Panda Express Secret Menu & Fan Hacks
There’s no official secret menu at Panda Express, but customers and employees have built a handful of popular ordering tricks out of existing items. Most involve mixing sides, combining sauces, or asking for an off-menu prep that staff can usually handle.
Fan-Favorite Menu Hacks
- Half-and-half sides: ask for half Chow Mein, half Fried Rice in the same portion.
- Orange Chicken burrito: Orange Chicken wrapped in a tortilla, a regional test item that went viral online.
- Extra sauce: request more sauce on a saucy entrée like Orange Chicken, usually at no charge.
- Teriyaki-Orange blend: combine Grilled Teriyaki Chicken with Orange Chicken sauce for a smokier, sweeter flavor.
- Kung Pao + Sweet Fire mix: order two entrées together for a spicy-sweet combination.
None of these are official menu items, so whether a store can accommodate them depends on the location and how busy it is. It never hurts to just ask.
Where These Hacks Actually Come From
Most of these started on social media rather than in a test kitchen. Someone posts a combination that worked at their local store, it spreads, and other customers start asking for the same thing. There’s no corporate program behind any of it. Employees who’ve talked about it online generally say requests like half-and-half sides or extra sauce aren’t unusual and are easy to fulfill, since they’re just combining items already on the line rather than requiring new prep or ingredients the store doesn’t stock.
Watch the Calorie Count
Stacking two entrées or asking for extra sauce adds up fast, since most of these hacks happen inside a Bowl or Bigger Plate where you’re already close to four figures with two or three normal entrées. Check the Nutrition, Calories & Allergen Guide before combining anything if you’re tracking intake, since a “secret” combo can easily run higher than either item would on its own.
Secret Menu FAQ
Does Panda Express have an official secret menu?
No. Unlike some chains, Panda Express doesn’t publish or officially back a secret menu. Everything above is a customer-built combination of existing options.
Will every location make these hacks?
Not guaranteed, since none of these are official items. It comes down to the store and how busy things are at the time.
Can I order a secret menu hack through the app?
Not directly. The app and kiosk menus only offer the standard build options, so combinations like half-and-half sides or extra sauce usually need to be requested in person or added as a note if the ordering flow allows custom instructions.
What’s the most reliable hack to try first?
Half-and-half sides tends to be the easiest, since Chow Mein and Fried Rice already sit side by side on the line and splitting a portion doesn’t require anything the store isn’t already prepping. Sauce-based hacks are a bit more location-dependent.