Panda Express — Restaurant in Waco

Panda Express, Waco TX – Delivery Experience

Sometimes a meal lands not just in your hands, but in your spirit. This one did just that.

From the moment the box opened, it was clear—this was no throwaway takeout night. This was intention meeting flavor, and flavor showing up with heart.

Let’s start with the Bigger Plate—because this combo was a playlist of tastes that harmonized like an old soul record.

Fried Rice (½): Warm, toasty, and speckled with veggies like a well-balanced chord. Each grain held its own—nothing soggy, nothing limp. It didn’t try to steal the show, but it played its part like a reliable bassline.

Super Greens (½): Clean, simple, and somehow comforting. Cabbage, kale, and broccoli steamed just right—not wilted, not raw. Just enough snap to make you feel like you’re feeding your body and not just your cravings.

Honey Walnut Shrimp: Now this right here? This was the falsetto—high notes of sweet honey, buttery walnuts, and thick, plump shrimp that hit like a velvet chorus. They gave these shrimp room to shine. Big, golden, and generously glazed. This was not background filler. This was center stage.

Black Pepper Angus Steak: Rich, meaty, bold. This one came in smooth like baritone vocals—green beans adding some brightness, onions lacing in flavor, and the black pepper just enough to leave a little echo on your tongue. You don’t rush through this bite. You respect it.

The Original Orange Chicken: The classic. The legend. Still crispy which is no small feat. It hits that nostalgic sweet-and-spicy rhythm like a song you forgot you loved but still know all the words to. Panda’s signature orange glaze always finds the right note.

Dessert – The Apple Pie Roll: One bite, and you’re back in the warmth of someone’s kitchen. Crispy shell, golden and sugared, breaking open to warm apple filling. Sweet, simple, and deeply familiar—like the hum of Grandma’s Hands in the background. It doesn’t try to be flashy. It’s just right.

This wasn’t just food. It was a reminder—of warmth, of rhythm, of comfort. It landed right when it needed to, like a song you didn’t know you were craving.

5 stars. For flavor, for...

Poor service, inconsistent food quality, always disgusting and dirty in there at the tables and such which is why we always get it to go and eat in the car, broken tables, and terrible wait times.

There is this one guy who is at the start of the food counter who never pays attention or listens. Everytime we're in there he asks at least 7 times if you want it to go or stay. You have to beg him practically for him to give you a sample so you can try something. I always ask to try what I'm getting before I get it to make sure it's fresh or good because it's never the same and I refuse to pay for what I and most others would consider old trash. If you get anything that has a breading such as the Bejing Beef, it's soggy and old 9 out of 10 times. They obviously discriminate against hiring anyone who is not Hispanic which is a whole separate issue but contributes to some of the communication barrier in this place which adds to poor service. Also super inconsistent with the portions. One day you go in and get enough to eat and another day your box will be practically empty and you're left hungry. I hate paying the same price for a good portion as I do a miniscule portion, as I'm sure most others do. This place needs to get it together and hire some new people. Clearly the current personnel is not cutting it, so something needs to change. I'll quit going before too long and they get a lot of our business, as they are the only edible Asian cuisine in the area but overall they suck on the service and consistency which is big freaking deal. Who the hell wants to get pissed off everytime they go somewhere when they are trying to have lunch with...

Horrible experience and rude customer service. We placed an online order for 12:30 pick up. I work in sales and had a client who wanted to come in at a time that would not work for that schedule. So I called and spoke to a woman name Lola who said I could pick up my order at 12:15. Although she said they would make the order after I arrived. (Would work fine if absolutely necessary) I arrive a couple minutes before 12:15 and the same lady says she could not find the order. I provided the order number and name on the order and she said she couldn’t find it. I then provided the actual order. And then she says they are not making the order until 12:30. The original time. I didn’t have time to wait so I left and my sister (who had originally placed the order for the 2 of us) calls and speaks to a manager and explains their system doesn’t show orders until right before the time they were scheduled for. Which I would have understood if they had relayed that information in the first place. Management team needs to train their employees on the proper protocol when it comes to a situation like this. Employee was rude and my sister could hear her in the background of her call. Even though this location is right across the street from work we will be ordering from the further location from now on. Horrible experience. If the employee had explained their protocol and been nicer on the phone and in store this review would not be on...