Columbus is about to get another Panda Express, and this one is aimed squarely at the South Side. The fast-casual chain is opening its sixth Columbus restaurant Tuesday, adding nearly 40 jobs and a double drive-thru to the city’s growing lineup of orange-chicken outposts.
According to a report by WhatNow Columbus, a community ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. The first 88 guests in line will receive limited-edition Panda Express T-shirts, while the company plans to donate $1,000 to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. The restaurant will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
South High Street Gets Panda Express’ Newest Store Design
Panda Express’ Columbus directory lists the new South High Street restaurant alongside five existing locations, including stores near Ohio State, Easton and northern Columbus. The new location will use the company’s latest Panda Home design, with red lanterns, moon gate portals, Chinatown-style signage and a drive-thru setup built for speed.
The menu will feature familiar Panda Express staples including Original Orange Chicken, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Broccoli Beef and Hot Orange Chicken. Guests can also sign up for Panda Rewards through the company’s app or website, according to Panda Express.
A Mall Food Court Staple Keeps Expanding
Andrew and Peggy Cherng founded Panda Express in 1983, launching the fast-casual version of their Panda Inn concept at the Glendale Galleria in California. The company’s history says Panda Restaurant Group now has more than 2,600 stores, while Nation’s Restaurant News recently described the chain as having more than 2,600 locations and 20 million loyalty users.
The expansion puts Columbus in the path of a national growth story that began with a single mall restaurant and has since stretched across the United States and international markets. Panda’s corporate history credits the Cherngs’ combination of restaurant operations and technology-minded systems with helping the family-owned company scale far beyond its early food-court roots.
Opening Donation Will Support Central Ohio Food Relief
The $1,000 opening-day donation is headed to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, which says it is Ohio’s largest food bank and works with more than 600 charities and programs across 20 counties. The organization reports serving more than 500,000 neighbors and providing 3.7 million community meals, according to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
For South Side residents, the practical headline is simple: another nearby option for a quick bowl, plate or family meal, plus a new restaurant workforce and a community donation attached to the opening. The only remaining question is whether Columbus orders the orange chicken by the bowl or by the bigger plate.
