Panda Express — Restaurant in Oceanside

So, I don’t normally try to eat fast food. I also don’t typically give reviews for fast food chains as a personal rule.

BUT… There is an exception to every rule and this experience was Exceptional!!

No one typically expects much when going to grab a quick hot meal to go unless you’re looking down at the menu, not up. ;-) LOL! And I am guilty of not expecting anything at this time.

I was actually in my husband’s large house robe and my slippers with hard soles. It was about 9 or 10 o’clock at night and I was cold, Hungry, and tired. I looked like a female version of The Dude if there are any Big Lebowski fans out there, you will get the reference. :-)

When we walked in, there was almost nothing left. About half an hour until they closed and they were cleaning the entire kitchen. Vent fans, wiped cabinets and counters. Disinfecting and scrubbing until it shined. I have a lot of type A, neat-freaks in the family and I have also worked in fast food (many years ago) so their eye for detail and collective effort involved was by far and away an impressive display of dedication and raising the bar for quality of service to customers.

Two other gentlemen walked in after us and also made their separate orders. Then they sat down to wait. We continued to stand by the counter. There was no other customers besides us four. So no need to move or feel pressed to get out of the way as they fired up the wok and made fresh batches of orange chicken and chow mein for us all.

It smelled good. They were training a new hire. She’s never worked in a customer facing position before. Maybe it was her first job, she was so young and sweet and definitely green to the service industry.

One of the gentlemen was sitting at a table, the other standing against the far wall. She said “Sir?” a few times to grab his attention, but he was absorbed in whatever was in his phone at the time. We all turned to look at him as the girl at the counter nervously tried to figure out how she should get his attention.

The situation was interesting because the girls behind the counter were Mexican, my husband, myself and the man sitting at the table are all pale, and the man at the far wall was a POC. I watched and waited to see how she would handle the situation, as did the other older ladies who had been training her. She looks to them for help, her eyes kind of doe-like in fright and uncertainty, they offer no help. With a look given back that said “well, what are you going to do?”

She said Sir one more time in futile attempt and then said, “Umm… Excuse me? Dude in the Hat?” And it was loud and strong enough to be heard by everyone.

“Huh?” He turns to look. And we all looked at her. And my immediate reaction was to Laugh Out Loud!!!

It was so funny!! She was brave and uncertain but she did it. It was unconventional, but it worked! And the ladies and kitchen staff all laughed, as did the gentleman against the far wall and the “dude in the hat”. Can’t get more SoCal than that experience right there.

The food was hot, fresh, not a long wait and the atmosphere was wonderful. The people that work here truly care for each other, their work, their customers and are an excellent example of a successful family owned chain restaurant.

I took a few pictures because I’m a mother of a former Radys Children’s Hospital patient (he made it! Yay!) and a previous guest at the charitable Ronald McDonald House adjacent to the hospital. I saw the one they had hung humbly to the side wall about the funds raised for Radys Children’s Hospital here in San Diego. It definitely gave me the feels and pulled on my personal heart strings. They saved my boy’s foot and his life from a terrible fungus.

The cleanliness of the place was also worth noting. In a time of rapid spread of dangerous viruses, the helpful tip from a local that says “it’s okay, you can eat here.” Really helps others feel secure in their choices, I think.

So this place is good folks! Feel free to indulge in the fast, friendly, fresh and clean food served at this Panda Express location. It was...

This Panda Express is by far the BEST in North County. You walk in and get that first smell of the delious food being prepared. I have tried most all of their menu, but I always end up with the Double Orange Chicken on noodles. The employee that took our orders was quick and polite, she had our food plated, asked if we wanted any additional sides, and two Fortune Cookies and drink rung up, and was waiting on us to pay. Jokingly, my girlfriend asked if they had a Senior Discount? Our server replied No, sorry Panda Express doesn't offer one, then she smiled and said to us, but I can give you a discount on the soda. This is exactly the reason this Panda Express restaurant is #1, it's their commitment to their customers. The lunch was perfect, the food was freshly prepared, the serving size was ample, and the quality was above their standard. In all, the tables were clean, so was the soda station, it had straws, lids, forks and was spotless and shiny. I was once again very pleased with my meal and happy to make this review of this exceptional restaurant. 100% EXCELLENT RESTAURANT I must apologize for not remember our order takers name, she deserves a big thank you from me for her kindness. Next time I'll post her name, now I have a...

Hate dealing with ignore young , lazy, immature young adults. Came here around 8pm on a Wednesday evening ordered two kids meals on the same ticket and a second order on a separate ticket. Anyways the orders were all simple nothing difficult I end up speaking to three different teenagers. Repeated the order over more than 5 times. And managers are always there with staff so a manger should have stepped in and ask the employees what's the matter. I'm not sure if the teens didn't understand because of my ascent I'm from Tennessee, but none of that matters because I understood every single Spanish kid that talk to me through the speaker. To me it seems like the kids had an attitude and didn't want to make sure I had everything I needed. I'm not difficult I've been a manager for more than a decade in Tennessee in the fast food industry. The kids were rude, impolite, and very dismissive. I asked more than five times politely for condiments. And still get attitudes a few condiments and not enough for three orders. Word of advice this store will run perfectly without about of young folks. All the teens need to be retrained and monitored before you guys loose customers seriously and money. Try hiring adults with experience...