The best Panda Express menu items are Orange Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Honey Sesame Chicken Breast, Broccoli Beef, and Chow Mein, while the worst are Teriyaki Chicken, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and Fried Rice.
Panda Express is not authentic Chinese food and it is not trying to be. It is American-Chinese fast food that has been executing the same playbook since 1983, and some of what it does it does extremely well. The Orange Chicken is genuinely one of the best items in American fast food. The Chow Mein is better than what you will get at most sit-down American-Chinese restaurants.
And then there are the items that have no business being on a plate. I am going to be specific about which is which.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Orange Chicken is the best item on the menu and it is not close
- Kung Pao Chicken is the only entree that actually delivers the spice it promises
- Teriyaki Chicken is the most disappointing item I have tried here. Skip it every time
- Chow Mein is the correct side order. Fried Rice almost always disappoints
- Honey Walnut Shrimp sounds premium but the execution is usually soggy and underwhelming
The Entrees, Ranked Worst to Best
14. Teriyaki Chicken
This is the only item on the Panda Express menu I actively tell people to avoid.
The promise is grilled chicken glazed with teriyaki sauce. What I get every time is unseasoned chicken that has been cooked until whatever teriyaki flavor it once had is completely gone. It is dry, tough, and stringy in a way that no dipping sauce fixes. The extra Mandarin teriyaki packets help somewhat, but they cannot save overcooked chicken.
If you want a lighter, grilled option, Mushroom Chicken or String Bean Chicken Breast both do that job without the texture problems.
13. Honey Walnut Shrimp
This is a premium entree that costs extra and should feel special. It does not.
The glazed walnuts are legitimately good. The shrimp are not. The batter goes soggy almost immediately, some shrimp arrive with tails still on, and the shrimp itself is noticeably lower quality than what you would get at even a mid-level seafood restaurant. The melon sauce is sweet and creamy but it cannot compensate for shrimp that are not doing their job.
Try it once if you want. But this is the item where the gap between the promotional photo and what actually lands in your bowl is widest.
12. Fried Rice
Panda Express Fried Rice is not bad. It is just unnecessary.
It is rice, egg, peas, carrots, and soy sauce. Nothing wrong with it, nothing interesting about it either. Chow Mein exists on the same menu and it is significantly better. Ordering Fried Rice when Chow Mein is available is a missed opportunity every time.
The one exception: if you ordered something extremely spicy, rice absorbs heat in a way that noodles do not. Otherwise, get the Chow Mein.
11. SweetFire Chicken Breast
The name suggests a sweet and spicy balance. What I get is mostly sweet and almost no fire.
The pineapple chunks are unexpected and not in a good way. The sauce is one-dimensional. The chicken itself is fine. Nothing here is offensive, but Orange Chicken delivers the same sweet experience at a higher level, and Kung Pao delivers the heat that SweetFire does not. This entree falls in the middle without earning its place there.
10. Black Pepper Sirloin Steak
The best beef dish on the menu, which sets a low bar since beef is not where Panda Express excels.
The cuts of steak are genuinely larger and more recognizable as steak than anything in the other beef entrees. The black pepper sauce is savory and coats the meat well. Mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers add texture.
It can still run tough and chewy, and the premium upcharge means it needs to over-deliver. It usually just delivers. Worth ordering if beef is important to you, but do not let the premium label set expectations it cannot meet.
9. Mushroom Chicken
A solid lighter option that does what it promises without embarrassing itself.
Wok-tossed chicken, mushrooms, and zucchini in a ginger soy sauce. The chicken here is noticeably less heavy than the breaded options, and the sauce is subtle rather than overwhelming. The mushrooms can occasionally arrive overcooked and rubbery, but when fresh it is a clean, satisfying dish.
If you are trying to eat on the lighter side at Panda, this and String Bean Chicken Breast are your two best options. Neither is flashy. Both are reliable.
8. String Bean Chicken Breast
Similar to Mushroom Chicken in the lighter, wok-tossed category but with a slightly sharper, more savory flavor profile.
The string beans add real crunch and the sauce has a bit more presence than the mushroom version. The chicken is tender and well-cooked. I get this one when I want something lighter that still has some flavor personality.
One thing to check: this dish is significantly better when the green beans are fresh. If they look wilted in the serving pan, ask when the next batch is coming.
7. Beijing Beef
The most polarizing entree on the menu, and I have genuinely gone back and forth on it.
Beijing Beef is battered beef strips in a sweet-tangy sauce with onions and red bell peppers. At its best, it has citrusy brightness and a satisfying crunch from the batter. At its worst, which is whenever it has been sitting too long, the breading turns soft, the beef gets tough to chew, and the whole thing becomes one-dimensional sweetness.
Freshness is everything here. Go during a busy period when the serving pan turns over quickly. Avoid it if it looks like it has been sitting. At 470 calories it is also the highest-calorie entree on the menu, which is worth knowing.
6. Broccoli Beef
A Panda Express classic that earns its place on this menu.
Thin slices of beef in a ginger-soy sauce with broccoli florets. The broccoli is usually fresh and holds texture well. The sauce is not gloopy when prepared correctly, which is the biggest failure mode for any broccoli beef dish. The beef can be chewy but the sauce pulls it together.
This is my pick when I want something savory and not sweet. It pairs well with Chow Mein. Not the most exciting entree here but one of the most consistent.
5. Black Pepper Chicken
An underrated pick that does not get enough attention.
Marinated chicken with celery and onions in a bold black pepper sauce. This is one of the few entrees where one flavor is allowed to dominate without apology, and it works. If you like black pepper, this will surprise you. If you are averse to heavy pepper, skip it entirely.
The chicken here is not breaded, which means it does not have the crisp-to-soggy freshness problem that plagues the battered entrees. The celery adds crunch that most other entrees lack. Simple dish, well executed.
4. Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
The sleeper pick on this menu and the one I recommend to anyone who has only ever ordered Orange Chicken.
Breaded chicken in a honey sesame sauce with green beans and bell peppers. Similar to Orange Chicken but with a lighter, less aggressive sweetness. The honey sesame sauce is more nuanced than the orange sauce, and I find it easier to eat in larger portions for that reason.
The chicken stays crispier than Orange Chicken does over time, which is a real advantage. The vegetables add color and crunch. This is number two on my list only because Orange Chicken exists.
3. Kung Pao Chicken
The only entree at Panda Express that actually delivers real heat.
Panda Express labels several dishes spicy. Most of them are not. Kung Pao Chicken is. Wok-tossed chicken with zucchini, red and green bell peppers, chili peppers, and peanuts in a smoky spicy sauce. The heat is detectable and builds. The peanuts add a crunch that none of the other entrees have.
If you have a high tolerance, this might feel mild. But for a Panda Express entree, it delivers something distinct: actual flavor that is not sweet. That alone puts it near the top.
2. Chow Mein
The best side on the menu by a significant margin.
Wok-tossed noodles with onions, celery, and cabbage. The noodles have actual char from the wok, which gives them a smoky depth that separates them from the slimy, gummy chow mein I have had at most American-Chinese restaurants. They are not perfect. They could use more of that wok char on every batch. But at their best they are genuinely excellent fast food noodles.
Order Chow Mein as your side every time. Do not order Fried Rice as an afterthought. The difference is real.
1. The Original Orange Chicken
Orange Chicken is the best item on the Panda Express menu and it has been for 30 years. Chef Andy Kao invented it for Panda Express in 1987 and the chain has served a version of it every day since.
Crispy battered chicken pieces tossed in a sweet, tangy orange sauce with a gentle heat. The sauce is not aggressively orange-flavored, but the sweetness is balanced in a way that keeps it from being cloying. The batter is the best Panda Express does. When fresh, it has real crunch. The whole thing comes together in a way that other American-Chinese orange chicken dishes rarely match.
It is the item that keeps every other entree on this menu in business. The fact that it is genuinely good rather than just popular is what puts it at the top.
The Sides, Briefly
Chow Mein is the right call every time. Pick it.
Super Greens is the healthiest option and actually tastes good. A mix of broccoli, kale, and cabbage with no added sauce. The vegetables are cooked to just the right point. Order it if you want to feel slightly less guilty.
Steamed White Rice is a neutral base that works with anything. No notes.
Fried Rice is fine but not as good as Chow Mein. Order it only if you specifically want rice over noodles.
The Right Order at Panda Express
Orange Chicken with Chow Mein. That is the answer. It is not creative but it is correct.
If you want to branch out, add Kung Pao Chicken as your second entree on a bigger plate. If you want something lighter, Honey Sesame Chicken Breast is the most underrated dish on the menu.
For the full picture of where Panda Express sits in the fast food landscape, my fast food tier list ranks every major chain. And if you are curious about the Panda Express Buldak collaboration, the Panda Express Buldak review covers that limited-time item specifically.
My Take
Panda Express does a small number of things very well. Orange Chicken is genuinely excellent fast food, Chow Mein is better than it has any right to be, and Kung Pao Chicken is the correct order for anyone who wants actual flavor and heat.
The rest of the menu ranges from fine to skippable. The beef dishes struggle with toughness, the Teriyaki Chicken is a consistent letdown, and the Honey Walnut Shrimp is the only item that actively disappoints me.
Know what you are getting into, order the Orange Chicken, and you will leave happy.
FAQ
What is the most popular Panda Express menu item?
Orange Chicken is the best-selling item at Panda Express and has been for decades. It is served from a larger pan than any other entree at every location because the demand never lets up.
What is the best thing to order at Panda Express?
Orange Chicken with Chow Mein is the move. For a second entree, Kung Pao Chicken is the right pick for heat and Honey Sesame Chicken Breast is the best option for something lighter.
What should you avoid at Panda Express?
Teriyaki Chicken is the most disappointing item on the menu. It comes out dry, bland, and overcooked every time I have ordered it. Honey Walnut Shrimp is expensive for a premium item and rarely delivers. Fried Rice is fine but significantly worse than Chow Mein.
Is Panda Express Orange Chicken actually good?
Yes. It is one of the most successful fast food items in American food history for a reason. The batter is crispy when fresh, the sauce has a real sweet-tangy balance, and the dish holds up better than most fast food entrees. Chef Andy Kao invented it specifically for Panda Express in 1987.
What is the spiciest item at Panda Express?
Kung Pao Chicken is the spiciest item on the regular menu. Chili peppers, a smoky sauce, and genuine detectable heat that builds. Most other items Panda labels spicy do not deliver. Kung Pao is the exception.
Cynthia Odenu-Odenu is the founder of Cyanne Eats. A registered nurse with a passion for food, she brings the same attention to detail from her professional life into the kitchen. From chain restaurant rankings to grocery finds and easy recipes, Cynthia covers it all and helps everyday food lovers eat better and spend smarter.