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Panda Express - Reviews
5407 Balboa Ave Suite 460, 92111 San Diego
All reviews at a glance
374
Reviews
40.6%
Satisfaction
201
negative
21
neutral
152
positive
What people say about Panda Express
Filter Reviews
Visit Type
Service Type
Wait Time
Meal Type
Group Type
Group Size
Price per Person
Noise Level
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
Noise Level
- Quiet
8
Good Food, Kind Service Despite Wait
My experience at this restaurant was generally positive. The food was good, and the portions were generous for the price point. I appreciated that the restaurant was very clean.
The service was good overall, although I did have to wait for them to make extra meat. To compensate for the extra time, they kindly gave me a drink, which was a nice gesture. Despite the wait for the meat, the overall service was good.
- service8
- portions9
- price point9
- wait4
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
6
Change Shorting Issue
My experience at this restaurant was marred by an issue with my change. With the removal of the penny, it seems they are shorting customers on their change. While it's only a few cents per person paying with cash, this adds up quickly.
I suspect they either don't care to fix the math to avoid this or are using it as an excuse to increase prices. It's surprising they haven't addressed this, as it makes it easier for employees to skim money since the registers won't record the correct amounts. The food was good (4/5), but the service (2/5) and atmosphere (3/5) were not as impressive.
- food8
- atmosphere6
- change2
- math2
- registers2
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Takeout
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
2
Poor Food Quality and Managerial Issues
I placed a mobile order through the Panda Express website for in-store pickup. Upon opening the food at home, I realized how poorly prepared the food was and that it was not fresh. I immediately called the restaurant to inform them that I wanted to bring the food back and get a new plate.
Nobody answered the phone for hours. It wasn’t until I called near their closing time at about 11: 30 PM when I called in and was playing telephone between a team member and the manager, Manny. He did not want to come on the phone and kept telling the team member what information to tell me.
I finally told her to put the manager on the phone, and he told me that I would need to come in in order to get a refund. I told him that I had called several times during the evening, but no one answered the phone. At this point, it was 11: 30 PM, and I had the order number and all of the necessary information to give him to locate the ticket so he could process a refund.
He kept making up fake policies and excuses on the spot, telling me that I would have to come in for a refund because he would “have to verify information. ” I told him that I could give him all of the information needed. It wasn’t until several minutes of going back-and-forth that he told me I would need to bring in a form of identification for him to verify my name on the order and my ID.
I’m not sure who he thinks he is, the ambassador for Panda Express, where he can make up policies on the fly, but I will definitely be calling corporate and having this resolved ASAP. What a ridiculous excuse of a manager he is.
- food preparation2
- food freshness1
- phone answering1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Solo Dining
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
2
Awful Service and Incorrect Orders
My experience at this restaurant was quite negative. The staff needs retraining, including the person in charge. I encountered awful customer service, and they couldn't seem to get a single order right.
The wait time was also considerable, between 30-60 minutes.
- staff1
- customer service1
- order1
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
7
Fantastic Food, Poor Service Experience
My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. The food was absolutely fantastic, truly outstanding. However, the service was quite disappointing.
I arrived when the restaurant was empty, but I did not feel welcome at all. The server, Miss Dulce, seemed irritated and just wanted me to finish my order quickly, without any greeting, smile, or thank you. It felt as if my presence was an inconvenience.
I believe I could do a better job than she did.
- food10
- service2
- welcome2
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Delivery
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
2
Awful Staff and Long Wait
My experience at the restaurant on Sunday night, October 5th, 2025, was awful. I encountered long wait times and careless workers. Additionally, Uber Eats drivers were filling sodas for customers, which is against their policy.
The staff's attitude was poor, and the service was slow.
- staff1
- long wait1
- careless workers1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Loud
2
Skimpy portions, frustrating service
I understand the frustration when I asked for food made fresh but to skimp my meal that I paid nearly $20 dollars and donated for is beyond me. I watched this woman pile meat on to everyone else's plate, but when I received mine and went to my vehicle, something told me to look at my plate. I could literally count on one hand how many pieces of chicken and steak.
A literal mound of rice and veggies with barely any entree. I came back in and asked for more, and she wanted to rush to have a manager pulled in when the issue could have been solved with adding more meat. I was even willing to pay, but she wanted to charge me for an extra batch, which is absurd.
- meal2
- chicken and steak1
- rice and veggies2
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Moderate
9
Fast, Friendly, and Flavorful Experience
My experience at this restaurant was marked by fast and friendly service, coupled with a satisfying taste. The dishes were well-prepared. I particularly enjoyed the new item, the Dynamite Sweet & Sour, which was both spicy and tasty.
The service was extremely friendly; when my desired menu item was sold out, they kindly asked me to wait and prepared a fresh new option for me. The store itself was very clean and pleasant.
- service9
- taste8
- dishes8
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Noise Level
- Moderate
9
Great Food, Service, and Atmosphere
My experience at this restaurant was excellent. The food was consistently on point, offering generous portions of both protein and vegetables. The service was great, and the atmosphere inside was nice and clean.
It's suitable for all group sizes.
- food10
- protein and vegetables9
- service9
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
9
Panda Express Food Tastes Fresh!
My experience at this Panda Express location was great. Unlike other Panda Express restaurants I've visited where the food tasted old, here it was fresh and delicious. I'm glad I found a place where the food doesn't taste like it's been sitting out.
- food9
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