Best Panda Express Menu Items: What to Order First
Standing at the Panda Express counter can feel hard. The trays look good, the line moves fast, and you still must pick. This guide ranks the dishes people love most, so you can order with confidence. For a first visit, the Best Panda Express Menu Items below are a safe and simple starting point.
Start with the full Panda Express menu if you want every dish in one place. Here we stay focused on choice, not a full menu rebuild, nutrition tables, or recipes.
The Top 10 Best Panda Express Menu Items
Prices below are small à la carte prices, unless we say otherwise. Prices vary by location, so treat these figures as a guide, not a promise.
1. The Original Orange Chicken — $5.40, 560 calories. This best seller makes up about one-third of all entrées sold. In 2025, 148 million pounds were served. Chef Andy Kao created it in Hawaii in 1987.
2. Kung Pao Chicken — $5.40, 270 calories. This is the consensus spice pick, with heat, crunch, and peanuts. It also offers 20 grams of protein, so it feels satisfying without feeling heavy.
3. Honey Walnut Shrimp — $6.90 premium, 340 calories. Fans love the creamy sauce and crunchy walnuts. Some taste tests, though, rank it near worst, calling it soggy and expensive. Try it and judge for yourself.
4. Beijing Beef — $5.40, 480 calories. This beef is crispy, sweet, and tangy, with peppers and onions for contrast. It suits you if you like bold flavour in every bite.
5. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken — $5.40, 280 calories. This is the protein and health pick, with 38 grams of protein when served with Super Greens. Some taste tests rank it last for taste, calling it bland and dry.
6. Broccoli Beef — $5.40, 190 calories. This is one of the lowest-calorie entrées, with tender beef and fresh broccoli in a light sauce. It is also a Cub Meal choice for families.
7. Honey Sesame Chicken Breast — $5.40, 420 calories. This sweet-but-lighter pick has a gentle honey flavour and crisp green beans. Some lists call it underrated, and it deserves more attention.
8. Chow Mein — $4.40 and up, 520 calories for a full side portion. This is the one side in the top 10, not an entrée, and this is a side price. The noodles are soft, savoury, and pair with almost any main dish.
9. Black Pepper Sirloin Steak — $6.90 premium, 200 calories. This peppery Wok Smart dish is lighter than it looks, with thin-sliced steak and a sharp, not sweet, sauce.
10. Mushroom Chicken — $5.40, 180 calories. This is the lowest-calorie full entrée, veggie-heavy and gentle, with mushrooms and zucchini in a mild sauce.
Near misses: String Bean Chicken Breast (210 calories), SweetFire Chicken Breast (360 calories, a second spice option), and Cream Cheese Rangoon (190 calories for three, as an appetizer).
For more detail, see our guides to meat dishes and sides, and check the nutrition figures before you order. If you love Orange Chicken at home, try our Orange Chicken recipe guide too. Together, these picks show why the Best Panda Express Menu Items keep coming up in so many orders.
Best First Order for a New Customer
Order a Plate with Orange Chicken and Chow Mein. Add Kung Pao Chicken as a second entrée for contrast and heat. This simple plate is a good first taste of the Best Panda Express Menu Items, without too many new flavours at once.
Best for Spice Lovers
Start with Kung Pao Chicken, then try SweetFire Chicken Breast second. Kung Pao gives steady heat and crunch. SweetFire adds a sweeter burn, so you can compare the two and find your own limit.
Best for Kids
Choose a Panda Cub Meal for a child. It keeps portions small and choices simple, so a first visit feels easy, not stressful. See our Kids Menu post for the full choices for children.
Best on a Budget
Pick a Bowl with a standard $5.40 entrée. Bowls cost about $8.30–$10.45, while Plates cost $12.75–$13.80. Skip the two premium picks when money is tight, since premium entrées cost a little extra inside plates too. Panda Express publishes no national price list, so check your local prices. You can still enjoy the Best Panda Express Menu Items on a budget by starting with a Bowl and one standard dish.
