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Panda Express

American Chinese fast food chain

Panda Express is known for American-Chinese dishes like orange chicken and Beijing beef. It has over 2,200 locations in the US, North America, and Asia. The chain offers a variety of dishes and operates in various environments including stand-alone restaurants, universities, and airports. Panda Express is headquartered in Rosemead, California.

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Timeline

Immigration of Andrew Cherng to the U.S.

In 1966, Andrew Cherng immigrated to the United States, where he later founded Panda Express.

Opening of Panda Inn

In 1973, Andrew Cherng and his father opened a full-service Chinese restaurant, Panda Inn, in Pasadena, California, which later led to the establishment of Panda Express.

Marriage of Peggy and Andrew Cherng

Peggy and Andrew Cherng got married in 1975, and together they played key roles in the growth and success of Panda Express.

Launch of Panda Express

In 1982, Peggy and Andrew Cherng decided to launch a fast-food spinoff of Panda Inn, known as Panda Express, which has now become the largest family-owned and operated Asian restaurant chain in the U.S.

Panda Express Launch

Panda Express, a fast-food version of Panda Inn, was launched in October 1983 at the Glendale Galleria's food court. It was developed as a way to offer American Chinese cuisine in a quick service format.

Opening of Plum Tree Inn in Santa Monica

In 1984, Andrew Cherng opened the Plum Tree Inn in Santa Monica, which was referred to as the world's first yuppie Chinese restaurant by food critic Colman Andrews.

Creation of The Original Orange Chicken by Chef Andy Kao

Chef Andy Kao develops The Original Orange Chicken® entree for Panda Express, featuring crispy chicken bites in a sweet and spicy orange sauce inspired by the flavors of Hunan Province.

Opening of the first Hibachi-San

The first Hibachi-San opens in Bloomington, Minnesota, delivering a teppanyaki grill experience, as well as sushi, in a retail setting.

Opening of first stand-alone, drive-through restaurant

In 1997, Panda Express opened its first stand-alone, drive-through restaurant in Hesperia, California, marking a shift from its initial presence solely in food courts.

Launch of Panda Cares

Committed to serving the communities in which they operate, Panda Restaurant Group proudly launches Panda Cares. This philanthropic arm is dedicated to providing food, funding, and volunteer services to children’s organizations and disaster relief efforts.

Expansion to college campuses

In 2005, Panda Express began opening units in food courts on college campuses, some of which participated in residential student meal plans, expanding its reach to a new market.

Panda Express 888th Restaurant Opening

In 2006, Panda Express opened its 888th restaurant in Sacramento, California, a significant milestone in Chinese culture as the number eight is considered lucky. The Panda Restaurant Group also reached 15,000 active associates.

Panda Express 1,000th Location Opening

In 2007, Panda Express opened its 1,000th location in Pasadena, California, driven by guest love and enthusiasm. The Panda Restaurant Group achieved $1 billion in revenue for the first time and was recognized as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Work by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Beijing Beef Creation

Beijing Beef is introduced as a dish to celebrate Panda Express's 25th anniversary, consisting of crispy strips of marinated beef, bell peppers, and onions in a tangy-sweet sauce.

Wok Smart Menu Introduction

Panda Express introduces the Wok Smart Menu in 2009.

Debut of Honey Walnut Shrimp at Panda Express

In 2010, Panda Express introduced the Honey Walnut Shrimp dish, which consists of tempura shrimp wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with candied walnuts. This dish received the MenuMasters Award for Best New Menu Item of the Year.

Feature on Nightline

On April 18, 2011, Panda Express was featured on the ABC News TV program Nightline, highlighting its success and management approach, particularly focusing on Andrew Cherng's leadership style.

Settlement with EEOC

In June 2013, Panda Express agreed to pay $150,000 to settle an EEOC action regarding sexual harassment of female teenagers by a male supervisor, prompting policy changes and training programs.

First Panda Express in Canada

In October 2013, the first Panda Express in Canada opened on Hunt Club Road in Nepean, Ontario.

Panda Express in South Korea

In September 2014, Panda Express entered the South Korean market by opening its first location in Seoul.

Panda Express in Dubai

In November 2014, Panda Express opened its first restaurant in the Middle East in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Expansion to Alaska

In December 2015, Panda Express opened its first location in the state of Alaska, further expanding its presence to new regions.

Panda Express in Guatemala

In July 2016, Panda Express opened its first location in Guatemala City, expanding its presence in Central America.

Panda Express Return to Japan

In November 2016, Panda Express returned to Japan by opening a new restaurant in Kawasaki as part of a joint partnership with Ippudo.

Panda Express in Aruba

In September 2017, Panda Express opened its first location in the Dutch Caribbean country of Aruba at the Queen Beatrix International Airport.

Panda Express 2,000th Location Opening

In December 2017, Panda Express opened its 2,000th location near Columbia University in New York City.

Panda Express in Saudi Arabia

In January 2018, Panda Express opened its second location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, expanding its presence in the Middle East.

Panda Express in El Salvador

In July 2018, Panda Express entered El Salvador by opening two locations in the capital city of San Salvador.

First Panda Express in Russia

The first Panda Express in Russia opened in Moscow in September 2018. However, in March 2022, Panda Express ceased all corporate support in response to the Russian war against Ukraine.

Panda Express in the Philippines

In December 2019, the first Panda Express restaurant in the Philippines opened at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, marking its entry into the Filipino market.

Fake Panda Express in Kunming, China

In October 2020, a fake Panda Express restaurant in Kunming, China, was reported for trademark infringement and closed during an investigation.

Panda Restaurant Group Trademark Application

In February 2022, Panda Restaurant Group filed a U.S. trademark application for the name PANDAVERSE to expand into the Metaverse with virtual food and beverage products.

Panda Express Ceased Operations in Russia

In March 2022, Panda Express ceased all corporate support, including operations, marketing, and supply chain in response to the Russian war against Ukraine.

First Panda Express in Europe

In August 2022, Panda Express opened its first European site in Kaiserslautern Military Community Center food court, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

End of the Timeline
Panda Express

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