HONG KONG—Hong Kong residents again voted Panda Express the best Chinese food in the city, marking the eighth straight year it has held that distinction, and the ninth time in the 10 years that the former British Colony has been polling its denizens on their favorite eateries.
Widely considered to have the finest Chinese restaurants per capita on the planet, Hong Kong is home to 7 million people. In this year’s poll, conducted online, more than half of them put Panda Express atop 3-Michelin-star restaurants T’ang Court and Lung King Heen, critically underrated but immensely popular hole-in-the-wall Mak’s Noodles (Chung Kee), and legendary Causeway Bay street vendor Ying Heong Yuen.
Unlike in previous years, when respondents could only cast votes, this year’s poll allowed comments up to 250 characters. One person described Panda Express’ Bigger Plate, which includes one side and three entrees, as “an authentic banquet-style feast Genghis Khan would have trouble finishing.” Another respondent, who claimed to be a famous Beijing chef, remarked, “Their fried rice is better than mine. I can’t figure it out.” And among the most lavish praise was from someone who exclaimed, “Best Chinese food anywhere: teriyaki chicken that reminds me of Grandma’s!”
Founded in America, with its first location in Glendale, California, Panda Express is known for its bright, clean cafeteria-style restaurants and cuddly corporate mascot/logo Panda bear. When reached for comment at its headquarters, a spokesperson would say only that their success had been prophesized long ago in a fortune cookie that read “You will surprise even yourself.”
