THE VEGETABLES AS ONE OF THE ENTREES? (Manager Black Shirt Said ok) Going to Take this Direct to Pasadena office??? PLEASE!!! read more

I typically cut off and dispose of the roots and edges of my vegetables. Panda Express, however, doesn't take the time to be careful and discard these parts. If you do not care to ingest these, pick through your food first when eating at this location read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Panda Express is really popular for a reason. The Asian food is tasty, especially the orange chicken.

4.25 stars There have been single-blind experiments conducted with Chinese foreigners who weren't aware that the food in front of them was from Panda Express. I don't even think they knew what Panda Express was. The results? Across the board, the food was generally described as "really good" and "tasty." I'm on the same page as these foreigners. I believe the stigma against Panda Express is entirely unjust. I'd even bet good money that if a large sample of Americans--Chinese Americans included--were blindfolded, they'd be embarrassed to find how wrong they were about Panda Express. Countless such experiments have been done with other cuisines and brands with similar results (wine is a well-known example). Why does this phenomenon exist? Firstly, a prerequisite understanding of memory and focus is required: There are three basic types of memory: sensory, working, and long-term. The faculty of focus operates in working memory. And according to the most cited study in psychology, working memory holds seven entities (give or take two). Because of this, our awareness is also limited to seven entities and thereby so is our focal capacity. Before we start a meal, we have the choice to whether eat with curiosity. This is an act of eating mindfully where we: (A) direct our attention solely on the food, effectively saturating most or all seven "lanes of bandwidth" of our focal capacity with food-related entities like taste, smell, and texture and (B) don't act or think impulsively, i.e. jump to conclusions. In contrast, not eating mindfully entails splitting our attention away from the food, effectively minimizing the food among the seven "lanes of bandwidth," thereby dulling the experience of taste, smell, and texture. In the meantime, the other "lanes of bandwidth" are occupied by, let's say, preconceived notions. In effect, we are more aware of, and thereby focus more on, those preconceived notions than the experience of taste, smell, and texture. We then are motivated to focus selectively on the basis of what confirms our bias. This is how confirmation bias can even involve the senses. Another way confirmation bias distorts our sensory experience is when a certain aspect of the food, e.g. texture, reminds us of something repulsive. When we don't recognize that the repulsion originates not from the food but rather a mere association, we conflate the repulsion with actual taste. And when we have dulled our experience of taste, smell, and texture, that repulsion is more prominent and thereby more salient. Thus, we unfairly conclude that the food is repulsive. Not having preconceived notions, as was the case with our experimental Chinese foreigners, help in experiencing food accurately and fully. But plenty of people with awareness of such notions also experience food accurately and fully. How? Again, they eat mindfully, and that heightened awareness allows an easier differentiation between associative feelings--e.g. repulsion--and sensations--e.g. taste, smell, and textures--that do originate from food. Panda Express is even unfairly criticized at a more conceptual level. It's often claimed that the food at Panda Express is stale since it sits out all day. This is patently false. If a pan hasn't been emptied in 30 or 60 minutes (I don't remember which one it is), its contents are disposed and a new batch is immediately made. The food is as fresh, if not fresher, than those cafeteria-style restaurants like Tender Greens and Urban Plates that are so commonly purported to be superior. Climbing up the ladder of abstraction, it's also often claimed that chain restaurants are inherently inferior because they have to modify recipes for the lowest common denominator to finance their widespread presence. Even if that were true, the preferences of the lowest common denominator aren't necessarily inferior. For examples, (A) Avengers: Infinity War was wildly appealing to a wildly large fan base, becoming the highest grossing film in history. It was wildly appealing not because it played it safe--it took huge risks which paid off in billions of dollars. And (B) restaurants that are purported to be healthy and superior are also chains. This criticism against the lowest common denominator is one of snobbery and elitism. Furthermore, mindful eating and differentiating feelings from sensations immediately dispels the claim (although that isn't even foolproof: refer to the Asch Conformity Study where most participants changed their minds on basic things at the sensory level, like shapes and sizes, due to succumbing to peer pressure). I love Panda Express. The food is delicious, the chain is transparent in calories and ingredients, its widespread presence is convenient, and perhaps most importantly, how can you say "no" to that cute fat panda? read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is your typical Panda Express. It seemed very clean and the food looked fresh! My coworker was really digging the plant based orange chicken. It's a convenient spot to grab a quick lunch. read more

One thing you will find that doesn't make sense and isn't fair - is that the size of the "free single entree" they will give you because of filling out a survey, or from the promotional free single entree cards they might mail you, is much smaller than a single entree that they slap into your styrofoam take-out container. In other words a free single entree portion is always smaller than a paid single entree. read more

Just got horrible food poisoning and threw up a ton. Workers were also very monotone even when I tried to start conversation so I am never going to panda again read more

How do you consistently run out of food by 730pm? Are supply chain issues impacting the availability of orange chicken? Im not sure which Im more annoyed by...the fact that I was going to eat at Panda Express by myself on a Friday night or the fact that you're out of food! Look, your managers make like 80-100k or something like that, which I think is awesome. So do some managing and stop running out of freaking food. Man I gotta get on a dating app. read more

Management is doing a terrible job. This location has become consistently bad. They are always running out of food. They close at 7:30, but stop cooking at 7:00. So if you go to get orange chicken at 7, and they are out, you're out of luck. The greens they serve are a joke. Huge pieces of broccoli stalks and browning veggies. The "fried rice" was mushy and had raw veggies. Management doesn't care about quality or customer service. It's really bad. Zero pride in their product. I'm done with this location. read more

Panda Express - Old and browning beans from kung pao. Chunks of broccoli stalks mixed in with with some old browning pieces from the raw super greens. - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

The spot definitely hits the spot for Chinese food somewhere to get a quick lunch . I order for my son orange chicken made fresh and noodles on the side . They made my sons day so I will recommend this location . Customer service was great got me in and out of line very fast . Keep up the hard work. read more

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Ok, so we were desperate and wanted something FAST... Andy decided on the kid's meal ($4.50) and I opted for a side of small chow mein ($3). The employees are super friendly here and offered samples - COOL! Andy later got upset with me because he could have gotten more bang for his buck if he went to Noodles 'N More for the amount he paid for a kid's meal... O well.... (tee hee) read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Gung Hay Fat Choy! It was the beginning of Lunar New Year, and Panda Express had sent me a coupon for a free chicken egg roll. Since I hadn't Yelped about this location, I figured I'd grace them with my presence yesterday after work (and get a little something extra to eat, seeing how my lunch was less than satisfying). Every time I've been to the food court at Westfield UTC, I've been impressed with how nice this Panda Express kiosk looks. The staff are friendly enough, and they even offered me a free sample of any of the main entrees; I chose a bite of the Honey Walnut Shrimp - it's a premium item, but it tastes oh so good! Anyway, even though the coupon for the egg roll said no purchase necessary, my stomach was rumbling a bit, so I got a 1-item bowl of chow mein and a fresh batch of chicken and green beans. (Most of the stuff on the steam table was empty, and I had gotten the last chicken egg roll; I hope they were able to get the chefs going before dinner service started.) While my order was delicious and fresh, I kinda wished they'd trimmed the ends off the green beans... and that the cashier had offered me the chance to buy a drink before ringing me up. Still, a solid if not spectacular option in the Westfield UTC food court. read more

Panda Express - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Girl was off her game today and just not listening to a thing I said. Asked for a bowl and she started making a 2 plate entree asking what I wanted for my second side. Huh? She seemed extremely rushed even though I was literally the only one there. Didn't ask if I wanted soy sauce, etc. I asked for soy sauce as she attempted to run away and and I received sweet and sour sauce only. Again just not listening. The food had no flavor, and just super bland. Veggies were barely cooked and had close to zero sauce. Would never return to this location again. For $9 I left feeling robbed. read more

I admit that I'm *that* Asian girl that turns her nose up to PF Changs. PF Changs just cannot appeal to a true Asian. That's what I'd say because, well, I actually don't like PF Changs. Second admission is that I *used* to say the same thing about Panda Express BUT I'd secretly crave their sweet, overly breaded, bright neon orange chicken. Like, BAD. And, let's go for total confession, I think their black pepper chicken and mushroom chicken ain't half bad either. The trick to ANY Panda Express is to look for items that just got put in the glass counter for you to choose from. Do NOT pick anything that obviously looks like it's been sitting there for over 20 minutes. This location is alright. It gets massive busy during peak lunch hours but the line moves quickly. Kudos to them for offering veggies (instead of rice or noodles) for low carb peeps out there. I'm sad to say that I come here alone sometimes, get a 3 item combo for about $9 bucks, watch people ice skate or play hockey, and not think I have no life whatsoever. read more

Panda Express - Low carb dinner (sub rice for veggies) - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Got some Panda for dinner today even tho I was surprised to see a Panda Express employee just eating mask down at the food counter at the restaurant right next to Panda. I dont think its safe to eat your meal at the restaurant counters IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. Didnt make me feel very comfortable about eating their. Were currently not allowed to dine in anyways so seeing an employee take advantage of that is pretty annoying. Please ask your employees to exercise safetey at work. That means taking your meal to an area where all the spit from your mouth doesnt end up on the food counter. Thanks! read more

They require exact change. Who doesn't have change? I refuse these places that force electronic payment. Cash is the only way and unfortunately Panda Express has figured it's worth it to alienate the cash only sector of the population. read more

I would not recommend this location at all! The food is ok, not much different from any other Panda Express. The service however is horrible. The last couple times we have been there the staff is very rude and ruins it all for this place. Never go here! read more