Panda Inn
Pasadena, Los Angeles
Restaurant in Los Angeles, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Chinese-American Revival with Sushi Counter
Dress
Casual
Why go
Panda Inn is the Pasadena choice for an easy, group-friendly Chinese-American meal with more credibility than a random neighborhood pick. The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants #101 nod in 2025 makes it worth prioritizing for casual dinners and family occasions, though diners wanting a counter experience or high-design special occasion should cross-shop elsewhere.
About Panda Inn
Panda Inn is a Los Angeles restaurant with casual dress and daily hours through 10 PM. The clearest confirmed recognition is its LA Times 101 Best Restaurants #101 listing in 2025. Use this page as a practical planning note: the public details support when it is open, how formal to dress, the confirmed recognition; more specific claims about menu, service format, pricing, or seating should be checked directly with the restaurant before you plan around them.
A practical Los Angeles choice with recognition
The strongest confirmed reason to prioritize Panda Inn is trust. LA Times 101 Best Restaurants #101 in 2025 gives it a clearer external signal than an unvetted option. That recognition does not, by itself, confirm a specific menu format, price point, room style, or occasion fit. It simply makes Panda Inn a Los Angeles restaurant with a recent, critical mention and direct daily hours.
For diners building a wider Los Angeles food weekend, pair this kind of practical stop with more specialized research from our full Los Angeles restaurants guide. If you are comparing dining choices, you can also cross-shop Panda Inn against ICHIMA, Kulturas, Nikki C's, Stonefire Grill, or Viva Tacos La Estrella, depending on what is most convenient for your plans.
Who should choose it, who should cross-shop
Choose Panda Inn when the basics match what you need: a Los Angeles restaurant with casual dress, daily hours, a confirmed LA Times 101 Best Restaurants mention.
The right expectation is important: this page can confirm hours, casual dress, Los Angeles location, the 2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants #101 recognition. Visitors planning the rest of a trip can keep other research separate with our full Los Angeles hotels guide, our full Los Angeles bars guide, our full Los Angeles wineries guide, our full Los Angeles experiences guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 3488 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
- Website
- pandainn.com/pasadena-location
- Phone
- (626) 793-7300
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Panda Inn returns as a reimagined landmark that balances reverence for its past with a clear eye toward the present. The address reads as historic — it’s the original 1973 site that gave rise to Panda Express — but the renovation reframes that legacy rather than preserving it as a museum piece. The room pairs familiar Chinese‑American classics with a compact sushi counter, creating a juxtaposition that feels deliberate and elevated. Overall the atmosphere registers as storied and sophisticated: a local original updated for guests who value both culinary history and a more polished, contemporary dining experience.
Best For
Panda Inn works well for family meals and group dining rooted in shared, comforting plates, and it also suits celebrations that lean into the restaurant’s renewed sense of occasion. The sit‑down dining room presents the Chinese‑American classics that built the brand, while the eight‑seat sushi bar creates a more intimate, elevated option for smaller parties. That mix makes the restaurant flexible: it can host casual family gatherings around familiar dishes and also serve as a spot for date nights or special‑occasion dinners thanks to its upmarket elements and focused counter seating.
Ordering Tips
Start with the signature Chinese‑American plates that define the address—orange chicken, panda beef and walnut shrimp are central to the menu and worth sampling to appreciate the restaurant’s lineage. If you want a different rhythm to the meal, request a seat at the eight‑seat sushi counter: the description calls it “omakase‑adjacent,” so the counter offers a more concentrated, upmarket experience alongside the main dining room. Balancing classics from the sit‑down menu with a set of items from the sushi bar captures the venue’s dual personality.
Venue details
Ambiance
Festive and relaxed with nice decor, linens, and china, though can be noisy with large groups.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Large
Signature Dishes
- orange chicken
- panda beef
- walnut shrimp
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if you cannot get in
For a different casual group dinner, try Stonefire Grill. For a more focused, quicker alternative, Viva Tacos La Estrella is the cleaner pivot.
Restaurant context
How Panda Inn compares in Los Angeles
Panda Inn is the practical Pasadena pick in this set: easier for mixed groups and less concept-driven than ICHIMA. Choose ICHIMA if the night is built around a more focused Japanese meal; choose Panda Inn when the table needs a broader, lower-pressure format.
Against Stonefire Grill and Nikki C's, Panda Inn has the clearer restaurant-recognition signal thanks to its LA Times 101 Best Restaurants placement. Stonefire Grill is the safer casual comfort choice, Nikki C's is the better cross-shop if Italian-American familiarity is the brief, Panda Inn is the stronger call when shared Chinese-American dishes are what the group wants.
Viva Tacos La Estrella and Kulturas make more sense for a quicker or more targeted meal. Panda Inn is the better fit for a sit-down dinner where ambiance, group comfort, a recognized kitchen matter more than speed.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Panda Inn guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Panda Inn
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Panda Inn | Los Angeles | 2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #101 |
| ICHIMA | Pasadena | No published awards |
| Stonefire Grill | Pasadena | No published awards |
| Nikki C's | Pasadena | No published awards |
| Viva Tacos La Estrella | Pasadena | No published awards |
| Kulturas | Pasadena | No published awards |
How Panda Inn Los Angeles compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat at the bar at Panda Inn?
Treat Panda Inn as a Los Angeles restaurant with casual dress, daily hours, LA Times recognition, check directly if bar seating is important to your visit.
What should I order at Panda Inn?
Is lunch or dinner better at Panda Inn?
The hours are Monday through Friday 11 AM–10 PM, Saturday 11:30 AM–10 PM, Sunday 11 AM–10 PM.
What are alternatives to Panda Inn?
If you are comparing options, consider ICHIMA, Kulturas, Nikki C's, Stonefire Grill, or Viva Tacos La Estrella alongside Panda Inn. The best choice depends on your timing, location, the specific experience you want, so verify current details with each venue before booking or visiting.
