1983
First Panda Express Opens
Andrew Cherng opens the first Panda Express at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California. Peggy Cherng customizes the restaurant's operating systems to assure the very best food and service.
The Panda Family
Our Panda Family is a big one. It includes our founders,
associates, and everyday guests like you.
Family Owned
What started as a way for Andrew and Peggy Cherng to support
their family, turned into thousands of locations worldwide
supporting thousands of families.
Learn more about our unique journey
1987
Chef Andy Creates The Original Orange Chicken
Chef Andy Kao develops The Original Orange Chicken® entree for Panda Express. Inspired by the flavors of Hunan Province, the dish features crispy chicken bites in a sweet and spicy orange sauce.
1999
Panda Cares Established
Committed to serving the communities in which we operate, we proudly launch Panda Cares. Our philanthropic arm is dedicated to providing food, funding and volunteer services to underserved children and disaster relief efforts
2008
Beijing Beef
Beijing Beef® is born as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. This dish brings together crispy strips of marinated beef, bell peppers and onions in a tangy-sweet sauce.
2009
Wok Smart Menu Introduced
We introduce health-minded Wok Smart™ selections, menu items that are 300 calories or less and have at least 8 grams of protein. Eating well at Panda has never been easier.
2010
Honey Walnut Shrimp
Honey Walnut Shrimp makes its debut. Our sweet and crispy creation is made with tempura shrimp wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with candied walnuts. It receives the MenuMasters Award for Best New Menu Item of the Year.
2011
First International Restaurant
We open our first international restaurant in Mexico City, Mexico. Since then, we have expanded to Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Canada, South Korea and Dubai.
2013
Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
This dish brings together crispy, tender bites of chicken raised without antibiotics, fresh-cut veggies, and a delightfully creaveable honey sesame sauce.
2014
Innovation Kitchen
We launch our Innovation Kitchen in Pasadena, California to serve as a living laboratory for exploring new menu items, new decor and new ways of serving our guests.
2022
We launched our first dish 100% made in Mexico
With the support of a culinary team from the United States and inspired by Mexican gastronomy, we launched our first 100% made-in-Mexico dish: Pastor Pork.
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