China Panda Restaurant — Restaurant in Murfreesboro

I lived in a international dormitory during my first year of college in Japan. I became close friends with several Chinese students on my floor and we would often cook meals together in the evenings after class. My new friends all enjoyed cooking dishes that reminded them of home. Because of this, I was able to eat homemade authentic cuisine from many different areas of China. I immediately fell in love with the taste of spicy/numbing Szechuan peppercorns. The Jiangsu region seafood soups and Dongpo-rou Pork from Zhejiang being meals I still crave constantly. I was essentially spoiled by these meals. Coming back to the US, especially in a landlocked southern state like Tennessee, I've had to accept that most Chinese restaurants have been forced to, "dumb down" their menu selections. I suppose this is to cater to the average local who probably doesn't like or want change when it comes to their Chinese food options. China Panda was recommended to me quite a few times by my new local acquaintances. It was tauted as the place to go in The Boro' for, authentic Chinese fare. I went to the restaurant hoping it would prove to be different from all the other cookie-cutter Chinese eateries that have disappointed me so much since returning to America. Unfortunately, when I had a chance to read the menu, it turned out to be the same old recycled dishes you always see at an any basic American style, Chinese restaurant. The standard, Kung-Pao and Hunan Sauce offerings. The ever popular Happy Family, Triple Crown and Szechuan Delight. And of course you can't leave out the crowd pleasing, mini-hibachi topped Pupu Platter. (The name always guarantees a giggle from even the most stoic of Murfreesborians!) I decided to go ahead and place my order to go. All in all, It definitely wasn't bad food. The portions were generous, and I'm sure the ingredients are all fresh and of the highest quality as they claim. It will definitely satisfy the craving for something different from the regular type of dinner routine experienced by people in town. The wait for my meal wasn't long and everything was correct, chopsticks, utensils and napkins included. All of the prices are fair and the owners were extremely warm and friendly. I can see why this location is popular with the people in Murfreesboro. As I mentioned before, I've been spoiled and am probably expecting the type of quality and authenticity only available in a big city speciality restaurant. Nevertheless, I'll just keep hoping to someday find Chinese food in Tennessee that is as good as I know it can be. China Panda is providing what their customer base is used to and expects. No frills, Chinese-American comfort food at a good value in an easily...

me and my boyfriend have ordered from here several times. Each time we hope it will be better, since it’s the closest Chinese food option to us but it just isn’t. for some reason they cook the fried rice with what seems like spanish yellow rice, which has a distinct flavor on its own, and is gross as fried rice when you’re not 100% prepared for that flavor. spanish rice has a flavor that’s just not supposed to be in chinese fried rice. Aside from the type of rice making it taste off, they add absolutely NO seasoning, i couldn’t even taste salt, only the rice flavor. the rice is always under cooked (crunchy bits) or way over cooked to the point of it being mushy. I actually could not finish more that 4 bites of my large vegetable fried rice because it was so beyond vile and mushy. I even added seasoning to try to help, but I still couldn’t stomach it. My boyfriend ordered the honey chicken and didn’t finish his either, saying it was also gross. we spent $50 eating here and the only thing we could actually eat were the crab rangoons. we’ve eaten from here many times, and continue to be let down every single time. Do not waste...

I liked it here today! First time I ordered take out here since I moved down the road. Was craving sweet and sour chicken and crab rangoons. It hit the spot! I think the ppl who work here/own this place really care about their reputation and their customers, just the vibe I got from ordering on the phone and when I got there. It looked clean and the guy was kind, the lady was busy explaining the menu over the phone which is always a good thing in my opinion, means ppl enjoy this place and they care to help. Sorry I didn't take pics but it looked great and the chicken was actually way better than other chicken I've had at Chinese restaurants. It was clean chicken, broke apart easily, no weird gristle, just clean, white, soft chicken fried in dough. Thank you, China Panda! I'll be back the next time I'm...