My favorite Panda for sure. Best one around for miles. It's because they have a large staff, it's a large facility, and the food turnover is quick. Stuff isn't just sitting there for hours like at some of the smaller Panda locations. And there's nothing worse than stale orange chicken! Another bonus is that they have dishes here you wouldn't find at most other spots. That's why they call it the innovation kitchen. They are creating different items and you're their test subjects! Anyway, a good time was had by all! read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - Orange chicken and chow mein - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I usually go to this Panda Express because the food is fresher and portions are decent compared to others. Today's experience was disastrous. I waited more than 30 minutes in line along with other customers who were not happy. My one item bowl was incorrect and had to ask the server to fix it. I had ordered tofu with eggplant and string beans. I was disappointed to find only 1 tofu in my bowl! I noticed the food was also very greasy. The cashier juggled 2 lines and placed a high priority on the online one with only several people, while the in-person line continued to grow and wrap around the dining room. Instead of ringing up the orders sequentially, the cashier plucked customers randomly in our in-person line bypassing me and another customer who were next at the cash register. We grew frustrated with her and just watched our food sit on the counter. When she finally got back to us, I had to stop her from ringing our orders together. She just assumed we were together when we were strangers. There needs to be more employees with better training especially during rush hour. I will certainly go to another restaurant, when I see a long line like today because I've lost confidence it the quality of food and service. read more

Poor service lack of staff - 25 minutes almost 30 minutes to get a meal - if you're on your 30 - 45 minutes break from work forget it - expect your employer to give you a warning for being late. ( I got in trouble on my way back to work) Food is fresh - portions it depends who's serving you. I do give credit to the Manager a Young Lady she was helping everyone . Pls hire more experienced staff to work on high volume locations. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Panda Express. Lee and the team were incredibly hospitable, and you could really see how well they worked together. It felt like a well oiled machine. What stood out to me was one team member going around to every table asking if anyone needed sauce or utensils. For a quick service spot, that level of attention made it feel way more elevated than expected. The food was hot and delicious, honestly such a comforting meal after a long work week and a day of errands. Overall, just really good vibes all around. read more

(+) Orange Chicken (+) Quality Panda Innovative Kitchen is different than your local Panda branch because they roll out their newest entrees and goodies here before they go to all the branch locations. I do notice a difference in quality and taste here. The food tastes fresh and the taste is consistent compared to your local branch. This location does get busy during meal hours, so be prepared to wait a little longer than anticipated. Food/Drinks: This location does serve teas and other sweet drinks. I've had their mango tea before and thought it was fresh and well done. As mentioned before, the quality here is top notch. The fried rice is consistent and cooked well. It isn't too hard nor mushy. Who likes mushy rice?? My favorite dish of all time is the orange chicken. Tangy sweet and sour sauce covering the crispy deep fried chicken piece is to die for. I also enjoy their broccoli beef and Beijing beef. Both dishes are tasty and good over rice. Service/Ambiance: Panda's service is always top notch. I favor restaurants that are kind and make ordering efficient and enjoyable. Their attitude is to serve their customers well and it shows on their face and demeanor. Overall, I prefer this location over all other Panda branches. I do eat panda 3-4x a month, so I know this location does it well. read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - view of the line! - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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After a week of Yelping that had my scale working overtime, I needed a quick,convenient and conscious dining option. I made my way to the local Panda Express Innovation Kitchen. ​I ordered a bowl with Grilled Chicken and substituted the rice for Super Greens as my side. The meal was not too bad; it was exactly what is expected from Panda Express--reliable, hot, and satisfying. ​Despite visiting during the dinner time rush, the line moved fast, and the staff was friendly. The dining area was busy, reflecting the location's popularity. The dining area was busy with lots of local families. read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - Grilled chicken with the Super Greens. - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I made a mobile order and came early to pick it up on a Friday afternoon. They were pretty busy when I got there but I can tell the workers were definitely hustling to pump out all the plates for everyone! They were able to give me my plate on time and I can tell they were trying their best which I really appreciate. They handed me my plate as soon as they were able to make it with all the sauces/utensils I requested! Service 5/5 Panda's kung pao always hits for me & decided to try their beijing beef which was a sweet, savory dish. I think it is alright, has a nice batter bit wish there was more juicy meat inside, but there was more batter-y pieces. Chow mein was a classic and I love that they do super greens as a side now for more balanced meals. read more

This is one Panda I will come back to if I'm in the neighborhood. The food tastes like usual Panda fare. I had the string bean chicken breast, steamed rice and veggies. My food tasted great. The husb had his usual, he enjoyed his food as well. The employees were friendly. The restroom was clean. The restaurant has ample seating. We ordered in person and the line moved smoothly. We will come to this Panda whenever we're in the area. read more

It's been 4 years or so since I ate here but it's my favorite Panda by far. They used to have this Panda Wrap - it was made with a tortilla like wrap. It's more similar to the wrap used for Moo Shu Pork. You got it filled with whatever items & they'd wrap it as a big burrito. So good!! Well, I was disappointed they no longer have this on their menu. It was around 8pm so that could be why but the food just didn't taste as good as it used to be. This is Panda Express's Innovative Kitchen so they have menu items that aren't offered at other Panda stores. I didn't see anything unique aside from the Quinoa Fried Rice that night but again, it was past primo dinner time. I ordered my usual Eggplant Tofu, Shrimp with Walnuts & Quinoa Fried Rice. Eggplant Tofu seemed to be a bit bland, I wanted to add more salt(?) or something to the sauce. Shrimp with Walnuts was just okay. I actually didn't finish my meal which is rare because I love Panda Express out of all fast food stores. I'll come back in a couple of months & go closer to 6pm to see if it's any better. Side note: they have a tea store on the side of the main part of the restaurant that serves different kinds of tea & beverages and some desserts which was closed when I went. Will also try them again next time I go! read more

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Was served quickly, staff was friendly, food was hot and fresh, but most of the tables in the restaurant were dirty and needed cleaning. Good meal with a birthday discount. read more

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We enjoyed our meal once again! The food was delicious as always, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the staff were very friendly. We'll definitely be back! read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Food was very good services was fasted and servers were friendly. Lots of room and seating very good Chinese food

The food here is great but this low review is *specifically* for the poor online/mobile order experience. I got here around 6:15 pm. It was crazy busy understandably because it's peak dinner time but the online/mobile orders side was utter pandemonium. I was told 2 separate times that my order was "coming down the line" and asked for my name more than 3 separate times when I checked in again. They also told me at one point that that they don't have my order, and I showed them the confirmation number screenshot. It was pretty chaotic and a few other people appeared to have similar issues with their food pickup as well. Ultimately, I was sorely disappointed by the long wait because the in-store line, despite being extremely long as well, was faster than the 25 minutes I spent waiting in store for my food. I should have just ordered my food when I got there instead of placing it ahead of time. And just to be clear, I got to the store at the time they said I could pick up the food. Considering that Panda is in the "fast food" category, it was just a bad experience with food prep time. I do have to say though that all the workers did a great job and were all hustling and friendly, so this is more of a critique/feedback to hopefully inform upper management that perhaps more staffing or better systems need to be in place to handle the high volume during rush hour times. Hope next time will be better because I really like the quinoa fried rice option that is unique to this branch... read more

2/10/2026 9:24pm burnt teriyaki chickens. No bueno no bueno no bueno no bueno no bueno read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

It's been awhile since I ate at this Innovation Kitchen location and since I was shopping in the area, I decided to pop in and try 'the Bing' (no, not the search engine that 5% of Americans use) and the impossible orange chicken. My take, skip 'the Bing' and just stick to the usual plate since it's the normal plate contents wrapped in a burrito. It's just a tortilla (and not a good one). Perhaps if they used thin green onion pancakes, it would taste better but that's not going to happen. The impossible orange chicken was alright. May be better as you get less of those larger pieces of orange chicken only to find it's all batter... Check out my pics. read more

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I came in for a late dinner on Easter Sunday. Had the orange chicken and pepper steak. Everything was fresh and delicious, just what you'd expect from Panda if not better. Service was excellent and not just for me, they had a line out the door at 8pm on a Sunday (not sure if that's busy or not for this location but it certainly looked busy to me) and I watched them going out of their way for everyone while I waited my turn. Also should mention the front of house and the kitchen both looked super clean and well organized from where I stood. Place looks brand new. What really motivated me to post this review was the teamwork behind the counter, especially between Jasmine and Ruby. Way to go handling the line of customers while helping the people already eating. You two were killing it :) Sometimes you don't get the best quality work from people working in restaurants (there'$ a good rea$on for thi$ btw and it'$ way more obviou$ than people realize), and it's always nice to see GOOD people working really hard and actually caring about their performance and their guests. Jasmine and Ruby, thanks for working hard on the holiday, thanks for the good food that I really needed, Happy Easter, and for what it's worth, very impressive teamwork. You guys are great! read more

I placed my order online and went to pick it up. The portion size was not a lot at all considering I ordered two portions of vegetables. For the entrees they were slimy tasting and not cooked that well. The Kung Pao chicken was cold. I would not recommend. The quality used to be so much better. I am not sure what happened. The service was okay. The inside was nice and full of seating and very clean. read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - String bean chicken, Kung pao chicken, vegetables - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Service is fast and friendly, place is clean, fresh food constabtly being made, everything is got was tasty! I got one of the chefs specials and it was really good, so I'll be returning! read more

Yes, I came here for the burrito and I was not disappointed. I've been wanting to try it for a while and I'm glad I did, worth the drive in my opinion, if you're an avid Panda Express customer and fan like myself. There was a spacious and nice interior at this location as well. If you're looking for a sign to try the Panda Express burrito, take this as that sign. read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

The orange chicken has gone from last years crispy and tangy to a current soggy and bland! I can no longer go to this store. It used to be my go to. I've shared this orange chicks. Comment to a manager but obviously has gone ignored. read more

Great service, they all work hard, and the food is delicious. I can say this is one of the best Pandas I've ever been to! I will also say they keep it clean which is always great to see, not a huge mess everywhere like other places. read more

The only place where you can get a Panda Express Burrito. I've asked countless different employees if they offer a burrito at their location. I was told that I would have to go to Pasadena to get this viral burrito. Lucky for me, we stopped for breakfast down the street and our son was in a mood (Which is literally everyday) for some Panda Express. What we ordered: -The Bing with Chow Mein and 2 Scoops Orange Chicken $10.50 -The Bing with Chow Mein and 1 Scoop of Broccoli Beef $9 -1 Plate Orange Chicken and Broccoli Beef with Half Chow Mein and Half Fried Rice $10.50 The Bing with Orange Chicken and Chow Mein was the perfect bite each and every time. It was really efficient to get one bite of all the food together. I suppose you could do that anyways without the burrito, but it was nice to have everything combined together. I got two scoops of Orange Chicken. I would say one scoop is more than enough. If you like a burrito really packed in then two scoops would be the wiser selection. The service here was really good and friendly. They have a little tea room area as well. That was cool to see! I would definitely order The Bing again, but I'd like to try other combinations next time. Pro Tip: I recommend you using the promo code for Dodgers Home Wins to get the plate 50% off. read more

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Always fresh always clean. The team are super fast and friendly. I love the shrimps and the vegetable noodles are my favourite. read more

Panda Express Innovation Kitchen - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We always enjoy coming to Panda Express especially this location. Food is always hot and delicious. Jennifer was a pleasure great customer service and very knowledgeabl. read more

No orange chicken burrito drove 30 miles waited half hour to eat at a crowded dirty panda with nothing different except a tea bar quinoa rice and this location has soup no new meat dishes tho what's so innovative if the innovative item you took it off don't waste your time read more

I am a sucker for their hot and sour soup, in fact, when I'm on my death bed, please bring me some. Most traditional Panda establishments no longer offer hot and sour soup. The spiciness clears my sinuses. I come here for the soup. Place is clean inside. Parking is good. Service is friendly. Locals seem to come for lunch. Please keep making that soup! And, yes, I eat it when I'm healthy, too. read more

1. Store has plenty of parking. 2. Interior is well lit, comfortable temperature for dining with adequate seating areas. 3. Best time to order to me is about an hour after opening where I've seen the staff finish prepping all their items, ready to consume. I ordered a couple of times right when they opened and had to wait for a specific item. Didn't really bother me bc the food is good. I'd rather have minute food, rather than fast food. Catch my drift? 4. What can improve? Well,not much really. I'd probably mention, post a suggestion box up in the store for customers. That's about it. Other than that. This is my goto Panda store, hands down. read more

I stopped by to try their new apple pie rolls. They were delicious! They tasted like apple pie churros. I could have eaten 2. This location is modern and has a tea bar. I also tried the black tea boba ice cream. That was delicious too! You get bites of boba as you dig into the ice cream. It's like hunting for treasure. There were a few negatives. They gave us too little orange chicken for the kids meal. The fried rice tasted hard and dry. The rest of the food was fine. Service was ok. They didn't give us any utensils or sauces. I will need to remember to ask for them next time! This location is special because they have new items and the interior is more fancy than the typical Panda Express. This location tests out the new food and drink items. There is also quinoa fried rice in addition to the regular fried rice. So if you want the traditional Panda fare plus a few upgrades and new selections, try this spot ! read more

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If U find yourself @ or by the Altadena location...Avoid. Friendly enough service , but shifty portions with whatever you order...Go 3.6 miles down to Fusion Bowl on Los Robles/Orange Grove for better tasting (&bigger servings) of Chinese fast food... read more

I heard the Panda Express Innovation Kitchen had a couple new dim sum items on their menu. I dropped by last night to try their chicken dumplings and shrimp and lobster dumplings along with my favorite orange chicken. I ordered brown rice with super greens and orange chicken and the dim sum. The regular items were tasty as usual. The chicken dumplings were deep fried and airy inside. I wished they had more filling inside. The shrimp and lobster dumplings were a bit odd when I bit into it. It had a creamy seafood filling. They will have the dumplings thru November. I'll give them a 2.35/5.00 on the dumplings. DJ's rating 4.15/5.00 Would I come back? Yes read more

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I like going to this Panda Express because it's conveniently located nearby and the food is always delicious. However, one employee whose name I believe is Claudia, often leaves me feeling uncomfortable due to her attitude. She seems to be the only employee who comes across as rude! Everyone else is professional and provides excellent service, especially if it's busy and in a rush. read more

It's good. But can be better. Put more vegetables in the chow mein. Hey that's what Chinese food is famous for! Crispy hot vegetables!

This is one of the cleaner PX locations I've been to. Food didn't feel soggy from sitting out for so long, and I think it helped that there was a lot of people coming in so they rotated the batches very often. Entrees like orange chicken and Beijing beef felt very fresh, crispy and flavorful. They definitely make the food just right compared to other locations that miss the mark. Staff seemed really on top of operations despite it being pretty busy. Because this is the Innovation Kitchen, I think it's absolutely worth trying the more unique items like the Bing burrito. The tortilla comes out fresh from the tortilla press. I didn't have any issues with mine falling apart as other reviewers have said - it held up perfectly well and it was really easy to eat. It's the same price as the Bowl but you get to add one more entree. It's very filling, but not as good value compared to the 2 entree or 3 entree plate where you get bigger portions. Still, I think it's a really fun way to eat your favorite entrees mashed together over the traditional plate options. read more

I decided to walk in as soon as they opened.. and what a surprise, all the food was from the night before. Old, soggy, and nasty. The chowmein was nasty. I decided to wait for new one. The orange chicken was mixed with new and from the night before. The teriyaki chicken was old and hard. The reason why I gave it a 2 star is because although the food was old they were willing to make fresh food. & they were really nice. read more

How is this restaurant 3.5 stars is beyond me?! I had a 45-min lunch break last nite, and I was in and out of a line within less than 15min. I had 6 parties in front of me, so I had some time to take pics. Their entree selections were delish. I ordered the Teriyaki Grilled Chicken and Beef & Brocoli along with Chow Mein and Steamed Rice. I bought their Pei-Pei Panda Set and a Set of Fortune Cookies to support their Donation program. That is just like what my line of work does too, so I totally get it. The Pei-Pei Panda Plush was so cute! I am going to fetch me another Panda set before they sell out. They make nice Christmas gifts too. I didn't know what was included in the set till I opened it. The set includes: Panda Plush, Panda Express take out box and Panda Express sparkly, clear White satchel gift bag. You had me at hello here, Panda Express Innovation Kitchen, Hastings Ranch, Pasadena, CA I'll be back tomorrow! read more

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Don't order soup to go/ delivery. They are supposed to bag the soup separately- unless you want soup all over your other order . It's not that hard . Please do better. read more

I like the orange chicken and bejing beef here, but i really think they need to give better portion sizes. I also like the chow mein and fried rice. Good lunch spot, but prices went up and portions shrunk. read more

The overall seating selection is alright, with a lot of tables in and outside. For some reason, inside is always dark and not the best light. I'm not sure if it's because the lighting is broken or because it's just the style. The food is like any other fast food. It's fine, but the taste and texture of the food often changes depending on which batch you get. A year back, some of the beef was really chewy, but now it's not as good, and kind of reminds me of old beef. They give huge portions but I wish the food was higher quality. read more

Its a pretty good panda express with nothing special. There is indoor and outdoor seating but nothing really to do outside of the restaurant. The food comes quickly and its pretty good. The staff dont talk that much and the prices are average, and there are also decorations inside the restaurant. Its an average panda express with nothing special read more

I'm actually kind of shocked with how nice this place was! You just don't really expect any sort of elevated touches when you're at a fast food spot but this place was really unique. I guess this is where Panda tests out some of their recipes before they decide to bring them to their broader locations. I am happy to be the test eater in this test kitchen! The main differences I noticed between the menu items at this location and others were the bing (essentially a 2 item plate wrapped as a burrito), hot and sour soup (only $1.50!), chili crisp shrimp (which I believe they have at other locations now actually), boba ice cream, and a tea bar. Unfortunately the tea bar seemed to be closed when we arrived so we didn't try that but my partner got the bing while I tried the chili crisp shrimp and boba ice cream. The bing left a little to be desired haha it was basically the 2 item plate wrapped in a tortilla and...it just didn't work well, the tortilla didn't hold everything in and it quickly fell apart. But, the chili crisp shrimp was delicious! Super spicy. And the boba ice cream paired perfectly with it. Honestly I wish they sold it in stores somewhere because it was delish. I will definitely be back to try some new food items! read more

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