Panda Express Entree - Panda Express Calories

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Hey guys! So I’ve been eating at Panda Express alot lately and I wanted to share everything I know about there entree menu. Whether your a regular customer or just trying them for the first time, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about Panda Express entrees!

What Are Entrees at Panda Express?

Ok so first things first – entrees are basically the main dishes at Panda Express. There not sides like rice or noodles, but the actual meat or protein dishes that you pick for your meal. You can choose them in different combos:

Bowl – 1 side + 1 entree ($8.80)
Plate – 1 side + 2 entrees ($10.30)
Bigger Plate – 1 side + 3 entrees ($11.80)

The cool thing is you can mix and match whatever entrees you want! Some are premium (which cost a little extra) but most are included in the regular price.

The Complete Entree Menu

Alright, let me break down all the entrees at Panda Express. I’m gonna organize them by category so its easier to understand.

Chicken Entrees (The Most Popular)

Orange Chicken ⭐ This is literally THE most famous dish at Panda Express. Its crispy chicken pieces covered in a sweet and tangy orange sauce. Trust me, if you haven’t tried it, your missing out!

Calories: 510
Protein: 26g
Carbs: 51g
Fat: 21g
Sugar: About 19-20g

Fun fact: Orange Chicken is the best-selling dish in Panda Express history! Like, people come to Panda just for this dish.

Kung Pao Chicken 🌶️ This one’s spicy! It has chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and dried chili peppers. Its one of the only dishes that’s actually spicy (some other “spicy” dishes aren’t really that hot).

Calories: 290-320
Protein: 16-19g
Carbs: 14g
Fat: 19g

Teriyaki Chicken This is grilled chicken (not fried) with teriyaki sauce on the side. Its actually pretty healthy compared to other options! The chicken is hand-sliced right infront of you.

Calories: 340-400
Protein: 36-41g (highest protein!)
Carbs: 18g
Fat: 13g

SweetFire Chicken Breast This one’s supposed to be sweet and spicy but honestly its mostly just sweet. The chicken is breast meat (so its a bit healthier) but I don’t think its as good as Orange Chicken.

Calories: 380-420
Protein: 25g
Carbs: 35g
Fat: 16g

String Bean Chicken Breast A healthier option with green beans and chicken. Its not fried and has less calories than most other dishes. Good if your trying to eat better!

Calories: 190-210
Protein: 13-19g
Carbs: 12g
Fat: 9g

Mushroom Chicken Chicken with mushrooms and zucchini. Its pretty light and not too heavy. I don’t see alot of people ordering this but its actually really good!

Calories: 220
Protein: 14g
Carbs: 10g
Fat: 14g

Black Pepper Chicken Chicken with a black pepper sauce. Its got a nice peppery flavor but not spicy-hot, just peppery.

Calories: 280
Protein: 13-19g
Carbs: 15g
Fat: 19g

Beef Entrees

Beijing Beef Crispy beef strips with bell peppers and onions in a sweet and sour sauce. Its similar to Orange Chicken but with beef instead. Some people love it, some people think its too sweet.

Calories: 480-690
Protein: 26g
Carbs: 46g
Fat: 28g

Broccoli Beef This is one of the healthiest entrees! Its just beef and broccoli with a light sauce. Perfect if your watching calories.

Calories: 150-180
Protein: 9-15g
Carbs: 13g
Fat: 7-9g

Black Pepper Sirloin Steak (Premium) Angus steak with onions, red bell peppers, and mushrooms in black pepper sauce. This one costs extra but its worth it if you want something fancier!

Calories: 180-210
Protein: 16-19g
Carbs: 10g
Fat: 9g

Seafood Entrees (Premium Options)

Honey Walnut Shrimp (Premium) 🦐 This is probably the fanciest thing on the menu! Crispy shrimp with candied walnuts and honey sauce. It costs extra but alot of people say its there favorite.

Calories: 360-430
Protein: 13-14g
Carbs: 35-41g
Fat: 23-28g

Fun fact: This is one of the highest-calorie entrees, mostly because of the candied walnuts!

Vegetarian Entree

Eggplant Tofu The only vegetarian entree option. It has tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers in a sweet and spicy sauce. If your vegetarian, this is basically your only choice for a protein entree.

Calories: 340-400
Protein: 8-12g
Carbs: 38g
Fat: 19g

Premium vs. Regular Entrees

Ok so heres something important – some entrees cost extra! The premium ones are:

Honey Walnut Shrimp (+$1.50-$2.00)
Black Pepper Sirloin Steak (+$1.50-$2.00)

All the other entrees are included in the regular price of your bowl, plate, or bigger plate. So if you get Orange Chicken and Kung Pao Chicken on a plate, its the same price. But if you add Honey Walnut Shrimp, you’ll pay extra.

Nutritional Breakdown (The Important Stuff)

Alright, so if your trying to eat healthy or watch what you eat, here’s what you need to know:

Highest Calorie Entrees:

Beijing Beef – 480-690 calories
Orange Chicken – 510 calories
Honey Walnut Shrimp – 360-430 calories

Lowest Calorie Entrees:

Broccoli Beef – 150-180 calories
String Bean Chicken Breast – 190-210 calories
Mushroom Chicken – 220 calories

Highest Protein Entrees:

Teriyaki Chicken – 36-41g
Beijing Beef – 26g
Orange Chicken – 26g

Healthiest Entrees Overall:

If your trying to eat healthy, go for:

Teriyaki Chicken (grilled, not fried)
Broccoli Beef (low calories, vegetables)
String Bean Chicken Breast (lean protein)
Mushroom Chicken (balanced nutrition)

Entrees to Avoid If Your Watching Calories:

Beijing Beef (very high in calories)
Orange Chicken (fried and sugary)
Honey Walnut Shrimp (high fat and sugar)

But honestly, if you really want them, just eat them in moderation! Life’s too short to never have Orange Chicken.

Understanding “Wok Smart” Options

Panda Express has something called “Wok Smart” entrees. These are dishes with 300 calories or less and at least 8g of protein. The Wok Smart options include:

Teriyaki Chicken
String Bean Chicken Breast
Broccoli Beef
Mushroom Chicken

If you see the Wok Smart label, you know its a healthier choice!

How Entrees Are Cooked

This is actually pretty interesting. Panda Express cooks there entrees in different ways:

Fried Entrees:

Orange Chicken (crispy battered chicken)
Beijing Beef (crispy battered beef)
SweetFire Chicken

These have more calories because there deep-fried.

Grilled Entrees:

Teriyaki Chicken (hand-sliced and grilled)

Grilled options are lower in fat and calories.

Stir-Fried Entrees: Most other dishes are stir-fried in a wok with vegetables and sauce. This is healthier than deep-frying but not as healthy as grilling.

Best Entree Combinations

Based on my experience and research, here are the best ways to combine entrees:

The Classic Combo:

Orange Chicken + Chow Mein

Total: About 1,110 calories
Why its good: Its the most popular combo for a reason – its delicious!

The High-Protein Combo (For Gym People):

Teriyaki Chicken + String Bean Chicken Breast + Super Greens

Total: About 550-600 calories, 50+ grams of protein
Why its good: Tons of protein, lower calories, perfect for muscle building

The Balanced Combo:

Broccoli Beef + Kung Pao Chicken + White Rice

Total: About 600-700 calories
Why its good: Not too heavy, good mix of flavors, reasonable calories

The “I’m Really Hungry” Combo:

Orange Chicken + Beijing Beef + Honey Walnut Shrimp + Fried Rice

Total: About 1,800+ calories
Why its good: Maximum flavor, very filling, but definately not for everyday!

The Vegetarian Combo:

Eggplant Tofu + Super Greens

Total: About 430 calories
Why its good: Only vegetarian option, but you can add fortune cookies for dessert!

Allergen Information

This is important if you have allergies! Most Panda Express entrees contain:

Soy (in sauces)
Wheat/Gluten (in breading and sauces)

Specific allergens:

Kung Pao Chicken – Contains peanuts!
Honey Walnut Shrimp – Contains shellfish and tree nuts
Most chicken dishes – May contain eggs (in breading)

Important: Panda Express cooks everything on shared equipment, so cross-contamination can happen. If you have severe allergies, be really careful!

What About MSG?

Good news – Panda Express doesn’t add MSG to there food! But some ingredients might have naturally occurring MSG (like soy sauce). So technically MSG-free, but not 100% if your super sensitive to it.

Tips for Ordering Entrees

Here’s some tips I’ve learned:

Ask for Fresh – You can ask if they have fresh entrees cooking. Sometimes they’ll give you food straight from the wok!
Mix Premium and Regular – If you want to try premium entrees but don’t want to spend too much, get one premium and one regular on a Plate.
Watch the Sauce – Alot of the calories come from the sauce. You can ask for less sauce or sauce on the side.
Try New Things – Don’t just get Orange Chicken every time! There other entrees are really good too.
Check the Temperature – Make sure your entrees are hot. If there sitting out for awhile, ask for fresh ones.
Use the App – The Panda Express app sometimes has deals where you can get free entrees or upgrades!

Seasonal and Limited Time Entrees

Sometimes Panda Express has special entrees that are only available for a limited time. These change throughout the year, so keep an eye out! Recent limited-time entrees have included:

Firecracker Shrimp
Sweet & Sour Pork
General Tso’s Chicken

These usually cost extra and are only around for a few months.

How Entrees Are Measured

One thing alot of people don’t know is how Panda Express measures there entrees. A single entree serving is usually about 5.5 ounces. When you order:

Bowl = 1 serving of entree
Plate = 2 servings of entrees
Bigger Plate = 3 servings of entrees

So if nutrition info says “per serving,” multiply it by how many servings your getting!

Best Entrees According to Customers

Based on reviews and rankings, here’s what people love:

Top 5 Most Popular:

Orange Chicken (obviously!)
Kung Pao Chicken
Beijing Beef
Honey Walnut Shrimp
Teriyaki Chicken

Top 5 Healthiest:

Broccoli Beef
String Bean Chicken Breast
Mushroom Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken
Black Pepper Sirloin Steak

Most Underrated:

Mushroom Chicken (nobody orders it but its actually really good!)
String Bean Chicken Breast (people think its boring but its pretty tasty)

Comparing Entrees to Other Restaurants

How does Panda Express compare to other Chinese food places?

vs. Traditional Chinese Restaurants:

Panda Express portions are usually bigger
Panda’s sauces are sweeter and more Americanized
Traditional restaurants have more variety

vs. P.F. Chang’s:

P.F. Chang’s is more expensive (like $15-20 per entree)
P.F. Chang’s has fancier presentation
Panda Express is faster and more casual

vs. Other Fast Food:

Panda Express entrees have more protein than most burgers
Similar calorie counts to fast food combos
More vegetables than typical fast food

My Personal Entree Rankings

Ok so here’s my honest opinion on all the entrees, ranked from best to worst:

S Tier (Amazing):

Orange Chicken (the GOAT)
Honey Walnut Shrimp (expensive but worth it)

A Tier (Really Good):

Kung Pao Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken
String Bean Chicken Breast

B Tier (Pretty Good):

Broccoli Beef
Mushroom Chicken
Black Pepper Sirloin Steak

C Tier (Its Okay):

Beijing Beef (too sweet for me)
SweetFire Chicken (not spicy enough)
Black Pepper Chicken

D Tier (Not My Favorite):

Eggplant Tofu (I’m not vegetarian so I don’t order it much)

But remember, this is just my opinion! You might love the ones I don’t like.

Making Your Own Entree-Style Food at Home

If you want to try making Panda Express-style entrees at home, here’s what you need:

Basic Ingredients:

Chicken, beef, or shrimp
Cornstarch (for crispy coating)
Soy sauce
Sugar or honey
Garlic and ginger
Vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, etc.)

Cooking Method:

Cut your protein into bite-sized pieces
Coat with cornstarch
Fry or stir-fry in a wok
Make sauce with soy sauce, sugar, and spices
Toss everything together

There’s tons of copycat recipies online if you want to try making Orange Chicken or Beijing Beef at home!

Frequently Asked Questions About Entrees

Q: Can I get just one entree without sides? A: Yes! You can order entrees a la carte, but its usually more expensive than getting a bowl. A single entree by itself costs around $8-9.

Q: Do all locations have the same entrees? A: Most locations have the same menu, but some might not have all options. Call ahead if your looking for something specific.

Q: Can I mix entrees from different categories? A: Yes! You can mix chicken, beef, and seafood entrees on the same plate. Just remember premium ones cost extra.

Q: How long do entrees stay fresh in the display? A: Panda Express is supposed to make fresh food throughout the day. If something looks old or dried out, ask for fresh.

Q: Can I get extra of one entree instead of two different ones? A: Yes! If you order a Plate, you can get double Orange Chicken instead of two different entrees.

Q: Are there any gluten-free entrees? A: Unfortunately, no. Most entrees have soy sauce (which contains wheat) or breading. The safest bet is asking for Super Greens as a side.

Q: Can I customize the spice level? A: Not really. The entrees come pre-made with set spice levels. But you can add hot sauce or chili oil to make it spicier!

Weather Your Ordering for One or a Group

For One Person:

Get a Bowl (1 entree + 1 side) – Perfect for lunch
Get a Plate (2 entrees + 1 side) – Better if your really hungry
Cost: $8-11

For Two People:

Get a Bigger Plate each – Lots of variety
Or share a Family Meal (2 large sides + 3 large entrees) – Around $35
Cost: $20-35

For a Party:

Order catering with multiple entrees
You can get party-size portions of any entree
Usually comes in trays that feed 12-18 people
Cost: $80-150 depending on how much you order

Health Considerations

If your trying to eat healthy at Panda Express, here’s what to keep in mind:

Lower Calorie Choices: Choose grilled or stir-fried entrees instead of fried ones. Pair with Super Greens instead of Fried Rice or Chow Mein.

High Protein Choices: Teriyaki Chicken is your best bet. Also good: Kung Pao Chicken, String Bean Chicken Breast.

Watching Sodium: Almost all entrees are high in sodium (because of soy sauce). If your watching salt intake, this might not be the best place to eat everyday.

Diabetic-Friendly: Avoid sugary entrees like Orange Chicken and Beijing Beef. Go for Broccoli Beef, Mushroom Chicken, or String Bean Chicken instead.

Keto/Low-Carb: Most entrees have breading or sugary sauces, so there not great for keto. Your best bet is Broccoli Beef or Mushroom Chicken paired with Super Greens (skip the rice and noodles!).

Final Thoughts

So thats everything I know about Panda Express entrees! To sum it all up:

Orange Chicken is the most popular for a reason – its amazing
There are healthier options like Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli Beef if your watching calories
Premium entrees (Honey Walnut Shrimp, Black Pepper Sirloin Steak) cost extra but there pretty good
You can mix and match any entrees you want
Most entrees are high in sodium, so keep that in mind
The nutritional info varies alot between different entrees
Don’t be afraid to try new things besides Orange Chicken!

Weather your going to Panda Express for the first time or you go there every week, I hope this guide helps you make better choices and try new entrees. My personal advice? Try the classics first (Orange Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken), then branch out to the other options.

And remember, its ok to treat yourself sometimes! Just because Beijing Beef has alot of calories doesn’t mean you can never eat it. Everything in moderation, right?

Have you tried all the Panda Express entrees? Which one’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments! And if you have any questions about the menu, feel free to ask!

Thanks for reading guys! Now go get yourself some Orange Chicken!

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