How Panda Express Makes 110 Million Pounds of Orange Chicken per Year - The Experts

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  • Опубліковано 21 лют 2023
  • Panda Express has been a staple of mall foods across the country from its first location in the Glendale Galleria in California in 1983. Since then, it has expanded to 2,300 restaurants that serve American Chinese favorites like kung pao chicken and its iconic orange chicken.
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    Credits:
    Producers: Ian Stroud, Pelin Keskin
    Directors: Ian Stroud, Murilo Ferreira
    Camera: Murilo Ferreira, Jay Simms
    Editor: Charlotte Carpenter
    Executive Producer: Stephen Pelletteri
    Development Producer: Ian Stroud
    Supervising Producer: Stefania Orrù
    Audience Development: Terri Ciccone, Frances Dumlao, Avery Dalal
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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    Eater is the go-to resource for food and restaurant obsessives with hundreds of episodes and new series, featuring exclusive access to dining around the world, rich culture, immersive experiences, and authoritative experts. Binge it, watch it, crave it.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,6 тис.

  • @eater
    @eater  Рік тому +358

    This episode on Panda Express is part of a deep dive into mall food in America. Check out our Mall Food Madness package below!
    www.eater.com/23598450/malls-restaurants-shopping-fast-food-chains

    • @ropro9817
      @ropro9817 Рік тому +4

      Wait a second... they use Angus steak at Panda Express? 🤔

    • @stephenj6837
      @stephenj6837 Рік тому +2

      No they use crap meat

    • @johndee759
      @johndee759 Рік тому

      Panda Express is also good in managing their suppliers. It’s not easy to be producing for Panda Express. The suppliers’ margins are small but Panda Express’s margins are relatively big.

    • @timmyteaching
      @timmyteaching Рік тому

      Enjoy your slop, you filthy ridiculous Americans!

    • @GoodFoodFox
      @GoodFoodFox Рік тому +1

      Great reads!

  • @anachr0nism104
    @anachr0nism104 Рік тому +4434

    i'm taiwanese american, and i have a lot of respect for american chinese food. sure, i personally think it's usually too saucy and too sweet. but it's chinese-based food made with the resources immigrants had available, modified to be marketable to the american palate. it might not be "authentic", but it has a lot of history behind it and really has taken on a life of its own.

    • @turboleggy
      @turboleggy Рік тому +79

      I really don't. I find the food to be largely unhealthy unlike other Asian foods like Indian, Thai, Japanese. I respect the hustle to adapt but I largely find it full of wheat, sugar and oil. Case in point Low temp deep frying.

    • @wwlee5
      @wwlee5 Рік тому +48

      So in conclusion, American-Chinese food has invaded Taiwan and are everywhere? You've never been to Taiwan. There's orange-chicken and sweet-sour-pork served in frozen bags at Family-mart in Taipei. I also pick up sweet-sour-pork in the back alleys of Taipei at this Cantonese restaurant which taste so much like back in America . They also serve the big-fat juicy unfried eggroll which in Taiwanese is called lumpia at the nightmarket. I also pick up my hot-and-sour soup in Taichung at this food-stand whenever I stop by for my short-business trip. At this Taiwanese factory for lunch, I pick up my sweet-sour dish once in awhile depending on the menu for the week. But I love it when they have fried wontons ready to serve. Chinese food for 1.3 billion people isn't just dumplings and rice-with-soy sauce, it varies across the region (soy-sauce is a northern traditional staple and not traditional to Taiwan nor the south). Panda Express food and American-Chinese is 95% Chinese. Trust me. I was raised in one and I travel around Asia and Europe (where they also serve American-Chinese food?)

    • @PJP1112
      @PJP1112 Рік тому +247

      I always laugh at people who snub their nose at food because its not "authentic." Imo those people are arrogant and pretentious.

    • @kevinxsavagegm
      @kevinxsavagegm Рік тому

      @@turboleggy nibba indian food is made in sewer-like conditions 90% of the time. Just go and watch indian food vids on this platform lmfao dafuq you talkin bout

    • @mattroyal363
      @mattroyal363 Рік тому +168

      ​@@turboleggyLmao thinking Asian cuisine is health and nutritious

  • @crispyjeffers
    @crispyjeffers Рік тому +3403

    One thing I really like about this channel is the video editing format. They don't film the interviewer asking the questions, and instead just film the interviewee answering the questions and moving the narrative along smoothly. It maximizes the amount of time that the person at the restaurant can communicate their story without getting bogged down in a question-response process.

    • @Astrohhh
      @Astrohhh Рік тому +26

      Great point! It also maximizes the amount of time that the person at the restaurant can communicate their story without getting bogged down in a question-response process.

    • @ranggiarohmansani
      @ranggiarohmansani Рік тому +21

      I think the main reason is, they lost too many good host to "bigger media", till the point they don't want to put host anymore, and it seems work!

    • @xZOOMARx
      @xZOOMARx Рік тому +19

      I feel like ever since bon appetit youtube established influencer chefs most food channels followed suit and now focus on branding their hosts. It’s enjoyable but it’s nice to have restaurant and community chef focused videos like this

    • @tjjavier
      @tjjavier Рік тому

      🙌👌

    • @RonsarLo
      @RonsarLo Рік тому +7

      100% and doesn't do excessive jumpcuts. Actually gives space and time for the person to talk and explain

  • @bentucky4324
    @bentucky4324 Рік тому +2923

    I love how unapologetic Panda Express is about how they’re Chinese-American food. They’re not trying to be authentic Chinese food, instead they proudly mix in the American palate, taste, and flavor to Chinese cuisine.

    • @MillionMixVevo98
      @MillionMixVevo98 Рік тому +92

      Same thing with Taco Bell too lol

    • @b2kzangelalwayz
      @b2kzangelalwayz Рік тому +46

      @@MillionMixVevo98 NOOOOOO LMFAO

    • @wolfcola8453
      @wolfcola8453 Рік тому +31

      @@MillionMixVevo98 ya but them frijoleros get all triggered when we say its mexican american food LMAO

    • @privacyvalued4134
      @privacyvalued4134 Рік тому +9

      It wouldn't hurt if they added some steamed dumplings and maybe Japanese mochi to their options. Their egg rolls and fortune cookies are not particularly good.

    • @recommended1782
      @recommended1782 Рік тому +8

      other then adding more fat there is nothing unique about american food been here for 4yrs now its just a fat fest here no flavor what so ever asian cooking were uses spices sauces for taste were ameican's just grill streaks and rips and add cheese that's it

  • @cashinmind8971
    @cashinmind8971 Рік тому +591

    Used to be a General Manager of a Panda Express for multiple years. They pay their store managers close to $100k a year, and its really a great company to work for!

    • @SensationsRim
      @SensationsRim Рік тому +6

      Why did you leave the company if it's really great to work for?

    • @Colors82
      @Colors82 Рік тому +8

      @@SensationsRim could've retired or left to move to another country

    • @cashinmind8971
      @cashinmind8971 Рік тому +175

      @@SensationsRim I am the type of guy that wants to own his own business. I used Panda as a vehicle to fund another venture. I left on great terms and I'm still friends with most of my team, talk to them often! More happy to be working for myself!

    • @cashinmind8971
      @cashinmind8971 Рік тому +70

      @@Colors82 Nope, started my own business. Couldn't have done it without Panda.

    • @Colors82
      @Colors82 Рік тому +5

      @@cashinmind8971 ah ok, good for you

  • @GabeSegura94
    @GabeSegura94 Рік тому +598

    I always respected Panda for not cutting as many corners as so many other american food chains do

    • @sonidoacuario845
      @sonidoacuario845 Рік тому +73

      Panda is family owned , they have morals . As where other fast food restaurants are keener by mindless businessmen

    • @Captain_Crayzay
      @Captain_Crayzay Рік тому +25

      Agreed. Hopefully they don't get a new CEO sometime down the line who looks for ways to "maximize profit" and start that crap.

    • @wanleaf
      @wanleaf Рік тому +6

      Let's keep it that way

    • @strawbaria
      @strawbaria Рік тому +13

      @@Captain_Crayzay The advantage of not being a publically-traded company is that you don't have the pressure to increase profits year after year.

    • @CoolAce1
      @CoolAce1 11 місяців тому +1

      Bullcrap.

  • @Astrohhh
    @Astrohhh Рік тому +1964

    I always expected that sauce to be pre-bagged and mass produced. It's kinda cool how they make it fresh. No wonder it tastes so good!

    • @BarbadosCheeks
      @BarbadosCheeks Рік тому +32

      not sure if i needed to know that the water they use is brown.. @1:32

    • @zab683
      @zab683 Рік тому +512

      @@BarbadosCheeks the water is brown because it was the same container that was use for the sauce a few second earlier

    • @roko98332r
      @roko98332r Рік тому +311

      @@BarbadosCheeks its purpose to scrape the leftover sauce. so nithing wasted

    • @alm5851
      @alm5851 Рік тому +48

      idt every store preps like this one. i've definitely seen bags in the back of some panda expresses

    • @TheBushRanger.
      @TheBushRanger. Рік тому

      @@BarbadosCheeks idiot

  • @ISeeYouOliver
    @ISeeYouOliver Рік тому +853

    Adrian needs to have his own show. He's so good at explaining things.

  • @someguy0089
    @someguy0089 Рік тому +277

    I know Panda Express is not authentic Chinese food but it’s my favorite fast food! A few days ago I bought a family meal and it was under $40 and it fed 5 of us, it’s the best bang for your buck at Panda.

    • @bellanamii
      @bellanamii Рік тому +5

      I laughed so hard at this comment idk why

    • @BuckingHorse-Bull
      @BuckingHorse-Bull Рік тому +18

      $40 dollars to feed 5? what are yall mice

    • @someguy0089
      @someguy0089 Рік тому +34

      @@BuckingHorse-Bull no I’m fat.

    • @88KeysIdaho
      @88KeysIdaho Рік тому +30

      Those family meals are a LOT of food. When COVID first hit, they had deals on the family meals, and I bought 2. OMG- As a single guy, I was eating Panda for 2 weeks!

    • @templar1694
      @templar1694 Рік тому +13

      Panda express is the authentic value for money fast food. The most authentic fast food. It is fast and still cater reasonable pricing.

  • @jaceyc9418
    @jaceyc9418 Рік тому +213

    I like how they constantly update the recipe for their menu. Orange Chicken 15 years ago used to be very greasy and sugary, I usually couldn't finish. Now they got quite good, I don't mind eating Panda Express 2 or 3 times a week for lunch.

    • @damnbabygirl8926
      @damnbabygirl8926 11 місяців тому +31

      Is that what happened? I used to dislike Panda Express, but had them for the first time in 8 years recently and was so pleasantly surprised by the flavors. I'm glad they changed for the better

    • @M1GYT
      @M1GYT 6 місяців тому

      @@damnbabygirl8926from my experience working at Panda, they have very high standards compared to other fast food restaurants, and they definitely pay well enough and have great systems of management to ensure that. I never cooked anything while working there because I was only there for my last year of high school, but I can say that the kitchen was held to a high standard. I was always closing there so I was always making sure the kitchen (and the dining room) was absolutely spotless and sanitary

  • @jimhoyt7573
    @jimhoyt7573 Рік тому +20

    I don't care what people say about panda express. Not only is it really good food for what it is -- fast food (for reference you can get a plate of food at panda express for about the same price as a value meal at other fast food restaurants), it's staggering how high quality the food is given the price point. But on top of that, it's also a very respectable company that treat their employees right.

  • @dominiquewong4706
    @dominiquewong4706 Рік тому +216

    As a Taiwanese from Taiwan, I actually enjoyed Panda Express when I was studying in the US. I really hope that panda express can try to expand to Asia to give people hear an experience of American Chinese food.

    • @jw6451
      @jw6451 Рік тому +7

      then you prob would like jiangsu / shanghai style food since the sweet n sour inspiration is from those areas. it'll be different from your fujian/hokkien taste buds lol

    • @SuperValue350
      @SuperValue350 Рік тому +11

      Agreed. I'm sure native Asians in Asia would be curious to try out Asian American food and how much they have diverged.

    • @nikoandroman
      @nikoandroman Рік тому +16

      I wouldn’t want to speak on Asians but I don’t think it would have success over there. Personally me as a Mexican I wouldn’t like Taco Bell in Mexico, wouldn’t mind if there was but I don’t think it would have success over here because of how much the food has diverged from our culture, most Mexicans find Taco Bell nasty. I don’t know if that would be the case for Panda Express too, I’ve tried Panda Express and I think it’s pretty good, I don’t know if real Asians would say the same.
      EDIT: Just found out Taco Bell actually did try to open here in Mexico and well it flopped for that exact same reason

    • @MikeAbrahams
      @MikeAbrahams Рік тому +14

      @@nikoandroman Taco Bell is actually nasty, Panda Express is actually good. I think that is a big difference. Dunno how it would do in Asia though!

    • @nikoandroman
      @nikoandroman Рік тому

      @@MikeAbrahams It’s good for us but I don’t know how most Asians would take Panda

  • @officialdavidburrus7425
    @officialdavidburrus7425 Рік тому +176

    I was not expecting this degree of education from Panda. I’m blown away.

  • @adb1917
    @adb1917 Рік тому +512

    It’s interesting how much we vilify fast food chains, this was kind of eye opening for me, as someone who’s always thought of Panda Express and other fast food chains as cheap, highly processed, alternatives.

    • @HercadosP
      @HercadosP Рік тому +108

      I also used to think lowly of Panda Express, until now since they are the only fast food chain that costs less than $9 for a big and balanced meal made of real meat and vegetables.

    • @somervillettv2272
      @somervillettv2272 Рік тому

      it is cheap crap what are you on about the chicken looks like dog grade

    • @MyMostBeautifuCinema
      @MyMostBeautifuCinema Рік тому +22

      It seems they made a significant change around 7-10 years ago to be a decent quality brand, like Del Taco. They have fresh ingredients that are on display.

    • @jont2576
      @jont2576 Рік тому

      disgusting........i wont even try to mimic uncle roger,whom is another type of disgusting and corny i find......panda express is a monstrosity and affront to chinese food....look at that garbage,i mean everything looks like the type of dishes u find in chinese stir fry but they all look gross,slimy and off and weak and mediocre, like yes the dishes should be covered and drenched in sauce,but it looks more like its decaying and putrifying and slimificating in its own juices after sitting out for too long....everything looks like a weak and pale imitation like what american kraft cheese is to cheese.....
      americanised for american tastebuds my ass....that shyt doesnt look delicious or satisfying even if i was starving after being on a greyhound bus for 12 hours.
      i hope somebody who know whats hes doing or a famous restaurant chain from hong kong or malaysia or china goes to america and put panda express out of business.

    • @johnsullivan8673
      @johnsullivan8673 Рік тому +51

      @@MyMostBeautifuCinema no, they always used fresh ingredients. Labor costs/needs are higher but PE can deal with that with better labor retention. I used to work at one about 15 years ago and all the cooks in the back are Mexicans.

  • @Porscheman1
    @Porscheman1 Рік тому +834

    Nicely done - Adrian Lok does a great job with explaining the process as well as taking pride in the Panda Express Corporation. I would hire him in a heart beat!

    • @dumbnerd747
      @dumbnerd747 Рік тому +49

      It's really interesting to see the people in leadership roles that they interview actually demonstrate the cooking. You can tell from his technique that he's spent hours on that wok at one point of time

    • @goodputin4324
      @goodputin4324 Рік тому +3

      Nah it's all scripted for the tv. That's not how it's run behind the scenes.

    • @MagicButterz
      @MagicButterz Рік тому +11

      @@goodputin4324 how do they do it then?

    • @RsKnDR0991
      @RsKnDR0991 Рік тому +2

      @@goodputin4324 jolly gosh you wouldn't say??

    • @impassivepanda667
      @impassivepanda667 4 місяці тому +1

      @@goodputin4324 clearly he’s not gonna be behind the wok when he’s a corporate executive, but doesn’t mean he doesn’t have experience or enjoys it

  • @downandout992
    @downandout992 9 місяців тому +22

    Years ago I wrote to Panda Express to express a complaint that I had, and I was surprised to be personally responded to by one of the family members. They acknowledged the legitimacy of the complaint that I had, and also sent me a handful of coupons. I've been a big fan ever since. I don't even live in the states anymore, but it seems that I can find Panda Express in airport terminals everywhere.

  • @user-kp6hs5hn5p
    @user-kp6hs5hn5p Рік тому +29

    Panda Express has such a bad rep for many food channels on this platform but this food lead is carrying this establishment's name with so much pride and knowledge it's just awe inspiring

  • @kaze987
    @kaze987 Рік тому +76

    I have great respect for this style of food. Too often folks in my orbit deride this as un-authentic but that it missing the point entirely. Its not trying to be authentic; the food utilizes ingredients that were/are available to early chefs from Asia/China at the time, the flavours became popular and mainstream, so why mess with a money maker? I highly recommend the book "Chop Suey Nation: The Legion Cafe and Other Stories from Canada’s Chinese Restaurants" by Ann Hui, which really goes out to speak to owners and operators of 'Americanized' Chinese cafes, including her own family history in the industry.

    • @julienicolay
      @julienicolay Рік тому +1

      I've read that book; it's a great read!

    • @sntslilhlpr6601
      @sntslilhlpr6601 Рік тому

      Nothing worse than an elitist food purist. Half the reason American food is so good is because of the melting pot of immigrants who came here and blended their roots with the local culture. If you want real Chinese food, go to Chinatown.

  • @_oaktree_
    @_oaktree_ Рік тому +38

    Wow they've really stepped up their game since I was a kid in the 90s... tbh I don't remember the food being all that good back in the day, but this looks a lot better. You always have to respect fast food workers because no matter what the food is like, they're busting their ass and working incredibly hard for often low pay and no respect from customers. But especially when a huge franchise like this decides to do things right and use higher-quality ingredients, toasting their own spices, it's just great to see.

  • @schao2156
    @schao2156 Рік тому +8

    I love Panda Express. For anyone saying that Panda or other take-out spots are not authentic....I say yes it is. They're not authentically Asian, but they're authentically American. And the contributions of Asian-Americans and the historical struggles behind their cuisine should be acknowledged and celebrated the same way as other American cuisines like burgers and BBQ.

  • @phil_matic
    @phil_matic Рік тому +13

    A lot of people give Panda Express crap, but all things aside, for what it is, it's still decent food. It's better than a lot of fast food options, and the variety in nutrients is there as well. If I had to live off of fast food, Panda Express (if it counts as fast food) would be in there for sure.

  • @DCMcNeilJr
    @DCMcNeilJr Рік тому +183

    It's not fast food. It's good food quickly. I really appreciate Adrian's dedication and care he takes in his preparation and cooking. You can feel his excitement in making good food for his customers. Good stuff.

    • @evanvanwormer6805
      @evanvanwormer6805 Рік тому +32

      @@aroldisxanman6840 MSG isnt a bad thing to add to quality food

    • @DCMcNeilJr
      @DCMcNeilJr Рік тому +6

      @Aroldis Xanman When I'm walking around a mall that is exactly what I need. Aside from that my point wasn't so much an endorsement of the food, I was pointing out that here's a guy, Adrian, who has dedicated himself to making the experience the best it can be.

    • @evanvanwormer6805
      @evanvanwormer6805 Рік тому

      @@aroldisxanman6840 literally nothing wrong with MSG.

    • @johnsullivan8673
      @johnsullivan8673 Рік тому

      @Aroldis Xanman Panda Express doesn't use MSG. But that's beside the point. MSG is one of God's way of filtering out the weak and the feeble. If you can't handle a bit of glutamic acid bond to sodium, you probably should get handed a Darwin Award with immediate prize dispensation.

    • @rai2355
      @rai2355 Рік тому

      @Aroldis Xanman ignorant asf

  • @Arthrexx
    @Arthrexx Рік тому +114

    It's informative and gives a view on how a big chain like Panda Express operates.

  • @aninjaguardian
    @aninjaguardian Рік тому +42

    I appreciate Adrian's ability to explain their process and it really gives me more respect to how Panda Express operates. Panda Express is great Americanized food. It's tastes great and is quick to buy.

    • @armando5994
      @armando5994 8 місяців тому +3

      people hate on panda express too much, life is too short to not admit that its delicious

  • @anonym9097
    @anonym9097 Рік тому +4

    people out here pretending like fusion cuisine isnt a thing smh. Panda Express is perfectly authentic Chino-American.

  • @ChefDaveKrul
    @ChefDaveKrul Рік тому +87

    All looks fresh , bar the orange chicken being frozen . Vegetables look great , everything is prepped in house not pre chopped . Quite impressed actually , they have actual cooks in back .

    • @pswippy
      @pswippy Рік тому +12

      It gets crispier if its frozen

    • @ToastyGGG
      @ToastyGGG Рік тому +45

      The sad truth is that the orange chicken literally has to be frozen. The average Panda Express on a busy day uses more than 6 BOXES of orange chicken a day. It’s simply too much to prep for one or two people working in the back. All of the fried menu items are pre frozen because they can’t have battering stations in store, so they get them during shipments twice a week. Other than that, basically everything is fresh and prepped in store. All sauces except for one or two are made in house, veggies except for the peas and carrots are cut fresh, and most locations don’t even have a microwave.

    • @sebastian3004
      @sebastian3004 Рік тому +2

      All chinese restaurant use frozen battered chicken coming in a big box from the factory.

  • @angelasong803
    @angelasong803 Рік тому +93

    This made me want Panda Express 😂

  • @bren3155
    @bren3155 Рік тому

    I love his honesty and straight forwardness throughout the whole video. good job

  • @amirkadir8427
    @amirkadir8427 Рік тому +12

    I just had Panda Express today. The teriyaki chicken tastes so good it reminds me of sweet crab meat. This was a great behind the scenes interview.

  • @johnnyrico6513
    @johnnyrico6513 Рік тому +288

    'A lot of times we're the first taste of Chinese food for a lot of people in the US' this is equal parts cool and sad.

    • @Toidal
      @Toidal Рік тому +99

      I'd say its more cool, gotta start folks somewhere before working them up to century eggs

    • @BigTuna18
      @BigTuna18 Рік тому +16

      It’s not real Chinese food. It’s not even close.

    • @jspur22
      @jspur22 Рік тому +19

      ​@@BigTuna18yes it is. It is the most authentic Chinese food in the USA.

    • @unknownone61
      @unknownone61 Рік тому +20

      I find that odd because Chinese restaurants actually outnumber many fast food chains, including McDonalds, in the US.

    • @eadruna
      @eadruna Рік тому

      ​@@BigTuna18 I bet you're a white guy who doesn't travel a lot and learn other cultures

  • @hcblue
    @hcblue Рік тому +58

    This might as well have been an ad because now I want Panda Express 🤣🥰

  • @ChrisCanary
    @ChrisCanary 7 місяців тому +5

    Panda is owned by one person.
    I have a friend who went to work there behind the counter and in a short time was manager.
    Within a couple of years, regional manager.
    They treat their employees really pretty well.

  • @liquid3600
    @liquid3600 Рік тому +25

    Love it when you can see the care a big chain restaurant puts into assuring their quality remains consistent. Panda Express isn't 5 star dining by any stretch, but you know what you're going to get when you visit one and they've crafted all their recipes to be flavorful and accessible

  • @wizirbyman
    @wizirbyman Рік тому +14

    the innovation kitchens are so good. i got an orange chicken burrito with boba nad it was so good

  • @WithinSymmetry90
    @WithinSymmetry90 Рік тому +9

    I'm from Singapore, means easy access to good asian food. BUT, ill still never forget my first time eating Panda Express during my vacation in USA. i watch this with nostalgia :'^)

  • @robertlee4172
    @robertlee4172 Рік тому +2

    I love that idea. They took a full dining experience, to turn it into a fast food take out meal.
    40 years strong and growing.

  • @Threeshoeone
    @Threeshoeone Рік тому +6

    This makes Panda Express seem like a mom-and-pop restaurant

  • @Rampge76
    @Rampge76 Рік тому +20

    Always love an origin story, but the mall near me wasn't as diligent as the creator. But Panda Express will always have a place in my memories as a kid.

  • @jackgoldhang4291
    @jackgoldhang4291 9 місяців тому +5

    As a Chinese master chef for more than a decade, I have to say all the ingredients and cooking skills are actually decent, I'm surprise
    One day I will travel to America just to taste it and rate it

  • @jlr_
    @jlr_ 7 місяців тому +6

    I'm impressed with how much is prepared in house. I thought a lot like chopping veggies was done at a distribution center.

  • @windsong3wong828
    @windsong3wong828 Рік тому +6

    When I am in USA , I love Panda Express.
    The consistency is great.
    The taste , umami is great.
    It gives me access to great Chinese food at affordable price.

    • @briankay3146
      @briankay3146 Рік тому +1

      Chinese tends to be pretty affordable. My favorite hole in the wall place is like buy a 12 dollar meal but is actually enough food to eat 3 meals.

  • @Dottled
    @Dottled Рік тому +57

    "i know it looks like alot of sugar but its for 2 americans"

  • @aarontuplin
    @aarontuplin Рік тому +41

    this video has shown me how surprisingly high quality Panda Express is

  • @ethanosed
    @ethanosed 7 місяців тому +1

    yea i try out orange chicken every time when I go to panda express, i just love it.

  • @yodatwinkie
    @yodatwinkie Рік тому

    Great video!! love how he explained everything perfectly.

  • @ThatOneBlackGuy
    @ThatOneBlackGuy Рік тому +14

    I was shocked at how much effort went into a meal from Panda Express. I used to love this place in my early years of College before Pei Wai's cheap coupon deals and closer access to food sold me (PE was 35 min away by Interstate @ 80mph while Pei Wai was a 5 minute 2-lane drive north of Campus) I think I might go back again, regardless of how meh it's quality is reported to be

    • @sntslilhlpr6601
      @sntslilhlpr6601 Рік тому

      The worst thing about PE is the inconsistency. Where I used to live I would always go to the one further away because the food was almost always better than the closer one. But even that one wouldn't be 100%. The way they make the food is great but it also brings in variables where two different chefs may not make it the exact same way. And then there's the fact that even if it's great when it's fresh, if it has been sitting in those warming trays for hours then it gets all mushy and gross.
      I had a Pei Wei right down the street from me for a few years as a kid. I miss it.

    • @ThatOneBlackGuy
      @ThatOneBlackGuy Рік тому +1

      @@sntslilhlpr6601 Pei Wei is the way to go. I went to the aforementioned new local one and they told me, at 8:15 (close at 9) that this is all they had left and are not cooking more. Reviewing the Google Reviews show this is a concurrent case where the staff starts cleaning an hour-plus before

  • @bro_mayo5413
    @bro_mayo5413 Рік тому +28

    They better never get rid of that Beijing beef 😤 They ran out during covid and I staked out the resteraunt for months.

    • @xcelpast
      @xcelpast Рік тому +3

      i prefer the wuhan wagyu that was served during covid

    • @Centrioless
      @Centrioless Рік тому +2

      Their beijing beef and honey walnut shrimp are to die for

  • @HoangAnh-cn7uc
    @HoangAnh-cn7uc 8 місяців тому

    The courteously men who was interviewed actually affable, he reply the questions extremely tender and his knowledge about the food was not trivial. I am a avid food traveller and big fan of food. And I hope I can nourish the hope can have a trip to his restaurant to experience the orange fr chicken, it will be a spectacular experience in my live

  • @hydroaegis6658
    @hydroaegis6658 Рік тому +6

    I'm impressed they have anything close to consistency considering how much of the flavor profile depends on the chefs' skill.

    • @jw6451
      @jw6451 Рік тому +1

      i think that's the biggest issue. they can follow the company guidelines/recipe, but the ones near me are nowhere (even visually) as appealing at the dishes presenting in this video. That, for me, is why i rarely eat at panda.. consistency. when i order, it tends to just be slop in a box, huge contrast vs this video.

  • @seopark7467
    @seopark7467 Рік тому +8

    Theres something so charming about the way he speaks!

    • @jw6451
      @jw6451 Рік тому

      he's like the chinese american shamwow guy

  • @epw6679
    @epw6679 Рік тому +4

    Wow, I didn't know all that much about Panda express & American Chinese food. I'm Chinese-American, I haven't ever had panda express, but everyone in the US calls it "fake," "not authentic," derides it and such. When in reality American Chinese food is it's own cuisine entirely because of obviously different circumstances on a different continent. Never really thought about that

  • @rickygarza3531
    @rickygarza3531 Рік тому +5

    I never knew that the Orange Chicken is fried twice, interesting. That Orange Chicken sauce varies by restaurant, but its amazing when done well.

  • @dadadacrazy
    @dadadacrazy Рік тому +9

    i love Panda Express' orange chicken! When i first visited the States in 2009, i tried this for the first time. It totally lived up to the hype and it was my first time eating chinese out of those stereotypical takeout containers you see in the movies.

    • @CoolAce1
      @CoolAce1 11 місяців тому

      I hate it. You need to try Chinese food at a local Chinese restaurant.

    • @Spiderjepo
      @Spiderjepo 6 місяців тому

      @@CoolAce1ngl the best Chinese food I had was from a local place that had 2-3 locations in my city

  • @Namster05
    @Namster05 Рік тому +7

    A lot of people hate on Panda Express, but I really want them to open in my country

  • @averywebb1179
    @averywebb1179 Рік тому +9

    Panda E has some really good items they serve. I had actually never been to a PE until I was about 19 y/o. For flavor and price, it really is some of the best Chinese food in my area.

    • @alan.74
      @alan.74 Рік тому

      Never been too a pyshical education gym until you were 19?

    • @averywebb1179
      @averywebb1179 Рік тому

      @@alan.74 lol. You know what I meant. Panda Express

    • @alan.74
      @alan.74 Рік тому

      @@averywebb1179 Lol

  • @scottsacala
    @scottsacala 6 місяців тому

    Oh wow! Having been raised in Glendale, California, I had been going to the Panda Express in the Glendale Galleria since I was a little kid. I never knew it was the very first one!

  • @samsonian9468
    @samsonian9468 7 місяців тому +1

    The first Panda Express was opened in my hometown of Glendale, Ca. It was opened in the Glendale Galleria food court area. The chain was so successful that there was one even inside my local Vons Supermarket.

  • @nerd26373
    @nerd26373 Рік тому +57

    Panda Express sure is one of the best American fast food chains out there. Their beloved menu items will continue to carry out their own legacy.

  • @mr.orsonwelles135
    @mr.orsonwelles135 Рік тому +6

    The good thing here is there's panda express here in The Philippines.
    Damn I really wanna try their orange and kung pao chicken.

    • @jaredmckiernan9514
      @jaredmckiernan9514 Рік тому +1

      That’s what I always order, with the lo mein. It’s honestly pretty solid.

  • @TheGamingSyndrom
    @TheGamingSyndrom Рік тому +2

    "for a lot of people we're the first taste of chinese food in the US" this so so sad.

  • @GoddamnAxl
    @GoddamnAxl 8 місяців тому

    After watching all them Steven He videos I'd still watch a video about panda express and crave it...

  • @LuisAngelSantos
    @LuisAngelSantos Рік тому +3

    I freaking love Panda Express! I always order the chow mein with orange and teriyaki chicken and add some broccoli for the veggies. Super delicious!

  • @thomasnguyen4427
    @thomasnguyen4427 Рік тому +10

    these are some amazing cooking techniques! I can’t wait to try out them all!

  • @oly6912
    @oly6912 Рік тому

    I used to go to the original Panda after gymnastics when I was a kid. It truly is amazing that I can get the same food from my childhood anywhere now.

  • @darkpixel2k
    @darkpixel2k Рік тому +5

    I'm not a fan of fast food...but I could eat about 50 pounds of Panda's kung pao and die a happy man.

  • @TofuBoi_
    @TofuBoi_ Рік тому +5

    Didn't know Sichuan peppercorns were banned in the States. Here in Canada we can find them almost in every major store.

    • @gorillachilla
      @gorillachilla 9 місяців тому

      Everything is banned in that poo country

  • @KEEPTHECHANGE10
    @KEEPTHECHANGE10 Рік тому +3

    Whoever got served the food he was cooking got the best ever Panda Express meal 😂

  • @lifeaftermidnight6132
    @lifeaftermidnight6132 6 місяців тому +1

    Their Orange Chicken is my guilty pleasure tbh. I love eating it in the winter around Christmas when it gets really cold. Perfect weather for some Orange Chicken

  • @dlg2038
    @dlg2038 Рік тому +2

    Whenever someone asks me how long to deep fry something, I always use the term "GBD" as well, I've never heard anyone else use that term until now 😂

  • @lpd1snipe
    @lpd1snipe Рік тому +3

    I usually only eat at my local Chinese or Thai restaurant, but after watching this I'm going to try Panda Express!

    • @ShredST
      @ShredST Рік тому +2

      Try to go there when it's at least a little bit busy, because that way you'll get fresher food

  • @VulcanLogic
    @VulcanLogic Рік тому +6

    Great vid. I make a version of orange chicken at home very similar to this. The secret to the breading is to go 50/50 rice and wheat flour with a about a tenth straight corn starch, dredge twice for breading "verticality", then low deep fry then high deep fry. This makes a breading so crunchy that it's still crunchy an hour after being coated with sauce.

  • @heyimamaker
    @heyimamaker Рік тому

    I'm really into the apron. Does anyone know who makes one like that? Specifically the way it attaches around the neck.

  • @chrisford7351
    @chrisford7351 Рік тому

    Thank you ever so much! I enjoy your food! Its awesome! You are the standard everyone else is trying to BEAT!

  • @AlohaSteve808
    @AlohaSteve808 Рік тому +3

    Please expand in Japan at competitive prices... we need you
    Right now its just too crazy expensive here.

  • @caocao2053
    @caocao2053 Рік тому +37

    I grew up on this lol. Even though it’s Americanised, it’s still good.

    • @louiearmstrong
      @louiearmstrong Рік тому +1

      It's amazing when you get a fresh batch of your favorite, but bad if sitting on the warmer for an hour

  • @mako_happy
    @mako_happy Рік тому +2

    As a filipino whose nationality is completely unrelated to this video, I can confirm the chicken looks good.

  • @Vl0gWithAb
    @Vl0gWithAb Рік тому

    Bro I was literally just here 1 week ago, its nice to know that this place is the first panda express spot in the east coast.

  • @roobear78
    @roobear78 Рік тому +45

    pretty much the closest you will get to an industrial food type being done on mass store scale that is the same as other individual smaller stores serveing same thing, a panda express store isnt much different from any chinese store doing westernised dishes in america,uk,europe,australia etc

  • @jayz4dayz763
    @jayz4dayz763 Рік тому +3

    Black Pepper Angus steak dish took 5 years to develop? Well glad they stuck with it cuz that is my absolute favorite from Panda 🤤

  • @changkwangoh
    @changkwangoh Рік тому

    I remember hittin’ the Panda Express at the Riviera casino food court and going to town. I had like 2 bigger plates lol

  • @spoodad3850
    @spoodad3850 Рік тому

    I love Panda Express. When I moved to FL from CA, I missed the most Panda Express and Trader's Joe, here in Cape Coral/Ft. Myers..
    They are here now, and I'm a happy camper. Both are great value, tasteful organic food. Although they are very big, I trust their products and philosophy.
    I'm now waiting for In-N-Out (are you listening to me?) for great tasting and value cheeseburgers, cooked to order.

  • @funkyboodah
    @funkyboodah Рік тому +4

    As a chinese person, I now have way more respect for Panda Express

  • @jlin7724
    @jlin7724 Рік тому +4

    Not gonna lie I do miss Orange Chicken. People would think these kinda food be highly accessible in Asia. Closest thing are “local” buffets but you’re not gonna see things like shrimps and angus steak😂

  • @g-bgcg
    @g-bgcg 9 місяців тому

    I miss eating at Panda Express. They don’t appear to have any gluten free options for people with Celiac disease plus the cross contamination. I try to make some of the meals at home but it’s not the same. Great video.

  • @red2theelectricboogaloo961
    @red2theelectricboogaloo961 Рік тому

    damn, he's dropping a lot of knowledge right now. makes me actually wanna eat there, but i can't cuz i'm stuck in canada.

  • @kevinchan3668
    @kevinchan3668 Рік тому +9

    I always loved Panda, but watching this makes me appreciate it even more.

  • @curlyhairdudeify
    @curlyhairdudeify Рік тому +6

    I love Panda Express' in malls. They basically run all other food vendors out of business.... The lines of costumers are huge, and the other vendors.... Have like 3 persons lined up.

  • @theotheleo6830
    @theotheleo6830 Рік тому +2

    Panda Express was good when it first started, but, as with most fast-food chain restaurants, the quality and taste have gone so far downhill that I will never eat there again. However, the chef in this video looks like he knows what he's doing.

  • @Luna-ne3dq
    @Luna-ne3dq Рік тому

    Grown up on chinese food and panda express orange chicken is one of the best i've had

  • @jonathansacci2325
    @jonathansacci2325 Рік тому +3

    I really like Panda Express. They do not cut corners and they use a lot of techniques that are authentic to Chinese cooking.

    • @neonxnational
      @neonxnational 4 місяці тому

      They're putting in the effort to match both American and Chinese palates. Geniuses.

  • @frankm7707
    @frankm7707 Рік тому +2

    Panda Express is probably the closest Chinese food you get from a chained restaurant.

  • @skatan4727
    @skatan4727 Рік тому

    Hit those wok rings at 0:44 with the small black knife, and under the blancher too. I cleaned that daily when it was never shown on a channel with such a big following.

  • @shivamabrol3639
    @shivamabrol3639 Рік тому

    I went to Jersey in the Winter last year to this particular location. Panda Express is my fav food outlet at my Uni. Truly good for a good value!

  • @paulramirez4666
    @paulramirez4666 Рік тому +6

    I love how they put a lot of meat in there dishes when there filming. but when i go to the panda express in my area ill be lucky to get 2 or maybe 3 pieces of meat

    • @julienicolay
      @julienicolay Рік тому +5

      You need to find another store then, because every one I've been to always serves a lot of meat!

  • @landenpalmer1045
    @landenpalmer1045 Рік тому +5

    orange chicken sandwich sounds interesting😂

  • @RM.TokyoPhotographer
    @RM.TokyoPhotographer Рік тому

    I rmb going to one in Omaha... in the 1999s.... I wonder if its still opened...Oakview/Westroad Mall still there?

  • @briennaij
    @briennaij Місяць тому

    Was not expecting this to be recorded at the Panda Express I used to go to the most during college haha

  • @stingraytingvideo
    @stingraytingvideo Рік тому +13

    I wouldn't say Panda Express invented orange chicken. The owner may have come up with his recipe in the 1987 and thought it was novel but orange or tangerine chicken has been a staple dish in Chinese restaurants and takeaways in the UK and Ireland since at least the late 70s. Most Chinese immigrants in UK and Ireland back then came from Hong Kong and the sweet and sour flavour profile is a classic Cantonese pairing. My parents had classic sweet and sour sauce (tomato based with pineapple), orange chicken and lemon chicken on their menu when they started their own business in the early 80s and had been working in restaurants prior to that in the 70s that also had these menu items.

    • @wwlee5
      @wwlee5 Рік тому +6

      Yupper. You hit the nail on the head. A lot of "Chinese-Americans" or "Taiwanese-Americans" never even been to Europe and assume with their limited culinary experience that everything is all American. They should visit China, Taiwan, and other parts of Asia to realize Panda Express food is pretty much something you can find similarly in Asia. I get my orange-chicken once in awhile at my factory...which is in Asia. depending on the menu of the week. I just scooped up some shrimp and pineapple sauce into my to-go box at lunch yesterday...at a factory in the middle of nowhere Asia.

    • @Default78334
      @Default78334 Рік тому

      You also have 陈皮鸡 which is the likely ancestor to all of those recipes, and the standard bright-red ketchup-based sweet and sour sauce is extremely common in China for making things like 咕噜肉 or 松鼠鱖魚.

    • @jw6451
      @jw6451 Рік тому

      yup.. he might have thought it's innovative, but 陳皮雞 has been around for a looooong time

  • @brianmoody2549
    @brianmoody2549 Рік тому +3

    Panda Express have’s great food cooked fresh great ingredients flavor,delicious cooked with love heart and understanding.understanding what the people want to eat,will help you in the long run.

  • @bexhillbob
    @bexhillbob Рік тому

    Used to eat Orange Chicken all the time at the Rasa Sayang Indonesian restaurant in London in 1987. It was wonderful.