Panda Express Logo: History, Design and PNG Downloads 2026

The Panda Express logo traces back to 1973, when founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng opened Panda Inn in Pasadena, California. The current red-circle panda emblem debuted in 1983 and has been refreshed four times since, most recently in 2026. Each version keeps the panda, the color red, and the brand’s tie to Chinese heritage intact.

Panda Express is more than a fast-food chain  it’s a visual case study in how a restaurant logo can stay recognizable for over 40 years while still evolving with the times. From a hand-drawn panda cradling bamboo to the sleek, trademarked emblem seen today, the brand’s identity tells the story of a family business that grew into the largest Chinese restaurant chain in the United States.

What Is the Panda Express Logo?

The Panda Express logo is a circular emblem featuring a stylized giant panda set against a red background, paired with bold typography reading “Panda Express.” It’s used across more than 2,600 restaurant locations worldwide and functions as the primary visual identifier for Panda Restaurant Group’s largest brand.

What Is the History Behind the Panda Express Logo?

The Panda Express logo history begins a decade before the first Panda Express restaurant existed. Andrew Cherng, his wife Peggy Cherng, and his father, Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng, opened Panda Inn in Pasadena, California, in 1973 (Wikipedia). That sit-down restaurant’s logo  a panda holding a bamboo shoot inside a red circle with a maroon “Mandarin Cuisine” banner  laid the visual groundwork for everything that followed.

In 1983, a developer at the new Glendale Galleria mall, a regular Panda Inn customer, asked Andrew Cherng to open a faster, counter-service version of the restaurant inside the mall (Wikipedia). That restaurant became the first Panda Express, and it introduced a simplified panda-in-a-red-ring logo that has anchored the brand ever since.

By 1987, the chain had introduced Orange Chicken, created by chef Andy Kao  a dish so closely tied to the brand that it became inseparable from the logo’s identity on packaging and signage (Logos-World). Panda Express passed 250 locations by 2000, crossed 1,000 by 2007, and opened its 2,000th restaurant in 2017 (QSR Magazine).

What Does the Panda Express Logo Look Like in 2026?

The Panda Express logo in 2026 keeps the brand’s signature red circular lockup but simplifies the composition for cleaner scaling across digital apps, drive-thru signage, and packaging. Panda Restaurant Group’s official brand asset library now lists this as the current logo, replacing the 2014 version (pandarg.com/brand-assets).

As of year-end 2025, Panda Express operated 2,607 locations systemwide, up from 2,502 in 2024  the brand’s strongest growth year since 2016–2017 (QSR Magazine). That scale is part of why consistent, adaptable branding matters: the same logo now needs to work on an airport kiosk generating over $4.1 million in average gross sales and on a mobile app icon (QSR Magazine).

What Do the Logo’s Colors and Panda Symbol Mean?

Each element of the Panda Express logo connects back to Chinese cultural symbolism and practical brand strategy:

• The panda: China’s national animal, chosen to visually anchor the restaurant’s Chinese-American menu and signal cultural authenticity.
• Red: Updated from a raspberry shade (#CE123D) to the current red (#C12322) during the 2014 redesign  red symbolizes luck, happiness, and celebration in Chinese culture (Logos-World).
• Black and white: Used for contrast and legibility, echoing the panda’s natural coloring.
• Typography: Before 2014, the brand used Frutiger Cond Bold, designed by Adrian Frutiger. The 2014 refresh introduced a custom Gotham-based typeface with bamboo-like serifs on the “P” and “D” (Logos-World).

Where Can You Find the Panda Express Logo PNG?

If you need a Panda Express logo PNG for editorial, academic, or approved commercial use, go directly to the source rather than third-party logo sites, many of which host outdated or unauthorized files.

• Panda Express logo PNG: Available through Panda Restaurant Group’s official brand assets page, which includes the current lockup for press and partner use (pandarg.com/brand-assets).
• Panda Express logo PNG transparent: Third-party sites like Freebie Supply and SeekLogo host transparent PNG and SVG versions, but these are unofficial and may not reflect the 2026 logo update (Freebie Supply).
• For licensed or commercial use: Contact Panda Restaurant Group’s marketing team directly, since the logo is trademarked and unauthorized use has previously resulted in legal action against copycat restaurants (Logos-World).

What Other Logos Does Panda Restaurant Group Own?

Panda Express logos are just one piece of a larger brand family. Panda Restaurant Group  headquartered in Rosemead, California  also owns and licenses logos for:

• Panda Inn: The original sit-down restaurant chain, still operating in California.
• Hibachi-San: A Japanese hibachi concept.
• Yakiya: A Japanese-inspired fast-casual brand.
• Uncle Tetsu: A Japanese cheesecake brand Panda Group helped expand in the U.S.

How Does the Panda Express Logo Compare to Competitors?

Panda Express stands apart by using an animal mascot tied directly to its cuisine’s cultural origin, something most fast-casual Chinese competitors skip in favor of typography-only branding.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Panda Express logo created?
The original Panda Inn logo debuted in 1973, and the Panda Express version  the panda-in-a-red-circle design still recognizable today  launched in 1983 at Glendale Galleria in California.

Who designed the current Panda Express logo?
The 2014–2026 version was designed by Brent Schoepf of Studio MPLS using a custom Gotham-based typeface. The 2026 refresh is managed internally by Panda Restaurant Group’s brand team.

What do the colors in the Panda Express logo mean?
Red represents luck and celebration in Chinese culture. The current red is #C12322, updated from an earlier raspberry shade (#CE123D) during the 2014 redesign.

Why does the Panda Express logo feature a panda?
The panda represents China’s national animal and signals the restaurant’s Chinese-American culinary identity, directly reinforcing the brand name.

What font does the Panda Express logo use?
Before 2014, the brand used Frutiger Cond Bold. Since 2014, it uses a custom typeface based on Gotham, with bamboo-inspired serifs on select letters.

How many Panda Express locations are there in 2026?
Panda Express ended 2025 with 2,607 locations systemwide, and the company has projected continued growth into 2026, including 132 new company-owned restaurants.

Where can I download an official Panda Express logo PNG?
Official brand assets, including PNG and logo files, are available at pandarg.com/brand-assets for approved press and partner use.

Can I use the Panda Express logo for my own project?
No, not without permission. The logo is trademarked, and Panda Restaurant Group has pursued legal action against unauthorized use, including a 2020 trademark dispute involving a similarly named competitor.

What other restaurant brands share the Panda Express logo family?
Panda Restaurant Group also owns Panda Inn, Hibachi-San, Yakiya, and Uncle Tetsu, each with its own distinct logo.

How much revenue does Panda Express generate?
Panda Restaurant Group reported $5.9 billion in revenue for 2024, with Panda Express alone generating $6.199 billion in domestic systemwide sales that year.