Panda Express is a chain of fast, casual restaurants serving Chinese American cuisine. With more than 2,000 locations, it is the largest Asian segment restaurant chain in the United States, where it was founded and is mainly located (in addition to other countries and territories in North America and Asia). Panda Express restaurants can be found in a variety of environments and formats, including independent restaurants, universities, casinos, airports, military bases, amusement parks and other locations. The chain offers a variety of dishes inspired by Chinese cuisine, such as combination meals served with fried rice, steamed rice, chow mein or mixed vegetables.
Panda Express is headquartered in Rosemead, California and is a subsidiary of Panda Restaurant Group, Inc., which was founded in 1973 by Andrew Cherng and his father Ming-Tsai Cherng. Panda Express has more than 2,200 locations across the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. The chain has been expanding its presence around the world since its first branch opened in Guam in 1983. In addition to its traditional locations in shopping mall food courts, Panda Express also operates independent restaurants and other locations such as universities, casinos, airports and military bases. The chain has also introduced the Panda Kids Meal which offers guests with less appetite a main course, noodles, rice or assorted vegetables, a drink and a cookie.
To ensure the best food and service for its customers, Panda Express has computerized its operations from the start. At Panda Express, bringing people together to share joy has been their family's inspiration ever since they opened the first restaurant in 1983 in Glendale, California. As they continue to open restaurants from coast to coast and around the world, the bold flavors of Chinese cuisine inspire their cuisine while their extended family of guests and associates remains at the heart of what they do.
