Panda Express to debut Honey Walnut ShrimpPanda Express to debut Honey Walnut Shrimp

Lisa Jennings

ROSEMEAD Calif. The almost 1,300-unit Panda Express chain will soon introduce a new Honey Walnut Shrimp dish, which the chain said would likely become a permanent menu item.

The new dish launches systemwide March 10 after being tested in about 200 stores. Described as a premium item that is priced about $1 more than other entrees, the dish includes tempura shrimp that is wok-tossed in Panda’s gourmet honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts.

Ala carte, the Honey Walnut Shrimp is priced at $3.90, and prices will range from $6.75 to $6.99 for a two-item plate including the shrimp.

“Honey Walnut Shrimp will quickly become a fan favorite,” said Glenn Lunde, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Panda Express. “Our guests are looking for new and exciting flavors and we are proud to offer our first premium shrimp entree to satisfy those high expectations.”

For the debut next Wednesday, Panda Express said it will send a coupon for a free single serving of the new dish to all of its Facebook friends.

Officials said they were optimistic that the dish would become a permanent part of the menu lineup, given the response seen so far in tests.

Last fall, Panda Express introduced the SweetFire Chicken Breast, a menu item that officials credit for increasing fourth-quarter same store sales by 5 percent.

Based in Rosemead, Calif., the Panda Restaurant Group operates or licenses 1,275 Panda Express units, as well as 28 Hibachi-San restaurants, six Panda Inn locations and one unit of the concept Wasabi.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].