PanPan Wok — Restaurant in Fresno

Overview: This place is basically a rogue Panda Express. You get two sides (white rice, fried rice or chow mein), and then main depending on which combo you ordered. Combo C comes with 3 main dish, the last one in a paper box like Panda, and some dish are $1 more like Panda.

Food: On par with panda or slightly less. They have menu that Panda doesn't have. For example, if you like Chinese Buffet style walnut shrimp in cream, and you don't feel like going to a Chinese buffet to get a takeout, then this place is for you. Panda only has Honey Walnut Shrimp which is glazed not in creamy sauce. However, overall, Panda has a slight edge on taste, across all of the menu. And, the food turnover is kinda slow here, so some items may be a bit older... this would be less of a concern once this place becomes a bit more popular and has higher food turnover. But the taste isn't too far worse than Panda. If anything, it is on par with most Chinese Buffets.

Value: Slightly better than Panda. The combo options are basically the same price, but PanPan Wok gives SLIGHTLY more food, for SLIGHTLY less combo price. The food amount is subjective and it also depends on which Panda you go to and who's serving you, but the amount was at least on par with when you get a lot of food at Panda by chance.

Coupons: On par with Panda with a caveat. Now, PanPan wok does a stamp thing, and after buying 10 times from them you get combo B free ("Plate" for Panda). Now, with Panda Rewards, if you eat Plate 5 times and Bigger Plate 5 times, you will get enough points to get a free Plate. So, thus far PanPan is better, since you don't have to buy the expensive dish to get the stamp. BUT, on your Panda App, you get a "scratch off" surprise monthly deals, so with this in mind the coupon value now is better at Panda. BUT, Panpan wok sends out brochures by mail, and they are actually now pretty good value, if you do happen to have them. So, if you do use paper coupon by mail, PanPan has better deals, and if you don't, Panda has better deals.

Coupons recap: Panda = Has Panda Reward points, and monthly surprise coupon. PanPan = Has 10 stamp system, and by-mail paper coupons.

Miscellaneous 1: They offer 10% off for military and law enforcement with valid ID. Now, are you going to qualify if you are a code inspector for houses for example - enforcing city and county laws/ordinances? IDK. But this is a good thing nonetheless for those who keep our cities and country secure. This offer becomes 15% off if you use a by-mail coupon.

Miscellaneous 2: They sell smoothies. Panda doesn't. I didn't try them.

Verdict: VERY NICHE restaurant. I would personally stick to Panda if you like panda food, so you actually earn enough points for a plate or bigger plate, before your points expire (1 year limit!). If you like food here (I can see some people liking their food over Panda - it is just preference at the end of the day) then stick to this place, if this restaurant is close by for you. I might return here maybe once or twice to see if they got better or if I really want some buffet food. IMHO they are undercutting Panda WAY TOO SLIGHTLY to make it a good proposition...

I shop at the Costco in the same parking lot and saw this place opened up. I decided to give it a shot not knowing what to expect (I didn’t look it up beforehand). This restaurant is an American-style fast food Chinese restaurant—comparable to Panda Express—so that’s how I’m reviewing it and how all people should review it. You shouldn’t expect a sit-down food-cooked-once-ordered restaurant.

The Service: The staff member that helped me was really friendly. I asked her what she recommended and she said the Combo A plate with rice, chow mein, and Kung Pow Chicken. She didn’t try to sell me more than I wanted and was helpful during the entire transaction.

The Food: The Kung Pow Chicken was quite spicy which I loved. I have a high tolerance for spice, so ask for a sample before committing if you think it may be too much for you. The chow mein was good, not my favorite, but good. The noodles are a bit thick, but had a nice flavor. The rice was okay. I personally thought it could have been more flavorful, but then again I like more spice than the average man.

The Price: Great! A combination plate for $9 that lasted me two meals is a steal in today’s economy. Even with the generous tip I left it was still a great price.

If you’re in the mood for a quick fast food Chinese meal, give this...

This establishment appears to be attempting to mirror the Panda Express format, where you see the food and request what you’d like to have. For this review, my wife and I ordered the Shrimp soup and a two item meal. For the two item meal we asked for half fried rice and half chow main, with mushroom chicken and coconut shrimp ($1.00 extra). Now to rate the food:

They gave copious amount of food. The chow main wasn’t very tasty. It had the appearance of just heavy red noodles. The temperature was barely warm.

The shrimp soup was scalding hot, as they made it fresh. It came with the heavy red noodles. Didn’t have much flavor. I had to add soy sauce.

Overall, not much flavor, but lots of food.

The staff were nice and attentive. The dining area was nothing special except for tables and chairs.

My suggestion is if you visit this location, ask for something that’s NOT In the display, if you want...