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expired Posted by Eragorn | Staff • Apr 1, 2025
expired Posted by Eragorn | Staff • Apr 1, 2025

Select CA/NV Panda Express Locations: Get a Plate Meal (2 Entrees + 1 Side)

+ Free Restaurant Pickup

$6.00

$11

45% off
Panda Express
60 Comments 30,005 Views
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Deal Details
Panda Express is offering for Select California and Nevada Locations: Panda Express Plate Meal Order (2 Entrees + 1 Side) for $6 when you login to your Panda Rewards Account (free to join) and apply coupon code DODGERSWIN in your cart. Select restaurant pickup where available to avoid delivery fees.

Thanks to Deal Hunter Eragorn for finding this deal.
  • Note: Additional charge for premium entrées. Available options may vary by location. See the Map at the bottom of the promo page for eligible stores. Offer valid only on the 2-Entree Plate.
  • Must apply the listed coupon code at qualifying location for discount to apply in cart

Editor's Notes

Written by SlickDealio | Staff
  • This price is roughly a $5.50 Savings over the typical price for a Plate meal.
  • Must use code DODGERSWIN to redeem.
  • Tax, delivery, and other fees still apply. Offer only valid the following day after a Dodgers home game win until 11:59pm. Must be logged into / scan Panda Rewards account and limit one redemption per account per day.
  • Only one reward, offer, or coupon can be applied to a single transaction.
  • Valid in-store and online at select participating Panda Express locations.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & refer to the comments below for discussion.

Original Post

Written by Eragorn | Staff
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Panda Express is offering for Select California and Nevada Locations: Panda Express Plate Meal Order (2 Entrees + 1 Side) for $6 when you login to your Panda Rewards Account (free to join) and apply coupon code DODGERSWIN in your cart. Select restaurant pickup where available to avoid delivery fees.

Thanks to Deal Hunter Eragorn for finding this deal.
  • Note: Additional charge for premium entrées. Available options may vary by location. See the Map at the bottom of the promo page for eligible stores. Offer valid only on the 2-Entree Plate.
  • Must apply the listed coupon code at qualifying location for discount to apply in cart

Editor's Notes

Written by SlickDealio | Staff
  • This price is roughly a $5.50 Savings over the typical price for a Plate meal.
  • Must use code DODGERSWIN to redeem.
  • Tax, delivery, and other fees still apply. Offer only valid the following day after a Dodgers home game win until 11:59pm. Must be logged into / scan Panda Rewards account and limit one redemption per account per day.
  • Only one reward, offer, or coupon can be applied to a single transaction.
  • Valid in-store and online at select participating Panda Express locations.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & refer to the comments below for discussion.

Original Post

Written by Eragorn | Staff

Community Voting

Deal Score
+45
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Top Comments

For the amount of food you get for $6, there no other restaurant in CA that can beat it so I completely believe they're losing money on this deal.

60 Comments

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Apr 2, 2025
1,371 Posts
Joined Apr 2004
Apr 2, 2025
Thinkster
Apr 2, 2025
1,371 Posts
Roundabout: Seems like most places are pulling this skimpy, stingy practice. Chipotle, Subway to name a few. Especially if you are not there to supervise them making it or instructing them how to make it!
Apr 2, 2025
2,228 Posts
Joined Aug 2009
Apr 2, 2025
Deals4Lyfe
Apr 2, 2025
2,228 Posts
Quote from Eragorn :
Average profit margin for fast food restaurants are 6-9% according to Grubhub [grubhub.com]. This is a 45% discount so they MUST be losing money on each one sold. My only guess is that people are buying a drink and at the $6 mark, they're breaking even if a drink is sold on each order. I can only assume/guess that at $5, even with purchasing a drink/app they were still losing money.
Is the 6-9% after Grubhub takes their 30%?
Original Poster
Pro
Deal Hunter
Apr 2, 2025
13,711 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
Apr 2, 2025
Eragorn
Apr 2, 2025
Original Poster
Pro
Deal Hunter
13,711 Posts
Quote from Deals4Lyfe :
Is the 6-9% after Grubhub takes their 30%?
Before - https://restaurant.org/research-a...staurants/
There's where they took their stats from.
Apr 2, 2025
412 Posts
Joined Dec 2021
Apr 2, 2025
momgoes2college
Apr 2, 2025
412 Posts
So select participating locations in CA means Southern California? Nothing anywhere near Sacramento or San Francisco.
Apr 2, 2025
1,208 Posts
Joined Mar 2017
Apr 2, 2025
Cheap_skater
Apr 2, 2025
1,208 Posts
Quote from momgoes2college :
So select participating locations in CA means Southern California? Nothing anywhere near Sacramento or San Francisco.
Only in Dodgers territory... and Las Vegas for some reason. Technically it's not even just SoCal because San Diego is excluded too.
Original Poster
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Deal Hunter
Apr 2, 2025
13,711 Posts
Joined Sep 2011
Apr 2, 2025
Eragorn
Apr 2, 2025
Original Poster
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Deal Hunter
13,711 Posts
Quote from momgoes2college :
So select participating locations in CA means Southern California? Nothing anywhere near Sacramento or San Francisco.
There's a map of participating locations at the main link.
Also, Dodgers won today so this will again be active Wednesday.
Apr 2, 2025
153 Posts
Joined Jan 2005
Apr 2, 2025
viking95
Apr 2, 2025
153 Posts
This is not a slick deal if its going to happen 100 times per year.
3

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Apr 2, 2025
79 Posts
Joined May 2021
Apr 2, 2025
FancyTable977
Apr 2, 2025
79 Posts
Quote from Cheap_skater :
Only in Dodgers territory... and Las Vegas for some reason. Technically it's not even just SoCal because San Diego is excluded too.

Well yeah SD is Padres territory…
Apr 2, 2025
254 Posts
Joined Apr 2018
Apr 2, 2025
ShrewdFriction889
Apr 2, 2025
254 Posts
Quote from Eragorn :
Codes don't go live till 9am or 10am PT
It wasn't that. I was trying to use it at a Panda that wasn't a participating location.
Apr 2, 2025
254 Posts
Joined Apr 2018
Apr 2, 2025
ShrewdFriction889
Apr 2, 2025
254 Posts
Quote from OneOrTwo :
Try again at 10am.
It wasn't that. I was trying to use it at a Panda that wasn't a participating location.
Apr 2, 2025
654 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
Apr 2, 2025
iheartdeals123
Apr 2, 2025
654 Posts
Why does it matter if panda express is "losing money" on this deal or not. It's 6 bucks for a plate meal in SoCal. Why can't y'all just take that for what it is.

Panda Express is owned by 1 family and they are billionaires. Nobody is losing anything.
Last edited by iheartdeals123 April 2, 2025 at 06:40 AM.
Apr 2, 2025
2,874 Posts
Joined May 2009
Apr 2, 2025
ctbear
Apr 2, 2025
2,874 Posts
Quote from Eragorn :
Average profit margin for fast food restaurants are 6-9% according to Grubhub [grubhub.com]. This is a 45% discount so they MUST be losing money on each one sold. My only guess is that people are buying a drink and at the $6 mark, they're breaking even if a drink is sold on each order. I can only assume/guess that at $5, even with purchasing a drink/app they were still losing money.
Quote from babygdav :
Let's say 11 oz rice + 6 oz per entree.
Orange chicken in food service bulk (non panda maker). $94 for 12 lbs.
Rice 50 lbs $41 for Botan brand.
1 cup dry = 7 oz vs 1 cup cooked = 8 oz

$2.938 per entree, $0.493 per rice.

So about $6.37.

Obviously, panda is Huge, so their food costs are likely lower than what we can buy as individuals in bulk, so cost of food likely under $3-4.50, and when adding packaging/bowl/utensils, likely about $5-5.50.

Loss leader to get people in.
.....

Then you've got money makers like egg rolls and cola. Assume $2 per drink minimum, 10 dishes per hour, $20 / hr minimum.

In everywhere but Crazy Cali, that'll cover the front server/cashier's wage, but at $21+ starting in CA, that is another loss/wash.

....

But like McD with specials, the idea is to put Panda at front of mind when peeps get hangry to increase the number of average visits per month.

....

Mom and pop operations can be better deals. One near me - better / more authentic food with bigger servings, cheaper.
Just as an fyi...they are not losing money on this promotion (even after accounting for all expenses including rent and payroll). You'd be shocked at the margins. shake head Wink
Apr 2, 2025
1,208 Posts
Joined Mar 2017
Apr 2, 2025
Cheap_skater
Apr 2, 2025
1,208 Posts
Quote from iheartdeals123 :
Why does it matter if panda express is "losing money" on this deal or not. It's 6 bucks for a plate meal in SoCal. Why can't y'all just take that for what it is.

Panda Express is owned by 1 family and they are billionaires. Nobody is losing anything.
I don't think anyone actually cares if they are. It was just something to talk about.

They're obviously using the deal as a loss-leader, expecting people to buy other items while they're there. And even if they do lose money, it's still marketing, getting people who wouldn't usually go to Panda Express inside their doors.
Apr 2, 2025
157 Posts
Joined Nov 2015
Apr 2, 2025
specialistgraner
Apr 2, 2025
157 Posts
Quote from Roundabout :
It's easier to just show up 15 min. before your order is due to be ready, then just tell them you're a few minutes early (this is exactly what I did last year) and watch them make the order in front of you. I've noticed that they try to get you to move away and go down to where the register is, every time I've done this. They don't like you watching how little they're putting in the box, that's for sure. In the last deal a month or two ago when they were giving a free bowl with a purchase of a $30 GC, when I was standing in front of them while they made it, the guy put so little Orange Chicken on top that I complained. I said, "A bowl costs $9.00 and that's the tiny bit of chicken you put in it? Put at least enough to cover the chow mein!" He very grudgingly put a couple of more pieces after saying "that's as much as we're supposed to put in it". There were literally 5 or 6 pieces of chicken. Mad I wasn't happy at all with the amount of food served in the bowl, it makes the plate look generous by comparison (even though they've shrunk that too by 50% or more in the last few years). These guys are so stingy it's almost laughable, and it seems to somehow get worse every year. The Cherngs (the Chinese couple that own all Panda Express locations lock, stock and barrel) must need another new Mercedes this year!
I was really just joking about this. My local location seems to hook it up on the portions but I guess it depends on oyur local location.

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Apr 2, 2025
154 Posts
Joined Apr 2017
Apr 2, 2025
psaturn7
Apr 2, 2025
154 Posts
Quote from iheartdeals123 :
Why does it matter if panda express is "losing money" on this deal or not. It's 6 bucks for a plate meal in SoCal. Why can't y'all just take that for what it is.Panda Express is owned by 1 family and they are billionaires. Nobody is losing anything.
Success ! I had lunch today for $6 !! Thanks to the poster for the reminder !

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