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Happy Panda Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
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19 reviews for Happy Panda Restaurant
What can I say-I'm a sucker for delivery chinese on a whim and when I can make dinner and the next days lunch along with a frozen snack for later out of $15.00 delivered, I have to recommend it.
Happy Panda has been my go-to delivery place for at least 15 years and it has become a family tradition for my grown children.
I love the generous portions (to say the least) at moderate prices. I always order the fried shrimp-and it always comes to me piping hot, even though I'm at the far end of their delivery area.
General Tso chicken is spicy but not scorching and the Kung Pow chicken is fantastic, full f meaty chicken slices and crunchy fresh veggies in an excellent sauce.
The only thing I ever had that wasn't excellent were the spring rolls-and I haven't ordered them for 10 years so maybe they are better now.
A big group can be fed for under $50.00 with lots of leftovers-we've done it many times.
I know that 2*s sounds really harsh, and there was nothing absolutely horrible about Happy Panda, but to me it completely sums up the official Yelp 2* definition: "Meh. I've experienced better."
They had a goodly number of lunch specials; priced at about $7 each entree also comes with soup, a wonton, an egg roll, and steamed rice. Sounds like a bargain, right?
Well the portion sizes are quite generous, but I'd gladly all that quantity for a little more quality. They could save themselves some inventory and about 2 seconds of work in the kitchen by simply tossing the fried wonton strip straight in the trash - no filling, just a flavorless, rectangular piece of fried flour.
Everyone in our party of 3 ordered the Hot & Sour soup - a bowl of salty broth, sparsely populated with tofu and egg, but neither "hot" nor "sour". Like the fried wonton, this was another component of the lunch combo that really did nothing for me.
The egg roll was OK; perhaps a little oily, but at least it was crisp and cooked through. Still, I was left with the feeling that they served this just to ensure you would be full when you left.
My main dish was Kung Pao chicken. I was pleased to see it didn't look artificially colored - at some crappy Chinese places it looks like they pour food dye in the stir fry to make the Kung Pao look fiery and red. Here it looked like simple chicken stir fried with celery, peanuts, and onion. Unfortunately that's exactly what it tasted like!
I wasn't expecting a true hot 'n spicy Sichuan Kung Pao, but I DID expect a little spice, some chilis...heck I would have settled for any flavor! This dish was so bland I think the Happy Panda people must have been aiming to please only those who think that Panda Express is too spicy. It was a real shame, because the chicken and veggies were cooked nicely - the former was tender, while the latter still retained it's natural crunch.
The service was typical lunch-crowd efficient. They did a decent job of refilling our waters, upon request they promptly brought a selection of chili condiments to add some flavor to our meals, and generally did a competent job of serving our table. Interestingly, they kept pimping the sodas so much that we started to wonder if the servers got paid a bonus for each coke they sold. It bordered on irritating after declining the 3rd or 4th "are you sure you don't want something other than water" type comment.
As I said, nothing here was so bad that I would categorically write Happy Panda off; and if others in my party really wanted to go here I'd give it another shot. But seriously, I think I WOULD prefer Panda Express over this place, and it makes me kinda sad to say that.
I don't know why Happy Panda only has 3 stars. I have been going there for 16 years. Their food is delicious and not very greasy. The lunch special is between $6-8 and you get a cup of soup. main dish, a side of rice, a won ton and a spring roll.
Dinners are always more expensive, but they have 3 dinner combinations that you can order for 2+ people.
The hot and sour soup is my favorite - absolutely wonderful. I just moved to Seattle and when I'm in town, I always try and get some to take home with me.
My favorite dishes:
General Tso's Chicken
Cashew Nut Chicken
Broccoli and Beef
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Mushroom Chicken
Shanghai Street Noodles
House Special Deluxe
Chow mein
The service is fabulous and quick. Water is always refilled promptly. My order is taken a few minutes after I sit down, then, out comes my soup, and my meal arrives soon after.
Definitely try this restaurant if you're looking for delicious, not-too-greasy Chinese food for a good price.
I go here because I have to. I simply can't allow Panda Express to be my goto chinese place, that is unacceptable. So, this place will do.
The food is mixed, sometimes it's better than other times, that's what's most frustrating. Always fast though.
Sesame chicken is usually very good, same with the Generals. I would avoid the lemongrass at all costs.
And don't even think about ordering the "Thai" options, disgusting.
As much as I would like to offer a local restaurant more praise, I would only be lying if I actually recommended this place to anyone on Yelp. I know the rating seems extreme, but I assure you, I am being as objective as humanly possible. Perhaps I just have the worst diner's luck at Happy Panda, or was born under the unlucky sign of the Obsequious Panda, but my experience here has consistently been bad.
Alright, so the two trips after the first were my own fault, I get that. In my defense, however, I wanted to make sure that the ONLY Chinese restaurant within walking distance of my place was as bad as it seemed. Lord, was it ever...
At any rate, the particulars...the dirty, dirty particulars. **sigh**
For the sake of brevity, I will outline my most recent trip to Happy Panda a month or so ago: A friend and I stopped in to get a nice dinner and relax. The dining room was fairly empty - it was so sparsely populated that our conversation could be held without being overheard, or overhearing others in turn - Despite this glaring detail, it took a small eternity (metric, not standard) for our waiter to arrive. When he did, it seemed as though our presence were an unbearable slight that he could barely hide between irritated sighs.
After placing our order, he disappeared for another small eternity (this time standard measure) eventually emerging TWICE without our drinks. When they finally arrived, my Sprite was so watered down and flat that you would have sworn he just handed me an unfinished glass from an earlier customer; I swear to you, methane swells allow for greater buoyancy than my drink had, with some bubbles trapped cruelly beneath the flimsy weight of the "syrup" that was reluctantly injected at the bottom of my glass. My friend's Diet Coke fared no better.
When the food finally arrived, I was actually visibly and audibly disgusted: the barbeque pork was, for lack of a better word, "wilting," and ice cold, as was my mushu pork fixings (the sauce had actually congealed!) The only thing that was even luke-warm were the crepe shells that the contents are stuffed into.
I hate giving bad reviews, I really do, and I sincerely hope that others have a better time at Happy Panda than I ever have. Still, when presented with such abyssmal service and food, I have to wonder if I somehow insulted the staff just by walking in the door.
My recommendation? Either stay away or try at your own peril. They have to stay in business SOMEHOW...maybe you'll get lucky.
I love this place.
The food isn't the best but it's still very satisfying. I love the Tso's Chicken, the Sesame and the stir fry noodles (oh was a connoisseur I am!) It's tasty filling and stores very well in the fridge. So you can get 4 boxes, eat a little of each and have it again the next day.
It's all out Americanized Chinese, so if you're looking for authentic cuisine, keep looking.
I went here with my German boyfriend and meeting his uber German father for the first time. Yes it was uncomfortable because they were only speaking German the entire meal with a little English joke so that I wasn't completely left out.
My boyfriend, who loves this place wanted to take his first Asian to his favorite Chinese place. He was hyping it up that I would love it and all.
Well, it was ok. Nothing outstanding. I guess though for two guys that came from Europe wouldn't be the most knowledgeable about Asian cuisine.
This restaurant is not to be confused with Panda Express by any means.
That is insulting.
This store has got to be one of the most decent Chinese restaurants near Hillsboro. The farther you go from downtown, the harder it is to find good Chinese food (actually SE is where its at.)
Their Orange Chicken is good. The service inside the restaurant is fast.
If you're feeling lazy and you live within their delivery route, do so. They will give you a time frame that they will commit to. There is a minimum fee but it's too little compared to what your apetite is.
Fairly decent chinese place. The food comes quick and hot. Never greasy like some other places I have been to we usually do a pick up and eat at home. Prices are on the lower end compared to others in the area. Must be the volume of business. Will go back
SE or 82nd quality? No way. But for decent eats out in the 'burbs, it isn't bad. And they deliver.
The Hot & Sour was neither, Kung Pao was tepid, but the tofu dish was one of the better I've had. And they deliver.
Sitll I'd rate it above Panda Express, but far below just about anything else. It is Chinese-American distilled to strip mall ease of access, with pick-up and within a certain area, delivery. The portions were decent sized, enough to have left-overs, but it was a little steep, especially when adding in delivery fee and tip (I always tip drivers well...they're completely alone with your food!)
Did I mention they deliver?
I rated it 4 stars, because for what it is, that's how it rates. I don't go to this place expecting to order roast duck or bbq pork, so I think it would be unfair to rate this place lower because of that.
I do however, find it to be much better than a Panda Express type place.
Happy Panda's Orange Chicken is wonderful. Very flavorful, as you can actually taste the hint of orange peel, unlike the orange chicken at Panda Express. The chicken itself is also of higher quality, and is always tender. Unlike typical fast-food chinese restaurants that tend to have more stuffing than chicken.
I was unimpressed with some of the other dishes I've tried, but I typically only go here for lunch anyways. I usually just stick with one of the lunch specials, but more times than not, I stick with the orange chicken, becuase of all the sauces they have at this place, their orange peel sauce is excellent, while their other sauces are merely ok.
I love the fact that you can order online, because anytime I've had to call for any reason, I've not been able to understand a word of what the person on the other end of the line has said.
The food is pretty decent. And they deliver, yay! Always a plus when I'm hung over and too lazy to get dressed and leave the house, and have no food in the fridge.
The lemongrass chicken was spicy and tasted great. The way it affected me an hour later was still very spicy but really uncomfortable and unpleasant. The fried rice was bland. The egg rolls were adequate. A step above panda express is accurate, but sadly its a small step. At least the place was nicer inside then I expected, with tasteful art and attractive table linens. I don't think I would eat here again.
American mall chinese at its..... best? worst? - no, that's not it - It's mall chinese at its most middle.
And they deliver.
Um, gross? I'd rather eat at panda express, and that's saying a lot. Reminds me of the times in college when I was stuck in Indiana for school and good chinese was scarce or nonexistent. So sometimes when I'd crave asian food I'd resort to going to the mall and picking up panda express. How pathetic was that... man lookin back, I was pretty desperate. Then I'd come home for xmas break and realize man I can't believe I ate that garbage.. blech. I wouldn't even eat here if it were a last resort. My mom use to get us take out from here after work years ago.
My love affair with the Happy panda began in 1994 when I was in college and working at Fujitsu; we would go here for lunch quite often. I only order the Szechuan Beef it is delicious and 14 years later I still cannot find anything as good in Sacramento. Yes, whenever I get back up to Portland I do drive all the way out to it.
Hey I really like this place! The won ton soup is so good! It's not oily, and the cabbage is really fresh. I also got some kind of dish with shrimp in it. The shrimp were not over cooked and all the produce was surprisingly fresh. I think you should give this restaurant a shot. I didn't think it was mall-food-like. Nothing was greasy. Kthx.
I appreciate the wholesome goodness of this place. I usually order the Pineapple Chicken, because it is made with fresh Pineapple. No msg here. The staff are friendly, and very efficient. The servings are generous, so a take out box is necessary.
the only thing i crave from this place is the stir fried noodles only. the boyfriend gets the bbq pork fried rice and his own sitr fried noodles. yeah its that good and plain.
