9 Unwritten Rules To Know Before Visiting Panda Express

Panda Express may be one of the quickest and easiest places to grab a bite. All you have to do is let an employee know your order, and they'll dish it up right in front of you from the assembly line. However, there are a few unwritten tips and tricks that can make your visit to Panda Express more enjoyable and better for your wallet. Conversations with frequent visitors, as well as former and current employees, will let you in on some lesser-known secrets, like when to get the freshest food or how to grab a free sample. Knowing the most efficient and most economical way to order will also help you out in the long run and make every visit a bit smoother.

Whether you're a longtime fan of the restaurant or stopping in for the first time, everyone can learn something new about this chain that has thrived since its departure from the mall food court. Knowing a couple of small conventions, like the proper way to order in-store or the best way to order for delivery, can save you time and headaches in the future and make your meal more enjoyable.

If you eat at Panda Express with any regularity, it's worth becoming a part of the restaurant's rewards program. The Panda Express app offers points, rewards, and promotions, so checking out the app before ordering might clue you in to a deal you would be unaware of if you just strolled into the restaurant. You can also access limited-time programs and perks, such as 25% off your first purchase.

Customers on Panda Express subreddits have discussed rewards programs, with many finding the program offers some good deals if you go often enough. If you're not a frequent flyer at the restaurant, you may find that your rewards points will sit in your app collecting dust, but otherwise it's definitely worth signing up for. The program makes more sense for a regular diner, but you can get something out of the app either way.

If you've ever stood in a Panda Express line, you probably noticed that the process moves quickly. The chain is set up to operate like an assembly line, with sides, entrees, and other items grouped together. One of the easiest ways to avoid holding up the line is to order your sides first, as this is the first step in the assembly line. This may feel counterintuitive, because your instinct is probably to order your entrees and then list off your sides. Still, it's been noted on Reddit forums that if you follow the order that's easiest for the employees instead of listing everything off together, they may just throw a few extra pieces of your entree in.

Ordering this way also ensures that the employees can portion your meal correctly and keep everything neat. Panda Express employees have expressed their frustration online with people saying their entire order at once instead of in the order the food is laid out. This would kind of be like going to Subway and ordering your dressing first, then bread, then toppings and meat. There's an existing order that makes the most sense for you as well as for the employees.

Just because you're a bit more health-conscious doesn't mean you'll never crave fast food. Luckily, you can enjoy a tasty meal without worrying if it's wrecking your macros for the week. There are several small changes you can make to your normal Panda Express order to make it a bit more nutrient-dense. Avoid battered proteins like orange chicken, and choose leaner ones like non-battered chicken or steak instead. If you're looking for something a bit more nutritious than the white rice or Chow Mein, Panda Express offers Super Greens as a side(one of our highest-ranked items on the menu), which contains a mix of sautéed kale, spinach, and cabbage. Some entrees are healthier than you might think, with the Beef and Broccoli being a vegetable-heavy dish that's great for getting some volume. 

Panda Express publishes nutrition information for every side and entree, so you'll know what to expect before you even order. Use your discretion, though, as certain healthier items like the teriyaki chicken have negative reviews despite being a lower-sodium option. The key here is to keep an eye on portion control and look for the items that are going to be the most nutrient-dense and keep you full the longest. There are no strict rules on how to order healthy at Panda Express. If you've been craving fried rice, go for it! You can give the meal a boost with some healthy fats or balance it out with more veggies.

If you're in the mood to order Panda Express for delivery, stop and think for a minute before opening DoorDash or GrubHub. The Panda Express app is usually the cheapest way to go when ordering online. When you use third-party apps, you're liable to get charged service and delivery fees that you may not see if you go straight through the restaurant. When you order directly through a restaurant, those fees are bundled in with the cost of in-house delivery, and the restaurant can hold back on charging as much as an outside deliverer. 

Ordering through the app also gives you immediate rewards, saving you money in the long run. Delivery costs depend on your location and what you order, and sometimes, a delivery app runs its own promotion that gives you a discount. However, the safest bet (especially if you can earn money back on your food) is to skip the third-party apps and order directly from P.E.

The Bigger Plate is the better option if you're 1) super hungry or 2) trying to get the most for your money. Instead of choosing a bowl with one or two entrees, the Bigger Plate comes with three entrees and a side. If you want some variety with a good amount of each protein, this is a great choice. You can even add appetizers to your plate to switch it up even more. Panda Express employees often share this hack to get more food per dollar.

Of course, this is only really a bargain if you're going to eat all that food. If it goes to waste, your money will, too. But if you like leftovers, are super hungry, or are splitting the plate with a friend, the Bigger Plate definitely has the best value. In a time when all dining prices are climbing, fast food is not exempt, and ordering tips like these from Panda Express employees can really help you stretch your dollar.

This should be one that goes without saying and should apply to all dining establishments, but make sure you're being respectful to the employees. This includes being polite when ordering and not leaving a dirty table when you leave. If you want a full-service dining experience where someone cleans up after you, fast casual dining may not be for you. The expectation is that you tidy your table when you leave so as not to make more work for the employees. No one is expecting you to get a rag and soap up your table, but picking up your trash and making sure nothing too obvious is left behind makes a big difference.

As an added incentive, several Panda Express employees have posted online that when a customer is particularly kind in a sea of impatient and rude people, the employee is likely to give that nice person a little extra food. You can also politely ask for a bit more on your plate, and the workers will most likely honor the request. A polite "Would it be possible to get a little more?" is a much better approach than demanding that someone fill your container to the brim. The service industry can be tough, and a little extra kindness can go a long way when you're dealing with frustrating customers through an eight-hour shift.

Panda Express has a particular appeal when the food comes straight out of the kitchen: steaming rice, crisp vegetables, and freshly prepared entrees going straight onto your plate before they've had time to sit out. If freshness is your priority, timing can make a difference. Customers and Panda Express employees point to certain times of day when they know the food is the freshest. You can also always ask a worker when they expect another batch of a certain item will be made if you see that it's running low or appears to have been sitting out for a while.

The most obvious answer is that food is freshest first thing in the morning when the restaurant opens. However, if you aren't craving Chinese food at 10:30 a.m., that's fine; there are other options. Former employees report that it's best to go during lunch and dinner rush, because food is being made and sold so quickly that you're likely to get something from a fresh batch. The downside of this is a longer time spent waiting in line, but the fresh food is worth the wait. Something to keep in mind is to avoid ordering during lulls in service, such as between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., when food might be sitting out for a while.

Based on its name, one might think the Broccoli Beef dish delivers a 50-50 portion of the two foods. In reality, Panda Express customers have noted that the dish leans heavily toward the broccoli. That's not necessarily a huge red flag if you like broccoli, but knowing what to expect can keep you from being disappointed by your order.

Customer discussions online frequently mention the vegetable-heavy ratio, and that's useful to know before you reach the counter. This predominantly veggie dish does make it a bit more health-conscious than some other options, as broccoli is packed with vitamins, nutrients, and fiber. The volume will also help you fill up on the good stuff and stay full, whereas you might be hungry quicker with a more carb-centered meal. The unwritten rule here isn't to avoid the dish completely, but rather to know what you're getting before you order.

Standing in front of a row of food can make choosing seem almost impossible. Even if you're a Panda Express veteran, it can be tough picking out the dishes to fill only a couple of slots on your plate or bowl. This is where free samples come in. It's true that since the COVID-19 pandemic, many locations have stopped giving out the classic paper cup samples to all customers. However, if you ask the person working the counter to sample an entree or two before choosing which one you'd like, they will most likely let you try it.

This is not a universal standard across every location, however. Some places might have stricter rules on samples than others, but it never hurts to ask. Whether you're new to the restaurant or have gone many times and are just torn between dishes, this is a useful tip to have in your back pocket.