I'm Ashamed (Addicted to Panda Express)
I know it's cliché, but I could swear they put crack in their food. They opened one where I work part time about two months ago. And now, I can't stop eating there. Orange Chicken and Chow Mein. That spicy (but not really spicy) Beijing Beef. Mandarin Chicken. I can't stop.
Please help.
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LA Buckeye Fan
Jun 29, 2009 05:15 PM
I like Panda Express. Unfortunatley, I've nicknamed it "Digestion Express." Maybe I've said too much.
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free sample addict aka Tracy L
Jun 3, 2009 09:02 PM
I looked down my nose at it for years, but that was before trying it. Compared to the supermarket chinese "hot woks" and a dearth of Chinese restaurants in my neighborhood I must admit I like Panda Express. They make relatively small batches of food at a time which I really think is key compared to the supermarket. I like the eggplant and tofu too and as a rice bowl it is better than going to restaurant where the portion is too large and leftovers are so so.
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Nah, don't be ashamed of your addiction, although the "Chains" board does seem to be full of people who do nothing but post about how horrible this or that chain restaurant is. Sort of makes one wonder why they visit webpages and have lengthy conversations about something they purport to hate so much....????
(BTW, bejing beef is the best stuff there)
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re: wabbitslayer
This ongoing thread might interest you all. It's directly related to wabbitslayer's post.
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Actually, Chinese food isn't actually Chinese food. It's American food. Much, much more meat, a lot fewer vegetables. Extremely heavily salted as well. And Americans favor the greased up noodle carbs and fried rice rather than white rice.
That's why Panda is crack level addictive: deep fried, heavily salted with a generous dollop of sugary goodness, with a side of soysauce, please.
And the price is fantastic. Ick. Mmmm. Ick. Mmm. Ick...
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I had some of my first Chinese food at a Panda Express and fell in love. i culd even afford it on my modest student budget. These days, I prefer food made at real Chinese restaurants, and have learned to make some of my favorite dishes. There will always be a soft place in my belly for Panda.
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It's good, cheap and fast food. It is also very oily, very salty, and very sweet. It's not crack, but it's the legal equivalent. Whenever I get the craving, I walk by and notice how long the food's been sitting under the lamps. I just feel bad for the people who walk up and get all the servings that have been sitting, rather than servings from the fresh batch!
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re: NewDude
Sometimes, depending on the severity of the craving coupled with the urgency of my hunger (not to mention, the flexibility of my free time at work), I'll wait or ask for a fresh batch. Only takes a few minutes and they're typically pretty nice about it. The manager knows me by name now - that's how often I go.
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re: kkachurak
Interesting, how some/most folks prefer the fresh just-out-of-the-sizzling -wok batches. I actually prefer the 'last dregs' of the older batches! For example, the older-and-dried-out batch of orange chicken has a sort-of crust to it that i favor -- chewier, and even though moist due to the sauce, there's almost a crispy-soggy-crunch texture that plays against the softness of the accompanying rice. The fresher batches taste too bloated and plump/puffy, like what one imagines stir-fried/dipped-and-battered human might approximate (sorry!). The older/dregs batches are also usually darker/richer in color, as if the heating unit /water bath below the pans have reduced the sauce into a matured 'syrup'. Dregs all the way for me!
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monkuboy
May 24, 2009 03:28 PM
I live in the San Gabriel Valley area of Southern California which is the center of Chinese food outside of Hong Kong/China and I tell you, I'd rather eat at Panda than 95% of the Chinese restaurants in the area. I think too many people equate weird, strange food with being good food but to me that isn't the case. I like stuff that tastes good. I know Panda isn't all that healthy for you but I like it!
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Luvfriedokra
May 24, 2009 01:49 PM
Ha! I alsol have a thing for Panda Express. There's one on my way home from work and I always dismissed it. I stopped in one evening when I was dead tired and hadn't planned anything for dinner. Now it's my go-to place for food court Chinese-definitely hits the spot!
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