Panda Express is the largest Asian-inspired fast-casual restaurant chain in the United States, founded in 1983 by Andrew and Peggy Cherng in Glendale, California. The Cherngs, Chinese immigrants who had already established the sit-down restaurant Panda Inn in Pasadena, saw an opportunity to bring Chinese-American cuisine to the fast-food format in shopping mall food courts. The first Panda Express opened in the Glendale Galleria, and the concept quickly resonated with American consumers seeking flavorful, quick-service Asian food. Today, Panda Express operates over 2,400 locations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and other international markets. The menu features wok-fired entrees served with steamed rice, fried rice, or chow mein, with signature dishes including the wildly popular Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, Broccoli Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, and Honey Walnut Shrimp. Panda Express is privately owned by the Cherng family through their holding company, Panda Restaurant Group, which also operates Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. The company is known for its strong corporate culture centered on personal development and community involvement, regularly donating millions to charitable causes including children's hospitals through the Panda Cares Foundation. Panda Express has proven that Chinese-American cuisine can succeed at massive scale while maintaining quality and consistency, serving millions of customers daily and generating annual revenues exceeding 5 billion dollars.

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Panda Express is the largest Asian-inspired fast-casual restaurant chain in the U.S., famous for Orange Chicken and wok-fired Chinese-American entrees.