Panda Express

My coworker found a bug in her Panda Express. That’s not good at all! They were nice enough to give her another plate though. I’ll stop coming here for a while, but it won’t stop me in the long run.
Fast food chains are rare in the city itself. Parnassus has several like Panda Express. It’s quick, greasy Chinese food satisfying your cravings for exactly that. Sometimes that is just what you want– «good for the mouth, not the body as they say.» It’s not good for your health at all though, though it’s pretty delicious when you are hungry. A bowl with chow mein and orange chicken are my usual choices. You have to pay extra for special items like honey walnut prawns and angus beef.

This is disappointing Chinese food. Small portions for price. Location is convenient for ucsf but better off trying something else.

This place is quite good for the price and quality. I usually place an online order before I head down from my office and they are always ready with my meal. They are super friendly and in my experience, have been very generous with the portions. Good for a quick bite of if you’re in a hurry.
Come on, it’s panda express.

Panda Express is NOT REAL CHINESE FOOD! First of all, the rice aren’t even cooked right. The other dishes aren’t like the traditional Chinese food either. It’s good for a fast food like Mc Donald’s and Taco Bell, but it’s nothing compare to typical Chinese food.

It’s assembly-​line Chinese, food is sitting in a steam table. Nothing outstanding. I had a craving for cheap chow mein and they met my need. I do love their eggplant-​tofu since I can’t seem to find it everywhere. I don’t eat fried stuff or meat deep fried with batter (i.e, Gen. Tsai’s chicken or sesame chicken or orange chicken, etc.). You know, even though this is [Americanized] Chinese fast food, it’s not worse or better then most of the stuff you get in a sit down Chinese meal in this town these days.

I love Panda Express, but I never go here when I want Chinese. It’s still technically fast food, but it’s delicious and I’ve never had a problem with this location.

Thank you all fellow Unilocalers. This place SUCKS. Gosh, where do I start. The ineptitude of the workers, including the manager is the worst I have experienced. Second graders could do a better job, and with a smile. The, not one, but two cockroaches I saw behind their counter about made me gag. I was just hoping I would not find a fried one in my dish. When I said some thing to the manager, she just looked at me, mumbled under her breath, and said «oh». The food looked and tasted as if it had come frozen and poured out of a bag. I understand and get it that angus beef and honey shrimp is a premium item and extra charge. But to get two small pieces of beef and 5 shrimp (after the employee said I would get 7), is unethical and a waste of my time. I will let the cockroaches eat here as I will no longer support this place.

I was mildly hungover and needed greasy Chinese food. I was way too lazy to head over to Irving, so UCSF Panda Express it is.
$ 10 for 4 items and a drink.
Fried rice– dry
Orange chicken– dry and salty
Chow mein– greasy
Pot sticker (3) — surprisingly good
I’ve been here probably 2−3x over the years, and Ive regret it every single time. Why? I usually feel 2kg heavier (I don’t even finish the plate) or have the runs after…

This is Panda Express, the place you eat at when you’re at UCSF and you feel like stress eating because you have to cram for an exam. And you’ll feel kind of disgusting after gorging yourself on Panda, but at least there’s a gym downstairs (membership required).
After a long discussion with my classmates/​fellow panda-​philes, here is the definitive ranking of Panda Express entrees (premium items excluded):
1. Orange chicken
2. String bean chicken (orange chicken for people attempting to be healthier)
3. Beijing beef (orange chicken for people who like beef)
4. Chicken Teriyaki (you get to watch them slice the chicken)
5. Eggplant tofu (hopefully you’re ordering this as part of a two entrée platter)
6. Kung Pao chicken (why are the pieces of chicken so small?)
7. Mushroom chicken (if you’re going this direction might as well do Kung Pa)
8. Beef and broccoli (for guilt ridden carnivores in denial about the poor nutritional value of Panda)

This is your typical Panda Express. When it’s lunch time, you have a lot of UCSF employees and patients waiting in line, but they push it along just fine.
The food is ok. Not the best chinese food, but what can you expect from a Panda Express? You have your option of a 2 sides or 1 side. You can even get a bowl with your starch and you add 1 side on top. The to-​go container for the bowl was pretty good. I ended up grabbing a chow mein bowl with orange chicken to take on my walk to the Golden Gate Park.

My first time when I try Panda Express it was here. And it was amazing! Very delicious Chinese food, big portion, a lot of options but my favorite are honey shrimps and orange chicken mmm great. Very friendly personal. I’ll come back ;)

For the price… Im still hungry. Ordered the 2 item plate too. The portions were small and the temperature of my food was warm/​cold… Yeah…

I ordered the newest item if it is good I usually do
So it wasn’t ready and I got my drink then I went back in about five minutes
They put it in a bowl mixed with rice and chow mein
It was so good I ate the whole thing. It was the kale and chicken
The chicken was so plump and moist and the kale was flavored just right
Yum
I have been here before so I definitely will come back
Plus whenever I’m in other cities and malls I come to panda
I remember when I was in Vegas they had one at one of the hotels and the line was crazy long because the club had just let out but I still waited
But like I said that was Vegas whenever I come here I don’t get a line but that’s probably because I miss lunch.
I usually come here around dinner time
I came here around six or seven yesterday and there was a couple in line ahead of me.

Tiny portions. Overly salty and expensive. If you have other options. Go there. Had honey walnut prawns which were cold and Mongolia beef. With the enormous amount of decent Chinese choices why go here

I am torn with Panda Express, because it is never a first choice for me for Chinese food. But here I am at Millberry Union. Do I want Mexican food? No. Do I want a sandwich? No. Do I want a salad? No. I really want a hot meal. So there I am in line at Panda Express for the 2^nd time this month. I really love egg rolls, but when I got these last time I was sorely disappointed. Okay, combo meal with veggies, Beiing Beef, and the Golden Szechuan Fish for a $ 1 extra charge. I should’ve brought milk with me… both the beef and fish were too spicy for me. My tongue felt like it was on fire and I couldn’t even enjoy the veggies because of that. I never learn my lesson do I? =(

Do you expect to eat quality food from Panda? No.
Do you expect them to be fast? Yes.
I’m not giving Panda Express 2 stars for their food because I knew what I was getting myself into when I chose to have lunch here. I’m giving them 2 stars because I’ve been disappointed with this location twice. First time, they ran out of mushroom chicken at 1pm. Second time, I had to awkwardly wait around while they prepared my steamed veggies. At least they are friendly about it though. Also the line can also get ridiculously long during lunch, increasing the chance of them running low/​out of something. Besides all that, this place is okay and sadly one of the very few choices at this UCSF food court.

I don’t know why there is so much hate for this place. You know what to expect when you order. It’s Americanized Chinese, packed with sodium and grease. Some days you need some comfort food.
Solid for a chain Chinese establishment, especially since they get you in and out really quickly. I love the Orange Chicken and Shanghai Beef!

(See pics) Review #1237. Food here is actually pretty good — hot and with lots of flavors. Yes, loaded with sodium, sugar and grease but so do most fast food joints. But it’s also enough food that lasted a good full day and well into dinner.
If you want to stay in the direct sun with more green and less traffic, take the lunch and cross the street to the Medical Sciences Building and through the glass doors. There is an open green area with good seats that you can happily enjoy the lunch.

I know, I know; it’s faux Chinese Food. This Panda is actually pretty darn good. They’re quick, friendly, and (most important to me with a chain) consistent.
They open at 9:30ish AM and the food is always fresh and piping hot.

1 Star for the friendly cashier
1 Star for keeping me from starving because the Moffet Café at UCSF closes at 7pm (wtf is up with THAT?!).
If you have the time, walk down 5 blocks for something really tasty and worth the $. Even if it’s as calorie ridden as Panda Express, you will work it off coming back up the hill (for those of us hanging out at UCSF with family).
Def NOT recommended for an enjoyable experience.