14 Best Entrées at Panda Express To Order in 2025

The best entrées at Panda Express are proof of just how deeply rooted Chinese cuisine is in U.S. culture. Even at the end of the 19th century, says Yong Chen from the University of California’s Department of History in a study published by Oxford University Press, the cuisine was beginning to gain traction in the States, drawing a large and fast-growing following from diverse backgrounds in major cities throughout the nation. 

By the end of the 20th century, it was perhaps the most popular ethnic cuisine in the country. That made it the perfect time for Panda Express to open its first store, which it did in 1983 in Glendale, California. 

Today, Panda Express remains a firm favorite for diners across the nation seeking their fix of Chinese-American cuisine, with a menu that has evolved to include a number of cult favorites. So what are they? What are the best items at Panda Express and what’s the best Panda Express entrée? 

Well, that’s what we’re here to find out, so let’s dive in! 

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• The 14 Best Panda Express Entrées
• What Is the Best Meal at Panda Express?

The 14 Best Panda Express Entrées

1. Kung Pao Chicken

Taking inspiration from the bold, spicy flavors of China’s Sichuan province that often incorporate peppercorns, chile peppers and garlic, the first on this list of the best entrées at Panda Express draws on those traditions.

This dish features chicken, peanuts and vegetables, plus a dose of chile pepper for good traditional measure. The chicken comes perfectly cooked and the peanuts add an inimitable layer of texture that’s tough to beat. 

2. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

This next popular dish features grilled chicken, hand-sliced to order and served with the chain’s delicious, sticky-sweet teriyaki sauce. It’s one of the best entrées at Panda Express for those in search of healthier but no less tasty sustenance. 

It’s an especially great pick for those looking for healthy dishes when paired with a base of mixed vegetables or steamed brown rice. Although the sugar content from the sauce may be a little high for some, this dish is likely to be a top pick among those who want to enjoy the best Panda Express menu items without compromising their dietary goals. 

3. Original Orange Chicken

Next in our guide to the best entrées at Panda Express is something of a cult favorite. It’s the chain’s signature dish and it has been for some time. In fact, former Panda Express Executive Chef Andy Kao claimed to have conceptualized the very first Chinese-American recipe for orange chicken in 1987.

Since then, it has remained a cornerstone of the menu, featuring crispy chicken pieces tossed in the wok with a sweet, spicy and zingy orange sauce that almost always earns it first place on lists of Panda Express entrées ranked. 

4. Beyond Orange Chicken

If we had to pick a dish to top the list of vegan-friendly Panda Express menu items ranked from best to worst, it would be Beyond Orange Chicken. This menu item is the result of the chain’s partnership with Beyond Meat, a manufacturer of entirely plant-based meat products that are known and loved the world over.

Given its popularity, it’s unsurprising that it’s the foundation for arguably the best entrée at Panda Express for vegans. The succulent chicken alternative is covered in Panda Express’ signature coating before being tossed in that same zingy orange sauce. 

In other words, it takes one of the best entrées at Panda Express for meat eaters and transforms it into some of the finest vegan fast food on the market. The only drawback is that this is a limited-time item, so get it when you see it on the menu! 

5. Honey Sesame Chicken

The next on our list of the best entrées at Panda Express is one you’ll need to keep an eye out for, for two reasons. The first is the flavor. Each and every mouthful delivers a light and balanced sweet-savory profile thanks to its impossibly moreish honey-sesame sauce. You can also expect notes of garlic and ginger plus the crunch of sesame seeds, bell peppers and string beans.

The second is that, while it is widely considered one of the best entrées at Panda Express to ever have been added to the menu, it is only ever available for a limited time. If you happen to see it available the next time you’re in your local Express, be sure to make the most of it while stocks last. 

6. Chow Mein

Made with wheat noodles that are stir-fried with onions, celery and cabbage, chow mein serves as the perfect base for any of the best entrées at Panda Express.

Chow mein remains a perennial favorite on the menu of Chinese restaurants around the world, and although it is classed as a side dish at Panda Express, it would easily work as a standalone dish for anyone searching for quick and tasty lunch food ideas.

7. Fried Rice

Fried rice is ubiquitous in Chinese-American cuisine. Think back to any time that you’ve eaten Chinese takeout with your friends or family, and chances are that fried rice featured somewhere on your order.

And while this is definitely more of a side dish than one of the best entrées at Panda Express, it’s one that’s essential to your meal if you’re searching for filling dinner food ideas.

The rice is served hot out of the wok with soy sauce, eggs, carrots, peas and green onions. Whether you choose to pair it with a bowl of orange chicken, slices of black pepper sirloin steak or any of the other best entrées at Panda Express, an order of fried rice is sure to level up your meal.  

8. Cream Cheese Rangoons

While this is more of an appetizer or side dish, it’s certainly worth considering if you’re hoping to order a feast. Cream Cheese Rangoons are another cult classic that pair perfectly with any of the best entrées at Panda Express.

They work especially well with Panda Express entrées that have a more zingy sauce, like orange chicken, whose citrusy flavors are sure to cut beautifully through the cream cheese that fills these wonton-wrapped wonders. You could also enjoy them as a standalone snack, dipping the rangoons in the accompanying sweet and sour sauce. 

9. Broccoli Beef

This is one of the best entrées at Panda Express for those who want to ensure they get their daily dose of greens and protein. Fresh florets of broccoli add some heart-healthy color to the dish while lean and tender beef strips provide a protein punch that’s sure to keep you full.

Now, we’ll admit that a glaze of soy-ginger sauce could hardly be described as “healthy.” But when you compare the beef to the deep-fried proteins that form the bedrock of other entrées on the menu, broccoli beef is more than deserving of a place among the healthiest items at Panda Express. 

10. String Bean Chicken Breast

Light, flavorful and absolutely packed with green goodness thanks to a generous portion of string beans, this is some of the healthiest Chinese food you’re likely to find on the menu.

But what makes it one of the best entrées at Panda Express? That’s easy: the impossibly moreish and sensationally savory sauce — a fresh and lively blend of soy and ginger that’s sure to make your taste buds sing. 

11. Beijing Beef

As one of the best entrées at Panda Express, Beijing Beef is capital by name and by nature. Featuring crispy strips of beef, bell peppers and onions, all pulled harmoniously together with a sweet-tangy sauce, it delivers a sweet aroma to the nose that’s sure to pull the rest of your face enthusiastically into the bowl.

A seasoned batter lends each marvellously marinated piece of beef an additional layer of texture with every bite. As for the sauce, it brings together the timeless bedfellows of sweet and sour, featuring just enough chile to round out the richness without overpowering your palate.  

12. Black Pepper Chicken

There’s a good reason that we, as a nation, love Chinese food. Chinese restaurant chains like Panda Express are known and loved for their menus of vibrant, colorful and flavor-filled dishes, of which this particular menu item is a fine example.

At its core, it’s a simple medley of marinated chicken, celery and onions. And while the ingredients list might sound simple, don’t worry. What makes it one of the best entrées at Panda Express is the bold pepper sauce that ties them all together. The result? Flavor bombs, with each and every bite.

13. Honey Walnut Shrimp

If large shrimp battered in tempura, fried in a wok and tossed in a honey sauce isn’t enough to make your mouth water, then we’re sure the addition of sweet-glazed walnuts will. This perennial favorite from the chain’s menu is up there with the very best entrées at Panda Express, especially for pescatarian diners and seafood lovers.

The only downside might be that it’s missing the chile-infused heat that helps to round out other sauces in the Panda Express lineup. Then again, if you prefer your Chinese food to be sweet instead of spicy, we’re sure that won’t be a problem. 

14. Mushroom Chicken

While it’s the last on our list of the best entrées at Panda Express, it is by no means the least. A medley of zucchini, mushrooms and crispy battered chicken comes together to provide a balance of flavor, texture and color. 

All pulled together with a sweet, savory and slightly zingy soy and ginger sauce that soaks beautifully into a base of fried rice, and there’s little chance of being disappointed when you order a bowl of Mushroom Chicken.

What Is the Best Meal at Panda Express?

The answer to this question really boils down to personal preference.

If you’re on the hunt for vegan or vegetarian fast food that refuses to skimp on flavor, the best meal for you will likely start with some vegetable spring rolls, followed by one of the best entrées at Panda Express for vegetarians, like eggplant tofu or Beyond Orange Chicken. 

Pair that with a base of Super Greens or chow mein, and you’re unlikely to forget your meal in a hurry. Just remember to check for eggs in any dishes if you’re after vegan-friendly options and be aware that cross-contamination may occur.

Of course, if your chief source of protein comes from meat and you’re hoping to find it in the form of the best entrées at Panda Express, take your pick! Orange Chicken often earns first place on lists of the best Panda Express entrées. If you’re looking for a major hit of protein, beef dishes like Broccoli Beef, Beijing Beef or Black Pepper Sirloin Steak will likely be your top pick. 

On the other hand, those who love seafood vehemently argue that the chain’s Honey Walnut Shrimp is one of the very best items at Panda Express. You can also combine meat and seafood with a pick like Firecracker Steak and Shrimp.

Plus, you can customize your meal further by pairing your favorite Panda Express entrée with vegetables, rice, noodle dishes and appetizers. Of course, if dining with a group, one of the best tips is to order a range of the best Panda Express entrées to share.

The best entrées at Panda Express embody a philosophy that has guided the chain for more than 40 years: to pair Chinese regional cuisines and techniques with bold American tastes.

With food consistently cooked to order in small batches and a commitment to crisp, fresh vegetables that add a satisfying crunch to each and every order, we think it’s fair to say that the best entrées at Panda Express prove that it really is the home of Chinese-American cuisine.

For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.