Is Panda Restaurant Group a good company to work for?

Panda Restaurant Group has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5, based on over 1,841 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has increased by 2% over the last 12 months. 64% of employees would recommend working at Panda Restaurant Group to a friend and 54% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Panda Restaurant Group have been left by employees working as Kitchen Team Member , Line Cook and Counter Help .

Does Panda Restaurant Group pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Panda Restaurant Group employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.8 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Panda Restaurant Group. This rating has improved by 3% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Panda Restaurant Group?

64% of Panda Restaurant Group employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Panda Restaurant Group 3.2 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.6 for culture and values and 3.7 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Panda Restaurant Group?

Cook (165) , Shift Leader (98) , General Manager (85) , Front of House (84) , Cashier (73) , Assistant Manager (59) , Line Cook (55) , Counter Help (48) , Kitchen Help (47) , Shift Lead (38) , Server (37) , FOH Team Member (29) , Panda Express - Counter Help (28) , Team Member (27) , Manager (26)

What are the pros of working at Panda Restaurant Group according to real employee reviews?

"pay is above average for typical fast food places and good at developing you to be a better person" ((in 321 reviews)); "The free food was good but the work was very boring" ((in 127 reviews)); "Great benefits and potential to grow" ((in 78 reviews)); "People are nice and respectful." ((in 57 reviews)); "the free meal is also nice although it gets kind or mondain due to always eating the same food." ((in 56 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Panda Restaurant Group according to real employee reviews?

"Management can be poor and difficult to work with" ((in 131 reviews)); "long hours and you will come back smelling like oil" ((in 69 reviews)); "and there is no work life balance" ((in 64 reviews)); "If you get a bad manager or incompetent it can make your job very difficult." ((in 51 reviews)); "Upper management is very strict" ((in 34 reviews))

What are employees saying about Panda Restaurant Group layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Panda Restaurant Group layoffs and their outlook for job security at Panda Restaurant Group in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Panda Restaurant Group locations?

Rosemead , Los Angeles , Houston , Las Vegas , Chicago , Dallas , San Jose , Atlanta , Sacramento , San Diego , Orlando , New York , Fort Worth , El Paso , Irvine , Pasadena , Jacksonville , Salt Lake City , Kansas City , Phoenix , Indianapolis , Fresno , Virginia Beach , Southlake , San Antonio , Long Beach , Tallahassee , Richmond , Chandler , Austin

Panda Restaurant Group reviews

3.6

64% would recommend to a friend

(1,762 total reviews)

Andrew & Peggy Cherng

81% approve of CEO

54% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Panda Restaurant Group has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 1,762 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Panda Restaurant Group 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

2K reviews

4.0

May 3, 2025

Same Old Same Old

Shift lead

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

-excellent pay for a pretty standard job -flexibility -(general) managers understanding limited part-time avalibility

Cons

-closing gets off often after midnight -managers turn a blind eye to incompetence in shift leads due to seniority (more time = less work people feel entitled to which is the same in most food establishments) -lacking concern regarding employee sanitization -they groom people that don't go to school or that don't have another job to move up the corporate ladder, which means eventually becoming an am working 10+ hours 5 days a week.

Panda Restaurant Group Response

1y

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you’ve found the pay and flexibility beneficial, and that you've had a positive experience with your managers regarding part-time availability. We also appreciate you raising concerns about shift closing times, fairness in expectations, and growth opportunities. We’re committed to ensuring all associates are treated equitably and supported in their development, regardless of their background or schedule. We welcome you to share your experience in further detail via our “My Voice Matters” confidential hotline: 626-799-9898 x6053.

3.0

May 3, 2025

Strict with their culture.

General manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Pays really good. Base could be better, but the overtime makes it nice. Bonus was always really good. Health care and other benefits were pretty good for the restaurant industry. If you want to live and breath Panda, they will support you on your career growth. If you’re a decent GM and follow their ways, you can easily move up the ladder. They highly promote within.

Cons

A lot of hoops to jump through. A lot of “culture” to adapt to. They constantly want you to live in fear to try and get the best out of you. Cult like atmosphere. And your boss will be the deciding factor of your quality of life at your position. Almost no work life balance as the culture there is your work is your life. They highly recommend and prefer you use your entire years worth of vacation time off on one trip a year so that you’re locked into your store the rest of the time. You’ll always feel like you’re on call when you’re off. You’ll never do good or great no matter what the numbers tell you, there’s always room for improvement. Zero praise, all the scolding.

Panda Restaurant Group Response

1y

Appreciate you sharing such a detailed review—it sounds like you brought a lot of dedication to your role. We're glad you found the pay, benefits, and opportunities for growth to be a strong part of your experience. We also hear your feedback regarding leadership approach and work-life balance, and it’s something we take seriously. Thank you again for your time with Panda and for the impact you made during your years with us.

4.0

May 1, 2025

great starter job

Front of house team member

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

fun easy good environment free food

Cons

the late nights can be a hassle

Panda Restaurant Group Response

1y

Great to hear Panda was a solid first job experience for you! We’re happy you enjoyed the environment, the team, and of course—free food. We get that late nights aren’t for everyone, and we appreciate you sticking through it. Wishing you all the best in what’s next!

Viewing 499 - 501 of 1,762 Reviews

Jobs at Panda Restaurant Group