Panda Express, the popular Chinese fast food chain that emerged from the first Panda Inn restaurant in Pasadena, has added a new seafood entrée to its menu for a limited time.
Panda Express said the new dish, Chili Crisp Shrimp, features lightly breaded shrimp, peppers, onions and a chili garlic sauce. Panda Express started offering it Wednesday, Sept. 6, at restaurants nationwide. It will be available until the end of the year.
The restaurant chain says the dish was inspired by the bold flavors of Sichuan steroids for sale online cuisine and tested with guest feedback. It has 210 calories and 13 grams of protein per 4-ounce serving.
“We knew we wanted to offer a bold new menu item with shrimp that marries the traditional flavors of Sichuan cuisine with the fresh, premium ingredients Panda guests know and love,” said Jimmy Wang, executive director of culinary innovation at Panda Express. “We’re thrilled to bring this savory, crunchy dish to guests nationwide for a limited time and continue offering innovative ways to enjoy shrimp.”
Panda Express recommends pairing the dish with Chow Mein, fried rice or steamed veggies.
Panda Express started in 1983 in Glendale as a subsidiary of the Panda Restaurant Group, which Cherng and his father, Ming-Tsai Cherng, founded in 1973 by opening the first Panda Inn restaurant at 3488 E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena. Panda Express was created as a fast-food version of Panda Inn.
Its test kitchen, the Panda Express Innovation Kitchen, which the chain billed as “a platform for experimenting with new flavors and dishes,” is in Pasadena, at 3867 E. Foothill Blvd., a few blocks away from the original Panda Inn location.
The chain has expanded to over 2,200 locations in the United States and other countries.
There are two Panda Express stores in Pasadena: one is located at Colorado Blvd. at Bonnie Avenue, 1701 E. Colorado Blvd., and the other is the Panda Express at Innovation Kitchen, located at 3867 East Foothill Blvd.
Panda Express also operates another restaurant brand called Hibachi-San, which serves Japanese grill and sushi.
For more information, visit www.pandaexpress.com.
