622218 Sun May 24 08:43:26 -0700 2009 21 32 Chains 0 4710576 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. Sun May 24 08:43:26 -0700 2009 188176 kkachurak 1 4710655 yeah, I know... they've got a Panda Express in the food court at the Atlantic City casino I work at... it hits the spot for me sometimes!! Sun May 24 09:25:32 -0700 2009 4710576 16973 ellen4441 1 4711130 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! Sun May 24 13:49:09 -0700 2009 4710576 227643 Luvfriedokra 1 4711355 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! Sun May 24 15:28:42 -0700 2009 4710576 10764 monkuboy 1 4712586 It IS crack - salt, fat and sugar. (/shrug) Mon May 25 07:41:25 -0700 2009 4710576 11989 pitu 1 4712782 don't be ashamed, panda is delicious! the tofu and eggplant is one of my favorite dishes. also - i know most people like it b/c it's unhealthy -- but you can skip the rice/chow mein and replace it with vegetables to lighten up a little. white rice is also an option. Mon May 25 09:06:18 -0700 2009 4710576 115162 bu dat 2 4714207 Oh I agree the tofu eggplant is my favorite. I get a combo with the tofu eggplant and chowmein. skip the rice as I can make that at home Mon May 25 19:46:15 -0700 2009 4712782 97593 Cinnabon 1 4713033 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! Mon May 25 11:03:05 -0700 2009 4710576 258488 NewDude 2 4713105 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. Mon May 25 11:30:26 -0700 2009 4713033 188176 kkachurak 3 4723248 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! Thu May 28 16:10:24 -0700 2009 4713105 13171 silence9 4 4724505 My initial reaction to your first sentence was disgust, but you have thoroughly justified your claim. I'll give this a shot next time. Fri May 29 06:15:47 -0700 2009 4723248 188176 kkachurak 1 4714146 Yeah, no shame in being picky. I always wait for the fresh pie coming out of the oven at Costco. And I am VERY picky about getting the biggest slice too! Mon May 25 19:21:08 -0700 2009 4710576 258488 NewDude 1 4734526 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. Mon Jun 01 20:47:56 -0700 2009 4710576 13633 andy huse 1 4734740 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... Mon Jun 01 23:49:48 -0700 2009 4710576 258488 NewDude 2 4735352 Just look upon it as nouveau Chinese cuisine. ; ) Tue Jun 02 07:58:33 -0700 2009 4734740 10764 monkuboy 1 4737407 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) Tue Jun 02 18:27:55 -0700 2009 4710576 16434 wabbitslayer 2 4738120 ^Post of the day Wed Jun 03 04:24:38 -0700 2009 4737407 92112 Fibber McGee 3 4738169 ^Reply of the day :) Wed Jun 03 04:57:49 -0700 2009 4738120 21777 Emm 2 4739093 This ongoing thread might interest you all. It's directly related to wabbitslayer's post. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/624277 Wed Jun 03 10:28:05 -0700 2009 4737407 12045 gloriousfood 1 4741046 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. Wed Jun 03 21:02:13 -0700 2009 4710576 13030 free sample addict aka Tracy L 1 4816400 I like Panda Express. Unfortunatley, I've nicknamed it "Digestion Express." Maybe I've said too much. Mon Jun 29 17:15:00 -0700 2009 4710576 219993 LA Buckeye Fan 1 4816875 The only NYC Panda Express I'm aware of is at JFK Airport, Terminal 4... And it appears to be after security. Shame, I want to give it a try. Mon Jun 29 20:32:19 -0700 2009 4710576 291929 newkai