Current Events > Unpopular Opinion: Panda Express is better Chinese food than most Chinese places

(+) Yeah! (+)

*in America
Aside from the taste of the actual food is the advantage of consistency
It always tastes good, the way you remember, every time. And that's obviously the advantage of being a fast food chain.

Lets also get into the fact that most of their food is cooked with a better preparation (even if it is frozen), is less greasy, and honestly tastes cleaner and better than a LOT of Chinese places in America.

That all being said, obviously the best Chinese places shit eggs on Panda Express. But most Chinese places serve worse food than Panda Express for much more on the dollar.

"B-b-b-but it's not authentic! You're not getting the real Chinese food experience!"
First of all, "authentic" Chinese food is almost unpalatable to most Americans. In fact, there is no "Chinese" food in China because they would have regional variations and cuisines, not a single unified cuisine. You have Hunan food, Sichuan food, Beijing food, Hong Kong food - but not Chinese food. Similar to Italian cuisine. Second of all that "authentic" Chinese food that YOU'RE thinking of was invented in the USA and Panda Express has some of the best variations on them.

Fight me about it.

Panda Express has trash fried rice that has no flavor. Any halfway decent Chinese joint will have better fried rice.

Heavy_D_Forever posted...

Panda Express has trash fried rice that has no flavor. Any halfway decent Chinese joint will have better fried rice.

^That

Heavy_D_Forever posted...

Panda Express has trash fried rice that has no flavor. Any halfway decent Chinese joint will have better fried rice.

your mistake is getting the fried rice in the first place
you should be getting the chow mein or white rice

standard chinese* fried rice is overrated anywhere

Bok continues to show that they don't have a single good food take.

I don't think I've ever had Panda and thought "Yeah this was better than the local place I got"

Only good thing about Panda express is you don't have to wait.

Panda Express has its place but...what the literal fuck is this topic?

Cemith posted...

I don't think I've ever had Panda and thought "Yeah this was better than the local place I got"

Sadly it happened for me.

Just once, though.

Chicken fried rice is my go to check for quality of restaurant.

You're all sitting there thinking about the Chinese joint you love to go to and how Panda Express doesn't hold a candle to it

And you're right

But you're clearly also not reading what I wrote.
Or you disagree with that too, in which case you are WRONG.

Have some respect for your body.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

The final conclusion should include "most American Chinese restaurants suck"

I mean, if you're comparing Panda Express to your bottom of the barrel, delivery-only Chinese food place with an 800 menu item and a name like "Tso's number one", then sure. Just the fact that they cook the food in smaller batches and doesn't sit in a giant vat all day means it's going to taste fresher.

If you're comparing it to any sort of legitimate sit-down place, then I have to disagree.

Taste wise not quite, but I do like how fresh the food is at PE compared to other fast food joints

I... really don't care for Panda Express, any comparison aside :/

s0nicfan posted...

I mean, if you're comparing Panda Express to your bottom of the barrel, delivery-only Chinese food place with an 800 menu item and a name like "Tso's number one", then sure. Just the fact that they cook the food in smaller batches and doesn't sit in a giant vat all day means it's going to taste fresher.

that's most of them across the entire contiguous united states of america 48 states

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

I'ma be real with you
Sichuan food is kinda the only good Chinese food too

Is that an unpopular opinion lmao

People are going to say TC is wrong, but this is the truth. Local places are usually overrated (and overpriced anyways), and Chinese is no exception. Even the ones I like are very hit-or-miss with things that aren't shrimp fried rice such as dumplings.

PE has good white rice that absorbs their meat's juices pretty well.

Panda Express has such a simplistic and limited menu compared to the rest of what Chinese food has to offer that it's kind of ridiculous to say that it represents the best Chinese cuisine has to offer. It's like saying that Taco Bell has a better menu than other Mexican restaurants.

A_Good_Boy posted...

Panda Express has such a simplistic and limited menu compared to the rest of what Chinese food has to offer that it's kind of ridiculous to say that it represents the best Chinese cuisine has to offer. It's like saying that Taco Bell has a better menu than other Mexican restaurants.

It's American Chinese food.
In a way that Taco Bell is NOT even Tex-Mex or Mexican

Did that make sense

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Cruciferous posted...

The final conclusion should include "most American Chinese restaurants suck"

Panda Express has some god-tier meats but the rice and noodles are tasteless muck, so it averages out to be kinda okay.

But I used to live within a five-minute drive of the Christiana Mall and they had Suki Hana and Ruby Thai (which I think were run by the same people since there'd be employees in opposite uniforms running back and forth between them while the third wheel Chinese place just sort of sat there in the middle lol)

I'd go to either of those 10/10 times before Panda Express. God I miss the bang bang chicken. >_>

Kim_Seong-a posted...

Panda Express has some god-tier meats but the rice and noodles are tasteless muck, so it averages out to be kinda okay.

actually i consider their chow mein to be top tier

it's exactly what you want in a chow mein
it's not supposed to be overly flavorful since you're supposed to balance your salty veg and meat with the noodles/rice

it's a well made chow mein. whether or not people like that is more subjective, imo.

the exception to this is when they grab too much cabbage and barely any noodles

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Nah they have a good chow mein.
Its exactly what it should be and nothing more. I gave my reasonings. I understand not everyone is like me.

East coast has the best chinese food. I gave up on finding some here on the west years ago

Literally never heard of panda express is this some more American shit

Um fuck no

Rika_Furude posted...

Literally never heard of panda express is this some more American shit

Yes. And it's awful. Also you can find authentic Chinese in America if you actually live in a place with a lot of Chinese.

I agree that Panda Express definitely beats your average hole-in-the-wall Chinese takeout place in the USA.

There's another chain called Chao Cajun that's usually in mall food courts that's really good. Bourbon chicken is awesome. Some of them have additional entrees, but it's usually just bourbon chicken. I could live off bourbon chicken, the sauce from the bourbon chicken mixes with the rice, and it's just the best thing ever.

I'd take Chao Cajun or Panda Express over typical Chinese Takeout.

Now, there's some very good sit down Chinese restaurants that serve high quality, more traditional dishes that beat the hell out of Panda Express and Chao Cajun, but the price tag is also a bit higher. I've never seen this quality from a takeout place, they might exist, I've just never seen it.

ssjevot posted...

Yes. And it's awful. Also you can find authentic Chinese in America if you actually live in a place with a lot of Chinese.

And it would be even cheaper.

I tried Panda Express a couple times and it was straight garbage. Literally every local Chinese place I've been to is better.

Chuy's is also better than 95% of Mexican Restaurants.

I've been to good Panda Expresses and I've been to some that are absolute shit. Just find a good local Chinese place that likes you.

Favorite is the firecracker chicken. Its a seasonal offering and easily the most delicious

mariolover2 posted...

More food doesnt mean better..yet a Chinese buffet for 22$ Is so much better than panda.

Don't get me started on Chinese buffets

I wish I lived in an area where it's $22 for a buffet tho

As far as fast food restaurants go, Panda Express is quite good and up there with Chipotle, I think.

Just thinking about their orange chicken or walnut shrimp is making me hungry right now.

Heavy_D_Forever posted...

Panda Express has trash fried rice that has no flavor. Any halfway decent Chinese joint will have better fried rice.

Any "halfway decent Chinese joint"'s fried rice is made from the previous day's rice. Panda Express's fried rice is freshly cooked rice.

You're basically hoping the restaurant's rice storage practices are better than leaving the old rice out on the counter overnight.

You high on that potenuse tc

Here's a life hack....

If you can trust the nutritional info the chicken teriyaki they have is INSANELY good as a protein source. It's 275 calories for 33g of protein. That is an insanely great deal IF you can believe its true (Im doubtful but arent they required by law to be accurate?). It also tastes really good

Panda Express is excellent for fast food. It's practically the only place I eat away from home now as I've gotten into cooking.

Honey sesame chicken and Angus steak always. Probably kung Pao for the 3rd.

Apparently their fried rice isn't good according to ppl ITT, but I love it.

HHH_is_the_game posted...

Here's a life hack....

If you can trust the nutritional info the chicken teriyaki they have is INSANELY good as a protein source. It's 275 calories for 33g of protein. That is an insanely great deal IF you can believe its true (Im doubtful but arent they required by law to be accurate?). It also tastes really good

A better life hack is pointing out that a chicken breast has 31g of protein for 165 calories, so you can just skip on the Teriyaki sauce for a healthier one and be much better off.

Cruciferous posted...

You have Hunan food, Sichuan food, Beijing food, Hong Kong food

I would argue they can all count under the umbrella of Chinese food. And, as an American, the stuff I've had suited my palate just fine.

And no, Panda Express sucks on purpose. They did the thing where they invest a lot to spread out, and, once firmly established, dropped quality and cut corners to save money.

Most "Chinese" food I've had is better than PE.

I haven't had Panda Express nearly enough to make a judgment but the one time I did it just tasted like basic Mall Chinese food.

Now as somebody who has eaten at almost 40 different Chinese restaurants in my city, yes I did count. I found one tip that makes Chinese food taste a lot better. When ordering, ask for your dish but spicy

Basically I think your average Chinese restaurant has dulled the taste down so much to fit more bland American palates and asking for spicy brings it up to more like a normal level.

The best Chinese I ever ate was Hunan. It was a sit down restaurant, and it was high quality food. When I look for a place that has good Chinese food, I look for a name that has Hunan in it and I've never been disappointed. Food at a "Hunan" restaurant is also more expensive than Panda Express. About 35-50% more.