Panda Express is known for its orange chicken, fortune cookies, egg rolls, and more signature menu items. But is any of it “authentic” Chinese food? Does it matter?
On Aug. 26, Panda Express CEOs and a couple, Andrew and Peggy Cherng, who have been married 50 years, spoke with Savannah Sellers on TODAY about their successful restaurant chain and responded to its criticisms.
Panda Express is currently the largest Asian restaurant chain in the U.S., with more than 2,500 locations nationwide. Despite its popularity, some call out the chain for not serving “traditional” Chinese cuisine. But Andrew Cherng says he isn't bothered by those critics.
“I take no offense at all,” he told Sellers. “You know, I don’t know what authenticity is because there are so many cuisines out there.”
He added, “Whatever sells, we don’t make that decision. Our guests make that decision.”