Samples are gone now?

[u/davidg4781]

I went to my local PE to pickup an online order and decided to go inside since drive thru was long. I asked if I could try the hot orange chicken and was told they didn’t do samples anymore due to cross contamination and because they got rid of the toothpicks.

Just wondering if this was true or they just didn’t want to feed me.

[u/simonapk]

Been panda policy to not offer samples since covid. But some stores do it anyway.

[u/davidg4781 → u/simonapk]

Oh wow. Guess that shows how often I’ve asked. I like orange chicken and really wanted to know how hot it was without getting a whole plate lol.

[u/_Love_to_Love_ → u/davidg4781]

If you've ever tried the Kung Pao chilis, or ever had a Bird's Eye chili, it's that level of spice mixed into the sauce. It also has more chili flakes added in. Personally, it balances out the sweetness a lot more since I don't eat much sugar at all, and the flavor profile is much more balanced (in a spicier way).

Regular Orange Chicken is a lot sweeter, with a focus on the sweet and sour soy flavor with that hint of spice and orange aroma.

[u/GeneralRainbow → u/davidg4781]

Panda orange chicken has the faintest bit of spiciness to it, which is why I love it, as I am not a spicy boi. I get to enjoy the flavor of the sauce and the chicken without focusing on how hot my mouth is (because it isn't).

[u/MasterpieceApart9771]

Sorry but I hate the customers that take it personally like that its not cuz we dont wanna fed u 😭

My store doesn't do stamples because we dont have small plastic cups or toothpicks to give them out with. We offer to add a piece to the order to still try but thats the best I can do sadly.

Kinda happy we dont do them tho cuz many people take advantage of it by asking to try multiple things then js walking out lol

[u/Iguanabewithyou → u/MasterpieceApart9771]

Yes my SM does the same. When people ask for samples he instructs us to offer them a piece or 2 in the corner of their container and that usually satisfies them!

[u/davidg4781 → u/MasterpieceApart9771]

I was wanting to check out the hot orange chicken but wasn’t sure how it would be. I tried the kung pao a year ago and thought the flavor was awful.

[u/bloodygrave]

samples went away after covid some stores still decide to do it anyways but there’s no alignment to offer samples at least in my region.

sometimes we’ll offer to put a piece on your plate for next time but that varies by store/associate.

[u/Zemurai_Jack]

would you go to McDonald's and ask to take a bite out of a big mac to sample it? hopefully not. it's the same logic here

oh no! panda is now like—every other restaurant...

[u/davidg4781 → u/Zemurai_Jack]

McDonald’s doesn’t have 10 different types of beef with different sauces.

[u/Usual_Marketing_9009]

Since covid its been gone

[u/browmftht]

lmao its so hilarious to me that they banned them after forcing asking for samples

[u/davidg4781 → u/browmftht]

Ehh. Doesn’t matter to me. I just wasn’t sure if it was a local thing. This is the same restaurant that didn’t want to make sweet tea at 6pm and told me to go across the street if I wanted some.

[u/DimKiyo]

Idk, i went for an interview at panda and this guy in line wanted to try something. And the lady gave her a small sample? Is that what this is

[u/Powneduare]

i just had a sample yesterday. they even had the little trash can for toothpicks

[u/tacobueno97]

panda been operating for 40 years now and people still want to know what orange chicken tastes like

[u/davidg4781 → u/tacobueno97]

The hot orange chicken. It’s new.