Panda Express- U of U Student Union

I’m honestly surprised by the low score. The line here is just about always huge and they are WAY better than any of the other crap in the U of U food court.
Sure, the food is just Panda and really isn’t amazing, but some fried rice and 2 servings of Orange Chicken just about always hits the spot between classes. I’ve tried the other things in the court and this is the only one I consistently go back to.
What we really need though is more options at the U. Our food court is pretty crappy compared to any of the other schools in the area. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon, so I’ll stick with bringing my own lunch and eating at Panda every once in a while.

The food and staff are nice, however it is their practices which I disagree with. Their supervisor or manager will tell the employees to «try not to put chicken, use more string beans». As with any other choice on their menu, they will try and fill up your plate with as many vegetables as possible and using the smallest amount of meat possible. Most of the other Panda Express’s I’ve been to do the opposite. The food and service is good, their practices are not.

I am so frustrated with this panda express. I am a picky eater so my go to is a white rice and orange chicken bowl but every fucking time I go between classes for a panda bowl, their white rice hasn’t finished cooking, and once I go back to get some later, they’ve served it all. They’re well aware of the large demand for white rice yet they don’t meet that demand by making enough for everyone.

I was very excited when this place opened. It took a few more months than expected for it to be done, but when it did. I ate there frequently for two months.
I eat there maybe now once a month when I’m really feeling like I need some good American style Chinese food. It’s way better than the place that preceeded it, Mandalay Express. That place had just place terrible tasting food.
Panda isn’t so bad. The food is pretty good, the service fast and the workers generally pleasant. The food quality is on par with other places of its nature such as the malls where you will find it our its own restaurants. Hot and ready, best eaten before it cools kind of deal. They did improve their friend rice when they switched to using brown instead of white in it. The chow mien is pretty good too. Sometimes depending on whose making it they can overload it with celery… just saying I do like a little noodle too. Most of the other options are pretty good. Some are little greaser than others, which is to expected such as the Kung Pow Chicken. They do have really good chicken and green beans.
I’d say stop by and check it out if you’re in the mood. The price did go up recently a few cents but that didn’t make it too expensive, it’s still affordable to get two entrees, a side and drink for around $ 8.50.