Panda Express — Restaurant in Bristol

Update after an earlier review: Tried to give this place another chance. Earlier review still stands. Where I said the food was good in the previous trip it has now gotten worse as well. Noodles tasted old, as if they were from the night before and the fortune cookie was seriously the worst one I have ever had anywhere. It was broken, old, stale, like styrofoam and not with the crunch it is supposed to have. Still recommend Sakura. Everything still stands there as well, only now their food is even BETTER than Panda's instead of merely on par. I have learned my lesson. Maybe will try the Johnson City or Kingsport Panda whenever I am in those areas but I can't recommend Bristol's. The bland and even downright poor food this time (in some cases) is the last straw. Won't be back.

(Old review) Really going downhill. The first issue is that they ran out of the honey walnut shrimp, and this was hours before closing time, not just a few minutes before. This is a problem that this franchise has had with many menu items more than once for some time now. Next, they would not acknowledge my coupon receipt just because I wrote the code down on it instead of printing it off from my e-mail. Well, how do you think I got the code in the first place, Panda Express employees?! By using my e-mail. Also, for the price we pay food should not run out so much, and so many hours before closing time. Another part that was irritating was that we had to wait several minutes before we even got service when there were only two cars in line. Normally, I'm patient and don't mind the wait, but the service was so mediocre that it couldn't make up for anything in this case. We were so dissatisfied that we ended up leaving the line without paying or even choosing to get the food we ordered because it simply wasn't worth it in the end. I had even opted to order an alternative entree on the menu (honey sesame chicken) that they did have at first, but they still wouldn't acknowledge my coupon and we just decided to leave. There also wasn't even an apology for the wait. So, no apology for the wait, no food you want to order even after the wait, no acknowledging a coupon after a long wait and just no decent service or management as a whole? Just do yourself a favor and drive a little ways up the road to Sakura Express on State Street, where the service and management are excellent, the food is just as good AND more affordable as well as actually almost always ordered without anything running out! You will save yourself a lot of trouble and a headache by doing this and the wait is worth it there. Panda Express needs to get it together if they want to compete because counting us there were only two cars in line at Panda where Sakura had a line almost backed out into the road, all around the same timeframe. The one star rating is because the food actually IS tasty when they have it, otherwise I wish I could...

This place is the worst! Early Friday evening about 6 pm we pull into the drive thru with one car in front of us. After being behind them for about five minutes we pull up to the speaker and are told to wait a minute. No big deal at all... So after ordering we pull up to the window and pay 36$. After what seems like a substantial amount of time the girl opens the window and asks is we can pull up into a space and they'll bring it out. We decline, saying that we've already been sitting at the drive thru window for twenty minutes. The girl says it's actually only been 12! (Do you even know how to customer service?) She then proceeds to tell us that everyone behind us is waiting for their food!? To which we say, yes and so are we. She then tells her coworker very loudly "She won't pull up!" This is intentional so we can hear it. ( Again Customer service?) So after another five or so minutes we get our bag slung at us with our meals, no soy sauce nothing else, just a really bad attitude. She's starts making excuses about being understaffed... Then calls us rude for not pulling up. We just handed you forty dollars for some fast food! I really don't know how this girl even has this job. She definitely needs some training at the very least and an attitude adjustment for sure. I have worked in restaurants for thirty years, you just do it. We can see four people right next to her in the drive thru window! How much staff you need!? Then when I look at the receipt I find out she gave me the grill copy so we can't even do the survey. If you're so understaffed that it takes thirty minutes to make three meals just close your doors. It's not working for your store. Panda express is a favorite spot of ours and the food is usually great but I will warn everyone I know what's up I at the pinnacle in Bristol! Thanks...

Alright, here's the ACTUAL FACTS OF MY EXPERIENCES comprised of two locations! Experienced several times wherein I & others in my party placed our orders to contain 'BROWN' RICE versus white rice. Yet, we received white rice! I bothered to commute a half-hour back to correct it once, early on. But since then, no. Management was apologetic and cirrected my order that one time. BUT for the life of me I have no idea why the staff at these two locations screw up the orders so consistently!

Upon initial public opening everyone clamored to eat at both locations. Long lines were seen for well over three months. Because the food was great quality and cooked well.

Less than a years time it was evident why business had drastically dropped! ▪1.)The public had become satiated enough and contributed enough monetarily to keep this 'New-To-The-Region' eatery in good stead as they switched to Christmas Season shopping. ▪2.) Per numerous customers, the quality of the rice was now considered 'Undercooked' and not as good (especially in digesting & lacking nutrition).

Since that first year it is evident that business still hasn't increased for either location. And if my recent experiences are common for other customers, then I can surely see why.

Until Headquarters management deciphers the actual numbers today versus intial opening months it appears that Panda Express may experience a serious decrease in sales that no glitzy/gimmicky ad campaign will resolve.

I mean, rice is not that difficult to cook if done in real Asian style (apparently not here)! I strongly suggest they begin hiring some ASIAN managers and staff members that can TEACH & MONITOR the...