Panda Express, are they that good?

[Svnla]

I don't eat at those places either. Really the only fast food places I'll eat at occasionally are In-N-Out, Subway, Rubio's, and Panda Express (Panda Express is the only one I've eaten at in the last couple weeks). I just don't eat much fast food.

If you don't like certain places or foods, fine, just say so. Why lower yourself with the stupid "jokes"?

 

[zerocool84]

I ate at PF Changs once and it was fine nothing special but for how much more expensive it is compared just going to a chinese joint, I expected the food to be MUCH better and it wasn't.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I ate at PF Changs once and it was fine nothing special but for how much more expensive it is compared just going to a chinese joint, I expected the food to be MUCH better and it wasn't.

Honestly, it's not that expensive for a nice dinner out. We took my Mother-In-Law to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse up in Orange County a couple weeks ago and the bill was $500 for 6 people and nobody had more than 2 drinks. That place is fucking expensive...

 

[0roo0roo]

I honestly couldn't tell you where a single Chinese restaurant is around me or name one. I'm sure there are some but I haven't eaten at any of them. I know of at least 4 P.F. Chang's within 200 miles of here and I've eaten at all 4 of them. 😛

Is it "real" Chinese? I don't know...nor do I care. 😛 😛 😛

Yea that is how it is, most people care about authentic chinese food as much as chinese people do about authentic italian food when they go to olive garden🙂

truth is those who want authentic would gone to the other places regardless, no segment is threatened by the other. just as mcdonalds doesn't threaten any steak house or restaurant.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yea that is how it is, most people care about authentic chinese food as much as chinese people do about authentic italian food when they go to olive garden🙂

truth is those who want authentic would gone to the other places regardless, no segment is threatened by the other. just as mcdonalds doesn't threaten any steak house or restaurant.

Hey, you aren't going to offend me by saying you like Olive Garden. I've eaten there a number of times. It's not as though the food is inedible or anything. 😀

Someone tell me of a good authentic Chinese place near me and I'll give it a try. If it blows my mind you can consider me a convert. North County San Diego, coastal.

 

[0roo0roo]

Hey, you aren't going to offend me by saying you like Olive Garden. I've eaten there a number of times. It's not as though the food is inedible or anything. 😀

Someone tell me of a good authentic Chinese place near me and I'll give it a try. If it blows my mind you can consider me a convert. North County San Diego, coastal.

Well the issue is that it isn't that simple, there are many regional cuisines, there is no "chinese food". Depending on how diverse your population is of asians is your avaliability of real regional chinese food might be extremely limited, they might even be just churning out americanized stuff to cater to the customer base. on the other hand if you live in an area that can support say a ranch 99 it is more likely the asian mall has a bunch of different chinese restaurants each with their own specialties. go where the asians are eating.

 

[Ninjahedge]

OoOoOOOOOOOooo....


Agreed. Even in our own limited history, saying "American Food" can vary from Texas to Maine.

Now take a country as large and as old as China and see what happens to the cuisine.....

 

[JulesMaximus]

Well the issue is that it isn't that simple, there are many regional cuisines, there is no "chinese food". Depending on how diverse your population is of asians is your avaliability of real regional chinese food might be extremely limited, they might even be just churning out americanized stuff to cater to the customer base. on the other hand if you live in an area that can support say a ranch 99 it is more likely the asian mall has a bunch of different chinese restaurants each with their own specialties. go where the asians are eating.

Sounds like a lot of work...

I'll just stick to P.F. Chang's. 😉

 

[Ninjahedge]

JM, sarcasm will get you nowhere.... not even with.... ok I ain't gonna touch that one.


Anyway, in all seriousness? Try some of the other places when you see them. Expand your horizons. 3/4 of them you woill probably not like, but the extra 25% will make it worthwhile.

My limited suburban upbringing never had true Thai, Sechuan, Korean, Japanese or other asian foods. We had imitators, for sure. But after having some (less Americanized) Thai and Chinese, I can say that I am certainly glad I did.

And if you have not had a Scallion Pancake (Korean), you are really missing out!

 

[Sho'Nuff]

if you have not had a Scallion Pancake (Korean), you are really missing out!

Agreed. The korean scallion pancake is awesome. As are all things Bi Bim Bap.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Stingy and expensive imo. For $7+ you get 2 tiny entrees + rice/noodles and a soda. Taste-wise it is in the middle. Been to plenty of fast food Chinese places that are worse, and others that are better tasting than Panda.

The common factor in all the other small time chinese places I've been to is that they are about a dollar cheaper for the same selection, but they give you mammoth sized portions that are good for at least 2 meals.

-This, so this. I walked into a Panda express expecting the same thing and was amazed when I got one scoop full of either entree and a paltry serving of rice and noodles. There are no less than 4 similar mom & pop Chinese food places within driving distance of my work and each of them matches or exceeds Panda in quality and leaves then in the dust for portions (can only just barely close one of those three tray Styrofoam togo boxes) all for 5 bucks.

I understand that if you're in the midwest or south or someplace that doesn't have a large naturalized chinese population that your sliding scale for whats considered good chinese food is a little different but seriously, Panda is the McDonalds of fast chinese food.

 

[alkemyst]

You can usually ask for extra rice free the story is people end up throwing it away.