Panda Express A La Carte Menu: Sizes, Prices and Serving Weights
À la carte means ordering Panda Express entrées and sides on their own instead of in a Bowl or Plate. Entrées come in small, medium and large, and sides in medium and large. A small entrée starts at $5.40 ($6.90 for premium shrimp or steak) and a medium side at $4.60. One standard entrée serving weighs about 4 to 6 ounces.
What does à la carte mean at Panda Express?
At Panda Express, à la carte means buying an entrée or side by itself, in the size you choose, instead of as part of a Bowl, Plate or Bigger Plate. It is the way to get more of one dish, a side with no entrée, or extra food for the table, priced per item.
The combo meals bundle one side with one, two or three entrée servings at a set price. À la carte drops the bundle. You pick the item and the size, and you pay for each container separately. Appetizers work the same way but come in set piece counts rather than sizes.
What sizes does Panda Express à la carte come in?
Panda Express sells à la carte entrées in three sizes: small, medium and large. Sides come in medium and large. Appetizers are sold by the piece, such as 3 Cream Cheese Rangoons or 2 Veggie Spring Rolls. For big groups, party-size trays go up to 12 to 14 servings.
| Item type | Sizes | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Entrée | Small, Medium, Large | $5.40+ (small) |
| Premium entrée (shrimp, steak) | Small, Medium, Large | $6.90+ (small) |
| Side | Medium, Large | $4.60+ (medium) |
| Appetizer | Set pieces: 1 egg roll, 2 spring rolls, 3 rangoons, 3 potstickers | $2.10 |
| Party-size entrée tray | One size, serves 12 to 14 | $42.00+ |
| Party-size side tray | One size, serves 10 to 12 | $17.00+ |
How much does Panda Express à la carte cost?
À la carte prices start at $5.40 for a small entrée, $6.90 for a small premium entrée such as Honey Walnut Shrimp or Black Pepper Sirloin Steak, and $4.60 for a medium side. Medium and large entrées cost more and the exact price changes by store, state and delivery app.
| Item | Starting price | Calories per serving |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Chicken | $5.40+ | 510 |
| Beijing Beef | $5.40+ | 470 |
| Kung Pao Chicken | $5.40+ | 320 |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | $5.40+ | 275 |
| Broccoli Beef | $5.40+ | 150 |
| Honey Walnut Shrimp (premium) | $6.90+ | 430 |
| Black Pepper Sirloin Steak (premium) | $6.90+ | 180 |
| Fried Rice, Chow Mein, Steamed Rice, Super Greens | $4.60+ | 130 to 620 |
The premium price gap is the same as in a combo meal: a small premium entrée costs $1.50 more than a regular one, which matches the $1.50 premium upcharge on a Bowl or Plate.
How big is a Panda Express serving?
One standard entrée serving weighs about 5.4 to 6.3 ounces, and shrimp is lighter at 3.7 ounces. Sides are bigger: a standard side runs 8.1 to 10.4 ounces. These weights come from the Panda Express nutrition and allergen chart, which lists every calorie count against one standard serving.
| Item | Type | Serving weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Pepper Chicken | Entrée | 6.3 oz | 280 |
| Kung Pao Chicken | Entrée | 6.2 oz | 320 |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | Entrée | 6.0 oz | 275 |
| SweetFire Chicken Breast | Entrée | 5.8 oz | 380 |
| Orange Chicken | Entrée | 5.7 oz | 510 |
| Mushroom Chicken | Entrée | 5.7 oz | 220 |
| String Bean Chicken Breast | Entrée | 5.6 oz | 210 |
| Beijing Beef | Entrée | 5.6 oz | 470 |
| Broccoli Beef | Entrée | 5.4 oz | 150 |
| Honey Walnut Shrimp | Entrée | 3.7 oz | 430 |
| Brown Steamed Rice | Side | 10.4 oz | 420 |
| Chow Mein | Side | 9.4 oz | 600 |
| Fried Rice | Side | 9.3 oz | 620 |
| White Steamed Rice | Side | 8.1 oz | 520 |
Real-world case 1 · Calories per ounce
Why does a side often have more calories than an entrée?
Fried Rice has 620 calories in a 9.3-ounce serving, about 67 calories per ounce. Broccoli Beef has 150 calories in 5.4 ounces, about 28 calories per ounce. Orange Chicken lands in between at about 89 calories per ounce (510 in 5.7 ounces).
Result: the side is the heaviest part of most meals, so swapping Fried Rice for Super Greens (130 calories) saves 490 calories on one order.
Is à la carte cheaper than a Bowl or Plate?
Usually no. A Bowl at $9.30 costs less than buying the same side and entrée à la carte for $10.00, and a Plate saves about $4.30 over buying three items separately. À la carte only wins when you want just one item, such as a single side or one extra entrée for the table.
| Meal | Combo price | Same items à la carte | Combo saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowl (1 side + 1 entrée) | $9.30 | $4.60 + $5.40 = $10.00 | $0.70 |
| Plate (1 side + 2 entrées) | $11.10 | $4.60 + $10.80 = $15.40 | $4.30 |
| Bigger Plate (1 side + 3 entrées) | $12.90 | $4.60 + $16.20 = $20.80 | $7.90 |
Combo servings and small à la carte servings are not always the same amount of food, so think of this as a price comparison for one serving of each item. Details on each combo are on the Panda Express Plate menu page.
Real-world case 2 · One more entrée
What is the cheapest way to add a third entrée?
If you already ordered a Plate at $11.10, a small à la carte entrée adds $5.40, for $16.50 in total. Ordering a Bigger Plate instead costs $12.90, only $1.80 more than the Plate.
Result: upgrading to a Bigger Plate gets you the third entrée for $3.60 less than adding it à la carte.
When does ordering à la carte make sense?
À la carte makes sense when you want one item without a full meal, a side on its own, or extra entrées to share at home. For a family, the 5-Person Family Meal at $43 already bundles 2 large sides and 3 large entrées, which is usually better value than separate large containers.
- Just a snack: one small entrée or an appetizer for $2.10
- Vegetables only: a medium Super Greens side, 130 calories
- Extra for the table: one more large entrée next to a Family Meal
- Office or party: party-size trays, entrées for 12 to 14 people
