Panda Inn - Pasadena

More than thirty years have gone by since Panda Inn opened its doors in Pasadena, and even as this achievement is celebrated, their straightforward concept remains the same, to introduce regional Chinese cooking to a local audience. Despite being the parent restaurant of the more popular Panda Express, this is not just an upscale, sit down version offering old wine in new bottles.

Emphasis on traditions is strong and the casually sophisticated setting helps towards bringing forward the Chinese art of balancing tastes and textures to delight the senses. Gourmet Chinese flavors drawn from beloved family recipes highlight the robust qualities of Mandarin and Szechwan dishes.

The aptly named tasters include the straightforward salt and pepper prawns though minced chicken in lettuce cups or the spicy, crispy calamari are equally endearing. You could also forego this for a healthier option and try the mango duck salad or the Panda's chicken salad.

It's hard to be indifferent to the soup selection, especially with the very tantalising 3-flavors sizzling rice soup or the assorted wonton soup. A speciality section includes succulent Asian spiced beef short ribs, sweet and pungent shrimp and an interesting tea smoked duck. The wok-seared scallops are an enticing addition to this menu.

Choosing the mains might be confusing, given the profusion of choices with poultry and seafood. Orange flavored chicken with its deliciously different tangy, saucy and tart taste has many takers. The honey walnut shrimp is by far the most popular seafood item there, whereas sweet and sour pork or the beef with broccoli are some of the dishes that are loved by most patrons. Tofu with spicy eggplant, and sautéed mixed vegetables should help to keep the veggies happy. However, they do indicate that all their dishes including those with vegetables have a chicken broth base so be forewarned if you are particular about being vegetarian.

Fortune cookies dipped in white chocolate, and covered with foil paper are one of the draws there although the dessert section does include favorites such as carrot cake, brownies, chocolate cake, dipped strawberries, fruit and almond pudding. In addition to the restaurant experience, Panda also offers catering services for birthday parties, business luncheons and holiday celebrations.