Panda Express hours
Most standalone Panda Express stores are open 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week; drive-thru runs 30 to 60 minutes longer. Mall food court Panda Express follows the host mall hours (often Sun 11am-7pm). Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day chain-wide. Customer service: 1-800-877-8988.
Panda Express is a US fast-casual American Chinese chain with around 2,400 locations across all 50 states, founded in 1983 in Glendale California by Andrew Cherng and Peggy Cherng (still co-CEOs as Panda Restaurant Group), known for the Original Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, Honey Walnut Shrimp, chow mein, and the half-half plate format.
The questions readers actually ask: what time does Panda Express open today, when does the kitchen close, are they open on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, do mall food court Panda Express stores follow the same hours as standalone locations, and Sunday hours.
Two Panda Express specific things worth knowing: standalone Panda Express stores typically run 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM (drive-thru 30 to 60 minutes longer at newer locations), while mall food court Panda Express stores follow the host mall schedule (often 11:00 AM Sunday open and 7:00 to 9:00 PM close); the chain is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day chain-wide and runs an annual Lunar New Year promotion. Fast-casual peer Chipotle follows a similar Thanksgiving-and-Christmas-closed pattern.
Use the locator below for your specific Panda Express, including drive-thru and food court status.
Is Panda Express open today?
Panda Express generally follows the standard weekly schedule below. Hours can vary by location - confirm your specific store via the official locator.
Panda Express weekly hours
| Day | Typical hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM | Mall food court stores follow host mall (often 10am-9pm) |
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM | Standard schedule at standalone stores |
| Wednesday | 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM | Standard schedule at standalone stores |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM | Standard schedule at standalone stores |
| Friday | 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM | Standalone stores often add 30 min on Fri/Sat |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM | Standalone stores often add 30 min on Fri/Sat |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM - 9:30 PM | Mall food court often opens 11:00 AM and closes 7:00 PM |
Panda Express holiday hours
| Holiday | Date | Status | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Monday schedule (10:30am-10pm) | No closure |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Friday schedule | Not observed |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Saturday schedule | Some mall food court stores follow shortened mall hours |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Monday schedule | No closure |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Monday schedule | Not observed |
| Halloween | Sat, Oct 31, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Saturday schedule | No closure |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Wednesday schedule | Not observed at most stores |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Closed | All standalone and mall stores closed chain-wide | Reopens with regular hours on Black Friday |
| Black Friday | Fri, Nov 27, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Friday schedule | Mall food court busy with shoppers |
| Christmas Eve | Thu, Dec 24, 2026 | Open - modified hours | 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM typical | Early close; mall food court follows host mall |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Closed | Standalone and mall stores closed; rare airport exceptions | Effectively a chain-wide closure |
| Boxing Day | Sat, Dec 26, 2026 | Open - normal hours | Regular Saturday schedule (10:30am-10:30pm) | Reopens with full menu |
| New Year's Eve | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Open - modified hours | 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM typical | Early close; varies by mall |
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Open - normal hours | Regular Friday schedule (some stores open late) | Standalone stores at full hours |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 | Open - normal hours | Regular Monday schedule | Not observed |
| Easter Sunday | Sun, Mar 28, 2027 | Open - modified hours | Reduced hours; many stores 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM | Mall food court follows host mall Easter schedule |
Is Panda Express open on Saturday?
Saturday is the busiest day for Panda Express, especially at mall food court locations during retail peak hours (12:00 PM to 2:00 PM lunch and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM dinner). Standalone Panda Express stores often extend Saturday close to 10:30 PM (vs 10:00 PM weeknights). Mall food court stores follow the host mall's Saturday schedule (commonly 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM).
Is Panda Express open on Sunday?
Sunday Panda Express hours diverge sharply between formats. Standalone stores open at 10:30 AM and close around 9:30 PM. Mall food court Panda Express stores open at 11:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM at most malls (3 hours shorter than Mon-Sat). Easter Sunday runs reduced hours at most stores; mall stores follow the host mall's Easter schedule.
Find a Panda Express store near me
Hours vary by location, so the most accurate hours for your nearest store are on the official Panda Express store locator. Enter your zip code or city to see the closest stores and their current hours.
Panda Express hours - frequently asked questions
What time does Panda Express open today?
Most standalone Panda Express stores open at 10:30 AM Monday through Sunday. Mall food court Panda Express stores open with the host mall (commonly 10:00 AM Mon-Sat and 11:00 AM Sunday). Airport Panda Express locations open earlier (some at 6:00 AM).
What time does Panda Express close?
Standalone Panda Express stores typically close at 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 PM Friday and Saturday. Mall food court Panda Express closes with the host mall (commonly 9:00 PM Mon-Sat and 7:00 PM Sunday). The drive-thru at standalone stores runs 30 to 60 minutes longer than the dining room.
Is Panda Express open on Sunday?
Yes. Standalone Panda Express stores open at 10:30 AM and close around 9:30 PM Sunday. Mall food court Panda Express stores open at 11:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM Sunday at most malls. Easter Sunday is the one Sunday with reduced hours at most stores.
Is Panda Express open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. Panda Express is closed chain-wide on Thanksgiving Day. Both standalone and mall food court Panda Express stores shut so employees can spend the holiday with family. The chain reopens with regular hours on Black Friday.
Is Panda Express open on Christmas Day?
Most Panda Express locations are closed on Christmas Day. Standalone and mall food court stores all close; a small number of airport-based Panda Express stores stay open with reduced hours. Christmas Eve runs reduced 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM hours, and the chain reopens December 26.
Is Panda Express open on Easter Sunday?
Yes, with reduced hours. Most Panda Express stores open at 11:00 AM on Easter Sunday and close around 7:00 PM (2 to 3 hours earlier than the regular Sunday close). Mall food court Panda Express stores follow the host mall's Easter Sunday hours.
Do mall food court Panda Express stores have different hours than standalone?
Yes. Mall food court Panda Express follows the host mall's hours, which are typically 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Mon-Sat and 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday. Standalone Panda Express stores set their own hours (10:30 AM to 10:00 PM common). Drive-thru is only at standalone stores.
Does Panda Express have 24-hour locations?
No. Panda Express does not operate any 24-hour locations. The latest-running stores are at airports (Salt Lake City Airport runs 6:00 AM to midnight) and Las Vegas Strip food courts (Showcase Mall location runs 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM). All other stores close by 10:30 PM.
What is the Panda Express Lunar New Year promotion?
Panda Express runs a Lunar New Year promotion every January or February. The 2025 offer was a Buy One Plate, Share One Plate deal with a free Lunarsgiving Kit on Lunar New Year's Eve, in-store only (not drive-thru, online, or app). Specifics change each year; check pandaexpress.com or the app close to the date.
Does Panda Express have a drive-thru?
Some standalone Panda Express stores have a drive-thru (the chain opened its first drive-thru in 1997 in Hesperia, California, and most newer standalone units include one). Mall food court and airport Panda Express stores do not have drive-thrus. Drive-thru hours typically run 30 to 60 minutes later than dining room close.
What is the Panda Express customer service phone number?
Panda Express customer service is 1-800-877-8988, available Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM Pacific Time and Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Email [email protected]. Each Panda Express location has its own local store phone listed in the locator below.
Where is the nearest Panda Express?
Use the locator below or visit pandaexpress.com/locations and enter your ZIP code to find the nearest Panda Express, including current hours, the location's specific phone number, drive-thru status, dine-in availability, and whether the store is standalone or in a mall food court.
Panda Express customer service: 1-800-877-8988 - call to confirm hours or ask questions.
Relevant articles
Last verified: May 2026 against Panda Express's official store locator and press releases.
Disclaimer: we are not connected with Panda Express or any other company. Whathours.com exists to show the working hours of good businesses worldwide.