Panda Express — Restaurant in Portage

Okay, so I've always felt like Panda Expresses were hit or miss, so I haven't visited one in... apparently longer than I thought! But boy, how they've changed! I did not see the gyoza I used to get on the menu and quietly prepared myself for disappointment... and then I actually ordered! I got to try one of their new limited drinks, which was amazing, and my fiancé got a large fountain drink... which was HUGE. Talk about value! I ended up trying basically (if not actually) all their chicken entrees between our two meals--- I was blown away. I'd already been pleased with the amazing customer service... and then I bit into the most delicious, juicy, tender, flavourful chicken I can ever remember having. And that's even considering the fact that I've had some pretty amazing chicken at home and at restaurants. I'm normally not a big eater, so I'd ordered three entries expecting to have leftovers... but next thing I knew, I'd practically licked the container clean. (Imagine my fiancé's reaction to watching me overcome with chicken lust, haha!)

Also, they have the teriyaki sauce in packets now??? I know that probably seems small to most people, but it was such a pain wanting my teriyaki chicken to-go with the sauce on the side, and now they just have packets???????

The only "negative" was that our fortune cookies did not have fortunes in them... but, hey, whatever, because I don't even like fortune cookies, anyway. :P So I wouldn't have known if my fiance didn't inform me. But let's be real: some of you are just in it for the cookie, aren't you? :P

Anyway, I am absolutely going to make this a mainstay. So, y'know, there's a chance you'll see me there in the drivethrough, haha! If you do, please don't mind me shoving the food directly into my face hole at high speeds... I promise I'm normally much more restrained with food.

(Also the price was better than McDonalds for a significantly better quality? And more...

Panda Express has great food. I love it. I have ordered panda across the country. But this place is the worst one I have been to. I have ordered at this location at least 10 times now in the last 6 months. Only once have I had no issue with my order. every single time I use the drive through, I have to sit there for 2-5 minutes without any response/acknowledgement before someone comes over the mic. And this happens with every single car in line, one after another. Twice they marked my order wrong and charged me for a more expensive entrée than I ordered and they wouldn't/couldn't refund it. Another time I ended up with 2 entirely different entrees from what I ordered. Once, I ordered ahead online thinking that would speed things up. I arrived at the time I was told the order would be ready. When I got there, it wasn't prepared like every other location I've been to. Instead, I gave them my name, they had to ask what I ordered. I told them Beijing Beef. They said the were out of that entrée and would have to start cooking another batch. I was told it would be a 10 minute wait. I waited and then 20 minutes later, the same employee asked if I had ordered SweetFire Chicken. No! I clearly said Beijing Beef and there is an online order that tells you what I ordered! I didn't have my meal until 45 minutes after I took a seat to wait for it to be prepared. Never order online from here. the whole time the manager (black shirt) was sitting at a table on her phone, but she could have been on her break. The people working here are either just entirely incompetent or haven't received training. I want them to succeed, I love their food. But holy cow! It's sometimes impossible to get it from them! Either train your people well, or start paying them enough to give a darn and start using their brains to get...

I recently had the pleasure of stopping by Panda Express for a quick bite, and it was a delightful experience from start to finish. The service was efficient, and the staff was friendly, greeting me with warm smiles as I walked in. Despite being a fast-food chain, Panda Express never fails to deliver on taste and quality.

The atmosphere was clean and inviting, making it a pleasant spot to enjoy a meal even during a short break. I opted for some of the cheese rangoons & the Peach Lychee house drinks! The portions were generous, and each bite was bursting with flavor. My youngest son became an absolute fan, demanding we come back in the near future! And we will because The Orange Chicken, as always, was the star of the show, and this place specifically in my opinion! crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and perfectly coated in that signature sauce. The Beijing Beef added a nice contrast with its savory sauce! - so we will be absolutely returning to get a taste of what looks amazing !

What impressed me most was how quickly everything was prepared. Even though I was in and out in just a few minutes, the food tasted fresh, as if it had just been made. It’s the kind of place where you know you’ll get a consistent, satisfying meal, whether you’re dining in or taking it to go.

Overall, my brief visit to Panda Express was a lovely experience. It’s a great option when you’re craving something delicious but don’t have a lot of time to spare. I’ll definitely be back for another quick and tasty meal!

I want to shout out Jordan, Michele, and the rest of the team specifically on 13Aug24 as each member of the team, I had seen smiling, creating an atmosphere I truly enjoyed...