Panda Express plans to open Kerrville restaurant location on Main Street

Panda Express, a popular fast-food chain, is set to open a new location in Kerrville, expanding its presence in Texas’s Hill Country. City Community Development Director Drew Paxton announced during a recent episode of The Lead Live that Panda Express has submitted a site plan for review. The new restaurant will be located near the new site of a Frost Bank on Main Street, between Quinlan and Clay Streets.

As the largest Asian-American restaurant chain in the United States, Panda Express specializes in American Chinese cuisine and operates over 2,400 locations nationwide, with approximately 13% of those in Texas, making it one of the chain’s strongest markets. Although a building permit has not yet been filed, city staff have already reviewed the site plan. Paxton mentioned that the approval process for Panda Express is similar to that of Academy Sports, adding, “Nothing’s done until it’s open.”

Unlike most fast-food chains, Panda Express follows a corporate ownership model rather than a franchise system. The company retains direct ownership and operation of nearly all its restaurants, with limited exceptions for specific venues such as airports and universities.

Founded in 1983 by Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express opened its first location in a Glendale, California, mall. The Cherngs previously established Panda Inn, a full-service Chinese restaurant, in Pasadena in 1973. Andrew, who was born in China and raised in Taiwan, and Peggy, who was born in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and raised in Hong Kong, met as international students at Baker University in Kansas.

Peggy Cherng, who holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, introduced technological innovations to the restaurant industry by implementing computerized systems for inventory tracking and ordering, which were groundbreaking at the time for Chinese restaurants.

Today, the company remains family-owned and is managed by the Panda Restaurant Group, which encompasses Panda Express, Panda Inn, and Hibachi-San Japanese Kitchen. Their daughter, Andrea Cherng, currently serves as Chief Brand Officer, offering a next-generation perspective on the business.

The Cherng family, with an estimated combined net worth of over $7 billion according to recent Forbes estimates, is also known for their philanthropic efforts. Their Panda Cares Foundation has donated millions to support health services for uninsured children, educational initiatives, and disaster relief.

The new Kerrville location will feature Panda Express’s recently updated architectural design, as mentioned during The Lead Live broadcast. The menu will likely include the chain’s signature dishes, such as Orange Chicken, created by Chef Andy Kao in 1987, which remains the restaurant’s most popular item.