Panda Express Menu — Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1983, Glendale CA
- Locations
- ~2,600 US
- Bowl
- $9.30+
- Plate
- $11.10+
- Bigger Plate
- $12.90+
- Orange Chicken
- 510 cal, $5.40+
- Family Meal
- $43+
- Breakfast
- Not served
- Hours
- ~10:00 AM–9:30 PM
- Rewards
- 10 pts per $1
- Prices
- Vary by location; no national list
- Calories
- From Panda's own data
Panda Express is the largest Asian dining chain in the United States — about 2,600 locations, founded in Glendale, California, in 1983 — and its menu works on a simple rule: the size you pick sets most of your price. A Bowl starts at $9.30, a Plate at $11.10 and a Bigger Plate at $12.90, each with one side. This guide covers the full 2026 menu with prices and calories, from Orange Chicken to the Cantonese BBQ Brisket that came back nationwide on September 1, 2026.
About the prices: Panda Express publishes no national price list. The figures below are typical November 2026 in-store prices from multiple trackers and a November 7, 2026 app-price check at a San Diego store, cross-checked against Dallas-area captures. Your store may charge more or less — airport, mall and casino locations run higher — and prices do not include tax. Where trackers disagree, the range is shown and the conflict is stated, not smoothed. Three companion guides go deeper: the Panda Express secret menu guide collects the fan builds regulars order by recipe, the Panda Express nutrition guide breaks down every item with protein and sodium from the chain’s own data, and the Panda Express coupons guide explains Panda Rewards and the real savings.
Meal Sizes
Every meal comes with one side. The Bowl is the cheapest way in; the Bigger Plate adds a third entrée for $1.80 more than a Plate, which makes it the best value if you are hungry. The Cub Meal is the kids’ version: a junior side, a junior entrée, a fruit side and bottled water or kid’s juice.
| Meal | What You Get | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowl | 1 side + 1 entrée | $9.30+ | 280–1,130 |
| Plate | 1 side + 2 entrées | $11.10+ | 430–1,640 |
| Bigger Plate | 1 side + 3 entrées | $12.90+ | 580–2,150 |
| Panda Cub Meal | Jr. side + Jr. entrée + fruit + drink | $7.80+ | 300–740 |
Price conflict, stated plainly: trackers disagree on the starting prices by market. The Bowl reads $8.50 in Dallas-area captures, $9.30 in most national trackers and $9.40 in the November 7 San Diego app check. The Plate reads $10.50–$11.40 and the Bigger Plate $12.50–$13.40 across the same sources. The Cub Meal reads $6.80 in one tracker and $7.80 in another. We use the most common national figure and show the range in the table notes where it matters.
Chicken Entrées
Orange Chicken is the best seller — 148 million pounds served in 2025 — and every standard chicken entrée costs the same à la carte, about $5.40. The lightest chicken is Broccoli Beef’s stablemate String Bean Chicken Breast at 210 calories; the protein leader is Grilled Teriyaki Chicken at 33 grams for 275 calories.
| Entrée | Description | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Chicken | Crispy chicken in sweet and spicy orange glaze | $5.40+ | 510 |
| Kung Pao Chicken | Chicken, peanuts and vegetables, Sichuan style | $5.40+ | 320 |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | Grilled chicken, hand-sliced, teriyaki sauce | $5.40+ | 275 |
| Mushroom Chicken | Chicken, mushrooms and zucchini in ginger soy | $5.40+ | 220 |
| String Bean Chicken Breast | Chicken breast, string beans and onions | $5.40+ | 210 |
| Honey Sesame Chicken Breast | Crispy white-meat strips in a mildly sweet sauce | $5.40+ | 340 |
| Black Pepper Chicken | Chicken, celery and onions in black pepper sauce | $5.40+ | 280 |
| SweetFire Chicken Breast | Sweet chili sauce with pineapple and peppers | $5.40+ | 380 |
Beef & Shrimp Entrées
Beijing Beef is the beef best seller at 470 calories. Premium entrées — shrimp and steak — add $1.50 per scoop. The limited-time Cantonese BBQ Brisket adds $2.20 and carries 44 grams of protein, the highest of any Panda item. Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast is served at select locations only, and Eggplant Tofu is available at select locations with nutrition listed in store.
| Entrée | Description | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Beef | Crispy beef, peppers and onions, sweet-tangy sauce | $5.40+ | 470 |
| Broccoli Beef | Tender beef and broccoli in ginger soy sauce | $5.40+ | 150 |
| Honey Walnut Shrimp | Tempura shrimp in honey sauce, glazed walnuts | $6.90+ | 430 |
| Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | Sirloin with baby broccoli, peppers, mushrooms | $6.90+ | 180 |
| Cantonese BBQ Brisket | Slow-cooked brisket in Char Siu-style BBQ sauce | $6.90+ | 410 |
| Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast | Crispy chicken breast, peppers, onions, sauce | $5.40+ | 300 |
Sides
Every meal includes one side, and you can split it half and half at no extra charge — half Chow Mein and half Fried Rice is the most popular split. A side weighs about 9 ounces, more than an entrée, which is why sides often carry more calories than the entrée they sit next to: Fried Rice at 620 calories tops every chicken entrée except Orange Chicken.
| Side | Description | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chow Mein | Stir-fried noodles with cabbage and celery | $4.60+ | 600 |
| Fried Rice | Wok-fried rice with egg, peas and carrots | $4.60+ | 620 |
| White Steamed Rice | Plain steamed white rice | $4.60+ | 520 |
| Brown Steamed Rice | Whole-grain steamed rice, select locations | $4.60+ | 420 |
| Super Greens | Broccoli, kale and cabbage mix | $4.60+ | 130 |
Appetizers & Soup
Appetizers run about $2.10 to $2.50 per order. Cream Cheese Rangoons and Chicken Potstickers are the usual add-ons; Hot & Sour Soup is served at select locations only.
| Appetizer | Description | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veggie Spring Roll | 2 pieces, cabbage and vegetables | $2.10 | 240 |
| Cream Cheese Rangoon | 3 pieces, cream cheese filling | $2.10 | 190 |
| Chicken Egg Roll | 1 piece, chicken and vegetables | $2.10 | 200 |
| Chicken Potsticker | 3 pieces, pan-fried | $2.10 | 160 |
| Hot & Sour Soup | Cup, tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots | $2.50 | 120 |
Family Meals & Bundles
The 5-Person Family Meal is the best value on the board: 2 large sides and 3 large entrées for about $43, roughly $8.60 per person, cheaper than buying separate Plates. Bundles add a medium drink to a Bowl, Plate or Bigger Plate. Bundle prices disagree between trackers — one lists the Bowl Bundle at $10.90 and the Bigger Plate Bundle at $14.90, another at $11.60 and $15.20 — so treat bundle prices as approximate and confirm in the app.
| Meal | What You Get | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Person Family Meal | 2 large sides + 3 large entrées | $43.00+ | 430–1,640 |
| Bowl Bundle | Bowl + medium drink | $11.60 | 280–1,130 |
| Plate Bundle | Plate + medium drink | $13.40 | 430–1,640 |
| Bigger Plate Bundle | Bigger Plate + medium drink | $15.20 | 580–2,150 |
Catering
Catering is built for office lunches and parties. Party trays are sold one at a time or in multi-person bundles with a set per-person price, and fortune cookies come with every bundle.
| Item | Serves | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Party Size Side | 10–12 people | $17.00+ |
| Party Size Entrée | 12–14 people | $42.00+ |
| Party Size Appetizer | 12–14 people | $42.00+ |
| 12–16 Person Party Bundle | 2 entrées + 2 sides | $112.00+ |
| 18–22 Person Party Bundle | 3 entrées + 3 sides | $159.00+ |
| 26–30 Person Party Bundle | 4 entrées + 4 sides | $201.00+ |
Balanced Protein Plates
Balanced Protein Plates are custom plates priced separately from the standard Plate. The Double Protein Plate doubles the entrée for $10.90; the Harmonious Macros Plate is the lighter build at 555 calories.
| Plate | What You Get | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Protein Plate | Double entrée portion | $10.90 | 875 |
| Harmonious Macros Plate | Lighter custom plate | $10.90 | 555 |
| Build Your Own Plate | 1 side + 2 entrées, custom | $10.50+ | 430–1,640 |
Drinks & Crafted Beverages
Fountain sodas start at $2.30 for a small. Crafted Beverages — the refreshers and teas — run $3.40 and up for a large 24-ounce cup, and since July 2026 they use real sugar and real fruit juice. The newest is the Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher, added in summer 2026.
| Drink | Size | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crafted Refresher | Large, 24 oz | $3.40+ | 195–240 |
| Fountain Soda | S / M / L | $2.30 / $2.50 / $2.70 | 0–390 |
| Dasani Water | 16 oz bottle | $2.50+ | 0 |
| Powerade Berry Blast | 20 oz bottle | $2.90+ | 130 |
| Coke Mexico | 12 oz bottle | $3.20+ | 150 |
Desserts & Sauces
Dessert is a short list: the Apple Pie Roll at participating stores since October 2023, and a free fortune cookie with every order. Sauce packets — teriyaki, sweet and sour, chili, soy, potsticker sauce and hot mustard — are free at the counter, but sodium adds up: one soy sauce packet carries 375 mg.
| Item | Notes | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Pie Roll | Select stores, since Oct 2023 | Varies | ~150 |
| Fortune Cookie | Free with every order | Free | ~20 |
| Teriyaki Sauce | 1.8 oz packet | Free | 70 |
| Sweet & Sour Sauce | 1.8 oz packet | Free | 70 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 packet, 375 mg sodium | Free | 5 |
Allergen Information
Panda Express publishes a full nutrition and allergen chart. The headline allergens: Orange Chicken contains wheat, soy and egg; Beijing Beef contains wheat, soy and egg; Honey Walnut Shrimp contains shellfish, wheat and tree nut (walnut); Cantonese BBQ Brisket contains sesame, soybean and wheat; SweetFire Chicken Breast contains wheat. Vegetarian items are made without meat but share a kitchen and woks with meat dishes, so they are not prepared separately. Ask in the restaurant for the current allergen guide, or check the chain’s site before you order — recipes change, and the guide is the authoritative source.
Nutrition
Meals run 280 to 2,150 calories depending on the size and the side. Wok Smart items have 300 calories or less and at least 8 grams of protein: Broccoli Beef (150), String Bean Chicken Breast (210), Mushroom Chicken (220), Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (275), Black Pepper Chicken (280) and Black Pepper Sirloin Steak (180). The full breakdown — calories, protein and sodium for every entrée, side and drink — is in the Panda Express nutrition guide. Two conflicts worth knowing: Orange Chicken’s protein reads 16 grams in the chain’s current data but 25–26 grams in many tracking apps and older listings, and Beijing Beef reads 470 calories and 600 mg of sodium now against 480 calories and 660 mg in older listings. We use the current official figures and flag the older ones where they still circulate.
Hours
Most Panda Express locations are open about 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM, seven days a week. Hours vary by location — mall, airport and university stores keep their own hours — and Panda Express does not serve breakfast. Check the app or the store page before you go, and note that holiday hours differ.
Reviews
There is no single national rating for Panda Express: sampled Yelp location pages range from 1.9 stars (Phoenix, 198 reviews) to 4.0 stars (Kailua, 69 reviews), with Kahului at 3.1 (86 reviews) and Honolulu at 2.9 (270 reviews). The pattern is consistent across locations — Orange Chicken is the dish reviewers praise, and the complaints are about consistency: portions that vary by visit, items out of stock (String Bean Chicken is the one reviewers most often find unavailable), and order accuracy on delivery apps. One review roundup puts Orange Chicken itself at 4.5 out of 5 among reviewers. Blaze T., reviewing the Kailua location on Yelp, wrote: “Breaks my heart, Panda Express has been my spot; but today my orange chicken was more raw and riggly than shmeagles cave fish.” On the other side, a Honolulu reviewer put it simply: a chow mein and Orange Chicken plate for around $12 is “a pretty good deal” when the food is consistently up to their liking. The honest summary: the food regulars love is very good, and the experience depends heavily on the location and the day.
Panda Express Menu Facts
- Panda Express was founded in 1983 by Andrew and Peggy Cherng at the Glendale Galleria in California.
- Orange Chicken was created in 1987 by chef Andy Kao — it is still the best seller, with 148 million pounds served in 2025.
- There are about 2,600 Panda Express locations in the US, making it the largest Asian dining chain in the country.
- Panda Express was named the 2026 Nation’s Restaurant News Brand Icon of the Year.
- The Panda Promise, started in 2020, overhauled recipes to cut sodium and sugar and clean up ingredients — and since July 2026 no dish uses artificial colors or synthetic dyes.
- Cantonese BBQ Brisket sold more than 5 million scoops in its first run (June 2 to August 10, 2026) before selling out and returning nationwide on September 1.
- Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken is still testing in 7 cities as of November 2026: Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix and Reno.
- Hot Orange Chicken, the best-selling limited-time offer in Panda history, ran July 11 to September 30, 2026.
- A fortune cookie comes free with every order — the chain said in 2016 it gave away nearly 282 million a year.
- Panda Cares, the chain’s charity arm, has raised over $455 million since 1999.
- Wok Smart means 300 calories or less and at least 8 grams of protein per serving.
- A side weighs about 9 ounces, more than an entrée at 4 to 6 ounces — which is why Fried Rice (620 cal) beats most entrées on calories.
- Half-and-half sides are free: split any side into two at no extra charge.
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken leads the menu on protein at 33 grams for 275 calories.
- Cantonese BBQ Brisket carries 44 grams of protein, the highest of any Panda item.
- Panda Express does not serve breakfast — most stores open around 10:00 AM.
- Eggplant Tofu is available at select locations only, with nutrition listed in store.
- The chain’s Crafted Beverages switched to real sugar and real fruit juice in July 2026.
- Wok Wednesdays, a weekly in-app game, has run since October 2025 — Panda Rewards members can win points multipliers and free food every Wednesday.
- One soy sauce packet carries 375 mg of sodium — more than the Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast entrée itself (260 mg).
FAQs
How much is a Bowl at Panda Express?
About $9.30 to start, with one side and one entrée. Trackers show $8.50–$9.40 by market, so your store may differ. A Plate starts at about $11.10 and a Bigger Plate at about $12.90.
What is the cheapest meal at Panda Express?
A Bowl at $9.30+ is the cheapest full meal. The Cub Meal at $7.80+ is cheaper but it is the kids’ meal. For groups, the 5-Person Family Meal at about $43 works out to roughly $8.60 per person.
How many calories are in Panda Express Orange Chicken?
510 calories per standard serving, with 16 grams of protein and 850 mg of sodium. Older listings show 490 calories and 25–26 grams of protein — the current official figures are 510 and 16.
Does Panda Express have a secret menu?
There is no official secret menu, but regulars order by recipe — the Panda Express secret menu guide collects the fan builds and the free asks, with component-sum prices marked ~.
Is Orange Chicken gluten-free?
No. Orange Chicken contains wheat, soy and egg. Check the allergen guide in store for the full list.
Does Panda Express serve breakfast?
No. Most locations open around 10:00 AM and do not serve breakfast.
What is the best value at Panda Express?
The Bigger Plate at $12.90+ — a third entrée for $1.80 more than a Plate — or the 5-Person Family Meal at about $43 for a group of four or five.
Does Panda Express deliver?
Yes, through the Panda Express app and website, and through delivery apps. App orders earn Panda Rewards points at 10 per $1; delivery-app orders do not.
Conclusion
Panda Express is the rare fast-food menu where the pricing is honest once you know the rule: the size sets the price, the entrée mostly does not. A Bowl at $9.30+, a Plate at $11.10+, a Bigger Plate at $12.90+ — and the best value is the third entrée on the Bigger Plate or the $43 Family Meal for a group. Orange Chicken at 510 calories is still the dish to order, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is the protein play at 33 grams, and Super Greens at 130 calories is the side that keeps a meal light. The conflicts are real and we have stated them — Bowl prices vary $8.50–$9.40 by market, and Orange Chicken’s protein reads 16 grams in current official data against 25–26 grams in older listings. For the deeper guides, see the Panda Express secret menu, the Panda Express nutrition guide and the Panda Express coupons guide. And if you want to compare boards, the Chipotle menu is the closest fast-casual rival, or the Chick-fil-A menu for the other chicken board.
Prices are typical November 2026 in-store figures from multiple trackers and a November 7, 2026 app-price check; nutrition is from Panda Express’s own published data. Prices and availability vary by location.
