I have lived in Aptos for 21 years and for years I patronized Panda Inn and it was great. I've been there twice in the last few months and the service and food if awful. My first visit I paid $35 for a small Won Ton Soup and single order of Beef and Asparagus which was horrible and the rice was completely dried out. I went back today because I've been ill with a stomach ulcer and just ordered the small Won Ton Soup $15. The absolute worst part is both times the woman at the cash register was so incredibly rude and did not even say thank you. Disgusting, horrible food and service. They will never get another dime of my money. Don't waste your money at this establishment just to be treated disgustingly rude for awful food and high prices.
Lee C.
Food is ok. Nothing special. From what the locals tell me, it isn't as good as in the past. I would just call it average. Better than Panda Express, but nothing really special. Service was quick for the take out, but I got there at 5. So an early order. The cashier, order taker, waitress was very busy with phone orders and take out, but she managed well. The food was ok. Nothing to rave about, but eatable none the less. The chicken tasted old like it had been prepared earlier in the day and added to our chicken dish. Again, it was just ok. Can't say much about the ambiance since I ordered take out. At 5 there was one couple sitting at a table. I'll go back, but am still in search of something a little more special.
Linda B.
Used to eat here quite a lot when we lived in the area. Used to love the corn chowder so was very disappointed to learn they removed it from the menu Another favorite was the egg fu young. It was melt in your mouth delicious. Not anymore. We were very sad to find that things have changed. We'd gone out of our way to stop in while visiting the general area. We used to take friends and family there as a treat and recommended them highly to others. Couldn't do that now. So unfortunate. Oh well, nothing is more constant than change.
Daniel De Anda
Not worth going here cool experience tho!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jerry S.
Some of the worse Asian food we have eaten since we were there about 2 years ago. We thought we would give them another chance and what a mistake that was. The fried rice was burnt and the pork buns dry. The orange chicken had no flavor and the Mongolian beef was only slightly better. The front counter woman was rude and unfriendly with low effort to provide even basic service. When I called their local phone number after returning home it went immediately to voice mail saying the mailbox was full and there was no way to leave a message. It seems they were off-loading their bad food to the take-out patrons. We have lived in this county for over 40 years and believe in supporting local businesses. We have tried several times to contribute to this business by eating their food and often over the years have had the same results. At this point we just can't continue to support Panda Inn and will not be returning. Make your own decision about where to eat Chinese food in Santa Cruz County, but my suggestion if you are in Aptos is Hong Kong Garden in Seascape Village.
Michael G.
Food is somewhat bland and the friendliness could use some energy. The woman who greeted us seemed to be very sad and apathetic. We will try again soon.
Kelli Oberto
Panda Inn has always been our go to restaurant for Chinese food. That is until tonight. Our food was amazing as usual but we got the bill and it seemed a bit high. Got the check to sign my name and I noticed that the waitress gave herself a $14 tip. Didn't even ask nor did I fill anything out regarding a tip. As we walked out, she didn't even look up at us as we said good bye. We were loyal customers but we won't be returning now. We always tip well but having it pre-filled out and charged to my card was absolutely ridiculous.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kelli O.
Panda Inn has been our go to for Chinese since way before Covid. Last night was our last night eating there. We ordered a normal amount of food. It was good as usual. The bill came and it seemed a bit high. I handed over my credit card not thinking about asking. The slip came back to sign and she had entered a $14 tip for herself and didn't mention it to us at all. The tip for our tab should have been maybe $10. I was so in shock that I didn't say anything then, but I will be calling and speaking with management when they open. Not only is she incredibly rude, she is scamming patrons and giving herself an insane amount of money for a tip. We always tip well but this was ridiculous and theft.
Alden S.
Have been going to this restaurant for 15----17-----20 years, WOW A DOWNHILL RUN, Got take out, person at desk RUUUUUUUUDE person. 125.00 of takeout plus tip, even though rudy person. Food very shy on shrimp, scallops, chicken that I payed PREMIUM price for crap, WORST MONDAY NITE FOOTBALL DINNER EVER, I have never giving a REVIEW. My friends told me they had went down hill.
Sudeshna G.
Panda and serves up fresh, delicious Chinese food. It is by far the best in this area, and I find the dishes to be healthy.
Tasted some wonderful home cooking at Panda Inn. The vegetarian dumplings are flavorful with the right amount of seasoning. The dumpling wrappers are tender. Definitely a little gem in Aptos.
Al R.
Oh man has this place gone downhill. I used to come here when the prior owner had this restaurant. And I go back to mid 1980s coming here. The food was always fantastic. Now it isn't. It isn't bad but it isn't good either. The beef is batter dipped! Uh, what a huge disappointment to my regular Szechwan beef. The sweet and sour pork wasn't sweet or sour. The noodles weren't good. Just a bad way to spend $70 for 4 meals. Sorry, but unless the food improves greatly, that ends it of being the best Chinese restaurant in the county. Go somewhere else. I'm done with Panda Inn.
John Mukhar
This is our go-to Chinese restaurant. I think we tried everything on the menu, including the vegetarian and vegan dishes, and all the soups. The food is always fresh and tastes great. The spices are always perfect, and they are willing to adjust them. We get most of the food to go, but we did eat in and the service is always in.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Takashi T
I have lived in santa cruz area for over 50 yrs and this is the worst Chinese food I've ever tasted. I decided to go with a standard fair.... sweet and sour pork, pork buns and rice. The sweet and sour pork came with plum sauce that was terrible, the pork was dried like what you would expect from processed frozen food and the only item besides the pork was pineapple. The pork bun was not fresh and tasted like it was days old. The rice was dry and might have worked if you used it for fried rice but for white rice it was terrible. I would avoid this place at all costs.
Jazlynn V.
Taste homemade and fresh! The food is amazing if your passing through or a local . Try this family owned place it's a hidden gem
I have lived in Aptos for 21 years and for years I patronized Panda Inn and it was great. I've been there twice in the last few months and the service and food if awful. My first visit I paid $35 for a small Won Ton Soup and single order of Beef and Asparagus which was horrible and the rice was completely dried out. I went back today because I've been ill with a stomach ulcer and just ordered the small Won Ton Soup $15. The absolute worst part is both times the woman at the cash register was so incredibly rude and did not even say thank you. Disgusting, horrible food and service. They will never get another dime of my money. Don't waste your money at this establishment just to be treated disgustingly rude for awful food and high prices.
Food is ok. Nothing special. From what the locals tell me, it isn't as good as in the past. I would just call it average. Better than Panda Express, but nothing really special. Service was quick for the take out, but I got there at 5. So an early order. The cashier, order taker, waitress was very busy with phone orders and take out, but she managed well. The food was ok. Nothing to rave about, but eatable none the less. The chicken tasted old like it had been prepared earlier in the day and added to our chicken dish. Again, it was just ok. Can't say much about the ambiance since I ordered take out. At 5 there was one couple sitting at a table. I'll go back, but am still in search of something a little more special.
Used to eat here quite a lot when we lived in the area. Used to love the corn chowder so was very disappointed to learn they removed it from the menu Another favorite was the egg fu young. It was melt in your mouth delicious. Not anymore. We were very sad to find that things have changed. We'd gone out of our way to stop in while visiting the general area. We used to take friends and family there as a treat and recommended them highly to others. Couldn't do that now. So unfortunate. Oh well, nothing is more constant than change.
Not worth going here cool experience tho!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Some of the worse Asian food we have eaten since we were there about 2 years ago. We thought we would give them another chance and what a mistake that was. The fried rice was burnt and the pork buns dry. The orange chicken had no flavor and the Mongolian beef was only slightly better. The front counter woman was rude and unfriendly with low effort to provide even basic service. When I called their local phone number after returning home it went immediately to voice mail saying the mailbox was full and there was no way to leave a message. It seems they were off-loading their bad food to the take-out patrons. We have lived in this county for over 40 years and believe in supporting local businesses. We have tried several times to contribute to this business by eating their food and often over the years have had the same results. At this point we just can't continue to support Panda Inn and will not be returning. Make your own decision about where to eat Chinese food in Santa Cruz County, but my suggestion if you are in Aptos is Hong Kong Garden in Seascape Village.
Food is somewhat bland and the friendliness could use some energy. The woman who greeted us seemed to be very sad and apathetic. We will try again soon.
Panda Inn has always been our go to restaurant for Chinese food. That is until tonight. Our food was amazing as usual but we got the bill and it seemed a bit high. Got the check to sign my name and I noticed that the waitress gave herself a $14 tip. Didn't even ask nor did I fill anything out regarding a tip. As we walked out, she didn't even look up at us as we said good bye. We were loyal customers but we won't be returning now. We always tip well but having it pre-filled out and charged to my card was absolutely ridiculous.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Panda Inn has been our go to for Chinese since way before Covid. Last night was our last night eating there. We ordered a normal amount of food. It was good as usual. The bill came and it seemed a bit high. I handed over my credit card not thinking about asking. The slip came back to sign and she had entered a $14 tip for herself and didn't mention it to us at all. The tip for our tab should have been maybe $10. I was so in shock that I didn't say anything then, but I will be calling and speaking with management when they open. Not only is she incredibly rude, she is scamming patrons and giving herself an insane amount of money for a tip. We always tip well but this was ridiculous and theft.
Have been going to this restaurant for 15----17-----20 years, WOW A DOWNHILL RUN, Got take out, person at desk RUUUUUUUUDE person. 125.00 of takeout plus tip, even though rudy person. Food very shy on shrimp, scallops, chicken that I payed PREMIUM price for crap, WORST MONDAY NITE FOOTBALL DINNER EVER, I have never giving a REVIEW. My friends told me they had went down hill.
Panda and serves up fresh, delicious Chinese food. It is by far the best in this area, and I find the dishes to be healthy.
Restaurantji Recommends
Tasted some wonderful home cooking at Panda Inn. The vegetarian dumplings are flavorful with the right amount of seasoning. The dumpling wrappers are tender. Definitely a little gem in Aptos.
Oh man has this place gone downhill. I used to come here when the prior owner had this restaurant. And I go back to mid 1980s coming here. The food was always fantastic. Now it isn't. It isn't bad but it isn't good either. The beef is batter dipped! Uh, what a huge disappointment to my regular Szechwan beef. The sweet and sour pork wasn't sweet or sour. The noodles weren't good. Just a bad way to spend $70 for 4 meals. Sorry, but unless the food improves greatly, that ends it of being the best Chinese restaurant in the county. Go somewhere else. I'm done with Panda Inn.
This is our go-to Chinese restaurant. I think we tried everything on the menu, including the vegetarian and vegan dishes, and all the soups. The food is always fresh and tastes great. The spices are always perfect, and they are willing to adjust them. We get most of the food to go, but we did eat in and the service is always in.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have lived in santa cruz area for over 50 yrs and this is the worst Chinese food I've ever tasted. I decided to go with a standard fair.... sweet and sour pork, pork buns and rice. The sweet and sour pork came with plum sauce that was terrible, the pork was dried like what you would expect from processed frozen food and the only item besides the pork was pineapple. The pork bun was not fresh and tasted like it was days old. The rice was dry and might have worked if you used it for fried rice but for white rice it was terrible. I would avoid this place at all costs.
Taste homemade and fresh! The food is amazing if your passing through or a local . Try this family owned place it's a hidden gem