Panda Express Entrees — Menu, Prices & Calories
The entree is the main event of any Panda Express order — the wok-tossed chicken, beef or shrimp that your Bowl or Plate is built around. This page lists every entree in one place, with its a la carte price, calories and protein, so you can compare before you order.
How entrees work, in 20 seconds: Pick a meal size first — a Bowl comes with 1 entree, a Plate with 2, and a Bigger Plate with 3. Standard entrees are included in that price. Premium entrees (shrimp, steak, brisket) add a small upcharge per portion. Prefer an entree on its own? Every dish below can also be ordered a la carte.
Standard Entrees — $5.40+ a la carte
Standard entrees carry no upcharge in a Bowl or Plate. Calories and protein are per standard serving.
Orange Chicken
$5.40+ · 510 cal · 18g protein
The dish Panda Express is famous for. Bite-sized chicken with a crisp coating, glazed in a sweet orange sauce with a gentle warmth at the end. If you have never ordered here before, this is where most people start — it is consistently the chain’s best-selling entree.
Beijing Beef
$5.40+ · 470 cal · 14g protein
Strips of beef with a crunchy edge, peppers and onion, in a sweet and tangy sauce. Sweeter than it is spicy, with a texture fans describe as the crispiest on the menu.
Kung Pao Chicken
$5.40+ · 320 cal · 17g protein
A Sichuan-inspired stir-fry of chicken, peanuts and vegetables with dried chili heat. This is the choice for people who find the glazed dishes too sweet — savoury first, spicy second.
Broccoli Beef
$5.40+ · 150 cal · 9g protein
Wok Smart
Tender beef and fresh broccoli in a light ginger soy sauce. At 150 calories it is the lightest entree on the menu, which makes it the default pick for anyone building a low-calorie Bowl.
Mushroom Chicken
$5.40+ · 220 cal · 13g protein
Wok Smart
Chicken with mushrooms and zucchini in a mild ginger soy sauce. Nothing is fried or heavily glazed here, so the flavour is clean and savoury rather than sweet.
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
$5.40+ · 275 cal · 33g protein
Wok Smart
Grilled chicken, sliced to order, served with teriyaki sauce. With 33 grams of protein it is the highest-protein standard entree — the regular pick for anyone tracking macros.
String Bean Chicken Breast
$5.40+ · 210 cal · 12g protein
Wok Smart
White-meat chicken with string beans and onion, wok-tossed in ginger soy sauce. Light, savoury, and one of the best-balanced entrees for everyday eating.
SweetFire Chicken Breast
$5.40+ · 380 cal · 13g protein
Chicken breast in a sweet chili glaze with pineapple and bell peppers. Sweet first, then a chilli finish — a step up in heat from Orange Chicken.
Sweet & Sour Chicken
$5.40+ · 400 cal · 17g protein
Crispy chicken breast pieces with bell peppers and onion in a classic sweet and sour sauce. Bright, tangy, and a reliable crowd-pleaser for mixed groups.
Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
$5.40+ · 340 cal · 16g protein
Crisp strips of white-meat chicken with vegetables in a honey-sesame sauce. Mildly sweet without the citrus of the orange dishes — a good middle ground.
Black Pepper Chicken
$5.40+ · 280 cal · 13g protein
Wok Smart
Marinated chicken with celery and onion in a bold, peppery sauce. No sweetness to speak of — the flavour is all warm black pepper.
Premium Entrees — $6.90+ a la carte (upcharge from $1.50 in a Bowl or Plate)
Premium entrees use higher-cost proteins. In a Bowl or Plate, each premium portion adds an upcharge starting at about $1.50 on top of the meal price.
Honey Walnut Shrimp
$6.90+ · 430 cal · 13g protein
Large shrimp in a light, crisp batter, tossed in a honey sauce and finished with glazed walnuts. Rich and sweet, and the most popular premium choice by a wide margin.
Black Pepper Sirloin Steak
$6.90+ · 180 cal · 19g protein
Wok Smart
Sirloin steak wok-seared with baby broccoli, onion, peppers and mushrooms in a savoury black pepper sauce. Unusually light for a steak dish — 180 calories with 19 grams of protein.
Cantonese BBQ Brisket
$6.90+ · 410 cal · 44g protein
Limited time
Slow-cooked brisket in a Char Siu-style barbecue sauce, inspired by traditional Cantonese barbecue. At 44 grams of protein it is the highest-protein dish the chain has released. It returned in September 2026 for a limited time, while supplies last — availability varies, so check your local restaurant.
What Does “Wok Smart” Mean?
Dishes marked Wok Smart contain 300 calories or less and at least 8 grams of protein per serving. On the current menu that includes Broccoli Beef, Mushroom Chicken, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, String Bean Chicken Breast, Black Pepper Chicken and Black Pepper Sirloin Steak. If you are watching calories without giving up protein, build your meal from this list and pair it with Super Greens as your side.
Limited-Time & Test Entrees — Read This Before You Travel for One
Limited-time dishes rotate, and dates change. Based on the most recent information available when this page was updated (October 2026):
- Hot Orange Chicken — the original Orange Chicken with extra chili heat. Its most recent run was listed through 30 September 2026, so it may no longer be on the menu — treat any listing you see elsewhere with caution and check in store.
- Cantonese BBQ Brisket — back from 1 September 2026 for a limited time, while supplies last (see Premium Entrees above).
- Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken — a crispy, snack-style chicken with a spiced coating, fried kale and chili crisp aioli. This is a test item in select cities only, not a nationwide menu item, and it can be ordered as a standard entree where it is being tested.
How to Choose Your Entree
You love sweet flavours: Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, Honey Sesame Chicken Breast, Honey Walnut Shrimp.
You want real heat: Kung Pao Chicken first, then SweetFire Chicken Breast.
You are counting calories: Broccoli Beef (150), Black Pepper Sirloin Steak (180), String Bean Chicken Breast (210).
You want maximum protein: Cantonese BBQ Brisket (44g, limited time), then Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (33g) — the best everyday high-protein pick.
You are new here: Orange Chicken in a Bowl with Chow Mein is the classic first order, and it is famous for a reason.
Still deciding on size? Our Meal Sizes guide compares Bowl, Plate and Bigger Plate value side by side. Building a full order? See the Sides menu, check the numbers on the Calories page, and if allergies matter, read the Allergen Menu before ordering.
Entrees — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular Panda Express entree?
The Original Orange Chicken. It has been the chain’s signature dish for decades and accounts for the largest share of entree sales.
What is the cheapest way to try an entree?
In a Bowl. A Bowl starts at $9.30+ with one side and one standard entree included, which is less than buying the entree and a side separately a la carte.
Which entree has the most protein?
The limited-time Cantonese BBQ Brisket, at 44 grams per serving. Among everyday menu items, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken leads with 33 grams.
Which entree has the fewest calories?
Broccoli Beef, at 150 calories per serving — pair it with Super Greens (130 calories) for a Bowl of about 280 calories.
What is the premium entree upcharge?
Premium entrees such as Honey Walnut Shrimp and Black Pepper Sirloin Steak add an upcharge starting at about $1.50 per portion when added to a Bowl or Plate. The limited-time brisket has been listed with a higher upcharge. Exact amounts vary by location.
Are any entrees spicy?
Yes. Kung Pao Chicken and SweetFire Chicken Breast have the clearest heat among standard entrees, and Beijing Beef and Orange Chicken carry a mild warmth. Nothing on the standard menu is extremely hot — limited-time items are usually where the serious spice appears.
Pandee Express Menus is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Panda Express or Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. Prices are starting prices, do not include tax, and vary by location; calories are per standard serving. Menu items — especially limited-time dishes — change, so confirm availability with your local restaurant or the official Panda Express website. Last updated: October 2026.