Panda Inn

Panda Inn - A Legacy Reimagined



The global phenomena that is Panda Express all started 50 years ago when the founder of the brand opened his first restaurant, Panda Inn, in Pasadena, California. His inspiration was to introduce the foods he loved from his native Chinato a new audience while also adapting them to Western palettes to create something uniquely new and different that would ultimately become the signature flavors of the brand. When we were asked to redesign the birthplace of this iconic brand as part of their 50-year anniversary celebration, our first question was: What do people love about Panda Inn, and how do we carry that into the next 50 years? The answer lay in its incredible warm, welcoming hospitality, which we sought to enhance through thoughtful design and engage people’s full sensory.



The orientation of the building was changed to move the main entry allowing for a dedicated drop off and a more celebrated sense of arrival. Two outdoor patios were created to blur the line between indoor and outdoor, surrounded by a dry garden inspired by the founders’ birthplace in southern China. Inside, guests are greeted by an edge-lit stained-glass mural behind a custom-crafted reception desk. The open dining room, covered by a high saw-tooth felt ceiling, unifies the space while also providing needed acoustical properties. Surrounding the open dining floor is a variety of larger seating options. Semi-private booths along the street provide a more secluded experience, while three private dining rooms and a founders’ speakeasy karaoke room cater to private parties. A rich palette of walnut wood and satin gold finishes unifies the space, while custom lights are warm and dimmed to bring intimacy to each group. Our goal is for this Pasadena’s Panda Inn to become a lasting part of the community, a place where people gather and create memories. Continuing the founders’ ethos, it reminds us that no matter how long our journey is, there will always be a place with familiar flavors that bring us together—a living room for all.