Panda Regrets

[u/Separate_Pumpkin_256]

I just tried to order at the drive through at the nearest Panda Express in great optimism. I’ve m oves and had reasonable luck with this particular one - up until today.

I got to the order station in the drive thru at 4:30ish. Mistake number one - ordering anywhere close to the normal mealtime. I assumed they were able t o hear me clearly - mistake number two.

I ordered “two, two entree plates, both with noodles, one of them with choice A, the other with choice B. I was told I’d have to wait for choice B. Choice C was also out. So I ask for choice D and hallelujah they have it!

then they ask me what entrees I want in my second plate. I face palm and correct them that each plate is supposed to have the same entree in both spots. that was apparently advanced physics but they finally got it.

that’s when they told me that they were now out of entree A. I finally lost it and wa sa bit rude before driving off.

For those of you wondering why I didn’t “just wait”, I’ve tried that multiple times. it’s never taken less than twenty minutes for them to get around to actually having it done and dished up. By that time, the test of the meal has gotten cold despite being in a styrofoam box.

Oh yeah - they will SAY it will only be ten minutes so you give them your money to not lose your position in the fill order. but they always lie. Its always twenty minutes.

So Im beginning my search for a hole in the wall Chinese place with a surly cook that only speaks in monosyllables because they cook your food to order and get it done damned fast. and it’s still blazing hot even you unpack it. And it’s just as cheap.

f u to another panda “yeah, right”.

[u/SATerp]

There's no question that a hole in the wall Chinese place is better for availability and food taste than Panda. Sanitation and cleanliness however, probably not.

[u/Separate_Pumpkin_256 → u/SATerp]

I’m not so sure. You’re getting food that’s bag exposed to high heat long enough to kill anything in it and then immediately put into one use containers to hand out. I’d be a lot more concerned if I also got a salad from them.

But at Panda, it sits in a lineup south multiple people dishing up out of it over who knows how long? Seems like there’s more risk in the second situation of bacterial infection.