Fast food Chinese in a new way

For a fresh, new approach to Chinese food in a fast-food setting, discover Panda Express Gourmet Chinese Food Restaurant located on the corner of Smoketown Road and Prince William Parkway. Situated behind Boston Market, this Panda Express location is not easily seen from the street but look for its bright red awning and giant panda logo.

Part of the Woodbridge restaurant scene since December 2008, Panda Express Gourmet Chinese Food is the leader in its niche -- and America's fastest growing Chinese restaurant chain. The Panda Restaurant Group has grown to over 1,300 family owned locations covering 38 states, Puerto Rico and Japan, and a billion dollars in annual sales.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Peggy Cherng, the first Panda Express opened in Glendale, California in 1983.

Andrew Cherng arrived in the USA in 1966 armed with the recipes of his father, Ming Tsai Cherng, a master chef from the culinary rich Yangzhou region of China. Using their savings, Andrew and his father opened a fine dining restaurant, Panda Inn, in Pasadena, California. Andrew recognized the enormous potential of serving gourmet Chinese food in a fast casual environment. It wasn't until after running the Panda Inn for 10 years that he took the next step and revolutionized the concept of the food court restaurant.

Quoted in an article on Immigrant Entrepreneurs in America for ABC News, November 13, 2007, Peggy Cherng says "I think the most important thing for any business is to really serve your customer well. So at Panda, our philosophy is always focus on great food, great service and great ambiance at each location -- coupled with great pricing."

Experienced and award winning designer and architect teams give Panda Express a fun and inviting look. Giant red lanterns hang from the ceiling setting the tone. Brightly colored walls are strewn with framed art, recessed lighting gives off a hue of red while contemporary tables and chairs accommodate guests. Each location is created to function as a dynamic background for Panda's unique tastes.

To her credit, Woodbridge General Manager Kseniya Foster keeps her eatery spic-and-span; it's refreshingly obvious the minute you walk in the door.

Foster is a story herself. After attaining a Master's degree in International Economics from the State University of Management in Moscow, she moved to the U.S. in June 2008. Colliding with the pervasive economic downturn, Foster was unable to find a job suitable for her education. "I had to 'lower' my expectations and start to look for any job. That's how I got to Panda -- I don't regret it once! I love my job!" And it shows!

Her responsibilities include "whatever is needed at the moment," she says. "Cook, serve the guests, operate the cash register, wash the dishes, clean, cut vegetables, etc." Foster even boasts of being a handyman for minor repairs in order to keep her profit/loss in check.

You won't find a lengthy menu like traditional Chinese venues, but the dishes served at Panda Express are meant to impress. An exposed kitchen allows patrons to see how food is prepared. Clean, orderly work stations are visible and a wall-size cooler laden with enormous bins of fresh cut vegetables is dramatic.

Entrees are gentle on sauce and oil which suits my taste. My favorite, Kung Pao Chicken, is served like no other -- lightly glazed and resplendent with colorful chunks of marinated diced chicken, red peppers, zucchini and crunchy peanuts.

At Panda Express, the customer chooses from an ample selection of mouth-watering entrees, creating their own meal in a quick and easy manner. Entrees can be ordered either "a la carte" starting at $3 or in the form of two or three entree plates with a choice of side ranging from $5.99 to $7.24. A Panda bowl priced at $4.99 allows the customer to order one entree with a choice of side. For larger parties, check out Panda's Party Trays that serve 16 to 32 people.

Panda Express claims several original menu items. Sichuan-style Beijing Beef prepared with crispy strips of marinated beef, crisp bell pepper and sliced onion tossed with a tangy sweet and spicy sauce hails from Central China. Sweet-Fire Chicken consists of crispy all-white meat chicken, fresh red bell peppers, onions and juicy pineapple in a zesty sweet chili sauce. Honey-Walnut Chicken is their newest original entrée.

Foster tells me, if they had one, the "Panda Oscar" would go to the Orange Chicken. Originating in the Hunan Province of South Central China, crispy boneless chicken bites adorned in a secret sweet and spicy orange sauce tantalize the palate -- a customer favorite! As fast as they disappear, steaming hot pans of freshly cooked menu items are replenished.

I recommend Panda's special recipe chow mein for a crunchy side. Whole grain noodles are lightly sautéed with generous pieces of celery, cabbage and shredded onion.

Look for the "Wok Smart" symbol on the steam table at Panda Express. The heart of the symbol centers around the Chinese character for "smart." Panda's objective is to provide patrons with healthy choices for a better way to eat. These dishes include classic Broccoli Beef, Mushroom Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken or even their crispy wonton wrapped spring rolls filled with a mixture of cabbage, celery, carrots, green onion and noodles.

My favorite nibble on the go is a single serving of Wok Smart Spicy Black Pepper Chicken, packed in Panda's whimsical Chinese carton for $3, chopsticks on request!

Kid's Meals for guests 11 and under are a steal at $4.50, including a junior-size entrée (shrimp is extra), choice of side and 12-ounce drink plus dessert!

Catering needs? General Manager Foster is eager to provide them. Contact her at 703-670-9168 for further information (email at Kseniya.Foster@PandaRG.com).

The Panda Pledge? Chop veggies every day, prepare our unique sauces in-house, use 100% soybean oil-no trans fat, and never, ever add MSG!

Panda Express also has a heart. In 1999 the Panda Restaurant Group launched Panda Cares, a companywide philanthropic organization that since its inception has given millions of dollars to numerous non-profit organizations, schools and hospitals.

The future looks bright for Panda Express with new locations coming soon in Virginia; the most recent opening on Liberia Avenue in Manassas. For your convenience, check out three additional locations -- two in Manassas and one in Centerville. [Editor's note: This review was based solely on the Panda Express location on Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge.]

PANDA EXPRESS GOURMET CHINESE FOOD

2990 Prince William Parkway

Woodbridge, VA 22192

703-670-9168

Mary Ann Kauchak lives in Lake Ridge. Her third cookbook, "SHORTCUTS, TOO" is available at Mom's Apple Pie in Occoquan. She can be reached at makauchak@comcast.net.