Guests will be treated to free souvenir cups with complimentary drink vouchers for the exclusive Panda Tea Bar all day, along with prizes every hour
ROSEMEAD, California –September 8, 2014– To celebrate Panda Express Innovation Kitchen’s successful launch, a grand opening event and ribbon-cutting will be held on Wednesday, Sept.10 at 3867 E. Foothill Blvd., in Pasadena, California. The day-long festivities, which are open to the general public, will kick off at 11:30 a.m. when founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng along with Pasadena city officials will host a ribbon cutting ceremony. While supplies last, guests will be given a complimentary souvenir cup with a drink voucher for Panda Tea Bar valid with their next visit for one premium tea beverage (up to $4) such as milk teas, ice-blended teas and fresh fruit teas, all of which can be customized with the addition of boba, lychee or chia seeds. Additionally, throughout the day, guests will be surprised and delighted with fun prizes given away every hour.
“We are honored and excited to celebrate the success of Panda Express Innovation Kitchen with our community, who have received this special store with open arms,” said Andrew Cherng, Founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “Our guests continue to inspire us to innovate and lead the American Chinese restaurant category.”
The family-owned company continues to grow and re-define American-Chinese cuisine and the fast-casual dining experience. Panda Express Innovation Kitchen serves as a platform for Panda to test and experiment with new flavors and dishes, along with designs, décor, layout and even artwork, the best of which will impact future restaurants.
At Panda Express Innovation Kitchen, guests select a base such as a salad, scallion pancake wrap, noodles or rice, then select a protein, such as Honey Walnut Shrimp™, Grilled Chicken Breast, Angus Steak or Orange Chicken, followed by a choice of veggies such as string beans, broccoli, or veggie medley. The made-to-order entrée is then finished with signature house-made sauces and toppings that range from familiar to new, including a spicy Sambal red chili sauce, green onion with ginger sauce, green papaya slaw, pickled cucumbers, crispy shallots, wontons and crushed peanuts. The Orange Chicken Wrap is already proving to be a popular guest favorite, along with the Chinese Grilled Chicken Salad and the Sweet and Crispy Wrap made with Panda’s award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp.
Panda Tea Bar, a hallmark fixture of the Innovation Kitchen, offers guests a modern tea house experience with a wide variety of fresh hand-crafted drinks featuring fresh fruits, milk teas, ice blended drinks and signature teas. The beverages can be punched up by adding fun mix-ins such as tapioca boba, jelly, pudding or chia seeds. Panda partnered with a tea master from Taiwan to develop this interactive and modern way for guests to experience premium teas customized to their liking. Guest favorites include Panda Milk Tea and Green Tea Mojito.
Panda Express Innovation Kitchen was born from the vision of Panda Restaurant Group founder and Co-CEOs, Andrew and Peggy Cherng, who opened Panda Inn in 1973 with Andrew’s father, Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng. Andrew and Peggy’s passion for continuous innovation at all levels of the business was the driving force behind the creation of this dynamic new restaurant concept.
Panda Express Innovation Kitchen is located a short distance from Panda Inn, the company’s original fine dining restaurant from which Panda Express drew its inspiration.
