Boerne is getting its first Panda Express, and the fast-casual chain has set an October 2 grand opening at 34646 IH-10 in Boerne Town Center, complete with a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting and a lineup of freebies for early arrivals. The opening caps a project that has reportedly been in the works since 2024, according to MySA.
The Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 9 to 9:30 a.m. as part of the celebration, according to theboernelife.beehiiv.com. The first guest in line is set to walk away with an exclusive Panda Plush, and anyone who buys a Plate or Bigger Plate can score a Pei Pei Blind Box, per the same newsletter.
A Long-Awaited Debut for Boerne
This marks the first Panda Express location in Boerne, MySA reports, and the chain plans to present a $1,000 check to charity on opening day. Panda Express representative Taelor Wilson said the company hopes to be a lasting part of the community and welcome guests to try its American Chinese favorites, per MySA's reporting.
The move follows months of visible progress at the site. Construction was already underway with site prep in progress earlier this year, the same Boerne newsletter reported in an earlier dispatch. A second Panda Express is also being built in nearby Kerrville, signaling a broader regional push for the chain.
Part of a Growing Boerne Town Center Lineup
Panda Express joins a stacked roster of tenants at Boerne Town Center that includes Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, McAlister's Deli, Chipotle, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bad Ass Coffee and Playa Bowls, according to bgadesignbuild.com. Sprouts Farmers Market anchors the center, the design and construction firm notes, and the I-10 corridor near Christus Parkway has become a go-to cluster for quick weeknight dining options in town.
Chicken Salad Chick opened its first Boerne location nearby at 34702 Interstate Hwy 10 West with its own grand opening in June, adding to the sense that this stretch of I-10 has become the town's newest dining destination. Boerne has also seen filings for a KFC and a Sprouts Farmers Market, alongside construction already underway on a Freddy's Frozen Custard, according to MySA.
What to Expect on Opening Day
For now, the spotlight is on Panda Express, which is known for dishes like orange chicken, honey walnut shrimp, chow mein, and broccoli and beef, per MySA's report. The chain traces its roots to Glendale, California, where it opened its first restaurant in 1983, MySA notes. Boerne residents looking to be first in line on October 2 can expect the doors to open at 9 a.m., right as the chamber's ribbon-cutting gets underway.
