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What I Ate: January 17, 2009 (Panda Express)

Posted 18 January, 2009 at 2:01am by Michael Chu
(Filed under: Food, What I Ate)

Believe it or not, until today I had never eaten ate Panda Express before. I had heard they weren't bad as far as fast Chinese food goes. Tina and I both ordered a three entree (one side) plate. I had fried rice with green beans, broccoli beef, and orange chicken. Tina had the chow mein, eggplant, kung pao chicken, and Beijing beef. It was a great value for the amount of money we paid. Besides the great quantities of food, the taste wasn't too bad either. Tina didn't like most of the dishes, but I like Chinese American food and have a greater tolerance for "crappy" food.
Panda Express - Fried Rice, Orange Chicken, and Green Beans

Panda Express - Broccoli Beef

Panda Express - Beijing Beef

Panda Express - Chow Mein, Eggplant, Kung Pao Chicken

For dinner, I grilled a pork chop cut from the butt (shoulder). I used a packet of Amazing Taste pork seasoning as a test. The flavor wasn't bad, but it wasn't ultra sophisticated either. It beats just plain salt, but you should be able to whip up a set of spices that will do better. On the other hand, if you're a beginner cook in a hurry, I can see these little packets having their place.
Grilled Pork Chop

I also steamed some broccoli and toasted some bread to eat with the pork.
Steamed Broccoli

1 comment to What I Ate: January 17, 2009 (Panda Express)

Scott, January 19th, 2009 at 11:05 am:

  • Panda Express is okay…as far as fast food americanized chinese goes…it is better than Mr. Chow's, though…but then again most things would be.

    The Beijing beef was great the first day they had it on their menu. As the days progressed, the sauce tasted more and more like ketchup.

    Their Mushroom Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, and Green Bean Chicken are all very susceptible to time. They go downhill (both taste and texture) quick. If they are freshly put out, they can be pretty alright.

    The broccoli beef always seemed "off" to me somehow…

    I don't eat there every day, but I work in a mall, and they are the quickest place to go through their line when it's super busy.

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