Panda Express — Restaurant in Bakersfield

In reflecting on my dining experience at Panda in December 2023, I must regrettably announce that this occasion marks the conclusion of my patronage of this once beloved culinary establishment. For over two decades, I derived satisfaction from partaking in its formerly affordable and high-quality cuisine. However, it has become evident that the priorities of the shareholders and corporate leadership have shifted in favor of maximizing profits at the expense of maintaining the distinguished quality that once defined this establishment.

My culinary journey at Panda during this final visit was, to put it mildly, disheartening. The Chicken Egg Roll, which had once been a source of delight, now left much to be desired, exhibiting a lackluster flavor resembling that of oil from a deep fryer. Comparatively, even offerings from a fast-food chain such as Jack in the Box proved to outshine this lackluster rendition. The Honey Walnut Shrimp, a dish for which I had paid a premium, disappointingly arrived with a mere seven spongy and mushy shrimp, cloaked in a damp and doughy texture that fell short of any semblance of culinary mastery.

Subsequent to the underwhelming start to the meal, my hopes were further dashed by the Teriyaki Chicken, which exhibited a rubbery consistency devoid of the charred allure one anticipates. Its flavor profile proved to be underwhelming and was accompanied by an unpleasant semi-raw texture, a departure from the culinary excellence that I had once associated with this dish. The Beijing Beef, a dish whose very name evokes the promise of succulent beef, instead failed to live up to expectations, reminiscent of the infamous 1980s "Where's the Beef" campaign. This rendition was primarily composed of breading, with the minuscule presence of beef leaving much to be desired, resulting in an overall unsavory culinary experience.

In the domain of side dishes, both the rice and chow mein failed to meet the standard of excellence I once associated with Panda. The rice, lacking in flavor and marred by undercooked, unyielding grains, left a disconcerting impression due to the presence of hard, unpalatable bits. While the chow mein marginally met expectations, it was hardly noteworthy, falling short of the threshold for a truly memorable culinary experience. This disappointing meal diverged so starkly from my expectations that I could not in good conscience subject myself to the prospect of consuming its remnants for lunch the following day, leading them instead to find their untimely resting place in the trash.

I implore those who share my sentiments to reconsider the allocation of their resources and divert their patronage elsewhere. It is my fervent belief that by withholding our support in this manner, we can signal to these corporate entities that subpar offerings will not be tolerated. I, therefore, beseech members of the community to seek out alternative dining establishments, and in so doing, redirect their custom to more deserving purveyors of Chinese cuisine. In traversing the short distance to Rosedale and Coffee, one can experience the culinary delights that await at Bamboo Cafe. This alternative not only offers superior quality and larger portions but also harkens back to the flavors that once distinguished Panda's offerings. Let us collectively strive to uphold the standards of excellence in dining by supporting establishments that take pride in delivering a truly exceptional...

So I came here on a busy Sunday evening, they greeted me upon entering, I stood in line maybe 15 minutes total. Once I placed my order they started preparing it. Because the line was so long they started a chain and one person filled your sides, the other your entrees, etc. In order to not be in the way I stood off to the side by the register and patiently waited for my food. It was so loud I could barely hear the girl talking to me when I paid at the register. She was really sweet and I wish I got her name to include her in this review. However, my food was pretty much thrown in the plate, no sauce, no straw for my refresher, and they forgot my fortune cookie. Some of the workers looked like they didn't want to be there, and I get it everyone has bad days. But having worked in hospitality myself, a lot of the time your customers feed off your energy. I would come back because it's close to home but hopefully the next experience won't be as...

It's a panda express. The food will taste exactly the same as any other PE. The only knock on this place would be that it is too busy. The wait times are fairly long. Moreover, the utensil section is always lacking something and the restrooms are often unclean. I feel this place can use some better management.

7.12.19 update

Placed online order to be completed by 5pm. When arrived at 5 the staff did not know about my order. They initiated on putting together the order. But they still needed two prompts from me to continue/complete the order. When arrived at home with my order I saw that many of the cartons were around 3/4 full. One was less than 1/2 full. I paid nearly 15dollars for that single order. Thus I am readjusting the rating of this location to 2/5 stars. I am certain that I'll go to another panda location for the next...