The Panda Express (PE) Franchise is well-advertised for their Orange Chicken and their thriftyness, We tested these assertions by comparing them with Davis Noodle City (DNC), a local restaurant that has Orange Chicken on the menu, but does not consider it one of their specialty dishes. Thus, if DNC comes out on top, that means one of their non-specialty dishes is better than PEs "best" dish. Note, this experiment does not test whether DNC's best dish can beat PE's best dish. This experiment was performed on Sunday, November 6th, at 5 PM, by CraigBrozinsky and 3 others.
Speed
Average travel time between PE and midpoint of Anderson & 8th was 5 minutes, and the average travel time between DNC and midpoint of Anderson & 8th= 5 minutes. The DNC team called in their order as they left the parking lot of PE, and were given a receipt at time=9. When the team entered, the owner told them "Wow, you're quick! But so are we," and pointed to a bag on the counter. The PE team received a receipt at time=14, five minutes longer than the DNC team. Based on these findings, if the teams started at the mid-point, both teams might have gotten their food at the same time, but it is unknown when DNC completed the order. Bottom line: Panda Express is no quicker than a local place, and the opposite may in fact be true.
Quantity
Orange chicken from Panda Express
We measured the three PE items (Orange Chicken, Chow Mein, and complementary rice) at 37.5 oz. The Chow Mein and Orange Chicken from DNC items weighed at least 48 oz, but a scale limitation couldn't give an estimate above this amount. DNC's food cost $4.04/lb and PEs cost $4.54. Bottom line: Davis Noodle City wins.
Quality
Orange chicken and noodles from Davis Noodle City
Even blindfolded, the participants were able to tell which food came from which restaurant. The tasters agreed that PE's Orange Chicken was much sweeter, and that DNC was much spicier, tasted more like real chicken, and actually had an orange flavor. 1 person preferred PE, 3 people preferred DNC. The Chow Mein from PE had more flavor than that of DNC. However, putting the Orange Chicken sauce over the DNC Chow Mein led 3/4 tasters to prefer it by far. Bottom line: Most preferred DNC, but individual preferences exist.
Freshness and presentation
We all agreed DNC's food looked better, and their inclusion of Bok Choy gave them freshness points. PE's noodles looked and tasted like they had been out for a few hours, and DNC's seemed very fresh.
Summary
Panda Express does not live up to its reputation of being cheap and quick. A local restaurant, Davis Noodle City was arguably quicker, definitely cheaper, had a better presentation, and 3/4 people found it the tastier Chinese Restaurant.
Comments:
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2008-09-13 22:46:11 interesting Good work gentlemen.
repeat and see if this the results are duplicated!
Personally I figured DNC would kick some ass in this. —StevenDaubert
2008-09-13 22:46:13 I would rather pay for DNC than get PE for free. —Aaron.Curtin
I don't go to PE, personally I resent them for the food, the hibachi-san name (even thought it's irrational resentment) and the fact that they replaced the decent but pricey pizza joint, which replaced beloved boston chicken/market. —StevenDaubert
2009-03-08 20:51:45 My girlfriend and I prefer Panda Express' orange chicken. —OrofinJackson
2009-03-08 21:40:44 I feel this is like comparing Taco Bell to El Mariachi —EricaMacGregor
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That's an apt analogy! —CovertProfessor
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I'd love to see someone do that! Though, unlike Panda Express, Taco Bell does have items that you won't find at a Taqueria, and is open until 1AM. There are certainly days when I'd prefer a Nacho Cheese Chalupa to a Nopales Burrito! —CraigBrozinsky
2009-03-29 20:14:23 I've never seen a Panda Express with a drive through, their food doesn't use MSG like Taco Bell, and they have panda shaped hedges out front. Say what you want about which one tastes better, but Panda Express is definitely no Taco Bell.
Davis Noodle City has strange jiggly fat on all of their chicken dishes, while El Mariachi has nothing but delicious lean cuts of meat. The two restaurants can only compare in the number of snobbish comments about "authenticity" on their wiki articles.
Also, Panda Express has a few thinks I can't get anywhere else in Davis. Their fortune cookies with a touch of vanilla, the only truly spicy chicken dish in Davis, and beijing beef. —OrofinJackson
