Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Panda Express in Santa Barbara

3.8 (139) 3849 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, United States

Categories

Chinese restaurant
Asian restaurant
Restaurant

Location on the map

Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, US

Phone: +1 805-569-8800
Site: https://pandaexpress.com/loc...

Opening hours

Monday:9:30 AM–10:30 PM
Tuesday:9:30 AM–10:30 PM
Wednesday:9:30 AM–10:30 PM
Thursday:9:30 AM–10:30 PM
Friday:9:30 AM–10:30 PM
Saturday:9:30 AM–10:30 PM
Sunday:10 AM–10 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 3.8

139 Reviews for Panda Express 2024:

Review №1

2023-10-16 23:03:24

Staff ignored me while they prepared take out orders. Did say hello only that I was standing in the wrong place to order. Then continued to ignore me when I moved the 2 feet he asked me too. Ivan needs customer service training.

Review №2

2023-10-28 01:03:35

The food was fresh and tasty but they were missing a few of the entrees. The service was average. The atmosphere was a bit cold and dark.

Review №3

2023-11-04 03:17:28

I took a picture of a baby roach(that means that theres a mess of them) that was roaming around the food. Please make sure to spray thoroughly...I applaud the young kid, he was more embarrassed than his supervisor/manager that was just There doing nothing! Couldnt upload the picture, but just go to my profile. The health dept. Should be visiting soon.

Review №4

2023-07-06 03:50:10

This location is the worst santa barbara has to offer. Go to the Goleta one instead, especially if it’s later in the evening. Paseo Nuevo’s is also better. *Based off MULTIPLE experiences lol*

Review №5

2023-03-08 09:12:04

Ive been going here for the last 4 years and there is something very wrong here. They are constantly out of the entrees that should be ready, the manager has a defiant, spirit of resistance thats the way it goes attitude, and the employees are like non responsive robots who demonstrate zero customer service attributes. All kinds of people are standing around waiting for their orders as if it was a place where you go in and place your order and then they make it. Too bad no one can hold this manager accountable, she and her people are getting away with total incompetence.

Review №6

2023-06-15 02:26:28

I like this Panda Express location a lot more than the one downtown. The service is better here with more friendly and helpful staff, and there’s also more seating available here.

Review №7

2023-03-10 04:04:15

This location has got to be one of the most poorly run franchises across any restaurant -- this is not an exaggeration. theyre constantly out of normal items that should be easily stocked, the staff are very rude and standoffish, they prioritize making online orders and make people ordering in store wait for ages while they prep endless online orders, theyre always randomly closed early and serve you cold stale food. Avoid.

Review №8

2022-06-16 14:16:10

Haven’t been to my favorite Panda Express since Covid-19 for more than two years . Unfortunately I was very disappointed after I went to this location yesterday around 8:00pm. While I waited for my order, I noticed : after the cashier girl handled the money, she used her dirty hands directly to open the food bag to put egg rolls, or pack the food boxes, grab the sauces WITHOUT sanitizing her hands first. Of course no gloves either. The cashier was poorly trained to have basic sanitation’ and disinfection knowledge. I reminded her to clean her hands before touching any food related stuff. She was angry and didn’t care. This is totally unacceptable.for food service. From the google reviews, it seems this issue didn’t get any improvement. Also the team couldn’t handle the busy orders well, it was a mess. Won’t recommend this location .

Review №9

2023-06-23 19:19:08

Everytime i eat here my fried rice is burnt! other than that the meat is always delicious!

Review №10

2022-04-09 02:42:30

Went there the other night at 9pm. They close at 10pm. Orange chicken looked stale. According to Andrew Cherng, theyll make a fresh batch. I know this to be corporate policy. I was going to order two combo plates. NOPE! Apparently they stop cooking a whole hour before closing. So... If you want fresh, dont order an hour before they close as they intend to sell you stale food at regular prices.

Review №11

2022-05-15 00:06:26

Don’t even go to this Panda Express anymore because they charge you more than others in the Santa Barbara County and they don’t give you the sauces or cookies anymore. The employees that work there only mirror the management/manager(s) there in a bad way. Instead, go to the one in 131 N Fairview Ave in Goleta because they give you far more food at the same price and with better costumer service and they still give you the sauces and cookies that come with the meal.

Review №12

2021-09-20 22:00:31

My wife an I are real fans of Panda Express. The food is consistent and a real value. But we will be staying away from this 3849 State St/La Cumbre Plaza location. The management is argumentative and make one feel there asking for something ridiculous. You just want what you ordered. The food is cold and bland. Does not taste like Panda Express food should. Some of the item are unrecognizable by taste or appearance. I ask for 1/2 chow main and 1/2 rice and when I got home the chow main was 10% noodles and 90% fried onions. I have had 3 bad experiences in the last 2 1/2 months. I am done trying. I will have to drive to Goleta at this point. I have seen some very negative reviews going back month with no improvement. Cant figure how they still have a 4 star rating.

Review №13

2022-08-17 08:17:10

The staff was in shambles, there were a couple other customers who were waiting for their orders to be cooked. There seems to be a cook who does not communicate well with his co workers because when I arrived they did not have much of a selection as they usually do and the food they did have looked old. I could hear the servers telling the cook to make double of some food items and he was...... hesitant. This is not the first time I have noticed that specific cooks lack of communication and teamwork.Ill give this panda the benefit of the doubt, I know the online and phone orders are making things a lot harder for them. I also arrived about an hour and a half before they were closing when the above took place. So for this panda by the plaza, I say definitely way better for lunch, but if you have to, try not going or ordering too late.

Review №14

2022-01-28 02:17:52

I honestly received the worse service in my life here. While waiting in line two of the workers were arguing in front of all of the patrons. Secondly, they messed up my order and weren’t to happy about fixing it. I said thank you and she ignored me. My boyfriend went to get napkins and they didn’t have any left in the dispenser. He asked the lady in the front for napkins and she only gave him 3. I’m sitting with 5 other people. What are we supposed to do with 3 napkins? I went to go ask for my fortune cookies because my boyfriend and I didn’t get one. She only gave me one. I asked for another one and she wasn’t too happy. My sister asked for the bathroom code and she said it very fast multiple times. My sister couldn’t understand her. Apparently this happened to another patron because he went to ask the lady in the front about the code not working. They were not friendly at all and just plain rude.

Review №15

2023-09-12 19:04:32

Yum! Great staff can answer your questions.

Review №16

2023-10-27 23:30:50

The Chicken Terriaki was very good.

Review №17

2018-06-18 01:43:21

Panda Express in La Cumbre Plaza is a great place to go to get good food, fast. There are lots of menu items to choose from, so everyone in your party will be able to find something tasty to eat. My friend and I went during the week, around 6pm. When we got there the line was a little long, but it went by pretty fast. Im allergic to a lot of foods, but I am always accommodated here. The staff is friendly..the restaurant wasnt that clean however, and we had to beg for some cleaner to wipe off our table and chairs as they were sticky.

Review №18

2019-07-24 06:56:00

Have to wait so much time, more than 35 min. This place takes so many others online which is understandable, but what is not agreeable is the fact that they are short on employees. The manager refuses to have more employees on one shift so for those customers that do not order online, have to wait more time than in a actually “fast food place”. Have balance, value all your customers time.

Review №19

2022-06-05 19:04:08

Customer service is bad. A guy was changing his bandage where he cooks, didn’t wash his hands and the girl helping him didn’t even bother wearing gloves. Sanitation is a total fail here.

Review №20

2022-01-29 01:45:31

Save your money and go to real chinese food. Its not like it used to be. I remember when they used to give big portions and you always got all of your order on time. Now when you order online your waiting an hour for your food and the portions are so small. Its not worth the price you pay. I wont be going there anymore. Foodade me geel sick anyway. 😫

Review №21

2016-12-17 14:07:27

Ive been going to this Panda Express for about 10 yrs. Staff has always fast and courteous.Never a big fan of the beef dishes as the meat has always been tough and grizzly. Premium is okay.Chicken dishes have always been pretty good and what I usually order. But yesterday the chicken in those dishes was terrible. The chicken was for the most part fatty, grizzly and tough. It was cooked right but the meat quality has gone downhill substantially.May try it one more time but this is what Panda Express has succumbed to I wont be eating at this food chain anymore.

Review №22

2020-10-28 20:41:29

If Asian fast food had a proper name it would be Panda Express. But they do not serve panda, just to be clear. I am sure many people have that question and ask for panda. They do have the same typical fare theyve had for the last 20 years. Cheap and filling, mediocre quality.

Review №23

2022-12-10 18:15:58

The location at La Cumbria has a long line if you go at 7pm but sometimes we just cant help it. But even with the extra long wait this time, we still feel that they didnt skimp on the portion sizes and that is important to us. We order a plate with 3 sides, take it home and share it. If you fill out a review after, you get the 3rd side free! We pay about $10 for dinner for 2. =)Last time we ordered orange chicken, teriyaki chicken, and kung pao chicken (mushroom chicken was a 5 minute wait). Then we repurposed the peppers 🌶 from kung pao and put them in the soup broth we were making to give it some heat!

Review №24

2019-02-03 02:15:17

A staple from my time living on Hope Ave, loyal customer since they opened ~2009. I had to restrict myself to peak hours, as they wouldnt make anything fresh outside of those, and they would often close far earlier than their posted hours. I normally got food to go, as there wasnt much atmosphere or customer service. Fave dishes were half noodles half veg side, orange chicken and asparagus or mushroom chicken.

Review №25

2022-06-30 02:51:57

Rude, Rude,Rude. I’ve been coming here forever I like the food but the employees are unfriendly and nasty. Food is not always great. If I was not moving out of the area I would start going to their Goleta location. If you can I would go there.

Review №26

2019-07-18 01:31:27

WORST PANDA EXPERIENCE EVER!!!!!! DO NOT GO TO THIS LOCATION! WAITED 30 MINUTES FOR MY FOOD. 20 mins waiting in line then 10 minutes from starting my order until I paid. UNREAL! The Manager was no where to be found. Way UNDERSTAFFED. To top it off the Cashier Johnathan was a snail, just watching orders pile up... waiting to be rung up and he is slowly putting on sweet n sour lids and typing the items in the register with no sense of urgency even though the line wrapped around to the door. Johnathan forgot the most important thing.. our utensils for our to go order!! Super frustrating, we didnt realize until we took off.They didnt have some food items ready and people that were in line way before us were sitting and waiting for it. Wow! Waiting 30+mins for Panda is ridiculous.👎🏽👎🏽

Review №27

2022-09-11 16:35:50

One of my favorites. Theres another chain in Los Angeles, called yoshinoya, its really good, unfortunately they dont have it in SB yet.

Review №28

2020-11-29 18:43:05

Food here is goodOnly thing is that their chow mein noodles need to be cooked more . 4 out of 5 times they are hard like they havent been cooked long enough. but they still taste good

Review №29

2022-06-24 09:04:31

Can get very busy but they manage to make the wait time within reason. Food is good and usually I will get it once or twice a week.

Review №30

2021-10-01 03:00:05

Out of chow mein, out of orange chicken, out of white rice...only Panda Express Ive been to where this has happned. Basic ordering should note that if you get X amount of customer a day-week you should order appropriate amount of food.

Review №31

2019-07-29 03:32:48

Busy place, my greens were old so Im giving them 3 stars. Also, my order was incomplete, good thing I ate inside otherwise I wouldve been upset when I got home and realized I was missing my cream cheese wontons.

Review №32

2022-04-20 03:25:18

It was really, really busy. Since we ordered online, we skipped the long, boring line. In and out in less than 2 minutes.

Review №33

2020-07-04 06:00:16

Its best to come afternoons because I been told a few things about ex worker something about them cleaning with chemicals above the food area in the morning you be the judge but after all that is served to the morning customers im sure the chemicals are gone thats when I go to eat hehehe good clean food for me I come once and awile love the beef and brockly and orange chicken.

Review №34

2022-12-19 03:48:55

They literally just gave me leftovers like pack it with food not scraps its not coming out of your paycheck.

Review №35

2017-03-28 23:45:18

Probably the best Panda Express location in the Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Ventura areas. Clean and nice staff. Less skimpy with food and ensuring that hot dishes are replenished.

Review №36

2020-06-28 06:14:12

Big sign at entrance read 10 people max, I paid and was waiting for my food counted 18 customers plus 6 employees! I was shocked no one told them to wait outside..

Review №37

2018-04-02 06:30:16

Weve been going to this Panda Express for a number of years. Food usually hot and fresh. Nice portion sized entrees. Staff friendly.

Review №38

2022-05-02 03:13:23

Terrible service the girl who attended us with an angry face the cashier does not have to grab food if she is grabbing money the portions are very small sometimes and others are very generous 🤦

Review №39

2021-11-19 05:04:12

Its an okay panda, usually a really long wait in my experience, though they do have very geneoreioius porshun sizes

Review №40

2021-03-14 06:17:25

Friendly employees, clean safe environment. Great food for the money! The Panda Express at La Cumbre is the best!

Review №41

2022-04-04 05:07:50

I came across very dangerous Spanish speaking man.. Carrying themselves in a very threatening manner. I will never go there with family and friends.

Review №42

2016-12-18 22:57:24

Staff is VERY rude. I felt like I was in an inner city high school cafeteria being rushed through the lone by the person that was serving my food. No customer service skills whatsoever. Will not be coming back.

Review №43

2017-10-05 23:08:55

Food was great, not too packed. We were able to sit immediately and the restrooms were squeaky clean! Very happy to see that.

Review №44

2020-01-17 07:37:00

The people are nice reasonably priced just dont go too close to closing they stop making food about an hour before they close after that its made to order will be there awhile

Review №45

2023-08-24 22:48:13

Nice place, good food

Review №46

2022-05-08 05:31:03

Food was great as always. Good size portions and fresh.

Review №47

2021-07-16 13:50:17

The service was very good.The food was not good.Very fatty chicken.Left my stomach upset all night

Review №48

2018-02-23 03:25:49

Best panda ever. Excellent service, delicious food and clean restaurant. I have been to more than 15 different pandas: this by far is #1

Review №49

2021-11-24 02:08:35

Long wait, weird rules, online orders only is not good business but to each their own

Review №50

2018-06-29 17:05:40

Would have gotten five stars if the staff managed the line better but this seems to be an issue with most panda locations.

Review №51

2022-08-14 20:33:18

Cool place - great parkingA lot of nearby business and restaurants to choose from

Review №52

2023-04-18 20:46:01

Its okay food & its fast!

Review №53

2020-09-09 22:03:19

We wait for almost 30 min to get our food...while the employees were talking and joking around and only the cook was working doing the hard work

Review №54

2020-02-27 04:52:36

If you like Chinese food to go this is a great place. The staff Is always helpful I highly recommend.

Review №55

2019-09-22 00:20:14

Food great! Prices fair. BATHROOMS are always dirty. Toilet rocks, no soap or towels.

Review №56

2019-04-28 05:09:10

Chow Mein was cold, had to wait 20 minutes for orange chicken, could have gotten better food faster at a real Chinese restaurant.

Review №57

2022-10-16 14:15:01

Had no Beijing Beef, and they didnt seem to care.

Review №58

2019-08-13 19:26:56

Always fresh always busy always friendly one of my go to Chinese spots cheap large portions

Review №59

2022-06-02 03:37:56

Great service, good tasty fast food

Review №60

2019-12-28 00:24:48

Good but very busy and not managed very well. Seems like employees need better direction.

Review №61

2016-02-21 05:53:44

Im here in front of this Panda Express right now its 9:50 pm and the doors are locked employees are cleaning up. It says on here that its open till 10:30pm?

Review №62

2015-12-28 06:24:20

I was just there. It was 9:10 pm, the open sign was on (their closing time sais 10pm) and they wouldnt serve me :( Ill try again tomorrow...

Review №63

2020-02-22 23:17:35

That was the smallest portion I’ve ever had at a Panda Express. I’ll come here only if “Marco” doesn’t serve me again. I’m leaving hungry.

Review №64

2019-12-08 21:20:01

Absolutely Disappointing! The fried rice is always burnt! The one on Paseo is amazing

Review №65

2019-06-03 07:19:45

Nice location with decent staff. Clean, lots of elbow room, and choice of music was great!

Review №66

2020-10-13 14:48:49

Good food, but smaller portions than Im used to.

Review №67

2019-12-03 00:04:35

Food is great but every time I go there I have to wait for so long because they dont have food ready

Review №68

2022-03-10 02:15:33

Frequently gets orders wrong, forgets items, rude staff

Review №69

2019-07-17 20:27:56

Great food, they can get busy

Review №70

2018-06-10 04:36:20

Great location...supper clean supper comfortable. Restourant next door -3stars thou.

Review №71

2018-07-30 20:33:48

Good food, love the Walnut shrimp n orange chicken!

Review №72

2015-11-18 20:07:07

This is a good Panda Express. It gets busy around dinner time so plan accordingly.

Review №73

2019-03-27 23:58:08

The rice and noodles is very hard. Please cook the food properly.

Review №74

2020-12-18 01:31:35

I payed with my wrong card, and tried to pay again with another but no refunds...

Review №75

2019-03-05 03:48:19

They dont make everything too spicy like other Panda Expresss

Review №76

2019-08-16 22:41:06

Nice place and fortune cookies that is a real match for everyone

Review №77

2019-04-26 03:00:28

More broccoli then beef, service was slow

Review №78

2021-09-27 01:20:37

They should have more employees at this location.

Review №79

2019-11-19 20:38:13

Portions are reduced in size they serve more rice and less meat?

Review №80

2018-06-07 05:25:44

Ran out of cooked food and had to wait...dinner time.

Review №81

2014-07-02 20:28:33

Love their food espashioly the orange chicken

Review №82

2018-12-18 06:39:06

They seem to run out of food items during peak times.

Review №83

2018-06-04 03:17:43

Long lines. But better than the other panda nearby!

Review №84

2015-10-20 04:30:25

Good fast food Chinese. The works could be little friendlier.

Review №85

2022-05-01 01:24:32

Food very fresh very good.

Review №86

2021-05-12 00:18:10

More expensive than other PEs

Review №87

2020-10-27 23:14:23

Panda is one of my favorite eateries.

Review №88

2018-12-14 21:20:18

Great food love the terayaki chicken

Review №89

2022-12-31 06:18:07

Good fast food

Review №90

2019-01-04 23:12:12

Really greasy and customer service sucks

Review №91

2019-04-14 23:16:20

Consistently above average food

Review №92

2020-01-17 08:34:53

Great experience. I loved it.

Review №93

2021-10-07 01:00:06

Love the green bean chicken

Review №94

2021-05-01 02:44:09

Its Panda, good and great!

Review №95

2020-06-29 20:14:45

The teriyaki tasted good 👍 😋

Review №96

2019-10-07 02:54:32

Chinese cafeteria. Pretty good!

Review №97

2019-01-29 05:01:08

Fast, friendly service!

Review №98

2020-11-21 01:38:50

Good customer service

Review №99

2020-03-07 04:07:41

Tons of selections especially the half and half

Review №100

2016-07-23 19:24:44

Great fast food.

Review №101

2019-01-09 02:20:09

Fast Chinese. Reasonably priced.

Review №102

2022-11-27 00:57:42

Speedy service.

Review №103

2017-01-30 13:53:33

Good Chinese fast food.

Review №104

2016-01-02 02:26:52

Beijing beef is the best!

Review №105

2017-04-10 01:44:47

Entire family loves it!!

Review №106

2018-04-20 03:07:12

Really bad service

Review №107

2020-06-10 02:29:34

Good service!

Review №108

2020-02-20 02:39:33

Good tasting food

Review №109

2020-01-29 14:47:39

Always good

Review №110

2017-05-23 05:55:25

This is my goto panda

Review №111

2019-04-30 08:50:02

Very delicious

Review №112

2018-05-02 16:07:27

Great food

Review №113

2018-11-14 21:39:11

The worst ever

Review №114

2018-05-08 02:04:26

Lunch time

Review №115

2022-05-19 02:58:53

Today I went to buy a family meal and they gave me the Entree in half and when I looked at them and told the staff and the manager they told me that they would check the policies before buying, they were not at all friendly nor were they interested in helping me, rather They turned around and didnt pay attention to me and there were no other customers in the place, the shrimp, they gave me half the box and also the str Bn Brest, apart from the fact that if you buy shrimp they raise the price, they never tell you that theyre going to give it to you in half

Review №116

2022-05-14 02:08:17

The truth is that it is one of the Panda Express with the WORST SERVICES, they ask for things and they give them to you however they want. I ordered chicken Teriyaki and they gave me without sauce. If you are asking for teriyaki, it is because of the sauce. In any case, I only ask for chicken, only apart from that and no. They make the sauce as before they prepared it, there is and the one they give in a sachet is not good, BAD service, it does not compare with the Panda Express in Oxnard California, there is a yes, they do make the traditional teriyaki sauce.

Review №117

2020-12-06 01:09:00

Very clean, good service, but the one who served me picked up some objects from the floor and when serving me the food, she did not change her gloves or wash her hands.Very clean, good service but the one who attended me picked up some objects from the floor and at the time of serving the food she did not change her gloves or wash her hands.

Review №118

2023-10-11 04:28:20

Badly they have to work on many points

Review №119

2021-12-16 20:06:13

Mm, the service was a bit slow but the menu was delicious and I tried a very new almond chicken dish. Rich taste

Review №120

2022-05-05 05:51:52

They are very slow to give you orders and you ask them for what you want and they dont give you everything you asked for and they neglect things that you could give them.

Review №121

2023-05-28 06:15:45

Excellent service very good food

Review №122

2023-06-02 09:13:28

I love the food in that restaurant

Review №123

2022-01-12 00:48:55

Very good location and with outdoor tables for one person or family, comfortable and clean.

Review №124

2021-07-13 19:26:47

Please put what time they open so as not to waste time since today they opened at 11 am 07/13/21

Review №125

2021-07-12 06:51:23

Great attention. Service and good humor.

Review №126

2019-02-11 22:48:06

I love this service it is excellent

Review №127

2019-12-23 06:18:55

The food is very delicious 🤤

Review №128

2021-01-30 01:17:22

I love the food highly recommended

Review №129

2021-08-12 20:08:59

Excellent orange chicken.

Review №130

2015-11-17 16:43:06

Great selection and on the table quickly!

Review №131

2019-03-09 23:39:35

It is eaten very tasty

Review №132

2019-11-02 20:54:11

Delicious, very commercial

Review №133

2019-03-12 03:16:43

Very good food

Review №134

2019-03-05 03:46:07

Good food and fast fastfood

Review №135

2018-06-03 12:07:31

On the plate

Review №136

2020-05-09 02:43:08

Food and service is good.

Review №137

2020-09-04 02:10:45

The food is cool

Review №138

2016-10-14 18:36:27

Good panda.

Review №139

2018-09-19 05:14:33

Tasty dishes