The Panda Inn has been serving authentic Northern Chinese cuisine here in Santa Cruz County since 1981. our recipes utilize authentic Chinese ingredients for a fresh and health taste. We do not use MSG, preservatives, We use only healthy oil and low sodium soy sauce when preparing our dishes. Our warmest thanks to all of or loyal customers and a warm welcome to our new guest. It is our pleasure to serve you.
Local chain offering Mandarin & Sichuan entrees, noodles & more in a casual space. Based on 136 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.3 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Takeout ✔️ Delivery
Address:
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd STE 5, Aptos, CA 95003
Phone: (831) 688-8620
Hours
| Friday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Monday
(Labor Day)
|
11:30 AM–9 PM
Hours might differ
|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–9 PM |
Menu
… View more
Photo Gallery
Order and Reservations
Reservations: pandainntogo.com
Reviews
Aart Bik
A very good Chinese restaurant with a very friendly service. The place is divided into many different corners, to the table always feels private. The service is fast and the food looks and tastes good. Recommend for lunch and dinner. And the rooms are full with little pandas, wherever you look!
… more
Mary Breeding
Food is delicious, each entree has a distinct flavor.
… more
Scooter
They only do a-la-carte for dinner. They do not serve meals. I have eaten there three times recently. The food is expensive. Tonight I paid $24 with tax and tip for food I could not eat. It has never been memorable there. Today I ordered Mongolian beef. It was not edible. It was way-way to spicy. I like spicy. This would have made me sick if I forced myself to eat it. I had three bites decided that I would be up all night if I continued. The vegetables were not identifiable. The meat was brazed, not prepared fresh. The sauce was chunky, indicating too much cornstarch. Despite the excess heat no peppers were present. I infer the heat came from an added sauce, maybe ghost pepper? I ended up getting a burger on the way home. My dining partners agreed it was too spicy. It was obviously served from a stew pot and not prepared fresh. The portion was small. The server was not interested in my opinion. The restaurant was at about 10% capacity at 6:30 PM. Needless to say, I will not be back.
… more
SpenDoe
California Hip Hop artist SpenDoe is back with another food review! My favorite Chinese restaurant, ever! I have been coming to this restaurant since I was a kid. This place hasn’t changed one bit, and I love it. The chicken fried rice, ginger beef, and sweet & sour chicken are my favorites. The atmosphere is cozy, and they have outdoor seating. Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, all orders are for take-out only at this time. The staff is always friendly, and the food is always fresh, and amazing. Support your local businesses!
… more
Thomas Meling
Best Chinese food in years. Really good experience.
… more
Erik Garcia
This place is amazing, best chicken chow mein sweet and sour pork and pot stickers in Santa Cruz. Great service and a cozy indoor setting really make the Panda Inn worth stopping by.
… more
Lesley Noble
Really, really disappointing. Ordered vegetable chow mein. Three onions and three pieces of bok choy stem. No other vegetables whatsoever. All noodles. Not right
… more
Kyle Mcnair
I haven’t ate here since I was a child. My gf reminded me of this place and I’m glad she did. I haven’t had one bad or subpart dish. Their soups are full of ingredients. Amazing broths full of taste. I usually stick to a couple items ordering Chinese food but I can tell everything they make is gonna be delicious. Best pork fried rice I’ve ever had. Pork are not bits they chunks unlike any other chinese restaurant.
… more
Cheryl Solis
The food tastes good when prepared right. Now the service team seems focused on getting people through the line. Speedy Speedy but the potstickers weren’t cooked long enough. I couldnt eat them. Also, they’ve shrunk entre serving size when ordering a bowl. Who wants a bowl of rice with 1/3 cup of entre. Too much rice. Too little entre. Must be a profit margin consideration.
… more
Grant Buchwald
My family and I have been eating here for over 20 years and have loved their high quality Chinese food—i believe 5 years back or so they were recognized with an award as one of the best Chinese restaurants in CA. BUT unfortunately the quality has noticeably declined. The food isn’t as good and service isn’t as helpful of efficient. I know times are tough during COVID and having good employees is hard to come by, but the quality SHOULD NOT SUFFER. I’m having doubts after all these years of patronage that I’ll go back again.
… more
… View more