UPDATE 2014-Nov-21: Finally, and far, far too late to save the reputation of AYCEs everywhere, the Happy Panda is gone. But don't get your hopes up... like a B-movie the downed monster just keeps getting back up and it's apparently just a name change with the same crew still slinging the same sad, soggy drek. Only a review of the new place (called "Dragon Roll" we've heard) will suffice, so wish us the best.Went to the "Happy Panda!" The way I figure it is the Panda is happy because if this is what humans survive on, we're doomed, and pandas will soon dominate the earth.
Thankfully, the Happy Panda is at the thin edge of the low-end market. The cost is pretty reasonable on Tues. and Wednesday nights only at $9.99 for dinner! But I think you should save your money for the World Wildlife Fund. Occasional flashes of tastiness will be obscured by longer experiences of "Can I finish this?" Food is generally tasteless and if there is a strong flavour to be found, it's one that would be better left lost. But there are exceptions...Some specifics survived to tell about are:
The unexpectedly good:
- The lemon chicken was actually pretty good. This is one of my "barometer" foods which usually indicates whether the rest of the food will be good or not. In this case the barometer was high, but it rained anyways...
The expectedly ungood:
- There were only a few shriveled sushi rolls left, quickly exhausted. The pickled ginger tasted like floor cleaner. The chicken wonton soup provoked dread..
- The wings not only spent too much time tanning under the heat lamps, but I was ready to send them to the museum for archiving...
- I took a picture of the chicken balls which actually incorrectly labelled, as they were more like dough balls. There was a marble-sized core of chicken inside which has me still wondering whether it was chicken at all...!
Overall rating: 5/10
(Without the cost would be a 4.0; however $9.99 is a good price, and I don't mind the decor/ambiance of the place, so I'll be generous and give it a 5.0.)
