A nationwide fast-casual Asian restaurant known for its wok-tossed Orange Chicken, Broccoli Beef and Kung Pao Chicken has brought its new “Panda Home” design to Jacksonville.
Featuring a drive-thru, Panda Express recently opened at 9370 Atlantic Blvd. between Chick-fil-A and Chili’s Grill & Bar in the former Pollo Tropical building.
The roughly 3,800-square-foot restaurant marks the return of the California-based restaurant chain to the Regency area after about a five-year absence. Panda Express once had been at Regency Square Mall. In 2019, the restaurant relocated to Atlantic North shopping center at Atlantic and Kernan Boulevards. Now it’s back in the Regency area.
The opening comes about three months after Panda Express debuted its new “Panda Home” design in Northeast Florida with its restaurant at 575 Beachwalk Shore Shore Drive in the Beachwalk mixed-use retail and residential community in Saint Johns.
The Panda Home design was “inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and traditions with modern motifs that tells the unique story of Panda Express,” a restaurant spokesperson previously told the Times-Union when the Beachwalk restaurant opened Dec. 18.
The Regency restaurant, like Beachwalk, features a large brightly colored Dragon Dance mural inside the dining room as well as other traditional Chinese elements along with warm wood tones contributing to the ambiance.
Popular Panda Express menu items
With the tagline line “We Wok For You,” the Panda Express menu includes a variety of bowls, two sizes of plates, Panda Bundle meals, appetizers and desserts.
Signature a la carte dishes ($5.40 to $11.40) include the Original Orange Chicken, Broccoli Beef and Kung Pao Chicken, according to the menu.
New limited-time a la carte offerings ($6.90 to $15.90) inlcude Firecracker Steak & Shrimp, Honey Walnut Shrimp and Black Pepper Sirloin Steak.
The Regency restaurant is among about 129 Panda Express locations throughout Florida. The family-owned and operated restaurant chain lists at least 17 Northeast Florida restaurants, including 12 in Jacksonville, two in Orange Park and one each in Saint Johns, St. Augustine and Yulee, the Panda Express website shows.
Founded in 1983 in Glendale, Calif., Panda Express is the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the United States, according to its parent Panda Restaurant Group Inc. headquartered in Rosemead, Calif.
The Regency restaurant is open to pickup orders from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, according to its website.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Fast-casual Asian restaurant chain returns to Regency area
Reporting by Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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