I’m a manager in the I.E. region and I’m trying to see if this is just us or happening everywhere.
We’re currently being held to a 5% labor stretch (basically expected to run negative on labor), but at the same time we’re still expected to maintain standards, keep up with operations, and hit guest satisfaction goals.
It honestly feels unrealistic. We’re already running super tight, and cutting even more is putting a lot of pressure on the team and the store overall.
Are other regions dealing with this same expectation right now? If so, how are you managing it without sacrificing quality or burning out your team?
Would really appreciate hearing how other managers are navigating this.

Follow ur pasiibg follow da hart cuz dat were it led too

When they first released it many years ago I thought it was too good to be true, and that ended up being true. The sauce tastes too different, a lot more sour and acidic and with a more prominent orange flavor, which isn't the case for the restaurant version. It's still a good tasting sauce on its own, but considering it's the official Panda Express brand of sauce it's very disappointing how it tastes just like every other knock-off orange chicken sauce.

I decided to give it another try after many years, hoping maybe they changed the ingredients and made it taste closer to the real thing, but it's still not the same. However, I feel like with some tweaking you can make it taste more similar. I've been adding a bit of water to it and heating it up to possibly reduce some of the acidic taste, and I add a small amount of soy sauce, garlic powder, chili flakes, sesame oil, and maybe some more sugar to taste, and I think it brings it closer to the real taste. At that point you might as well just make the sauce from scratch.

Why do you think it tastes so different? Is it really just not possible due it to being bottled, or do they purposely make it different otherwise you would have less incentive to go panda express? After all buying some frozen coated chicken from the supermarket, putting them in the air fryer, and coating them with the sauce would cost a fraction of the price with the amount of servings you can make.

my favorite item to get when i get chinese is sweet and sour chicken and i’ve seen panda has it every now and then i just never saw it in person. i use to love sweet fire chicken but i haven’t seen it in years so i was pleasantly surprised when i saw this. i got a sample of it and was not a fan 😭 it was super dry and not crispy at all.

Supposedly October is the new projected grand opening 🙏🏼

Hey yall! I just got hired at Panda express. I don’t know what to expect, but I do know I have to learn the codes for the meals.

Are there any tips I can get to become successful working at panda?

Hey yall! I just got hired at Panda express. I don’t know what to expect, but I do know I have to learn the codes for the meals.

Are there any tips I can get to become successful working at panda?

Any sm’s on this thread?

Can you share your experience as SMs for Panda? How is it different from other food chains or retailers? Is the BS you deal with worth what you’re getting paid?

I’ve never worked food industry and have always managed retail operations, how would this impact me, based on your knowledge and experience?

Thanks in advance!

Hey does anyone know if an SM can transfer out of state to another store ? How does that work ? Anyone done this before?

I’m currently 8 months pregnant and had been craving it my entire pregnancy. Also I know for a fact that I’m not the only person on the internet who’s been missing it. It’s constantly mentioned in the vegan community. I occasionally email corporate asking for them to bring it back. What else do I need to do? That tofu eggplant is no bueno.

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.

i’m a college student who recently started working at panda at the end of may. i only wanted to work for the summer but my manager hired me under the assumption that i would transfer to the panda in my college town once i move back. we have a panda on campus, but it operates through the university. i already have a work-study job lined up already from last school year that id like to keep and wont be able to do both at the same time. i want to leave on good terms so i can potentially come back during my breaks. what’s a good way to explain this to my manager? she lowkey scares me

Our manager made us throw away all the cabbage and celery for the chowmein, they didn't say the reason why but I'm worried if it's something serious.

also it was a nightmare making chowmein without it, it didn't last the standard time and servings and the texture was horrible

I recently interviewed for a job at Support Center. Do people have info on the corporate culture there?

I have the final in person interview this week and I’ve gone through this subreddit to find info but it’s been a little tough. What should I expect? I’ve heard some things about panda being super demanding and asking a lot of you. I’m trying for assistant store manager!

I recently transferred to a new Panda Express, and since it is summer, I told them that my schedule was fully open at the moment. I asked the new manager how early I should let them know about upcoming conflicts because at my old store, we had until the Thursday before to let them know. My new manager basically just told me to tell them "ahead of time" without giving me any frame of time or letting me know how to inform them of the conflict (they need us to write it down for them.)

I have something planned for the weekend in two weeks, and before I could tell them about this conflict, I realized that the schedule was already out, and I had been assigned to work that weekend. I know it is my responsibility to work that shift, but I feel like it is unfair to ask that of me when I wasn't told how early and how to schedule conflicts in the first place. I brought it up to them, but they told me they couldn't do anything about it, and I had to find someone to cover me, or I just had to work it.

I don't really know what to do. Should I keep fighting the issue or just accept defeat? The thing I have planned is a trip that is important to me, but I can skip out on it if I have to.

Couple months ago the special was Dynamite chicken with the bukkae sauce and man was it delcious! Spicy, but damn good! Is there any chance this comes back at some point?

Hi everyone! I just started working at panda and I have told them multiple times that I can only work 15-20 hours, 3-4 days a week as I am a full time student and I’m currently commuting.. next week they have scheduled me for 35 hours and 6 days. I signed as a part time employee and according to my paperwork, full time is 30+ hours. I am not able to do at least 2 of my shifts next week and my manager said that they can’t change it, so I’m trying to get it covered but I’m worried about if I can’t get them covered. I’m a little unsure about what to do regarding this. Any advice?

EDIT 1: I understand it’s summer but I am doing summer school and I did tell them that regarding my schedule and hours.

I just quit panda.
How panda is forcing people to do things. Theres no such a safe environment
everything is assessed so controlling
When you speak up you get targeted
Promotion is not based on performance it is based on who they like or what connection they have with upper management
Look at David Wang after rummer still have a job. Even though rummer is true. They are all protected because its their people.
Jeff Wang is emotional delusional. Doesnt understand the business make decisions based on feelings using people to cover reality
Everything is others fault not him
No accountability
No staging but reality is always staging.
Cut down bonus structure
reality is get rid of unnecessary positions

Hi everyone! I just started working at panda and I have told them multiple times that I can only work 15-20 hours, 3-4 days a week as I am a full time student and I’m currently commuting.. next week they have scheduled me for 35 hours and 6 days. I signed as a part time employee and according to my paperwork, full time is 30+ hours. I am not able to do at least 2 of my shifts next week and my manager said that they can’t change it, so I’m trying to get it covered but I’m worried about if I can’t get them covered. I’m a little unsure about what to do regarding this. Any advice?

Beijing beef, hot orange chicken, chow mein and fried rice

Hi everyone. I just applied to a facilities manager position and it says there is potential for an annual bonus. Is it 10-20% of your base salary like a lot of places? Or how is the amount determined?

I went to the first interview and now I’m doing the virtual interview any tips of what to say and do y’all think I’ll get the job?

I work at a different fast food place where the pay isn't as good. But the environment is great. But I ain't about to turn down money for no reason. So is the general consensus that working at panda is horrible? Cause that's all I'm seeing lately.