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Panda Gourmet would be rocking the culinary scene if its menu, food, and chef were near west side of capital beltway. Truly big kudos to the hard working Chinese family/staff running Panda Gourmet and representing truly unctuous magnificent Sichuan food east of Union Market. The food here rivals my Top#1 spot for seriously addictive Sichuan food. The items we ordered were distinctively "ma" (sichuan flower pepper numbing) and "la" (spicy). We ordered the spicy dry-chili chicken, cold beef & tendon appetizer, spicy lamb skewers, mala water-boiled fish & soft tofu, ground beef mala vermicielli, and mala dry-fried pork intestines, spicy wontons, and dumplings. ==> Flavors were insanely delicious and numbingly addictive all around. Even better, the waitress was fantastic and entertained our request to up the mala levels - fantastic!
It really feels Panda Gourmet is situated in an alternate universe where real hard-to-find Sichuan food is located east of Union Market .... and no one seems to notice. Even the generic name, "Panda Gourmet", can evoke fears or even nightmares of Americanized-/hijacked- fake asian food masquarading as authentic.
My party really want to come back and try MORE if it wasn't for the detracting parking lot and precarious loitering crowd that has nothing to do with the hotel or the restaurant. I wonder if DC local government understands that the business may pick up if it wasn't for the precarious parking lot crowd. If DC local government continues the obvious gentrification projects in the local area, Panda Gourmet is one of the rare establishments that should be saved. Frankly, I don't see any other places on maps that comes close to representing real Sichuan food anyways.
So YES, GREAT FOOD. If you decide to try, reco going in a group so you can order more dishes and try many dishes; and keep an eye on the parking lot.
This is a great place for very authentic Szechuan food. I've been here multiple times and have never had a bad dish. The menu is extensive, but don't expect the food to be "American Chinese." Entrees are typically $15-20, and will be served family style for the table to share. It's in attached to a shabby-looking Days Inn in a shady part of town, but don't let the neighborhood intimidate you; the food is worth it. It's a great stop for lunch or dinner before or after walking around the Arboretum which is pretty much right across the street.
A real hole in the wall find in the city. Amazing Szechuan food. Dan dan noodle is out of this world. Spicy pepper chicken is amazing. Egg soup is just right as well
Rumor has it that Xi Jing Ping visits this restaurant when he comes to Washington DC, so that means this place must be legit right? RIGHT!!
I didn’t think much of it for a long time since it sorta looked like another takeout place that serves the local hotels, but my god, this place is delicious!
It’s such good Sichuan Cuisine, it’s got me coming back again and again! Get the map tofu and the wood ear mushrooms and you won’t regret it.
I want to learn to copy these flavors, but perhaps their wok is just so seasoned, it’s impossible.
This place was awesome! It was so good I came back the next night for another dinner here. The menu seemed to be mostly authentic Chinese food but there were a few American-Chinese options like sesame chicken. Definitely get the “Chinese Burger”
food is authentic and tasty. many professionals in lunch time. value for money.
A True Gem! This is my favorite Chinese restaurant. The rabbit is delicious but be cautious of tiny bones. The boiled fish is my favorite. If you like spicy food, you should definitely give it a try. The cabbage dish is very rich, but quite good. Whenever I have a guest seeking good Chinese food, this is where I go.
It’s good but maybe doesn’t rise to the hype. I think its quirky location is mostly why people love it. It feels like you’ve discovered a hidden gem. The Dan Dan noodles were very spicy and delicious. I liked the scallion pancakes and salt shrimp (though maybe slightly too breaded and not salty enough). A friend recommended the garlic eggplant, which I found disappointing. It was like they put sweet n sour sauce on it maybe. Should have been more garlicky and savory.
Was told of this place by an acquaintance, and thought that it was weird that a great place would be within a motel. I decided to bite and see what the situation was. I was floored coming here. There are many authentic dishes that are wonderful, the service is quick and friendly, the prices are reasonable given the quality of the food and while the atmosphere is lacking, the food itself makes up for all of it. This is easily the best Chinese restaurant in DC
I was skeptical when someone mentioned this place for good Sichuan food…and then more people backed it up so I HAD to try it. Very good! The cold beef and tripe salad, the fried chicken bits, and eggplant were so good! Will definitely be coming back.
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