this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2024
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I often feel the need to remind people Panda Express exists.
They don't pay me to say that. They just give me a big ass plate of tasty food for a decent price and it's simple enough for my American brain to order it.
Almost anywhere that you can find a Panda Express, you can find a mom and pop Chinese takeout restaurant that offers basically the same dishes (and more), but will be tastier, cheaper, and give you a ton of food for the money.
I don't care that Panda Express exists because there's no need for it to.
%100 agreed. Panda is expensive and doesn't give you a bunch like they used to. Mom and pop Chinese places are awesome
I wish. All the less expensive Chinese takeout joints near me are awful. Like Mongolian beef with white onions level of awful.
Panda Express is more approachable for me. I've got mad anxiety about language barriers and like to be able to see how clean the kitchen is.
Some of them have online ordering, and you can check the most recent inspection, which is on display at the front of the store in most states. You can also probably check health inspection status online (I can, and I get a history of violations and whatnot).
But honestly, just pointing at the menu works wonders. And usually the person working the front counter speaks really good English, at least in my experience.
Yeah, I'm not interested in pointing. I'm gathering here that everyone else's social comfort matters but mine doesn't because y'all wanna think I'm a racist instead.
I'm offering options, that's it. My main goal here is to help you get better food and support smaller businesses without increasing your costs.
I don't know if you're a racist or not, nor did I imply that whatsoever. I get it, talking to someone with poor English can be difficult, I know that first hand since I'm married to someone from another country and have trouble communicating with my in-laws (my SO speaks really good English). So I'm suggesting ways to avoid most of the problem you stated with minimal discomfort.
I'm good. I've got the thing I like, presented how I like, and is very convenient. I also don't believe money should be skimped on the food industry.
Nor do I, which is precisely what places like Panda Express do. They use mediocre ingredients, pay staff low wages, and are franchised, which means a chunk of the profits goes to the parent company. Smaller mom & pops generally live in the community and the owner often hand-picks ingredients each day/week. Also, the staff usually work for tips instead of minimum wage (my wife averaged a fair bit more than minimum wage), and the owner is usually relatively well-off (like $100k+), but not rich, whereas managers at a fanchise will get a lower-middle class wage, like $40-60k).
That said, we go to Panda Express occasionally as well. My kids like it, service is usually pretty quick, and they're literally everywhere. So I'm not going to shame you or anything for it, but I do think you'd do well by trying something different.
Panda's also gone down hill a lot since the pandemic. Their portion sizes are smaller now and the quality isn't there. Like it's ok but literally every Chinese place I've eaten at has better food.
I only found out about them after the pandemic and still like it.
I very much dislike Panda Express, it's just American themed Chinese food. I find their food generally bland and a little overpriced. But a lot of people love it, so I guess they're doing something right.
Mexican food is also generally pretty good for portion sizes. Find a smaller establishment and get a burrito, and you'll probably have leftovers. Don't go somewhere like Costa Vida (they're fine, but kind of bland), find a mom&pop that's well lit and it'll probably be pretty American friendly while being decently good. The non-well lit places are my favorite because they're often more authentic (instead of having to ask for lengua or cabesa, it's right on the menu) and usually have soccer games playing, but the counter staff's English may be a bit more rough. Look for a well-stocked salsa bar and jugs of differently colored liquid on the counter and you'll know you've found the right place.