Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
oChef » Panda Express – San Francisco
Panda Express - San Francisco
Photo from Panda Express
Panda Express at a glance
San Francisco Stonestown
- 🥡 Chinese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 21 of the guests
#2241 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#262 Chinese Restaurant out of 276 in San Francisco
Average
5.5 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
147
Reviews
51%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Quick service
- Flavorful food
- Convenient dining
Frequently criticized
- Cold food
- Small portions
- Poor service
The restaurant Panda Express is a popular Chinese Restaurant located in the vibrant city of San Francisco, specifically within the bustling Stonestown neighborhood. You’ll find a casual atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal.
Whether you’re looking for small plates or a full dinner, this spot offers convenient dining options for everyone.
Overview: Introducting Panda Express
Panda Express generally delivers on quick, convenient meals, with many appreciating the taste of their main offerings like orange chicken and angus steak. You’ll often find the staff to be quite efficient and helpful, making for a smooth ordering process.
However, some experiences highlight inconsistencies, particularly with food temperature and portion sizes. While the overall atmosphere is generally pleasant, there are occasional concerns regarding cleanliness or specific customer interactions, impacting the dining experience.
Average
5.5
out of 10
147
Reviews
51%
Satisfaction
60
negative
12
neutral
75
positive
Panda Express registers an overall score of 5.5, placing it squarely in the average range, suggesting a generally acceptable but not outstanding experience. Customer satisfaction sits at 51%, indicating a mixed bag of opinions from diners.
This balance comes from 75 positive remarks against 60 negative ones, out of 147 total customer observations. Digging deeper, the Food (6.1) is the strongest point, often praised for specific items.
Service (4.8) is considered average, with many noting its speed and friendliness. However, Value (4.5) and Ambience (4.1) scores suggest these areas could use attention, as some find portions small or the dining environment less appealing.
What people like
- Efficient, friendly service
- Tasty main dishes
- Quick meal option
What people don't like
- Inconsistent food temperature
- Small, overpriced portions
- Occasional rude staff
If you’re seeking a fast and straightforward meal, Panda Express can be a decent option, especially when you’re in a hurry. The 5.6 recommendation score suggests that many find it a satisfactory choice for its convenience and familiar flavors, despite some drawbacks.
However, manage your expectations regarding consistency and value. While some dishes hit the mark, be prepared for potential variations in food temperature or portion sizes.
It’s a practical stop for a quick bite, but perhaps not for a memorable dining experience.
Similar Restaurants in San Francisco
- Chinese Restaurant
9
out of 10
out of 10
221
94.1%
- $$
- Richmond District
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Chinese Restaurant
8.9
out of 10
out of 10
285
95.4%
- $$
- Outer Richmond
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Chinese Restaurant
8.9
out of 10
out of 10
286
93.7%
- $$
- Seacliff
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Chinese Restaurant
8.8
out of 10
out of 10
269
91.4%
- $$
- Jordan Park
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Chinese Restaurant
8.8
out of 10
out of 10
480
91.3%
- $$
- Transbay
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Chinese Restaurant
8.7
out of 10
out of 10
77
90.9%
- $$
- Sunset District
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
Verdict: Our expert take on Panda Express
Food (6.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 80% of the guests
When it comes to the food, it's an interesting mix, landing an average 6.1 score with 56.8% customer satisfaction. Based on 50 positive remarks, many folks enjoy the orange chicken, appreciate the huge portions, and find the variety of items quite tasty, often describing a solid food experience. On the flip side, 29 negative comments highlight some definite room for improvement.
Issues like grease, overcooked dishes, and cold food pop up, alongside complaints about small portions and a decline in overall food flavor.
Food
88
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
29
negative
9
neutral
50
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Huge portions
- Tasty food
- Variety of items
What people don't like
- Greasy food
- Cold/overcooked food
- Small portions
Often praised
- foodthe food look like delicious
- orange chickenthe orange chicken was really good
- fried riceit contains fried rice
- 100% appleMy experience was centered around the apple crisps, which were 100% apple and 100% delicious. I highly recommend trying them, perhaps by ordering a kids meal to sample these non-artificial and scrumptious snacks.
- Chinese foodLove the Chinese food
- angus steakThe angus steak was much better this time
- apple crispsapple crisps were not only 100% apple, they were also 100% delicious
- broccoli and beefbroccoli and beef are my favorites
- buffeta lot of buffet that's delicious
- chicken and chow meinchicken and chow mein was yummy
Frequently criticized
- foodfood was served cold
- fried rice😡😡😡 My fried rice was way too overcooked and the lines were very long just to get my food and soda! My fried rice also tasted terrible and they should watch not to overcook the food! WOST PANDA EXPRESS EVER!
- white ricecharged me $6.50 for a little white rice
- angus steakthe angus steak was very sour, so bad it was uneatable
- beef dishbeef dish was the same
- broccoli beefI ordered a family meal to go. Upon arriving home and opening the food, I discovered two hairs in my broccoli beef.
- chicken disheschicken dishes I had were covered with tough batter
- chow-menThe chow-men is not delicious
- drinkdrink was supose to be a fanta but it was just sparkling water w food coloring
- entree sidesentree sides are now incredibly small
If youre after a quick, familiar meal with some tasty options, youll likely find something to enjoy. However, be mindful that consistency can be a bit of a gamble, especially concerning food temperature and portion sizes.
Service (4.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 59% of the guests
When it comes to service, its a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 4.8. Many guests appreciate the efficient and helpful staff, often allowing them to try a few items before deciding. With 18 positive remarks out of 40 total, theres a definite upside, highlighting nice people and good customer service.
However, the 45% customer satisfaction suggests room for improvement, with 21 negative comments pointing to issues like long lines and significant wait times. Some experiences describe disorganized service, poor customer service, and even rude staff, making for a less-than-smooth visit.
Service
40
Reviews
45%
Satisfaction
21
negative
1
neutral
18
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Efficient, helpful staff
- Sample items allowed
- Fast service
What people don't like
- Long wait times
- Poor customer service
- Disorganized orders
Often praised
- serviceMy experience at the restaurant was great! The service was fast with a lot of choices. I appreciated that they allowed us to try a few items without rushing us through the line.
- customer serviceHowever, I found their entree sides to be incredibly small and overpriced. On the positive side, the fast and friendly customer service was a highlight.
- staffsuper atenciosos e simpáticos
- SF State studentsWorkers are usually SF state students mixed with older workers, nice people
- efficient helpful staffefficient helpful staff moves you through promptly
- nice peopleMy experience at this restaurant was positive. The staff consists of a mix of SF State students and older workers, and they were all nice people. The food was served quick, as is typical for any Panda Express.
- older workersSF state students mixed with older workers, nice people
- try a few itemslet you try a few items
- waitNo wait around 11:15 on Monday
- workersthe workers were nice
Frequently criticized
- serviceworst service i have experienced in a very long time
- customer servicecustomer service was terrible
- customer orientationMy experience at this restaurant was disorganized and unprofessional. There was zero customer orientation, and no one seemed to know where any order was. Due to the poor service, I won’t be coming back.
- customer satisfactionno custumer satisfaction
- drink accuracydrink was supose to be a fanta but it was just sparkling water w food coloring
- drive thruIt does not have a drive thru. That totally sucked.
- employee Jennyemployee name Jenny I ask her for the last shrimp she said NO on mean way
- guestsa lot of guests were not able to claim their food
- ladythe lady excessively rude
- lineThe line usually gets long
Service here is a mixed bag, with 45% customer satisfaction. You might get efficient, friendly staff who let you try items, but be prepared for potential long lines and disorganized moments. Its worth a try if youre patient, but don't expect perfection.
Ambience (4.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 15% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, a few folks found the place nice, noting theres plenty of adjacent seating to enjoy your meal. Out of 8 total comments, 3 were positive, suggesting some bright spots in the overall atmosphere. However, the overall picture for ambience is quite challenging, with a score of 4.1 (poor) and customer satisfaction at a poor 37.5%.
This is clearly a mixed bag, with 4 negative comments highlighting concerns like the location being closed or issues with a childs feet on the food counter and buffet pans, raising questions about health and respect.
Ambience
8
Reviews
37%
Satisfaction
4
negative
1
neutral
3
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Plenty of seating
- Nice place
What people don't like
- Location closed
- Child on counter
- Health concerns
Often praised
- adjacent seatingplenty of adjacent seating to enjoy your meal
- atmosphereAtmosphere:4
- placeThe place is nice
Frequently criticized
- buffet pansup against the buffet pans
- child's feet on food counterchild's feet on food counter
- healthno respect for others people health
- locationthis location is still closed
If a great atmosphere is high on your list, this spot might disappoint. While some found the seating nice, significant concerns about hygiene and location issues suggest you might want to manage your expectations or look elsewhere for a better vibe.
Value (4.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 24% of the guests
When it comes to value, some diners have found ways to make their visit more affordable, often by redeeming a free T-Mobile food item or noting that the prices were super reasonable, especially when sharing dishes. Based on 4 positive remarks, it seems there are opportunities to save a few bucks if you're savvy. However, the overall picture for value is a bit mixed, with a score of 4.5 (which is average) and customer satisfaction sitting at a rather poor 36.4%.
Many of the 6 negative comments, out of 11 total, highlight concerns about paying way too much for what you get, mentioning hidden charges, and finding entree sides to be incredibly small and overpriced. It seems the perceived value can really depend on your experience.
Value
11
Reviews
36%
Satisfaction
6
negative
1
neutral
4
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Free items available
- Good value sharing
- Affordable prices
What people don't like
- Overpriced for quality
- Hidden charges appear
- Small, costly sides
Often praised
- free T-Mobile food itemhad a free T-Mobile food item to redeem
- priceFor the price can I complain
- pricesPreço dos produtos super em conta
- sharingsaved about $3.00 each sharing
Frequently criticized
- $6.50charged me $6.50
- entree sidesentree sides are now incredibly small and over priced
- hidden chargescharged me 25dls.(something i didn't see, require or anything)
- paying way too muchpaying way too much to end up going home hungry
- priceNot cheap for what you get
- pricesEven the vegetables and white rice were cold. The quality of the three entrees I tried was nowhere near what I can get at other restaurants, and the prices were not low. I do not recommend the food preparation from this chain.
If you're looking for a deal, be strategic: look for promotions or consider sharing to keep costs down. Otherwise, be prepared that many customers felt the offerings were overpriced for the quality, and watch out for unexpected charges.
How are the prices at Panda Express?
You’re looking at roughly 19 per person – reported by 21 diners. That puts it in the $11–$20 category. For a Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
While most guests spend in this range, we do see a few higher-end experiences, suggesting a mix of options.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 21 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value compares to similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing feels pretty fair for a Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco. It offers a good balance, so you can likely find something delicious without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Panda Express
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
2
Disorganized and unprofessional service
My experience at this restaurant was disorganized and unprofessional. There was zero customer orientation, and no one seemed to know where any order was. Due to the poor service, I won’t be coming back.
- customer orientation1
- order1
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Solo Dinner
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
Noise Level
- Loud
1
Worst Panda Express Ever!
My experience at this Panda Express was the worst ever! 😡😡😡 My fried rice was way too overcooked and the lines were very long just to get my food and soda! My fried rice also tasted terrible and they should watch not to overcook the food!
WOST PANDA EXPRESS EVER! DON’T OVERCOOK THE FOOD! 😡😡😡
- fried rice1
- lines1
- food1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
6
Tasty Food, Mediocre Experience
My experience at this restaurant was characterized by tasty fast food, but it was set against a mediocre environment with ok service. It's also not cheap for what you get, especially when compared to smaller, independent Chinese restaurants. I'd say it's somewhat recommend for vegetarians.
- fast food7
- environment5
- service5
- price3
Visit Type
- Delivery
Group Type
- Family
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Takeout
1
Hair Found in Family Meal
I ordered a family meal to go. Upon arriving home and opening the food, I discovered two hairs in my broccoli beef.
- family meal5
- broccoli beef1
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Delicious Chinese Delicacy
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I enjoyed the awesome food delicacy of China. I highly recommend trying the sesame chicken.
Everything was good, including the fried rice, noodles, and orange chicken. The food was rated a 5, and the atmosphere was a 4. The service was also excellent, receiving a 5-star rating.
- food delicacy10
- sesame chicken10
- fried rice9
What Panda Express offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- College students
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Small plates
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
- Catering
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
Is Panda Express in San Francisco accessible for everyone?
Yes, Panda Express in San Francisco is designed with accessibility in mind. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, parking lot, seating, and even a wheelchair accessible restroom, ensuring a comfortable visit for all guests.
What dining options and amenities does Panda Express offer for families?
Panda Express is a great choice for families, offering a dedicated kids’ menu and high chairs for younger guests. You can enjoy lunch or dinner with seating available, making it a convenient and good-for-kids spot in Stonestown.
What is the overall dining experience like at Panda Express?
Panda Express offers an average dining experience with an overall score of **5.5** and **51%** customer satisfaction. While **Food** (6.1) is generally well-received, **Service** (4.8) is average, and **Ambience** (4.1) and **Value** (4.5) could see improvements.
Are there common complaints about the food at Panda Express?
Yes, some customers report issues with food being served cold, specific items like fried rice being overcooked, or chicken dishes having tough batter. There are also mentions of small entree sides.
How is the service typically at Panda Express?
Service at Panda Express is often described as fast and efficient, with staff allowing customers to try items. However, some experiences note disorganized service, rude employees, or long lines during peak times.