Panda Express - Honolulu

We have ordered a handful of time here last year, but we have never dived. We usually go to the Drive-Thru. Eating is usually nice and hot and always right. The one handle I have at this point is how the drive-thru is set up, where the line meets the traffic flow. It can be really chaotic, especially during peak times.

Do you want to eat this? I don't think so. This is what it looks like when you order a kid's meal. The side menu is only half full. The portion was not as how every other panda places would scoop onto the plate. Keep that in mind. lol

One of my favorite Chinese fast food places. I gave it a 4 because of the COVID challenge. ALL tables inside were closed even tho it would have been easy to open some of the tables up and have the same social distancing as tables outside that were open. Rest rooms were closed which is a hit or miss practice. Food is consistently good. Employees are friendly, smiling and look like they enjoy their job. If I just used the drive through my experience would have been better.

Normally I love Panda Express. Normally I eat my normal meal...a plate with half super greens, half chow mein, and teri chicken and Shanghai beef. This is my go to. It is my safe place. A little healthy, a little heat, and I 'm happy. Well, the marketing team for Panda has done their job, and they 've done it well! I strayed from my safe place, from the norm, and I tried something new. Deemed their szechuan chicken, and labeled as spicy with an option to even order it 'extra SPICY ', I was hooked in. It was a one time event, which I suppose is the intention of a chain restaurant 's limited time fare...good or bad, they got you in the door. The chicken strips, I mean, the szechuan chicken, were/was okay. The chicken meat was all white, and good quality. But the fried batter on the chicken was just okay, with the heat level from these orange glowing nuggets being nearly nonexistent on their own, and very minimal with the addition of Panda 's extra spicy powder which I requested. Szechuan chicken, aka, overly salty marketing gimmick. Not great, good-ish, but not worth a second go. Perhaps the insult to injury is that a portion is 3 of these little chicken fingers. Thankfully in my plate I also had the teri chicken, no sauce...it redeemed my lunch plate portion. My wife, on the other hand, orders the bowl with super greens and an entree, and the 3 sad pieces of chicken on top of stir fried kale, cabbage, and broccoli made for a sad and small lunch choice. We 'll be back to Panda, but we 'll also be back to our go to safe places!

Food is always delicious! Friendly staff. Prices are affordable and they also have a drive thru. Plenty of parking. One thing I like about Panda is they prepare food right where you see it. The cooks are constantly cooking because people are coming in nonstop. Make sure to have your ID with you because they need to check if the debit/credit card you're using is yours. There's an outside seating, wheelchair accessible, and an inviting atmosphere. It's usually crowded during lunch(11am-12pm) and dinner time(5-6pm ish) and mainly it's because many military personnel come here at the shopping center. It's a good place to hang out with your family, and friends.