Panda Express first started as Panda Inn at its Pasadena, California, location in 1973. Since then, Panda Express has flourished to more than 1,000 restaurants nationwide. It specializes in authentic Mandarin and Szechuan cuisines. Panda Express offers low-calorie meals on its "wok smart" menu, and has added Kobari beef (thin slices of marinated beef with wok-seared peppers, mushrooms and leeks) to its menu choices.