

KEY FRANCHISE STATS
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$1,187,000
Established in 1990 in Glendale, California, Panda Express has grown into a leading fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in American Chinese cuisine.
Headquartered in Rosemead, California, the brand is celebrated for its signature dishes like Orange Chicken and Beijing Beef, which blend traditional Chinese flavors with American culinary influences.
While primarily company-owned, Panda Express offers limited franchising opportunities in select venues such as airports, universities, and hospitals.
The menu at Panda Express features a wide array of entrees, sides, and appetizers, all prepared fresh and served quickly to cater to the fast-paced lifestyles of its customers.
The brand differentiates itself by combining traditional wok cooking techniques with modern flavors, ensuring a consistent and high-quality dining experience.
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Panda Express provides comprehensive training programs to ensure that franchisees and their staff are well-prepared to operate their restaurants effectively. The initial training program encompasses both classroom instruction and on-the-job training, covering essential aspects such as food preparation, customer service, and restaurant management.
This training is designed to equip franchisees with the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain the brand's standards and deliver a consistent dining experience to customers.
Additionally, Panda Express offers ongoing support and training opportunities to help franchisees stay updated with new procedures, menu items, and operational best practices. This continuous education ensures that franchisees can adapt to changes and uphold the quality and efficiency expected of the Panda Express brand.
Panda Express does not offer exclusive territory protection to its franchisees. This means that the franchisor reserves the right to establish additional company-owned or franchised restaurants in proximity to existing franchise locations.
As a result, franchisees may face competition from other Panda Express outlets within their operating area.
The absence of territorial exclusivity requires franchisees to focus on delivering exceptional service and maintaining high operational standards to attract and retain customers.
Below are some of
Panda Express
key competitors in the
Asian
sector.

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$515,000
$3,276,000
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$1,187,000
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Nan Xiang Express is a fast-casual dumpling franchise offering soup dumplings, noodles and Shanghai-style snacks, serving mall visitors and busy urban diners, and known for Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao roots, handmade dumplings and quick, comforting counter service.
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International Food Creations is a gourmet Asian food-service franchise offering sushi, mochi donuts, and prepared meals through supermarket, university, and office counters, serving grab-and-go shoppers, and known for convenient, high-quality Japanese-inspired dishes and efficient, small-footprint operations.
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Lime House is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering sushi, ramen, and Burmese-inspired dishes, serving diners seeking approachable Asian flavors, and known for chef-driven recipes, fine-dining quality ingredients, community-focused hospitality, and an accessible build-out model for multi-unit or first-time restaurant owners.
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PokiTomik is a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering poke bowls, sushi burritos, and Asian-fusion dishes, serving health-minded guests seeking customizable meals, and known for fresh proteins, vibrant toppings, quick-service formats, and contemporary branding tailored to busy urban and neighborhood locations.
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Vegan District is a plant-based restaurant franchise offering vegan comfort foods and beverages, serving health-conscious diners and ethically minded consumers, and known for indulgent yet animal-free menus, contemporary branding, and positioning within the rapidly growing plant-based dining market segment.
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Kuma Ani is an Asian-food franchise offering ramen, donburi and ban mein bowls, serving quick-service diners and urban food-lovers, and known for authentic flavours, streamlined operations and investment starting around $345k-$544k.
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