Panda Express Discontinued Items and Dishes Not on the Menu
Panda Express rotates its menu often, so many dishes people remember are gone. General Tso’s Chicken ran only in 2016, Mandarin Chicken was replaced by Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, and limited-time hits like Chili Crisp Shrimp and Blazing Bourbon Chicken have ended. Panda does not serve lo mein, and soup appears at only some stores. Several favorites have come back, so gone is not always forever.
Which Panda Express items have been discontinued?
Discontinued Panda Express dishes include Mandarin Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken (2016), Chili Crisp Shrimp (2023), Blazing Bourbon Chicken (2024) and Beyond The Original Orange Chicken. Older dishes such as Shanghai Angus Steak, Chow Fun and Potato Chicken appear in Panda’s past nutrition charts but are not on today’s menu.
| Item | When it ran | Closest dish today |
|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Chicken | Regular entrée, replaced (year not confirmed) | Grilled Teriyaki Chicken |
| General Tso’s Chicken | August 10 to December 27, 2016 | Orange Chicken |
| Beyond The Original Orange Chicken | Test 2021; nationwide from September 7, 2022, limited time | Eggplant Tofu for a meat-free entrée |
| Chili Crisp Shrimp | September 6 to December 31, 2023 | Honey Walnut Shrimp |
| Blazing Bourbon Chicken | 50-store test from November 8, 2023; nationwide September 4 to December 2024 | Kung Pao Chicken for heat |
| Crispy Sesame Shrimp & Beef | Seasonal from October 8, 2025 | Beijing Beef or Honey Walnut Shrimp |
| Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken | March 9 to May 25, 2026 | SweetFire Chicken Breast |
| Typhoon Chili Shrimp | 20-store test through September 7, 2026 | Honey Walnut Shrimp |
| Shanghai Angus Steak | Older menus | Black Pepper Sirloin Steak |
| Chow Fun, Potato Chicken, Golden Treasure Shrimp, Hot Szechuan Tofu, Chinese Spare Ribs | Older menus, select stores | Chow Mein, String Bean Chicken Breast, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Eggplant Tofu |
Dates come from Panda’s own announcements and food-news coverage at the time: PR Newswire for General Tso’s, QSR Magazine for Chili Crisp Shrimp and Beyond Orange Chicken, and Brand Eating for Blazing Bourbon Chicken.
Does Panda Express have sweet and sour chicken?
Sometimes. Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast appears on Panda’s nutrition chart as an item served at select locations, not every store, so check the app for yours. The spicy Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken, made with Buldak sauce, was a limited-time dish that ran nationwide from March 9 to May 25, 2026.
If your store does not carry it, SweetFire Chicken Breast is the closest everyday dish: crispy white-meat chicken with red bell peppers, onions and pineapple in a sweet chili sauce. The full story of the Buldak version is on our Dynamite Sweet and Sour Chicken page.
Does Panda Express have lo mein?
No. Panda Express does not serve lo mein. Its noodle dish is Chow Mein, stir-fried wheat noodles with cabbage, celery and onions, served as a side with 600 calories per serving. Many people searching for Panda lo mein are thinking of this dish, which is soft and saucy rather than crispy.
Lo mein and chow mein both use wheat noodles. In American Chinese restaurants, lo mein is usually tossed in more sauce, while chow mein is stir-fried. Panda has only ever called its noodles Chow Mein.
Does Panda Express have soup?
Only at some stores. Panda’s nutrition chart lists Hot & Sour Soup in a cup (12.2 oz, 120 calories) and a bowl (17.4 oz, 170 calories), but it is not part of the standard menu at most locations. Egg drop soup is not on the Panda Express menu at all.
If you want something warm and light without soup, a medium Super Greens side has 130 calories. Check the menu for your store in the app before you go, since soup availability is decided store by store.
Does Panda Express have General Tso’s chicken?
Not anymore. Panda Express offered General Tso’s Chicken as a limited-time dish from August 10 to December 27, 2016, with white-meat chicken, green beans and bell peppers, according to its PR Newswire announcement. Today the closest dish is Orange Chicken, which Andrew Cherng has described as a variation of General Tso’s.
What other dishes do people look for at Panda Express?
People often search Panda Express for Mongolian beef, bourbon chicken and chow fun. Mongolian beef is not on the current U.S. menu. Bourbon chicken only appeared as Blazing Bourbon Chicken, a limited-time dish made with Hot Ones hot sauce in 2023 and 2024. Chow Fun was on older menus at select stores.
- Want beef? Beijing Beef, Broccoli Beef or Black Pepper Sirloin Steak
- Want sweet and spicy chicken? SweetFire Chicken Breast or Kung Pao Chicken
- Want noodles? Chow Mein, the only noodle side
Do discontinued Panda Express items ever come back?
Yes, often. Panda has brought back Hot Orange Chicken several times, returned Beyond The Original Orange Chicken nationwide in 2022 after a 2021 test, and relaunched Cantonese BBQ Brisket on September 1, 2026 after its summer run sold out. Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken also returned nationwide in 2026 after a regional preview.
Real-world case 1 · How fast items return
How long did Brisket fans wait for it to come back?
Cantonese BBQ Brisket’s first run ended on August 10, 2026, and it returned nationwide on September 1, 2026. That is a gap of 22 days.
Result: a limited-time dish that sells out can return within weeks, so a “discontinued” label is not always final.
Real-world case 2 · Limited-time run lengths
How long do Panda Express limited-time dishes usually last?
General Tso’s Chicken ran 140 days in 2016 (August 10 to December 27). Chili Crisp Shrimp ran 117 days in 2023 (September 6 to December 31). Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken ran 78 days in 2026 (March 9 to May 25).
Result: most Panda limited-time dishes last about two and a half to four and a half months.
