Review: Panda Express - Grilled Teriyaki Chicken

Panda Express' Grilled Teriyaki Chicken features grilled marinated chicken filets sliced-to-order with a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce.

It costs the same as the rest of Panda Express's entrees and I picked up a 2-entree plate for $6.59.

I went with my go-to entree of Orange Chicken for the second entree (and it was fresh! Orange Chicken is good, but fresh Orange Chicken is amazing!) and split the sides between chow mein and mixed veggies (it's half healthy and half not-so-much). The mixed veggies were especially nice; just lightly sauteed with a touch of seasoning.

Teriyaki chicken is pretty much a staple at most malls I've been to. There's always a Japanese or Hawaiian shop that offers it (usually with free samples).

There's only so much you can do with teriyaki chicken, so it's unsurprising that Panda Express' Grilled Teriyaki Chicken doesn't add anything new.

Still, it's competently made with what appears to be chicken thigh (Panda Express seems to label their chicken breast dishes with "chicken breast" in the name i.e. "Sweetfire Chicken Breast"). I asked for the sauce on the side and it came piping hot in a little plastic cup. The chicken itself is already seasoned and had a nice bit of char flavor from the grill, so you can easily forgo the sauce and the accompanying sodium.

That being said, the sauce was pretty good. There was a honeyed sweetness and a bit of a fruity tang. It wasn't too sweet or too tangy and hit a nice balance.

Overall, Panda Express' Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is a nice choice if you're in the mood for teriyaki. Paired with some mixed veggies, you get a fairly healthy meal to boot (because Orange Chicken and mixed veggies just feels wrong). Or, if you're looking for value, you can just get a double helping of chicken plus mixed veggies and serve it with homemade rice. Also, Panda Express (at least my local one) will give you a free sample of any dish if you ask.

Nutritional Info - Panda Express Grilled Chicken Teriyaki (6 ounce)
Calories - 300 (from Fat - 120)
Fat - 13g (Saturated Fat - 4g)
Sodium - 530mg
Carbs - 8g (Sugar - 8g)
Protein - 36g