Looking for an amazing dining experience, Panda Inn is the place to go! Their private dining rooms are perfect for office dinners, birthdays or any big gathering. The food never disappoints and the service is outstanding! We really enjoyed the salt & pepper calamari, shrimp and green beans. Thank you Henry and Ronnie for making our dinner last night so special. If I could give you 10 stars I would. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. read more

I was amazed regarding the quality of their dishes. Generous portions and delicious. Very good service in an impeccable and redecorated restaurant. Beautiful place, excellent food. read more

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Our meal was great, and our waiter, Anthony, was wonderful. Glad we had a chance to visit!

Food was great. Had reservations and was seated pretty quickly. Restaurant was busy. This is not that serious so I'm gonna laugh while posting this. I asked to take my steamed rice home. At home, I couldn't find the rice when I was making my plate of leftovers. Until I was finishing my spicy beef salad! Hahaha the server put it at the bottom of my salad box! Ewww - threw it out. Never had someone do that . read more

Went with the group on Sunday, this is the 1st time I visited after reopen, very impressive. Great dinning environment and awesome gourmet food. Service is more than expected as well. Definitely will come back and bring friends and family read more

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Waited forever for the remodel to finish to only be disappointed by the quality of the food. The Orange Chicken was no different than what is served at Panda Express. There weren't any luncheon specials just main dishes. And very limited offering at that. A new large Sushi Bar was added. I will not return. read more

You must try this restaurant! Food is absolutely delicious. Great variety and every single plate we had was fantastic. The atmosphere is fun and high end. But above all else, the service was fantastic. Gabriel treated my party like family, gave us fantastic recommendations and curated a wonderful experience. Absolutely recommend! read more

Great food at a great price! Chinese food is pretty well prepared. Every dish was delicious. I believe the chef knows how to prepare authentic Chinese food. And the newly renovated restaurant is very nice. Portions aren't large, but that is better for me and my family as we don't like taking leftovers. I'll give them some grace since food was slow to come out and service was a little bit lacking. But Don't get me wrong, they were very nice. Just kind of slow. I think it was specific to our waiter only however. Either way, I'll definitely be back! It's going to be a regular staple and go to for me and my family. read more

Alexis was our server and she was amazing!! We ordered the chow fun, kung pao chicken, the sweet and pungent shrimp, and the lobster and shrimp wontons read more

Always love Panda Inn! Food is supreme and the service can't be beat! The newly remodeled doesn't compare to the old. I do miss the small cozy size of the old one but the new improved was definitely worth waiting for read more

Definitely the ambiance inside is far nicer than the old Panda Inn but my family we all felt the food lost it touch! Service was just okay, my son ordered duck and after we all got our food the waiter came to tell us they didn't have any duck. They wouldn't have said nothing had I not said to them we are missing my son plate! They really got cheap with the portion and as I said earlier the food just okay. The flavors on the food felt rushed... They were pushing their new sushi plates and so we ordered a sampler, not a good choice for a Ln upscale Chinese restaurant. Stuck to your roots and don't try to create something your not! Go back to your old menu, it was much better... Good Luck and hopefully you listen to your customers... read more

Panda Inn - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Date of visit: Summer weekend lunch Atmosphere: 4/5 - Location feels industrial (Pasadena) - A lots of underground parking. - The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated Service: 3/5 The service was attentive. We were there for few hours. Although there were plenty of open tables, they keep coming back to asks if we need anything (it then becomes annoying). Food: 2/5 The food tastes fine (similar to Panda Express quality). It's just not worth the price. We had a total of 5 items - the total cost was $103.87'plus tips. 1. Hot and sour soup (bowl size -$12) - serve 3-4 people - taste good 2. Chicken lettuce cups ($13) - serve 2-3 people - taste ok (Similar dish from PF Chang tastes better and has about 3 times the quantity) 3. Orange chicken ($22) - taste very dry (the one from Panda Express tastes even better) 4. Tempura walnut shrimp roll ($22) - this dish what a joke (the rolls they sell from the Sprout Deli tastes similar/better) 5. Chow fun (thick flat noodles) with shrimp ($18) - taste good If I come again, I may get items 1 and 5; but definitely not items 2.3.4. read more

Love the ambiance of Panda Inn's renovated restaurant. Our service was outstanding. Our party of two enjoyed some wine, appetizers, and three entrées, which gave us both some generous leftovers. Parking is convenient and currently complimentary. Can't wait to return! read more

The renovation is beautiful. I rate them at a 3 because we had to remind them three times to bring our martini. The meals are spaced out, so towards the very end we were expecting our Honey walnut shrimp to come out. We told our server we are still waiting for it and he said he never placed the order. That was the first thing we told him we wanted. Because of that issue someone at our table didn't eat much because she's a pescatarian. She was waiting for that plate. We all left hungry and irritated. They take a bit to bring the food out so we couldn't wait. I don't recommend this restaurant based on the bad bartender/waiter service. Because they skipped an order they didn't even offer to comp a plate. read more

Panda Inn - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had a wonderful dining experience at Panda Inn. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the service truly stood out. Our bartender Zach, was fantastic friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He went above and beyond and even made me the most amazing lychee martini I've ever had. It was perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious. Zach's service and bartending skills really elevated the entire experience. I'll definitely be back! read more

Wonderful to have Panda Inn open after building a new restaurant. How we have missed coming here. The restaurant is so much nicer and more room. There is an addition of a sushi bar, a beautifully stocked new bar, private rooms and outdoor seating. The food is so delicious with many our favorites on the menu and a good selection of sashimi and sushi. The service is outstanding. Parking is on the street or parking in the back. read more

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This is potentially the best dining experience I have ever had--in the USA or any other country I've been to. The food quality is top notch. The staff are invariably gracious, kind, and thoughtful. The prices are generally proportional to the amount of food, which is a pleasant surprise due to the high quality. The flavour profiles are simultaneously unpretentious and outstanding. The acoustics, a rare thing to notice at a restaurant, are shockingly good and make you feel like your party is the only one in the restaurant. Five stars, ten stars, all the stars for this place! read more

So far we love and enjoy the food, service and the ambiance. Lilly was very attentive and helpful. I definitely recommend the Duck salad,cashew chicken and especially the walnut shrimp. For the fried rice I would prefer the Panda rice but still not in the menu. Needless to say this place never disappoints! read more

The service was amazing! We had our main server, Will, who is just a gem and so attentive. It seemed like every course was delivered by a different person and it really felt like we were really looked after and taken care of. The food was outstanding. Many old favorites with a bunch of new and delicious drink and food additions (9 the menu. We had leftovers to take home which were expertly packed for us. Will definitely be back!! read more

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Elaine was awesome!!!! She was quick and very attentive!!!! Will ask for her when we return

We finally were able to eat at the redone Panda Inn in Pasadena. In the 1970's I had the wonderful experience of eating at the original house on Foothill where it all began. Through the years we ate at the "new" restaurant when it was opened and now I totally loved the new Panda Inn experience last night. Our servers were the best. Lincoln and EugeneThe food is better than ever. read more

Amazing service from Elaine! Very very nice great service In Pasadena location and Ontario location. Have been served by her for years . Great worker read more

Awesome experience tonight dining at the new Panda Inn. Beautiful ambiance, gorgeous bar with gold accessories and fixtures. Excellent lychee martini! 10/10, I had two! Hot & Sour soup really good, spicy for people who do not like spice. Phoenix chicken out of this world good. Sushi, fresh and beautiful. Service was friendly and fair. Will return for a girls night out or a simple dinner night. Reservations strongly recommend. read more

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This is the original location of Panda Inn, which Panda Express is based on. It is roughly the same since it opened 50 years ago this year. This location will be closed for most of 2023 for remodel. They said there will be demolition and a whole new building. I'm glad I got to eat at the historic original building before demolition. The food here is better than Panda Express. The Orange Chicken is better than Panda Express. At Panda Express the orange chicken is a bit too bready and the sauce is too sweet. At Panda Inn you can taste the orange a little more and the chicken is more substantial and less bready. There is also baby corn and green onions with it. It comes out hot and fresh and is still crunchy and not soft and soggy. I read so many reviews on yelp about the Phoenix chicken. I think Orange chicken is better. Similar sauce. The phoenix chicken is thinner and crunchier but the orange chicken feels so much more meatier. If you like panda express, you will like this place. If you dont like panda express, you will probably not. It is pricey compared to panda express but the portion size is much bigger. If you get the large party portions at panda express you would pay about the same for similar quantity. Its good for family style with 6-8 people read more

Panda Inn - Phoenix Chicken. Orange Chicken. - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Went on a whim with my partner and had an amazing time sitting at the bar with Jason, as our server! Food was amazing and the newly renovated restaurant is sooo beautiful! read more

Gorgeous new restaurant design, and the delicious food was enjoyed! The service was great too!

What a great experience I had with friends last night. My first time and will be back. We had some amazing soup as well as the Up down Noddles which was delicious. So many options hard to choose. Our server who I forgot to get her name was wonderful as well as meeting and talking with the General Manager Kenny. It was a great place to enjoy an awesome meal, fabulous service and relax and enjoy a great evening. Also want to share that it was so nice having the ample parking right there by the restaurant. Hoping to see them at the Taste of Arcadia! Go support your local restaurant you won't be disappointed. read more

Great service and food was delicious. It was our 1st time and ordered the Chow Fun and the Beef on the Chef's Special. Parking in the back. The restaurant validates up to 3 hours. It's a bit pricey, but the quality is worth it. Sat right away with reservations. The noise level was moderate. Tables are not crowded. Will definitely return to try something else on the menu. read more

A couple of weeks after its grand reopening, we decided to give the new Panda Inn space a try. Kudos to the designer and decorators. The space is very attractive and consistent with modern tastes. It is, however, a large, open space with little warmth. The booth in which we sat was beautiful, but the seating is way too far away from the table. Wider tables are needed. The food was predictably tasty and reminiscent of the prior menu. The prices, however, have increased an impressive amount. The service started out well enough but then quickly deteriorated. It took forever to get our drinks and any food. The time between courses was also quite extended. What was worse, once the entrees were served, we didn't see our waiter or any server for easily 30 minutes. It was a complete, utter disappointment. No one asking how the food was, if we needed more drinks or water or anything. Absolutely unacceptable for a restaurant of this apparent quality. We will not be returning anytime soon. Get it together, Panda Inn. read more

Panda Inn, the Pasadena landmark that quietly laid the foundation for the sprawling empire of Panda Express, has emerged from a transformative renovation that may well establish it as a dining destination in its own right. The results are striking: a polished, modern interior that balances elegance with just the right amount of Instagram-friendly flair. Sleek wood paneling, semi-private alcove booths, and a granite sushi bar offer contemporary sophistication, while subtle nods to Chinese artistry--engraved classical landscapes, intricate lattice work--lend depth and history to the ambiance. This is no mere facelift. The renovation signals a renewed ambition, and it shows in every detail. The wait staff, impeccably trained and effortlessly professional, deliver an experience of rare polish that stands out in a region teeming with celebrated eateries. In fact, one can't help but wonder if even the acclaimed Din Tai Fung might take a page from Panda Restaurant Group's meticulous approach to service and organization. Here, the art of hospitality feels as carefully crafted as the menu. Ah, the menu. In the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, where authentic Chinese cuisine reigns supreme, Panda Inn boldly claims a different space: elevated Chinese-American fare. To call it P.F. Chang-esque would not be inaccurate, but it would miss the point. Panda Inn leans into its genre unapologetically, and the results are remarkable. Dishes like Honey Walnut Shrimp and Orange Chicken may not challenge expectations, but they are executed with precision and flair. The flavors are vibrant, balanced, and unapologetically comforting. If one approaches the experience with an open mind--accepting it for what it is rather than measuring it against the Valley's pantheon of regional Chinese kitchens--there is a certain triumph to be found here. Then, there are the cocktails. The restaurant's newly expanded bar program might be its greatest revelation. Creative and unmistakably Asian-inspired, the drinks feel as integral to the meal as the dishes themselves. The Panda Mai Tai is a deft study in balance, its sweetness lifted by citrusy brightness, while the Baijiu Sour introduces complexity and intrigue, delivering a drink that's as much a conversation piece as it is a refreshment. These are not secondary offerings; they are a thoughtful and deliberate extension of the experience. All of this unfolds against a backdrop that feels tailor-made for social media without sacrificing authenticity. Every detail--the dramatic sushi bar, the carefully curated seating arrangements, the interplay of modern and traditional design elements--seems calculated to draw the eye and invite admiration. It's easy to imagine Panda Inn becoming a magnet for diners seeking not just a meal but an experience. At the heart of it all is the vision of Andrew and Peggy Cherng, founders of Panda Restaurant Group, who should feel nothing short of pride in what they've built. Panda Inn, with its perfect balance of charm, professionalism, and culinary ambition, is their masterpiece--a bold statement of what Chinese-American dining can aspire to be. Ultimately, the newly reimagined Panda Inn offers more than a meal. It offers a moment: of nostalgia elevated, of Americanized flavors made extraordinary, of hospitality done right. In an area rich with authentic Chinese culinary treasures, it carves out its own place with grace and confidence. Whether you're a longtime admirer or a curious newcomer, you'll leave impressed--not only by the care and creativity that define the experience, but by the audacity of a restaurant unafraid to be exactly what it is. This is Panda Inn's moment, and it's one well worth savoring. read more

Great service, great food, and great ambiance. Henry took good care of my family and was very attentive. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good place to eat in the Pasadena area! read more

Our server Henry is THE BEST! We've been coming here for years, but he was very special.

I come to Panda Inn for dine in or take out minimally twice a month. Every time I've visited since the reopening, something has been missing from my order. This last dine in experience was horrific and the customer service was even worse. Came in on a Saturday night, the mapo tofu was rancid, the crab salad was missing the mustard dressing, and they were out of their ginger mix for a cocktail my friend wanted to order. We sat down at 8pm, with a 10pm closing time for reference. There was no hand off between servers. We ended up with a bartender as our server, who gave attitude when voicing our concerns. The manager attempted to pacify us by removing the tofu from the bill. I have no intention of receiving free meals, I just want decent customer service and the quality of food I'm paying for. Very disappointing, I will not be returning. read more

Food and Ambience excellent! Mai tai was super! Will be back! Parking also very easy ! read more

Panda Inn - Wok Seared Mongolian Beef & Honey Walnut Shrimp and don't forget the Mai Tai!! Delicious!! - Chinese Near Me - Pasadena, California

So let me start by saying I would have given Panda Inn 3.5 stars total if I could have. But let me break down my overall experience. 1) Decor: 5/5- seriously, a beautiful remodel. Lovely decor, great tables and comfortable seating, large and spacious-- wonderfully done. Nice work. Also has a fabulous sushi bar and stunning bar where people can stop to get a drink (and the guy behind the bar looked like her was making some fun cocktails!) The bathrooms were huge, clean and had Aesop hand soap and Dyson dryer. 2) Food: again- excellent. We had the spring rolls: hot, crispy and delicious. Orange Chicken: perfect level of sweetness, crispy, right amount of orange sauce with just a gentle kick. Beef Lo mien: delicious. Beef great quality, noodles perfectly cooked. Portion sizes all very generous. And nice white chocolate fortune cookies- nice touch. Service: 2/5. Ugh. So this is where things all went belly up. And, it's just a reminder of how important service is-- and what a dealbreaker it can be. Our server Jacob was very nice, polite and professional. The challenge is he was struggling and seemed all over the shop. Couldn't get our order properly, and then, once he did get our order, did not check on us ONCE during the meal. Seemed to be running around but not really paying attention. We even had to stop him to get us the bill, and then stop him again to collect our credit card to pay said bill etc... Furthermore we waited a very long time for our food. If he just came to us and apologized for the wait- it would have made a difference to the overall experience. Service is everything and it can make or break an experience. So in short, great good, nice decor, but needs to work out some of the kinks and get the service up to par. read more

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Service and ambiance were great. Love the new look. I do think their food is a little bland.

Great service great foods customers service great warm friendly place great place for family friends hangout enjoy the time together

This review is for the service at Panda Inn Pasadena. Our large party arriving in a few groups separated by a few minutes was greeted warmly and immediately, and was seated in a large private room as we came in. The service was impeccable. Everyone we came into contact with was friendly, helpful, and efficient. A special shoutout to Marlen, our server. Since a number of our party only spoke Mandarin, there was some extra activity for her to deal with. She handled everything with grace, warmth, efficiency, and professionalism. read more

Great food and great service. The restaurant's renovation was beautifully done. Will definitely return if we are in the area again.

I was very excited to try Panda Inn for the first time, however the experience wasn't the best. We arrived early and were sat fairly quickly, however, the service was very slow and could've been better. We ordered the crab wontons but it was mostly cream cheese with very little crab so the cost of $14 for 4 wasn't appropriate. Additionally, we ordered the orange chicken, panda beef, and honey walnut shrimp which all lacked flavor. The best part was the plain rice cause it tasted how you'd expect steam rice to. All in all, the bill was around $155 but was truly not worth it. I would've had a better experience at Olive Garden or even McDonalds which would've had flavor and the price wouldn't been justified. read more