Panda Express

So five stars at panda is not comparable to five stars at a real restaurant but this panda does panda so very well that I gave them five of sorts stars. Five fast food stars. I don't really ever review fast food places but I just wanted to let the word out that this place is for real, for now. So come here if you're sick and bored of Carlitos junior and Muckdonals. My usual panda failed me so very often when I craved food that wasn't breaking the bank that I've been looking for a better panda. This one is clearly managed well. The employees are nice. The one that helped was also friendly and cool. I got all fried rice with broccoli beef and orange chicken. I drank the mango passion tea. The orange chicken was phenomenal. It was crispy and crackly and crunchy and the orange flavor was on. The broccoli beef was equally well prepared. Amazing! They've got cool window seating facing LACC. Meter parking outside. Probably a place for good people watching. Meter parking outside.

I’ve been to this location several times and have had positive experiences here until now. I went in to pick up an online order. I was told that the ticket for the order did not print out and that it would take an additional five minutes to get the order ready. I waited. An employee by the name of George was the one who was suppose to get the order ready. He did not get the order ready. Instead, he prepared an order for another employee first. Again I foolishly waited another five minutes for him to prepare her order and through his awkward attempts at flirting to have him still not fulfill my order. At this point a supervisor approached me about my order and I requested my money back. He also was untruthful about the ticket not printing out. The manager saw it on the counter and held it up to him, which means he took the ticket from the machine and placed it on the counter. It was not busy at all inside so he just lacks professionalism and customer service skills. Not going back here.

Susie needs to be retrained on her customer service skills. Came in tonight to purchase a drink, I wanted to then upgrade my purchase so I could get a refresher rather than a soda, she grabbed the cup, filled it up with the drink I requested and told me the difference would be $1.20. I pulled my phone out to pay with my Apple Pay she then paused and said “I can’t accept a credit/debit payment, it’s cash only.” To which I responded “I’m sorry I don’t have any cash on me,” she responded with “ Well I’m not gonna get in trouble over this.” And who knows what she did with the now unusable drink. I contacted a different Oanda Express and asked if this was a company wide policy to which they responded “no, even if it’s 1 cent, they have to accept your payment.” After hearing that, I returned to this location and asked why its location specific if there is no company rule, she said there’s a “trend of theft” going on and she didn’t want to get in trouble. So I asked why she didn’t refund my original charge and then charge the entire price for the item I wanted. Her response? “You didn’t ask me to.” Hello? You’re an “assistant manager” and you can’t even think on your feet for a quick second on how to not piss off a PAYING customer? Do better Panda Management.

This location is new. Food is good. The selection is small in comparison to other locations. The chow mein isn’t dry and the portions are big. It’s convenient for college students being across the street from LACC. The place is clean and staff is very friendly.

The manager, I believe Susie, gave me a mediocre experience. The guy on the line was so welcoming and friendly, him and the kitchen staff greeted me, even going as far as asking how my day was and the weather. He portioned out my chow mein and white rice really nicely. That's when he passed the plate to her, she didn't even acknowledge me and skimped out on my kung pao and gave me like 4 pieces of chicken. After all of that still no words and she just chirps in "want to donate a dollar to charity" no thank you or anything. I used to be a panda express shift lead and currently a general manager at a restaurant. I hope she reads this and learns to lead by example.