Kitchen Team

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is a family-owned American Chinese restaurant concept founded in 1983 in Glendale, California. As the largest of its kind in America, Panda has grown to nearly 2,800 locations globally, delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences. The company is dedicated to building an organization where people are inspired to improve their lives both professionally and personally, fostering a culture that embraces family values and community impact. Panda strongly believes in equal opportunity employment, ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive regardless of their background or circumstances.

Joining Panda as a Kitchen Team Associate means becoming part of a friendly, supportive work environment where employees become friends and work together to offer guests delicious food and outstanding service. This role invites team players who are eager to learn new skills and grow their careers. Even those without prior experience are welcomed as Panda provides hands-on paid training and ongoing career and leadership development. Kitchen Team Associates contribute to maintaining the store's cleanliness and operational standards and serve fresh, quality food efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Depending on the day, associates may work at different positions including the front counter, drive-through, or kitchen stations, providing versatile work experience.

The role involves interacting with guests to create an exceptional dining experience through friendly greetings, serving food, and handling payments accurately. Teamwork is essential to meet daily goals in a fun and positive atmosphere. The workplace is dynamic and requires employees to adapt to changing priorities while managing conflict and maintaining communication effectiveness. Employees must be able to stand for extended periods, lift up to 50 pounds, and work in a kitchen environment that can be hot and noisy. Safety procedures and operational standards are emphasized to ensure food quality and workplace safety.

Panda Restaurant Group also supports employees through various benefits including flexible schedules, competitive pay ranging from $23 to $26 per hour depending on location and experience, free meals during shifts, and comprehensive insurance options for full-time associates. These options include medical, vision, dental, voluntary short-term disability, and cancer income protection insurance. Additional benefits include health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts, 401K with company match, vacation and sick leave, bereavement and funeral leave, and programs such as Leave Share. Associates enjoy discounts on many brands, referral bonuses, community involvement opportunities through Panda Cares, and clear pathways for advancement into management roles.

Panda is committed to accommodating individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the application and employment process, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This inclusive approach exemplifies Panda's dedication to creating a workplace where all employees can succeed and bring their best selves to work every day.