Why Customers Feel Like Ordering Beef And Broccoli At Panda Express Is A Mistake

Panda Express is a staple in the fast food world, bringing classic American Chinese dishes like orange chicken to the masses at affordable prices and with speedy service. There are some unwritten rules to know before visiting a Panda Express, such as ordering your sides first to follow the assembly line-style process and timing your visit for when the food is freshest. While some entrees, like Beijing beef and honey walnut shrimp, are heavier on the protein, some customers have complained that other meals, like Panda Express' broccoli beef, contain noticeably more broccoli than beef.

One of the mistakes you might be making at Panda Express is assuming that the broccoli beef entree comes with an even split of meat and vegetables. Many customers might expect at least equal amounts of broccoli and beef in their serving, if not more beef than broccoli. But according to employees and customers on Reddit, that's not necessarily what you'll get. In a Reddit thread offering tips for ordering at Panda Express, one commenter advised, "if you want more meat, don't order broccoli beef. Another user agreed, adding, "you're going to get more broccoli than beef. It's 80% broccoli and 20% beef." Other commenters in the subreddit have echoed the 80/20 ratio, though Panda Express has not officially confirmed this.

There are plenty of posts on Reddit complaining about the lack of beef compared to the amount of broccoli. While some customers sympathize, others, including people who identify themselves as Panda Express employees, say the ratio is actually what customers should expect. To give Panda Express some credit, the dish is called broccoli beef, not beef broccoli, which could be a clue that broccoli is meant to be the star here. Plenty of Redditors have made the same point, with one emphatically writing, "because it is BROCCOLI with beef. Not the other way around. There's supposed to only be a few pieces of meat in comparison to the broccoli."

There does, however, seem to be a discrepancy between the photo of the broccoli beef entree on Panda Express' website and what customers say they actually receive. The photo shows six pieces of broccoli and at least eight slices of beef, which seems to be misleading compared to what's actually served in the restaurants. The lack of beef may be attributed to the fact that, broccoli beef is part of Panda Express' Wok Smart menu and contains the fewest calories of all the entree options. If the dish had a much higher percentage of beef, it would likely no longer qualify for the Wok Smart menu, while the larger portion of broccoli helps keep its calorie count lower. So, if you're looking for a beef-heavy entree, you're better off choosing another option.