Panda Inn

extremely SLOW service, it took 20 minutes to order in a somewhat empty house, might have been understaffed but there is no reason for it to take 20 minutes to bring change back from a $100 bill at the end of dinner, and all $20's at that! Did the waitress expect us not to tip her b/c she knew her service was bad. She did not bring back any small bills! Ordered the crispy chicken with garlic sauce...not sure if the sauce was made in house or not, but I think they OD'd on the soy sauce addition to the recipe very salty, hardly any garlic flavoring. Shanghai wonton soup was good, sweet and sour pork was average. Nothing to write home about, just to City Search. I don't recommend this location, can't speak for the others. Pros: fast seating, good location Cons: slow service, mediocre food, slightly tacky decor (trying to hard in all the wrong ways - black lights??!) more

If you're looking for authentic Mandarin Chinese food...this is not what you're looking for. Don't get me wrong...I like Panda Inn...my husband and I eat dinner here every few weeks. We enjoy the Orange Beef. They make a decent Mabo Dofu (but they call it something else) and the service is always pleasant. So, what's non-authentic about it? I suppose the best example is that they offer brown rice as a menu alternative. Although not strictly true to authentic Mandarin style, the offerings at Panda Inn are always made to order with fresh ingredients. To top it off, the service here has always been excellent, the staff courteous and friendly. Oh...and don't forget the ever traditional, chocolate dipped fortune cooking. :-D more

I have been here several times and just love it. I've been eating at the Pasadena location since I was very young, and have been to others around LA and San Diego, but I have a thing for this one. Before getting to the food, I have to point out that this is probably the worst parking lot I've seen for a chain restaurant. It's way too small and it's not uncommon to wait a very long time to find a spot. Once inside, it's generally not too crowded and I love their strawberry lemonaide! I order the Sauteed Shrimp, which isn't on the menu but consists of a giant plate of shrimp in lobster sauce; that's it. But it's really good. I really like their hot-and-sour soup here as well. Less greasy than other places I've been, and no MSG! Pros: terrific food and ambience Cons: HORRIBLE parking lot more

If you're a scallop lover, I highly recommend the lightly sauteed scallops. They're big, plump, and taste delicious. Noodle dishes are great too. I've never had a bad meal here. Pros: Very good Chinese Cons: Parking more

This place has some great dishes! But the draw back is it is always packed. Which tells you that its good. Kind of pricey but portions are generous and well prepared. Good stuff. Pros: Great Food Cons: Over Crowded more