Complete Panda Express Menu With Prices: 2026 Ordering Guide
The Panda Express menu 2026 features a streamlined selection of American Chinese dishes, categorized into single-serving bowls, multi-entree plates, family meals, and catering trays. If you’re looking for an affordable, customizable fast-casual dining experience, understanding the Panda Express menu with prices and how the core pricing typically looks in 2025 is essential before you walk up to the counter or open the mobile app.
The flexibility to build your own meal is what sets Panda Express apart from traditional fast-food chains. Whether you’re ordering a single bowl for lunch, a plate for dinner, or feeding an office full of people, the menu scales to fit your needs and budget.
Understanding the Panda Express Bowl, Plate, and Bigger Plate Structure
The foundation of ordering at Panda Express comes down to three primary meal sizes. A Bowl costs $9.30 for one entrée, a Plate includes one side and two entrées at $11.10, and a Bigger Plate offers one side and three entrées starting at $12.90.
The Bowl: Best for Light Meals
A bowl contains one side and one entree, making it the most economical option if you’re dining solo or want a lighter lunch. The bowl is a standard-sized container that holds your choice of carbohydrate or vegetable base paired with a single protein dish.
Bowl Pricing Breakdown (2026):
- Standard Bowl: $9.30
- Bowl with Premium Entree: $10.80 (adds $1.50)
The simplicity of the bowl doesn’t sacrifice variety—you’re still choosing from dozens of protein options and multiple side combinations. A Panda Express bowl typically costs between $7.50 and $8.50 and includes one side and one entrée, though prices may vary slightly by location and delivery platform.
The Plate: The Most Popular Option
The Plate is where most customers find their sweet spot. A Plate includes one side and two entrées, allowing you to experience different flavor profiles in a single meal. A Panda Express Plate usually costs between $9.50 and $10.50 and includes one side with two entrées, though the standard price sits at $11.10.
This meal size is ideal for dinner because you can pair contrasting dishes—perhaps a sweet option like Orange Chicken with a savory choice like Kung Pao Chicken. You can also double up on a favorite, ordering two scoops of the same entrée if preferred.
Plate Pricing Structure (2026):
- Standard Plate (2 standard entrees): $11.10
- Plate with One Premium Entrée: $12.60
- Plate with Two Premium Entrees: $14.10
The Bigger Plate: Maximum Value
The Panda Express Bigger Plate costs a base price of $12.90 in 2026, featuring one side dish and three separate entrees. If you have a hearty appetite or plan to save leftovers, this is the best cost-per-entrée option available.
The mathematical advantage is clear: upgrading from a Plate to a Bigger Plate only costs $1.80 more, yet you receive a complete third entrée. Ordering a Bigger Plate with multiple entrees is a better deal than getting a single bowl with one entree.
Bigger Plate Pricing (2026):
- Standard Bigger Plate (3 standard entrees): $12.90
- Bigger Plate with One Premium Entree: $14.40
- Bigger Plate with Two Premium Entrees: $15.90
- Bigger Plate with Three Premium Entrees: $17.40
Panda Express Menu With Prices: Entrees
The entrée selection is where customization truly shines. Most dishes fall into the standard pricing tier, while premium proteins command an additional $1.50 upcharge per scoop.
Standard Entrees (No Additional Charge)
| Entree | Calories | Spice Level | Best Paired With |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Original Orange Chicken | 400-490 | Mild | Fried Rice, Chow Mein |
| Beijing Beef | 420-500 | Medium | White Rice, Super Greens |
| Kung Pao Chicken | 380-450 | Medium-Hot | Fried Rice |
| Broccoli Beef | 150-180 | Mild | Any Side |
| String Bean Chicken Breast | 210-240 | Mild | Chow Mein |
| Mushroom Chicken | 220-250 | Mild | White Rice |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 350-380 | Mild | Super Greens |
| Firecracker Shrimp | 380-420 | Hot | Fried Rice |
| Eggplant Tofu | 340-370 | Mild | White Rice |
The Original Orange Chicken dominates the Panda Express menu and accounts for a massive share of total sales, serving as the baseline against which all other entrees are judged. Created in 1987, this signature dish remains the most recognizable item on any Panda Express menu, with prices listed.
Premium Entrees (Add $1.50 Per Scoop)
| Premium Entree | Calories | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Honey Walnut Shrimp | 440-490 | Large tempura-battered shrimp in honey sauce with glazed walnuts |
| Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | 320-380 | Sirloin wok-seared with broccoli, onions, peppers, and mushrooms |
Sides and How to Customize
Every bowl, plate, or bigger plate comes with a single side selection. Customers can customize their meals by pairing wok-tossed protein entrees with classic sides like chow mein, fried rice, or super greens.
Available Sides:
- Chow Mein
- Fried Rice
- White Steamed Rice
- Brown Rice
- Super Greens
One unique feature: you can request a “half and half” combination at no extra charge. This means choosing two different sides in equal portions—for example, half Chow Mein and half Super Greens. This flexibility allows you to create balanced meals that combine textures and nutritional profiles.
Complete Panda Express Menu Pricing Table
| Item Category | Item | Bowl | Plate | Bigger Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Entrees | Orange Chicken + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 |
| Beijing Beef + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| Kung Pao Chicken + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| Broccoli Beef + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| String Bean Chicken + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| Mushroom Chicken + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| Eggplant Tofu + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| Firecracker Shrimp + Side | $9.30 | $11.10 | $12.90 | |
| Premium Entrees | Honey Walnut Shrimp + Side | $10.80 | $12.60 | $14.40 |
| Black Pepper Sirloin Steak + Side | $10.80 | $12.60 | $14.40 | |
| Kids Meals | Panda Cub Meal | $7.80 | — | — |
| Family Options | 5-Person Family Meal | — | — | $43.00+ |
Appetizers and Desserts on the Panda Express Menu With Prices
Beyond the main meal, Panda Express offers quick add-ons that enhance your dining experience.
Appetizers: At Panda Express, appetizers are quick, crispy additions to your meal and typically range from $2.10 to $2.50 per order. Popular choices include:
- Cream Cheese Rangoon
- Veggie Spring Rolls
- Chicken Spring Rolls
- Sizzling Shrimp
Desserts:
- Apple Pie Roll: $2.00
- Chocolate Chunk Cookie: $1.95
Beverages and Drink Options
Drinks like Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, or Fanta Orange each cost $2.20, while options like Mango Guava Flavored Tea are priced at $3.30. Panda Express also offers bottled water, Black Tea, and other beverages for health-conscious diners.
Note that drinks are not automatically included with meal combos in most cases—you’ll need to order them separately, though the Panda Bundle option on the app sometimes includes drink pricing.
Family Meals and Catering: Feeding Groups at Great Value
If you’re planning an office lunch, party, or family gathering, the Panda Express menu scales to larger group sizes without proportional price increases.
5-Person Family Meal
The standard 5-Person Family Meal starts around $43.00 and includes three large entrees and two large sides, bringing the cost-per-person to roughly $8.60.
Catering Options for Larger Groups
Panda Express Catering has you covered with trays that serve 12–30 people, with entrees starting at $41 for 12–16 servings, and sides at $16 each.
Catering Price Breakdown:
- Party Size Entree Tray (12-14 servings): $41-$52
- Party Size Side Tray (10-12 servings): $16-$20 each
- Party Bundle (mixed entrees and sides): Custom pricing
For budget-conscious catering events, on average, Panda Express catering costs around $8–$12 per person, depending on your entrée selections and portion planning.
Special Kids Meal: Panda Cub Meal
The Panda Cub Meal serves younger diners with appropriately sized portions at a lower price point.
Panda Cub Meal Details:
- Price: $7.80
- Includes: Junior entrée + Junior side + Fruit + Drink
- Calories: Approximately 380 (entrée portion only)
- Popular Options: Orange Chicken, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Broccoli Beef
Premium Entrees and the $1.50 Upcharge
Premium entrees at Panda Express are high-quality protein dishes that require an additional upcharge, and adding one of these to your bowl or plate will increase your total bill by approximately $1.50 per scoop.
The two premium items currently available are Honey Walnut Shrimp and Black Pepper Sirloin Steak. This means that ordering all premium entrees for your Bigger Plate will send the price of your meal soaring from $12.90 to as much as $17.40.
Smart Ordering: How to Maximize Your Panda Express Menu With Prices
Understanding the Panda Express menu with the price structure allows you to make strategic choices that satisfy both your palate and your wallet.
Best Value Strategies:
- Order a Bigger Plate for maximum value per entrée—You’re only paying $1.80 more than a standard Plate for a complete third scoop of protein. The math is undeniable: a Bigger Plate delivers three scoops of entrée for $12.90, while buying three a la carte portions costs significantly more. This represents the single best cost-per-ounce value on the entire Panda Express menu with prices.
- Use the half-and-half side option—Mix two sides to diversify your meal without extra cost. Pairing Chow Mein with Super Greens creates a meal with both indulgence and nutrition. Fried Rice combined with White Rice offers textural variety. This customization feature is rarely promoted but represents tremendous value when building your Panda Express menu order.
- Choose standard entrees to avoid premium upcharges—Broccoli Beef, String Bean Chicken Breast, and Mushroom Chicken are all under 250 calories and cost the same as Orange Chicken. Many diners automatically select premium items without realizing standard options deliver superior nutritional profiles at identical pricing. On a Plate or Bigger Plate, avoiding premium items saves you between $ 1.50 and $ 4.50, depending on how many premium scoops you’d normally select.
- Double or triple your favorite on a single plate—If you love Orange Chicken, order three scoops on your Bigger Plate instead of mixing items. There’s no rule requiring you to diversify. Loyalty to a single entrée across three portions is perfectly valid and sometimes delivers better satisfaction than trying to experience three different dishes in one meal.
- Order the 5-Person Family Meal for small groups—At $43, feeding five people for $8.60 per person is an exceptional value. The Family Meal structure forces you to commit to three large entrees and two large sides, but the per-person cost dramatically undercuts individual Plate purchases.
- Leverage the Panda Express app for exclusive deals—The official app provides location-specific pricing, app-exclusive coupons, and Panda Rewards point accumulation. Every dollar spent earns 10 points toward future free items. Ordering exclusively through the app rather than at the counter effectively gives you a 1% rebate on all purchases.
Popular Meal Combinations From the Panda Express Menu With Prices
Understanding how to pair entrees and sides creates meals that balance flavor, nutrition, and cost. Here are proven combinations that consistently satisfy customers:
The Balanced Nutrition Combo:
- Bigger Plate: Grilled Teriyaki Chicken + Broccoli Beef + String Bean Chicken Breast with Super Greens
- Total Price: $12.90
- Total Calories: Approximately 480
- Protein: 45+ grams
- Best for health-conscious diners seeking maximum nutritional value
The Flavor Variety Combo:
- Plate: Orange Chicken + Kung Pao Chicken with Fried Rice (half Fried Rice, half Chow Mein)
- Total Price: $11.10
- Total Calories: Approximately 1,100
- Combines sweet and spicy profiles in a single meal
- Best for those wanting diverse flavor experiences
The Premium Experience Combo:
- Bigger Plate: Honey Walnut Shrimp + Black Pepper Sirloin Steak + Orange Chicken with White Rice
- Total Price: $15.90
- Total Calories: Approximately 1,200
- Incorporates both premium proteins and the signature orange sauce
- Best for special occasions or when treating yourself
Limited-Time Items and Seasonal Specials
The Panda Express menu with prices rotates seasonal offerings throughout the year. Panda Express usually runs “What’s New” boxes on their website and app, and checking these before ordering helps you try the latest flavors.
Recent limited-time additions have included:
- Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken with Buldak Sauce (March-May 2026)
- Firecracker Steak & Shrimp (returning specialty)
- Hot Orange Chicken (elevated version of the classic)
- Honey Sesame Chicken Breast (seasonal)
These items typically appear during Lunar New Year (February), summer promotions (June-August), or back-to-school seasons (August-September). Limited-time offerings on the Panda Express menu with prices give regular customers reasons to revisit and try new flavors without completely abandoning the core menu structure.
How to Order the Panda Express Menu With Prices
Multiple ordering methods make accessing the Panda Express menu with prices reasonable:
In-Store: Walk up to the counter, review the illuminated menu boards, and customize your bowl, plate, or bigger plate with the staff.
Mobile App: Download the official Panda Express app to browse the full menu, prices, calories, and place orders for pickup or delivery. The Panda Express App allows you to easily pick your meals and pay online, plus you earn Panda Rewards points on every purchase.
Website: Visit pandaexpress.com to order for pickup at your nearest location.
Third-Party Delivery: Order through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub, though prices may be slightly higher due to platform fees.
Drive-Thru: Select standalone locations offer drive-thru service for quick pickups.
Catering Large Orders: Office Lunches and Event Meals
For office meetings, company lunches, and event catering, the Panda Express menu with prices offers scalable solutions. Party-size portions serve groups ranging from 12 to 30 people without requiring separate individual orders.
Sample Catering Order for 20 People:
- 2 Party Size Entree Trays ($41-$52 each): $82-$104
- 2 Party Size Side Trays ($16-$20 each): $32-$40
- Total: $114-$144
- Cost per person: $5.70-$7.20
This pricing significantly undercuts coordinating individual meal orders through a delivery app. Catering orders can be placed through the Panda Express website, the app, or by calling your nearest location directly. Most locations require 24-48 hhours’notice for large catering orders.
Best Catering Entree Choices (by popularity):
- Orange Chicken (broadest appeal)
- Beijing Beef (crowd pleaser for meat-lovers)
- Broccoli Beef (appeals to vegetarians and health-conscious diners)
- Mixed three-entree trays (provide variety without requiring guests to ask for substitutions)
The Panda Express menu with prices makes catering logistics simple—just decide on quantities and pick two or three signature entrees paired with versatile sides like Chow Mein and Fried Rice.
Price Variations by Location
It’s important to note that prices listed in this Panda Express menu with prices guide are baseline averages. Panda Express menu prices can vary by location, store type, taxes, and delivery platform.
Factors affecting your local pricing:
- Urban vs. suburban locations (cities typically charge 5-10% more)
- Airport and mall food court locations (often 10-15% higher)
- State and local taxes
- Delivery app markups (DoorDash, Uber Eats add fees)
- Regional promotions and deals
- Franchise vs. company-owned location variations
Always check the Panda Express app for your specific location’s current prices before ordering. The app’s location-specific pricing reflects real-time local costs and any active promotions.
Nutritional Information and Wok Smart Selections
For those counting calories, the Panda Express menu includes clearly labeled “Wok Smart” items—dishes containing 300 calories or fewer with at least 8 grams of protein.
Popular Wok Smart Entrees:
- Broccoli Beef: 150 calories
- String Bean Chicken Breast: 210 calories
- Mushroom Chicken: 220 calories
- Eggplant Tofu: 340 calories
Pairing these entrees with Super Greens instead of Fried Rice keeps your total meal under 400 calories while maintaining protein content.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Panda Express Menu With Prices
Q: What is the cheapest full meal on the Panda Express menu with prices?
A: The standard Bowl at $9.30 is the most affordable full meal. Choosing Broccoli Beef with Super Greens keeps both cost and calories low while delivering protein and vegetables.
Q: Can I split my side into two different options on the Panda Express menu with prices?
A: Yes. You can request a “half and half” combination at no extra charge. For example, you could order half Chow Mein and half Super Greens on any bowl, plate, or a bigger plate without additional cost.
Q: Are there vegetarian options on the Panda Express menu with prices?
A: Yes. Vegetarian selections include Eggplant Tofu, Super Greens as a stand-alone side, Mushroom Chicken, and String Bean Chicken Breast. Always confirm with staff about cross-contact with meat products during preparation.
Q: What are the premium entrees on the Panda Express menu, and why do they cost extra?
A: Honey Walnut Shrimp and Black Pepper Sirloin Steak are the two premium options, each adding $1.50 per scoop. These dishes feature higher-cost proteins and more labor-intensive preparation compared to standard entrées.
Q: How do I find exact Panda Express menu prices near me?
A: Use the official Panda Express mobile app or website to enter your location. The app displays current prices for your specific store, as prices vary by region and store type.
Q: Is the Bigger Plate really a better value than buying two Bowls?
A: Absolutely. A Bigger Plate costs $12.90 for three entrees, while two Bowls would cost $18.60 combined. You’re saving nearly $6 while getting more food.
Q: Do drinks come with meals on the Panda Express menu, with prices?
A: No. The Panda Express menu structure typically requires ordering drinks separately, unless you select a “Bundle” option on the app. Drinks range from$ 2.20 to $ 3.300.
Q: What is included in the Panda Express 5-Person Family Meal?
A: The Family Meal costs approximately $43 and includes three large entrees and two large sides. This breaks down to roughly $8.60 per person, making it ideal for families or small groups.
Q: Can I customize the Panda Express menu with prices by ordering a la carte?
A: Yes, though à la carte pricing is typically higher. Standard entrees range from $4.40+ and sides from $4.40-$4.60. Building a meal through Bowl/Plate options is more economical.
Q: How often does the Panda Express menu with prices change?
A: The core menu remains consistent year-round, but limited-time offerings rotate seasonally. Check the app or “What’s New” section regularly to discover current specials.
Q: Are there catering options on the Panda Express menu with prices?
A: Yes. Party-size trays serve 12-30 people, with entrees starting at $41 and sides at $16 each. Catering averages $8-$12 per person depending on selections.
Q: What are the healthiest items on the Panda Express menu with prices?
A: Wok Smart entrees like Broccoli Beef (150 cal), String Bean Chicken Breast (210 cal), and Mushroom Chicken (220 cal) offer low-calorie, high-protein options. Pair with Super Greens for maximum nutrition.
Conclusion
The Panda Express menu with prices offers genuine flexibility and value across all appetite levels and budgets. Whether you’re ordering a simple Bowl for a quick lunch, a customizable Plate for dinner, or a Bigger Plate for maximum variety, the structure remains straightforward and transparent. The Panda Express menu gives you everything in one place, and once you try this style of meal, it is hard to go back to regular fast-food combos.
By understanding the Panda Express menu with prices, the tiered meal sizes, premium upsells, and strategic customization options, you can navigate any Panda Express location with confidence. Use the app to check real-time pricing at your nearest location, leverage the Panda Rewards program for future discounts, and remember that the Bigger Plate consistently delivers the best cost-per-entree value on the entire menu.
Looking for Sushi Instead? Try Omakase in Rockford, IL
Not every great regional food story is happening in the South. In downtown Rockford, Illinois, Omakase has built a loyal following as the city’s dedicated sushi bar and ramen restaurant, located at 223 E State St on the corner of State and Madison. The menu covers fresh sushi, handcrafted ramen, chef-selected omakase, and a deep list of premium Japanese sake — the kind of variety that’s hard to find elsewhere in the region.
Seating at the sushi bar puts you close to the rollers at work, and the atmosphere skips formality without skipping polish — comfortable enough for a weeknight dinner, dressed-up enough for a celebration. Full hours, reservations, and the current menu are available at omakaserockford.com.
