Came to Panda Inn post renovation and it's beautiful! The service was immaculate and we really enjoyed the smoked mango duck and the honey walnut shrimp. The shrimp lobster wontons were good but a tad on the salty side. Also FYI there is not specific lunch menu for this location! We came right at opening and did not have to wait, but would otherwise recommend trying to get a reservation because it filled up super quickly. Food: 4.5/5 Price. 4/5 Ambience: 5/5 Service: 5/5 read more

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Good service Good food Nice ambiance We are return customers of 50 years when they opened the first small store front in the mid 70s It's been a fun experience read more

This is where Panda Express came from. I grew up in the 80s going to Panda Inn in Glendale. So it's a real treat to go back and experience this newly renovated Pasadena location. Beyond nostalgia, the food is excellent! They have the same items as Panda Express, only it's elevated! I would recommend the orange chicken that's not as salty as Panda Express and the more subtle flavors make it just right. Also the walnut shrimp it's perfectly sauced and crispy. They also have so many more fancier items like the braised beef that falls off the bone. Delicious! The service is also wonderful. Parking is abundant and super easy. Treat yourself to a fancier Chinese dining experience here. read more

We came for the omakase and it was delicious! The staff were super friendly, attentive, and happy to answer any of our questions. The interior is very spacious and well decorated as well, so you don't feel crammed at all. We are definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Ribs and drinks were awesome. A top tier restaurant Great service and everything was perfect

What a beautiful restaurant after remodeling! It looks like a fancy restaurant. We sat in a corner booth and had great privacy! We tried a bunch of dishes and enjoyed all of them! The waiter provided great service and kept checking up on us. We will be back to try more! read more

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Amazing! Food as always great, venue was beautiful and to top it off Henry was AMAZING!! Staff accommodated our large party of 8 for a birthday. Would just come back to hang out with Henry again to be honest, ask for him! Henry really made our night special! Can't wait to be back! Thanks Panda Inn!! read more

Panda Inn - Food was too good didn't get any pictures - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Exactly what you expect haha high class Panda Express. They had orange chicken and walnut shrimp but add a little extra to make it pop. They also have sushi! Not bad. Average quality. Service very good. Interior remodeled very nice read more

I'm not a big fan of Chinese cuisine but I had read the reviews and was curious about the remodel. Went with a friend before seeing a play nearby. We had the shrimp and lobster potstickers, calamari, and the beef ribs. The potstickers were good and came with a spicy sauce that we both enjoyed. Calamari was fine. The beef ribs were sooo tender and fell off the bone. I had two lychee martinis which was quite refreshing. All in all a good dining expertise - very good food and nice ambiance. Good service as well. read more

Panda Inn - Lychee martini - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Everything is as good as we remember so v happy to report! Their shrimp is still my fave thing ever and I rlly wish the one at Panda Express was as good as this bc we ate that up so fast. Personally I like the beef more than orange chicken bc it's so crispy and I love the sauce. The string beans are just so addicting I could eat that all day! read more

Panda Inn - Honey Walnut Shrimp, Panda Beef, Wonton Soup, & Garlic String Beans - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Beautiful restaurant, wonderful service men and women. My best friend and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Panda Inn. The food is OUT OF THIS WORLD. If you like Panda Express, the restaurant is 50x better. From the Hamachi tacos, orange chicken, drinks. I could name so many dishes we have had, but you must go and try it out for yourselves, I promise you will not be disappointed. Marlene was our last waitress and she was great. Please if your ever in Pasadena or just wanna take a drive, you will be happy you did read more

The restaurant is aesthetically beautiful. Everything is brand new and decorated with modern furniture. The restroom is very clean and has the best smelling hand soap. The food was great! The portions can be bigger if eating family style. We had orange chicken, upside down noodles with shrimp, fried rice with pork, crab wontons and dumplings. We also ordered green beans, but it did not come while we were eating. So they give us the green beans for free to take home. The server was very nice and accommodating. They get 4 starts due to waiting one hour and half to get a table and another 30 mins for the food. So don't go too hungry. Reservations are highly recommended for big groups. However, you won't be able to make reservations on the same day because it's very busy. The parking structure is on the right side of the restaurant. It's work in progress because there is still construction going on. read more

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The servers/employees are all very nice and deserve the world. That being said, oh man, they are being run ragged! Even though we had a reservation booked days in advance, they had nothing when we arrived, and after waiting, they offered us bar seating... I didn't feel comfortable taking the bar seating especially since we made a reservation to avoid that in the first place, so we had to wait longer. While waiting to be seated, we (as well as the many others waiting) did receive complimentary tea and a sample of the spicy tuna on crispy rice which was appreciated. Our waiter was so nice but he didn't make eye contact with us once throughout the whole time- he was so busy looking around to see if other tables needed help. I felt bad because all of the employees seemed stressed and trying their best to stay on top of things in such a chaotic and busy environment. We also had to ask 3 separate employees for our missing food, and 2 for chili oil and soy sauce- we got our food but never got the sauces. For the food itself- we ordered: Honey walnut shrimp sushi roll - WOW! This was SMALL. Felt more like an appetizer. It tasted okay, but definitely not worth the price. 3/5 for taste but 1/5 for that price tag! Honey walnut shrimp - My girlfriend really liked this one. I thought it was okay, wouldn't order it again. Portion size was good. 2/5 Orange chicken - Extremely vinegar-forward. I couldn't eat past the first bite. 0/5 Salt and pepper calamari - Really delicious! We didn't get this until the very end even though we ordered it as an appetizer though :( 4/5 Lo mein (with assorted meat and veggies) - Pretty good, a little bland. Great portion size. 3/5 At the end, we were desperate to just go home because of how long and stressful the whole experience was. It was hard to flag down our server the whole night because he was trying his best to serve a lot of tables (this place is huge.) Once we got our check, my girlfriend was eager to leave and just slapped her card down. Luckily, I looked at our check because it looked to be way too expensive- it turns out they charged us *twice* for *two* different items! Our server apologized and fixed the check, but that shouldn't be happening in the first place. We almost paid about $40 more than we should have. So be careful about checking before paying in case of mistakes. Overall, the interior is really beautiful, the employees are doing their best, but the experience was really disappointing. This place seems like it's overbooked because how else could you explain to me that for a reservation at 6:30pm, we didn't get seated until 7pm, and all of our food didn't come out until 8pm. All in all, I do not want to come back here in the future. read more

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This remodeled location pays homage to the original restaurant that helped to form the Panda legacy. A beautiful new space that include a sushi bar type setup in the rear of the restaurant along with a few private rooms if you have a larger party. Having stopped by a couple times for lunch, it get crowded quickly so consider a reservation for peace of mind, though they can usually squeeze you in. The service is attentive and someone is typically just a short call away if you need something. The food I've tried has all been well made and fresh. The prices are a bit higher than other Chinese restaurants though you are paying a bit for the nice ambiance and upscale setting compared to your typical mom and pop Chinese restaurant. Parking is available in a structure behind the restaurant so very convenient. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area as they have a nice variety on the menu, even with some westernized options to suit everyone's taste. Though the traditional dishes are well made with good flavor. read more

I came here a few nights ago for the reopened Panda Inn. Our server was Aaron, and he did a fantastic job explaining the dish items and bringing out our food. We ordered the lychee cocktail which everyone said is sweet. I love sugar, so it wasn't sweet enough for me. We got a few appetizers as well. We ordered the Dungeness crab salad which was delicious!! It had large chunks of crab and pieces of pear. We also ordered the wonton crisp with spicy nachos which definitely had a kick. The wontons don't make the best holders for the filling, but it was delicious. The salmon carpaccio came highly recommended, but I thought there was nothing special to it. We also ordered the chargrilled beef short rib which was delicious. It's new to the menu, and it's one of the best things I've ever had. The meat was so tender and they had great dipping sauces. The sea bass is always delicious, but we did not get it this time. Although the short rib was so delicious, I don't know if I can not order it again. I was disappointed they don't have garlic noodles on the menu anymore The design of the building is gorgeous. It's so beautiful and classy. read more

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If I could give more stars, I'd rate this place a solid 10 out of 10. I had read about the Panda Inn in Pasadena reopening, along with the fantastic renovations and the restaurant's rich history and its owner's story. We were excited to try it for ourselves. Parking was a breeze, even though it was a busy Saturday. They offer complimentary valet service, or you can park for free in a parking structure right next to the restaurant, which is really convenient. The restaurant has both indoor seating and two beautiful patios. Since it was crowded, we were told there would be about a 20-minute wait, as we hadn't made a reservation. However, when we requested to sit on the patio, we were seated right away because there were a few tables available. Although the patio was equipped with high-quality heaters, it seemed a bit too chilly for some, but we were perfectly comfortable. Now, let's talk about the service and food. After being seated at a lovely table for two, our server Aaron introduced himself. I feel it's important to mention his name because he was, without a doubt, one of the best servers I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. He was the epitome of professionalism--polite, attentive, and happy to engage in light conversation. He even asked us where we had heard about the restaurant and shared some interesting details about the restaurant's renovation and the rigorous six-week training program the staff undergoes. It was clear that Aaron was highly skilled, proud of his work, and genuinely enjoyed interacting with customers. Now, on to the food. My spouse is notoriously difficult to please when it comes to dining out. I often find myself anxiously watching for his reaction, hoping for more than a simple "It's okay" or "Not bad." But this time, he actually said the dish he ordered was the best he'd ever had in a restaurant! We started with the "Vegetable Spring Rolls," and we were both blown away by how good they were--golden brown, crispy, and perfectly filled. They looked nothing like the pale, soggy ones you get at most other places. Next, we had the "Green Beans with Garlic," which were crispy, flavorful, and delicious. My spouse ordered the "Spicy Tofu Eggplant" with white rice, and he absolutely loved it. It looked fantastic and tasted just as good. I went with the "Upside Down Noodles with Pork," which was also very tasty. Finally, I couldn't resist trying the "Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice," which Aaron had recommended. While they were a bit spicier than the version I usually enjoy at another place, I'll definitely ask for a milder version on my next visit. If you're looking for five-star service and exceptional Chinese food, this place is a must-try. Highly recommended! read more

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Tonight, my husband, our friends, and I had dinner at Panda Inn, and we already can't wait to return. The service, food, and ambiance were all a perfect 10/10. A special thank you to David and Will for making our first experience truly wonderful. read more

Panda Inn - Lychee Martini - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

This restaurant exceeded all my expectations. The ambience is cozy and inviting. The food was amazing! The cod fish with brown rice and bok choy was cooked to perfection, I want to know exactly what kind of sauce they use because it was simple but delicious. And the hand rolls are perfect as well, the fish is top quality and they make them for you on the spot so the rolls don't sit on the counter for more than a few seconds. Extra kudos for the staff, specially for our kind server Henry who treated us as if we were family. We will definitely be back, there are a lot of things in the menu that we have to try :) read more

I had wanted to visit Panda Inn since they reopened after a lengthy rebuild. They tore down the old building and parking lot, and built a beautiful new building and a parking structure. There was a bit of a wait on a Sunday evening, but they kept us informed and we were seated as scheduled. The new menu had many tasty items, and the service was excellent! The only downside is that like many other restaurants, they've had to raise prices to keep up with increasing costs. Their prices were in line with other similar-calibre restaurants. read more

Came in for a family meal around 3pm and the restaurant was empty. The restaurant is roomy, clean, and chic. Hostesses and server were all very welcoming and friendly. Service was comparable to fine dining which was greatly appreciated. We ordered: -salt and pepper calamari 5/5. Came out fresh, tender, and perfectly seasoned with a hint of spiciness. -honey walnut shrimp 5/5. Perfectly fried and not greasy. Generous portion. - braised pork belly 4/5. Tender chunks with a delightful sauce. Very fatty and needs a lot of rice to be eaten with it. - tea smoked duck 5/5. Tender, well seasoned roasted duck with a hint of smokiness. -black pepper wagyu 3/5. The best part of this dish were the perfectly cooked asparagus chunks. Otherwise, some pieces of beef were chewy and beef portion was sparse. - vegetable upside down noodle 2/5. Bland. Basically just filler. Wouldn't order again. Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience and while we wouldn't go out of our way to eat her again, we would come back when we're in the area. read more

We've been coming to Panda Inn for quite a while, and they never disappoint. The service is always exceptional, and the staff consistently goes above and beyond. The food is always delicious. Elaine took great care of us and provided outstanding service. She was friendly, attentive, and made our dining experience even better. We'll definitely continue coming back. Highly recommend! read more

Absolutely would return! The new omakase experience was wonderful -- perfectly paced, incredibly fresh fish, and every bite thoughtfully sized. Chef Hide and the team provided excellent, attentive service. Fun tip: add a shot of sake to the Dobinmushi for an extra depth of flavor. Highly recommend the premium menu -- well worth it! read more

Panda Inn - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The original Panda Inn in Pasadena is back after a long rebuild, and my friends and I were excited to try it again. This is where Panda Express started, so it's special to us. Walking in, I was amazed by the fancy new look--posh booths and a big, grand dining area that feels like a high-end restaurant. The food's better now too, and the prices are still okay. I loved the upside-down noodle--it's crispy and tasty. The hot and sour soup is one of the best, and the moo shu pork wrap is a must-try. The egg rolls were good, and my friend liked the beef fried rice, which was full of flavor and sauce. Service was the only letdown--it was super slow, and we hardly saw our waitress. But parking's easy with the big structure nearby. It's a nice spot to eat, just don't be in a rush! read more

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Huge fan of Panda Inn! My wife and her family have been coming here for 20+ years, but the recent renovations definitely elevate this restaurant. Today we came in specifically for their newly rolled out Omakase experience. This was our first time trying their Japanese menu, and boy was this a pleasant surprise! Almost every bite was a flavor explosion in our mouths. I wouldn't say it was traditional sushi, as a lot of the pieces came with a heavy hand of sauce/glaze and wasabi, but the flavors were incredible. My favorite piece was the Uni followed by the Akamutsu. For the price, I would argue it would be hard to find a better meal in the area. Service and ambiance was an excellent. We will be returning soon. read more

Panda Inn - Uni with American Caviar - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Party of 10 for a birthday service was bad forgot some food orders and drinks and while we were still eating man came in and started boxing food without permission food was cold and is wayyyy overpriced not a good experience for my first time will never come back $421.00 bill and left tip but will never come Back HORRIBLE SERVICE read more

Stopped in for dinner at 8pm on a Tuesday. The hostesses were all super friendly when they greeted us and gave us a large booth. The renovated restaurant is amazing - modern, yet friendly and incredibly clean. Parking was easy in the garage (and yes, they validate.) They had a fun holiday cocktail menu with a cranberry mule & maple old fashioned - both of which were great. The high point of the night was our server, Alexis! We were deciding on we wanted to have and asked for her suggestions. She steered us toward the Three Cup Chicken - which she described as a combination of three flavors - sweet, salty & spicy. She was spot on! It was delicious and a must have on our next visit. Her other suggestion was the Braised Lion's Head Meatballs. Again, they were amazing! We've eaten here many times and Alexis' suggestions to "try something new" were perfect. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

Love, love, love Panda Inn! Yes, this is the restaurant that laid the foundation for Panda Express and offers many of the same dishes (only better, in a more formal sit down dining environment). The interior is gorgeous, open, and modern with a beautiful bar in the center and a sushi bar in the back as well as several private rooms. Service is extremely attentive and quick. We started with lychee martinis which were delicious as well as crab wontons and salmon carpaccio. These were probably some of the best crab wontons (i.e. rangoons) I've ever had as they were loaded with *real* blue crab. The salmon carpaccio was fresh and tasty. For entrees, we ordered the orange chicken, Phoenix chicken, honey walnut shrimp, and beef chow fun. The orange chicken and Phoenix chicken are essentially the same dish, except the orange chicken contains dark meat and the Phoenix contains breast meat. I prefered the dark meat personally as it was a bit more tender and moist but both were delicious and perfectly crunchy. The honey walnut shrimp was the standout dish of the evening for me, though. The shrimp were plump and perfectly cooked and the candied walnuts were to die for. Overall, a fun dining experience and I will definitely be back! read more

This is my first time visiting panda inn since the remodel and I loved it ! The portions were generous but not too big and their menu had a nice variety of options including sushi and some fusion dishes. Our waiter Lincoln provided great service and was accommodating to our requests ! The ambience was beautiful and seating was comfortable. Highly recommend if you're looking for a nice sit down Chinese restaurant ! read more

Very nicely remodeled. The food is always great - only drawback, they no longer offer the crispy wontons/sticks at the start of the meal at this location. The service was attentive. I love the panda beef and phoenix chicken. read more

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The food was absolutely amazing, as always. Elaine was an amazing server and really went above and beyond with service

Had reservations. After 20 minutes after the reservations time had to leave because of theater reservations. Was looking forward to a nice dinner. Very disappointing. read more

We had Victoria as our server and she was great! Very fast and kind. Knew which food choices were good and always had a smile. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Staff are very attentive and cordial. The dining hall fits 254 people so very large and spacious. A few private rooms. Food is very americanized and 95% of people eating are non Asian. Plenty of parking in the structure. read more

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What an amazing place! First time here! Great inside private dining and outside dining with a covered patio. Everything was delicious! Great for large parties! Servers were attentive and food came out pretty quick! read more

Panda Inn - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Food was delicious, portions were very generous and the service was perfect! Big thank you to our server David for the quick and excellent service on our first visit today! read more

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I'll start off by saying that I like this place. Flavors are good and service is typically great. Take-out.... That's a different story. I ordered the cashew chicken lunch special with the wonton crispy spicy nachos. The price went up considerably for the nachos but that's not my complaint. I have issue with the portion size. Yes, I ordered the lunch portion. I did not expect a half filled container. The container is small and to fill it only half way is just mean. The dish is over $18. I received maybe $9 worth of food. You can do better Panda. read more

Panda Inn - Cashew Chicken lunch. They fill about half of the already small container. At least fill the rice section! - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

My family has been dining at Panda Inn for nearly 40 years. The newly renovated Panda Inn restaurant is amazing. They now have a parking structure. Enjoyed a delicious lunch today. Started with the shrimp and lobster wontons and spicy tuna on crispy rice, followed by Orange Chicken and Honey Walnut Shrimp. All the food was great. Service was just ok. We had to ask for dipping bowls and chopsticks for the sushi. Also had to ask for a soft drink since the server never asked is if we wanted to order drinks. Also, server didn't ask if we wanted dessert or tea after the meal. The server said he started working there after the re-opening. Service could be greatly improved. We'll come back for dinner soon. We'd like to see the restaurant lit up in the evening. read more

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Normally I would have raved about this spot because the food was delicious. We ordered the shrimp fried rice, bok choy, veggie chow mein, orange chicken, spicy beef, spicy tuna sushi roll, the lettuce cups, and shrimp appetizer. The food was delicious and we got very silent when it arrived. What brought it down was the service. We got seated pretty fast, but in terms of the wait between being seated and approached by a waiter was long. Once we ordered, we were not checked on either. It took some time to ask for chop sticks. Then to pay the bill was another long wait. In total, what should have been an hour took 2 hours in total. The ambiance was beautiful and clean. We also noticed robots delivering food to tables too. That was pretty cool. read more

Delicious food but what good is it if it's cold when you get it, some never comes at all, and the waiter forgets about you. Not to Mention you make a reservation but still have to wait 20 minutes and there are open tables everywhere. Do take out maybe, but DO NOT go in person unless you love horrible service. read more

The reopening of this restaurant was anticipated in our household so getting to try it was an exciting moment. Definitely recommend getting a reservation as it gets quite busy at this location. Love the look of the place and it did feel like a little upscale Chinese restaurant in the middle of Pasadena. Definitely not a boujee version of Panda Express, it has its own vibe. The food was actually a lot better than I expected. I personally loved the wagyu and the yellow tail carpaccio. The shrimp fried rice was also pretty good. Honestly the experience was good but the service is what brought the experience down a bit. The staff were nice but the kitchen was backed up that night so food came out slow and I felt like they were not as attentive as they could've been as multiple tables around me kept looking for staff for assistance. read more

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