Most Panda Express locations open at 10:30am and close between 9pm and 10pm. But the range is wide, mall food courts close at 8pm, airport branches can open at 5am, and campus locations shut entirely outside term time. Check Panda Express Coupon Code and Menu Prices.
Panda Express hours vary more than almost any other chain, because a large share of locations are licensed rather than corporate and take their hours from the site they sit in. This page gives the typical range for each location type, the holiday schedule, and the only reliable way to check a specific restaurant.
There is no single national opening time. Any page giving you one number is guessing. Use the table below to find your location type, then confirm in the app before travelling.
The type of site matters more than the day of the week. A standalone restaurant with a drive-thru keeps the longest hours; a mall food court unit closes when the mall does, regardless of demand.
| Location Type | Opens | Closes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone with drive-thru The longest hours in the estate | 10:00am | 10:00pm | Drive-thru may run later |
| Strip mall, standalone | 10:30am | 9:30pm | The most common pattern |
| Shopping mall food court | 10:00am | 8:00pm | Tied to mall hours |
| University campus | 11:00am | 8:00pm | Term time only |
| Airport terminal | 5:00am | 10:00pm | Tied to flight schedule |
| Stadium or arena | Event only | Event only | Not open daily |
| Hospital or military base | Varies | Varies | Access may be restricted |
Roughly a third of Panda Express locations sit inside another venue and inherit its hours. That is why national averages are misleading.
Holiday closures are set centrally rather than locally, which makes them the one part of the schedule that is genuinely predictable. Panda Express closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day at almost every location, and runs reduced hours around them.
| Holiday | Status | Typical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Open | Reduced, late opening |
| Lunar New Year | Open | Normal, often busiest day |
| Easter Sunday | Open | Reduced at some sites |
| Independence Day | Open | Normal or reduced |
| Thanksgiving | Closed | Most locations |
| Christmas Eve | Open | Early close, often 6pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed | Almost all locations |
| New Year's Eve | Open | Early close |
Lunar New Year is worth flagging: Panda Express runs promotions around it and several locations report their highest volume of the year. Current offers on Panda Express deals
No. Panda Express has no breakfast menu anywhere in the United States, and the earliest openings are lunch service rather than morning trade. The 10:30am opening at most locations exists because the woks need time to come up to temperature and the first batches need cooking.
Airport locations opening at 5am are the exception, and they serve the standard lunch menu from open. If you are in a terminal at six in the morning, Orange Chicken is what is available.
The app is the only source that reflects same-day changes. Google listings for licensed locations are frequently wrong, because the operator updates the venue’s hours rather than the restaurant’s.
| Source | Accuracy | Reflects Closures |
|---|---|---|
| Panda Express app | Highest | Same day |
| pandaexpress.com locator | High | Usually |
| Google Business listing | Mixed | Often stale |
| Delivery apps | Good for open or closed | Real time |
| Phoning the store | Definitive | Yes |
A quick test: if the app lets you place an order for pickup, the restaurant is open. If ordering is greyed out, it is closed or closing shortly.
Most locations open at 10:30am. Standalone restaurants with a drive-thru often open at 10:00am, mall food courts at 10:00am with the mall, and airport branches as early as 5:00am.
Between 8pm and 10pm depending on the site. Standalone locations typically close at 9:30pm or 10pm, mall units at 8pm when the mall shuts, and campus locations at 8pm.
No, almost all locations close on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are open with an early close, often around 6pm.
No. There is no breakfast menu at any US location. Airport branches open early but serve the standard lunch menu from the moment they open.
Around a third of locations sit inside malls, airports, campuses and stadiums, and take their hours from the venue rather than setting their own. Licensed operators also have discretion that corporate stores do not.
Yes, and it is one of the busiest days of the year at many locations. Hours are normal and promotions usually run alongside it.
Not always. Some standalone locations keep the drive-thru open 30 minutes past the dining room close. The app will still show the store as open during that window.
Codes shown are based on typical U.S. Panda Express Official Website as of August 2026 and may vary by location. Check your local restaurant or Panda Express app for the latest prices.