Panda Express — Restaurant in San Leandro

Panda Express, anywhere you go, can have varied quality. Some of them, like the one I go to near Stanford, has top shelf service and as good a quality as you can expect for the entire chain. Others I simply wouldn't go to.

I go to this one a couple times a month, because the food quality is more important than the service, which can't be screwed up that badly. Everybody knows that is dependent upon the person working, and there is not that much you can do about it.

Though most people have a few tricks to get a bad worker through the ordering and service process so they can just get their food and get on with it, this location tries. The cooks try harder than the service counter people, though they are not that bad as to say anything negative.

This location gets my order right about 50% of the time. Not a happy place thing for me, for sure, but, the convenience makes it tolerable most of the time.

That is, until today. This Panda really only is worth three stars, in that you won't get sick, they are polite and fast, but the quality and the accuracy counts a lot for me, so the half the time thing was working against them.

Like I said, until today. When I came today, Robi, the supervisor or manager in the black shirt was working. She not only made my experience pleasant, with her courtesy, attitude and professionalism (and I've worked my fair share of food jobs to know one when I get it) and accuracy - not to mention he just down right good person-ness, really made up a lot for the not so happy place experiences I've had their before.

So the review is three stars for the Panda, and one star all for her for Robi, who made sure I got the freshest pot stickers, maintained portion control so food costs were managed, where another worker might have varied from too little to too much.

She gave me good portions, clean setup from one station to another, a mark of a pro, frankly, everything food wise was a good as it could get for this location, and, most of all, we had the nicest conversation.

It was like the universe giving us several personal moments together in between long lines filling up fast for me to really change my attitude about this Panda, and to genuinely enjoy my consultation with Jodi in the few, delightful minutes we shared.

I'm gonna go back because it is near my comic book studio, but my consumer attitude will be different now that I have met and enjoyed the professional service and lovely smile of Robi.

In fact, she is so good at what she does and who she is, I suspect she will not be there very long and will be moving up the ladder of success faster than I can make it back to this location.

The Lone Comic TM Defender of Creativity and Entertainment SM

Update 6/8/2017

Robi is gone now and while the staff remains friendly and personable, the food is just not as good as it once was, and I would have to call it marginal at best. Thus, I am downgrading my rating for good cause.

The...

Please read my review as it very important for your optimal dining experience at this specific restaurant. Phood quality is excellent. They always cook the orange chicken perfectly. Restaurant is clean. However DO NOT COME HERE BEFORE CLOSING. I was there a hour before they closed and I was told that all they had was fried rice and broccoli beef thing was that it looked like trash and they still wanted to sell it at full price. Which is a scam in a way because the optimal PHOOD QUALITY has severely diminished because it has been sitting under a lamp all day. They then said the pizza place next door was still open so I ended up...

02-24-24 Was 20%off using the app we were it in 4 people bill was $60.90- %20 should be $12.18 Just see receipt only off was -$10.00 I asked Maneger she said only up to $10.00 then why you guys don't say that?

if you bill $50 or less you ok you ll get full-%20 off Buy if over $50 then just-10.00 that's

only way to get -20off if your bill let's say $100 you are there group of people 1 person pay Do this pay just firs few orders make sure don't go over $50 Pay the rest of the order separately thus way you ll get full - %20off

if they smart you just need to be...