American Chinese Food at Panda Inn

Suddenly felt like trying the newly renovated Panda Inn in Pasadena for American Chinese food. Before going, I said, “I just want Orange Beef — anything else is fine.” So we ordered: 🥢 Panda Beef ($27) — basically renamed Orange Beef. I really enjoyed it (I’ve always loved Orange Beef in American Chinese cuisine), but the portion size didn’t feel worth $27. 🥟 Shrimp & Lobster Wonton ($16 for 6) — made like Chinese chaoshou (wontons), but quite small. 🍱 Lunch Special: Crispy Tofu & Eggplant — served with steamed broccoli, a spring roll, brown rice, and a small bowl of hot & sour soup. Don’t remember the exact price — around $18–19? My husband has never been a fan of American Chinese food, so his verdict: not ideal. For me, as an Orange Beef enthusiast, I liked the dish — but the value wasn’t great. In the end, my husband said he only came because I wanted to try it — he personally wouldn’t choose to eat here. The and service show they’re aiming for a mid-to-upscale vibe. But for pure American Chinese cravings, my husband suggested just going to their sister chain Panda Express (both are under the Panda Restaurant Group, which also runs Uncle Tetsu, YAKIYA, HABACHI•SAN, and Wasabi at City Walk). 💡 Notes: We tipped around 20% during lunch. Prices listed are pre-tax menu prices. The interior decor is quite nice. Service feels uniformly trained. Our server seemed a bit gloomy most of the time but did check on us occasionally. She flashed a small smile when we paid — and was very pretty, by the way. #LosAngeles #LALife #RestaurantReview #PasadenaEats #LAFood #AmericanChinese 🥡