Panda Express

At 5 in the evening, your only option in that region was the 3Cs Cosi, Chipotle and Clover. Open till 6 PM M to F and Sat till 2 PM, Panda Express is an welcome addition. Such a big chain does not require a review for the food. If you count the calories, mixed veg at 80 Cal as side and one of the entrees like Firecracker Chicken (220), String Bean Chicken (180), Kungpao Chicken (290), Mushroom Chicken (170), Black Pepper Chicken (280), Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (300), Broccoli Beef (180), you can manage a lunch bowl within 300 – 350 Calories. High on fat, sodium, refined sugar and all other regular Chinese takeaway cribs aside, with 10% additional discounts to Coop members, I am glad they are there.

The Panda Express you know and love (or not).
The Kendall Food Court has recently opened and Panda Express has a spot. Panda Express brings out mixed feelings from me. I have a nostalgic soft spot for foodcourt-​style Chinese fast food. I declared orange chicken as my favorite food when I was 10. It was a treasured and rare food item (only available when we went to certain malls). As an adult, I could get Panda Express every day, and yet I do not. While the food is packed with flavor, there isn’t much depth or freshness or juiciness or crispiness when perhaps there should be. Maybe my sense of taste became more sophisticated and discerning after trying superior versions of the same dishes.
Sometimes when slightly desperate (like at an airport), nostalgia prevails and I take the plunge, hoping to capture some childhood joy. The meal is typically filling and not too expensive, and yet there is always some underlying disappointment. No need to blame Panda Express, they know what they are offering and you know what you are getting. For less than $ 10 you can fill up on enough calories for the entire day, which is certainly not true for all other restaurants in Kendall. Service was efficient and friendly. There are plenty of tables in the food court.
If you have a Panda craving, the best recommendation is to try to go for the dishes that just came out of the kitchen.