Prioritizing Health and Well-being

A COVID-19 (coronavirus) update from your Panda Family

We Look Forward To Welcoming You Back Into Our Dining Rooms!

It is important to continue to protect our communities and that includes you. We have gone to great lengths to ensure our restaurants provide a safe and clean environment, to keep our guests and team members safe. As we prepare to reopen our dining rooms in accordance with local mandates over the next few months, we have implemented additional safety standards so that you can continue to enjoy your Panda favorites anywhere you’d like. We can’t wait to see you!

 

PANDA EXPRESS NAMED TOP PERFORMING FOOD & BEVERAGE RETAILER IN COVID-19 SAFETY 2 YEARS IN A ROW

Shares Free Operations Guide to Help Local Businesses

In a recent nationwide consumer study, the global research firm Ipsos evaluated how retailers are operating amid the pandemic. The survey reported that health and safety protocols are 4x more important than good customer service to consumers. We’re proud to announce that Panda Express ranked #1 in health and safety protocols for the food & beverage industry for the 2nd year in a row, outperforming industry competitors on COVID-19 signage, compliance with associates wearing protective gear, and enforcing distancing measures.

At Panda, we believe that we are stronger together, working alongside other businesses to weather through this crisis. To recover as one community, we are sharing our COVID-19 Operations Guide with local restaurants and retailers that may need guidance around health and safety best practices and training. Since March, we have continued to evolve our operations to keep our associates and guests safe, in accordance with CDC & WHO guidelines and in partnership with medical specialists. Featured in the playbook are associate best practices, social distancing guidelines, modified operations best practices and enhanced cleaning & sanitizing protocols.

Download our free COVID-19 Operations Guide .

Read more about the “safest restaurant chain” and survey results.

Panda associate

Here Are The Steps We’re Taking

  • Social
    Distancing

    We maintain a safe distance for you and everyone else

  • Face Masks Required
    for Associates

    All associates are required to wear face coverings

  • Tamper Evident Seals
    & Contactless Pickup

    A safe and convenient way to enjoy your Panda favorites

  • Dedicated Associate as
    Hospitality & Sanitation Lead

    Our Lead deep cleans store areas consistently throughout the day and ensures great guest experience

  • Frequent
    & Thorough Handwashing

    We follow regulatory requirements for frequent and proper handwashing

  • Daily
    Wellness Checks

    We conduct daily wellness checks for our Associates

  • Deep
    Cleaning

    We frequently clean and sanitize high touch areas and each table after every use

  • Limited
    Dining Tables

    We are limiting the amount of tables to accommodate for social distancing

  • Hand
    Sanitizer

    Our restaurants have a hand sanitizer station for guests

  • Air Quality
    Committment

    Our air ventilation system exceeds industry standards and continually cycles fresh outdoor air into our restaurants

Keeping Our Community Safe

Check out the video to learn about what we're doing

It is important to protect our communities during these challenging times and that includes you. We have gone to great lengths to ensure our restaurants provide a safe and clean environment, so you can continue to enjoy your Panda favorites. Check out our video to learn more. We look forward to serving you!

Store Hours And Restaurant Locations

Click here for the most up-to-date store information including locations and hours of operations for all of our restaurant locations. Thank you for your support as we navigate through this unprecedented time together!

NEWS AND UPDATES

Updated Face Mask Policy at Our Stores

May 21, 2021

As we continue to protect the health and safety of our associates, guests and communities, we remain committed to complying with public health recommendations and mandates regarding COVID-19. In accordance with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation, face masks and coverings are now optional when guests visit Panda, except in cities and counties where face masks are still required. Please refer to your local laws for the mask requirements in your area. Our associates at every location will continue to wear face masks to ensure the safest environment in our restaurants.

 

REQUIRING face maskS FOR ALL ASSOCIATES AND GUESTS

July 29, 2020

Protecting the health and safety of our guests, associates and communities is our number one priority. All Panda Express Associates are required to wear disposable face masks at all times. To ensure physical distancing from guests, associates may also wear face shields and/or stay behind plexi-glass barriers in stores. We ask guests to respect our safety protocol and wear face masks when visiting our restaurants. For guests who may not be wearing face masks for any reason, they can still enjoy Panda through various options, including ordering at the drive-thru, curbside pick-up through the Panda Express app or placing a delivery order through Panda Delivers.

 

In addition, many stores have a dedicated Hospitality & Sanitation Lead to ensure a safe and simple dining experience for our guests and answer any questions they may have about our safety protocols. All Panda locations proactively implement additional safety measures including:

  • Nationwide contactless service for on-site, online and mobile order pick-ups and delivery
  • Plexi-glass barriers at the order area and drive-thru
  • Tamper-evident stickers for takeout pails and bags to protect food
  • PPE for all associates (i.e. face mask, gloves and face shield)
  • Enhanced sanitizing and deep cleaning procedures
  • Social distancing and room capacity guidelines
 

Thank you for working together to ensure the safety and well-being of the community. For the latest information about our stores including locations and hours of operations, click here.

 

10% DISCOUNT OFFER FOR HOSPITAL WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS

May 11, 2020

Panda Express is proud to support our heroes on the frontlines. As a token of our deep appreciation, hospital staff and first responders can enjoy 10% off for the rest of the year. We wok for you.

Since March, the company’s philanthropic arm Panda Cares® and co-founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng have donated nearly $9 million to support various COVID-19 relief efforts, including partnering with Feeding America® as well as providing hot meals and personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers. More than 4 million N95, KN95 and surgical masks have been sourced and allocated to hospitals in 13 cities and counting, with a commitment to donate 50,000 meals to care for the healthcare community by June. Panda will continue to fundraise for its COVID-19 Community Care Fund with a new focus on the race to find a cure, supporting a team of renowned scientists that are developing a treatment for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This initiative is led by Dr. David Ho, a famed virologist who pioneered the HIV/AIDS treatment in the 1990s. We thank you, our valued guests, for your generosity—your donations are making a difference.

Read more about our commitment to our community heroes.

Panda Express is offering a 10% discount on purchases made by hospital workers and first responders. This offer is only valid for in-store orders at participating locations. To receive this special discount, present your employment badge or ID when ordering at a participating store in the U.S. and Canada. Not valid with orders made online, through the Panda Express mobile app, or through any third-party delivery service. This offer may not be combined with any other discount, code, or promotion. Valid until December 31, 2020. Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. reserves the right to modify or discontinue this discount at any time without notice. Additional restrictions may apply.

 

CONTACTLESS SERVICE, DELIVERY AND TAMPER-EVIDENT STICKERS

April 21, 2020

Our kitchens are open for you, and we adapt your restaurant experience for the safest and most convenient way for you and your family to enjoy Panda. Early on, our approach was always to take precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of our associates, guests and communities. We implemented nationwide initiatives before federal orders, including dine-in service closure, enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures, masks and gloves usage for associates, as well as social distancing and room capacity guidelines. As the situation continues to evolve, here are the latest additions you can expect at our stores at this time:

  • Contactless service for on-site order and online and mobile order pick-ups and delivery
  • Plexi-glass barriers at the order area and drive-thru
  • Tamper-evident stickers for takeout pails and bags to protect your food

The COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving and impacting each region differently—your restaurant experience may vary depending on the store you go to or the area you live in. However, the end goal is always the same, and that’s to get you your favorite comfort foods as safely and as quickly as possible.

Click here for the most up-to-date store information including locations and hours of operations for all of our restaurant locations. Thank you for your support as we navigate through this unprecedented time together!

 

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DONATION TO OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

April 08, 2020

In the midst of this public health crisis, Panda remains committed to our mission of supporting the health and well-being of our communities more than ever. As the current COVID-19 situation continues to progress in the U.S., it is becoming more difficult for medical workers to obtain proper protective gear, making it increasingly hard to treat those in need in their communities.

Through our philanthropic arm Panda Cares, Panda Express has created a COVID-19 Community Care Fund to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to select hospitals in need so they are best equipped to care for their communities. We are allocating the year-round Panda Cares donation box program to support our COVID-19 relief efforts from March 25 - June 13. All guest donations starting March 25 will be put towards additional PPE, such as respirator masks, face shields, and gowns, to help other hospitals in highly affected areas. Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng will personally donate to the Community Care Fund.

In addition, Panda Cares, with a matching grant from the Cherngs, has donated a total of $2 million worth of surgical and respirator masks as well as gloves to protect patients and healthcare workers at hospitals in COVID-19 hotbeds, such as Southern and Northern California (Methodist Hospital of Southern California, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, City of Hope Duarte, Huntington Hospital), New York, New Jersey and Washington.

“We thank our guests for their generosity during this challenging time. And most of all, we thank the frontline healthcare workers and first responders, risking their lives every day for those in need. We will do everything in our ability, however big or small, to take care of our heroes. We are here for our community. And we are stronger when we stand together.”

– Dr. Peggy Cherng, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group

 

NEW POLICIES TO CARE FOR OUR PEOPLE

March 30, 2020

Our associates (employees) are part of our family and the foundation to our business. We are working quickly to take care of our associates during this time of uncertainty and have invested in new initiatives to care for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In addition to expanding existing benefits to those impacted by COVID-19, such as health insurance, paid sick leave and more, we now offer our Panda family the following:

  • Health and Safety Pay - Up to 14 days of pay if an associate is showing symptoms and needs to seek medical attention, an associate may be diagnosed with COVID-19, or if associates must be quarantined due to close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Store Closure Pay - Pay for associates impacted by individual stores that are temporarily closing.
  • Change of Operations Pay - Pay for associates whose schedules have been impacted by the change in our operations model.
  • Appreciation Pay - Additional pay on top of other benefits to acknowledge associates who are able to continue to serve our guests and communities.
  • Dedicated Physical and Mental Health Helplines - Access to coronavirus-specialized crisis care nurses, virtual doctors and mental health specialists.

We are committed to being here for all of our associates now more than ever. We care. Panda cares.

Our Stores

While the highest health and safety standards and procedures are followed on a daily basis at every Panda location for the past 47 years, we want to make you aware of the extra precautions we have taken in partnership with health authorities.

Learn More

Our People

Our associates are part of our family and the foundation to our business. We are working quickly to take care of our associates during this time of uncertainty and have invested in new initiatives to care for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Learn More

Our Community

Our philanthropic mission has always been about empowering youth and underserved communities through health and education efforts. In the midst of this public health crisis, Panda donates a $2 million to Feeding America so no family or child goes hungry and continues to donate hot meals and protective equipment so that healthcare workers have the essentials they need to care for communities.

Learn More

CARING FOR OUR PEOPLE

Our associates (employees) are part of our family and the foundation to our business. We are working quickly to take care of our associates during this time of uncertainty and have invested in new initiatives to care for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. In addition to expanding existing benefits to those impacted by COVID-19, such as health insurance, paid sick leave and more, we now offer our Panda family the following:

  • Health and Safety Pay - Up to 14 days of pay if an associate is showing symptoms and needs to seek medical attention, an associate may be diagnosed with COVID-19, or if associates must be quarantined due to close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Store Closure Pay - Panda is providing pay for associates impacted by individual stores that are temporarily closing
  • Change of Operations - Pay for associates whose schedules have been impacted by the change in our operations model
  • Dedicated Physical and Mental Health Helplines - This includes access to coronavirus-specialized crisis care nurses, virtual doctors and mental health specialists
 

We are committed to being here for all of our associates now more than ever. We care. Panda cares.

CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY

 

In the midst of this public health crisis, Panda remains committed to our mission of supporting the health and well-being of our communities more than ever. As the current COVID-19 situation continues to progress in the U.S., it is becoming more difficult for medical workers to obtain proper protective gear, making it increasingly hard to treat those in need in their communities.

Through our philanthropic arm Panda Cares, Panda Express has created a COVID-19 Community Care Fund to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to select hospitals in need so they are best equipped to care for their communities. We are allocating the year-round Panda Cares donation box program to support our COVID-19 relief efforts. All guest donations starting March 25 will be put towards additional PPE, such as respirator masks, face shields, and gowns, to help other hospitals in highly affected areas. Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng will personally donate to the Community Care Fund.

In addition, Panda Cares, with a matching grant from the Cherngs, has donated a total of $2 million worth of surgical and respirator masks as well as gloves to protect patients and healthcare workers at hospitals in COVID-19 hotbeds, such as Southern and Northern California (Methodist Hospital of Southern California, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, City of Hope Duarte, Huntington Hospital), New York, New Jersey and Washington.

“We thank our guests for their generosity during this challenging time. And most of all, we thank the frontline healthcare workers and first responders, risking their lives every day for those in need. We will do everything in our ability, however big or small, to take care of our heroes. We are here for our community. And we are stronger when we stand together.”

– Dr. Peggy Cherng, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group

Read more about our commitment to the well-being of our communities.

OPERATING STORES AT THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

While the highest health and safety standards and procedures are followed on a daily basis at every Panda location for the past 47 years, we want to make you aware of the extra precautions we have taken in partnership with health authorities that include:

  • Enhanced hourly sanitizing procedure and deep cleaning four times a day
  • Reinforcement of proper handwashing every 15 minutes
  • Option for guests to request wrapped utensils
  • Training for associates to identify potential symptoms and a clear reporting protocol
  • Health and temperature assessments for associates to ensure they are healthy for work
  • High-grade hand-sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol in stores
  • Gloves and masks for all associates
  • Tamper proof bag seals
  • Contactless pickup for majority of our stores
  • Please note — scientists and authorities who are monitoring the spread of the virus globally have determined that there are no reports of transmission through food (Source: EFSA)

THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR PART

As members of our extended family, we encourage vigilance in following the best practices, provided by recognized health organizations including the CDC and WHO. Simple, everyday habits can help prevent the spread of illness, including:

  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Staying home when you feel unwell
  • Consulting your healthcare provider asap if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing
 

Thank you for being our loyal guest. Thank you for showing kindness. It’s our privilege to serve you, and we intend to continue communicating with transparency for peace of mind.

 

Letter from our Co-founders