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Panda Express reviews

3.6

60% would recommend to a friend

(5,255 total reviews)
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Andrew and Peggy Cherng

81% approve of CEO

54% positive business outlook

Panda Express has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 5,255 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Panda Express employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Restaurants & Food Service industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

5K reviews
3.0
Jun 6, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

As a Restaurant General Manager at Panda Express, the experience includes the benefits of an established brand with customer attraction and recognition, comprehensive operational support, potential growth opportunities within the company, and competitive compensation packages for Restaurant General Managers.

Cons

As a Restaurant General Manager at Panda Express, the experience can involve a fast-paced environment requiring quick decision-making and handling high volumes of customers, along with long hours to ensure smooth operations, challenges in staffing due to high turnover rates in the industry, and the pressure to meet sales targets, maintain profitability, and uphold quality standards.

4.0
May 25, 2023

Good Work Environment but Very High Pressure

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very kind managers and staff. Everyone does their job for the most part and that eases the load at times. Also a very clean location and there is constant upkeep on cleaning. The managers are usually able to work with you on scheduling also with school and commitments you may have, but I had a little trouble with this when I worked there as they were very short-staffed and someone went on vacation right as I asked to have a certain day off so I couldn't (would have been one person staffed on that shift If i did). Good pay for a fast food job! My assistant manager was making $21 and hour and you can get that yourself in like 6 months or less even. Not horrible. Though for me wasn't worth the stress and I was in school, for some locations with more staff could be a different story. Really good food and you get free meals. Though the meal breaks are super short so you gotta scarf stuff down (like 10minutes to eat and this often made me feel so sick throughout shifts, so limit portions). The food is genuinely pretty fresh and I really respect that about Panda Express.

Cons

For many this job is their career, so many took it WAY too seriously in my opinion and literally lived there working like 50+ hours. It's not just normalized but encouraged. Be clear on your hours and when you want to work or it will get chosen for you. Very high pressure because so many take it so seriously. Just to get a dollar fifty raise with a promotion I had to work rigorously to even prove I can get it. Was not worth the stress for me since I just needed money before I started school again. Long shifts will be scheduled unless you clarify you don't want to work them. My first full week I was scheduled like 5 10-hour shifts in a week and it was treated as normal. I still have heart problems from being overworked and having to live on caffeine to have the energy to continue. When I went slower and was tired, I was pulled aside and asked if everything okay because I didn't have the "enthusiasm"... Very over-heated when I worked in the summer. I was dying all the time and having to stand in the cooler just to cool down (though I had to sneak those because working constantly was the expectation.) Bathroom breaks are very hard to get when staff is short. This doesn't help because it is super hot and I drank a lot and had to go a bit because of it. Literally rushes were miserable, hot, and I had to go most the time and usually nobody could be spared to let me leave. When I mentioned this to my manager when asked why I was going slower (I had to pee bro), I was told to go beforehand. Like....I can't just control that stuff. Working past when you are off. I was told to do last-minute things shortly before the end of my shift and this always resulted in me being past when I was off. Not to mention when there is a rush this happens too and you get looked at like a jerk because you leave when you are scheduled off. I was late for my church many times because of this and I won't let it happen again in another work environment. When you are off, leave. Don't give in with this ever or you will be taken advantage off and you will always find yourself leaving later than you are scheduled off.

4.0
Mar 1, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

401k, dental, vision, health insurance. Lots of seminars that the company sends employees to. It’s very inspiring. If you have a great team it’s fun working. Free lunch meals. Offer promotions, raises, and bonus. Good job for part time.

Cons

Very common to work 12 hour shifts, but it’s okay if you have the next day off. Not bad. It’s customer service job so customers can make your job fun or bad.

Viewing 151 - 153 of 5,255 Reviews

Glassdoor has 5,398 Panda Express reviews submitted anonymously by Panda Express employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Panda Express is right for you.