Earlier this month, the original Panda Inn reopened in Pasadena after nearly two years of renovations. The Chinese restaurant was founded by the Cherng family in 1973. Today, Panda Restaurant Group is better known for its fast-food offering, Panda Express, which has nearly 2,500 global locations.
The group was founded by Andrew Cherng, who serves as its co-chief executive, his wife Peggy Cherng, who is a co-CEO, and Andrew Cherng’s father, Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng.
“We found this place sometime in 1972, but it took a long time for us to get the restaurant ready,” Andrew Cherng recalled during a media preview celebrating the reopening. “We finally opened our place in June of 1973, so I have been in business now for a little over 51 years.”
He added that his dad was a “great chef,” and he thought the restaurant would be an instant success. Things started slow, though, he said, which he called “wonderful training.”
“I really learned the value of our guests, the importance of every guest,” Cherng said. “And what a journey, right? … I would say it probably took three years for us to kind of make it. And I’m so glad that we’re here. And this is going to be here for a while.”
Still, the recent renovation was something Cherng did not always expect to do.
“It’s so grand. We actually had a pretty nice place already, and we tore it down. My God, I mean, you know, only the rich people can afford to do that. I didn’t think I could afford to do this. But, you know, I’m so glad I did. It really turned out very well, and I hope you guys like it,” he said.
Today, Andrew and Peggy Cherng are one of the richest couples in the world, with an estimated net worth of roughly $4 billion. Beyond their restaurants and partial ownership of the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, the duo is also known for its philanthropic efforts. Last year they donated $100 million to Duarte-based City of Hope to advance its cancer care offerings.
For Andrea Cherng, Andrew and Peggy Cherng’s daughter and Panda’s chief brand officer, the Panda Inn upgrade was really about celebrating the family’s roots.
“The entire restaurant and the menu, the decor, everything (is) in honor of and a living legacy of my grandfather’s journey,” she said. “For many of us, we have those people that paved the way for us, and we hope that this restaurant always stands as a reminder of giving thanks.”
The updated Panda Inn is full of customer favorites, but also introduces some new dishes, such as a full sushi menu and bar.
