« Magnolia, Seattle Restaurants

22 responses so far ↓

• 1 Val // Sep 8, 2008 at 8:27 am

  I only got take out from here, and didn’t eat in. But the new ownership started adding massive amounts of MSG to most of the food, which can cause health issues in addition to usually being used to cover up the use of inferior meat and seafood. The lack of MSG was the reason I used to order from Pandasia

• 2 John Gilbert // Sep 11, 2008 at 10:44 pm

  Tried this place back when it was the “Old” Pandasia, and it was more like a mix between rotting vegetables and mall type greasy chinese food. Tried it again when it was the “New” Pandasia, and it was closer to your regular mall type greasy chinese food. So I guess they were able to improve the quality of the food, but unfortunately still not really good. Actually the Pad Thai tasted better two days later heated up. I am still scratching my head on that one!

• 3 Michael // Oct 18, 2008 at 1:40 pm

  Talk about the worst Chinese/Thai/Asian/Human food ever! And it’s better than the “Old” Pandasia!

• 4 Derek // Nov 26, 2008 at 1:47 pm

  Val - curious how you know about the MSG usage at the new pandasia. I ‘ve ate here three times now and had great experiences two of the three (once the food wasn’t that great - possibly because I ordered something I didn’t like). I’m just curious because I want to know if I shouldn’t be going here. So far, no complaints from me!

• 5 Valentijn // Dec 2, 2008 at 6:24 pm

  Derek - They changed their menu to no longer say “No MSG”. I can also taste it when there’s way too much, and the killer migraine 24 hours later is a dead giveaway. Very few chinese restaurants don’t use it, usually just higher-end ones. Some will leave it out if you ask and some say they will but don’t

• 6 Vincent // Jan 29, 2009 at 12:08 am

  Hey Derek. I hope the two times you ate there it was nice and clean! Wow, check on King County Resturant website, see how many bad violations they have had! Thats why it sucks! I stopped going there 12 years ago when I found a worm in my Chow Mein!

• 7 Aaron Mark // Feb 7, 2009 at 1:22 am

  I live in the ballard area and i’ve been ordering deliverys from pandasia for a year now. and deliverys are quite fast but sometimes it takes 45 minutes+ no longer then an hour to get my food. i called in and ask what was the probelm and they told me that it was busy. also the food has gotten better after last month, i have notice. everytime i call in, i order the gen tso chicken and mango chicken, and i enjoy those two dishes very well. and like what val said, you can request them to go low on oil and MSG. and vincent, maybe you should try it again. they have new owners and cooks, and the last time you order was 12 years ago. changes can occur during those 12 years!

• 8 milo dakkat // May 1, 2009 at 7:53 pm

  Very hit and miss. Mostly miss. Some times the take-out is good, other times not. We gave up on it awhile back, tried it again, had one good meal then a sucky one. Not worth the risk of feeling like crap after eating the food. Bummer.

• 9 Val // Aug 2, 2009 at 6:21 pm

  According to http://www.decadeonline.com/main.phtml?agency=skc, at last surprise health inspection this restaurant got 30 points, with 1 high risk violation.

• 10 chiizus // Aug 14, 2009 at 12:17 pm

  The food isn't great or even good. They are always very abrupt on the phone when I've called for take out orders, and they advertise free delivery, but will only deliver if you order $15 or more. Go to Sunny Teriyaki instead. They're just a few blocks away and always very friendly, and cheaper to boot!

• 11 chiizus // Aug 14, 2009 at 12:22 pm

  Interesting explanation of MSG I found on the net:

  Why do food companies add MSG to foods?

  There are several reasons:

  *

  MSG tricks your tongue into making you think a certain food is high in protein and thus nutritious. It is not a “meat tenderizer”. It is not a “preservative”. The food industry is trying to confuse the issue by focusing on the “fifth” taste sense they call umami. Free glutamic acid is detected by the taste buds as a simple way to signal the presence of protein in a food, just as there are fat receptors to detect fats and receptors that sense carbohydrate or sweet flavors. The purpose is to help us discern real food from inedible matter. It changes your perception of not simply taste but the nutritious qualities of what you put into your mouth. However, and here is the main problem with free glutamic acid - It is the very same neurotransmitter that your brain and many organs including your ears, eyes, nervous system and pancreas in your body use to initiate certain processes in your body.
  *

  MSG stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. So many diets these days are concerned about the Glycemic Index of foods and yet none of them address the fact that MSG and free glutamic acid stimulate the pancreas to release insulin when there doesn't even have to be carbohydrates in the food for that insulin to act on. The food industry has found their own “anti-appetite suppressant”. It's a convenient way to keep consumers coming back for more. The blood sugar drops because of the insulin flood. And you are hungry an hour later. Sound familiar?
  *

  The body changes excess glutamate to GABA. GABA may be addictive. It is calming and affects the same receptors in the brain as valium.
  *

  Cost. The illusion created by adding MSG to a food product enables the food processor to add LESS real food. The illusion of more protein in a food allows the food producer to put LESS protein in it. The consumer perceives the product - say chicken soup - to have more chicken in it than is actually there. Example: A well-known brand of dehydrated chicken noodle soup. Is that chicken in there, or a piece of confetti?

• 12 Valentijn // Aug 20, 2009 at 4:19 pm

  Thanks for the info … the neurotransmitter effect explains the fun migraine I used to get from that stuff, including one gem that left half my body numb for 3 weeks. No thanks!

  I also heard (confirmed by someone that tried some pure MSG) that MSG causes salivation, thus causing hunger. But I wonder if it directly causes the salivation or the release of insulin causes the salivation to break down incoming food. Or the MSG affects something that triggers both the insulin and the drooling.

• 13 Valentijn // Aug 20, 2009 at 4:21 pm

  I can't wait til the Magic Dragon opens up next to whole foods … cheap fast greasy americanized Chinese food without MSG. Finally, I can satisfy my cravings for it!

• 14 chiizus // Aug 20, 2009 at 5:15 pm

  What what what? Do tell more!

• 15 Valentijn // Aug 24, 2009 at 12:28 pm

  http://www.magnoliavoice.com/2009/08/18/whole-f... says Magic Dragon is moving in!

  http://www.magicdragonrestaurant.com/menu.html says Magic Dragon uses no MSG! It's an Uwajimaya franchise apparently. I so hope they deliver. But I'd be willing to catch a bus to get it too

• 16 Molly Jane // Aug 24, 2009 at 1:24 pm

  went once…. there orange chicken broke my daughters tooth is was so stale!

• 17 Valentijn // Aug 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm

  http://www.magnoliavoice.com/2009/08/18/whole-f... says Magic Dragon is moving in!

  http://www.magicdragonrestaurant.com/menu.html says Magic Dragon uses no MSG! It's an Uwajimaya franchise apparently. I so hope they deliver. But I'd be willing to catch a bus to get it too

• 18 Molly Jane // Aug 24, 2009 at 3:24 pm

  went once…. there orange chicken broke my daughters tooth is was so stale!

• 19 jinfo // Sep 30, 2009 at 9:44 am

  This place used to be very good, now its absolutely horrible! the place is dirty and smells of garbage and grease

• 20 amusedpen // Oct 23, 2009 at 1:57 pm

  We grab take-out from here 2-3 times a year. When the original owners had it (they made their own noodles) the food was great. It's since changed hands, and while it's still okay for a change, it's never met the standards set by the original owners.

• 21 amusedpen // Oct 23, 2009 at 3:57 pm

  We grab take-out from here 2-3 times a year. When the original owners had it (they made their own noodles) the food was great. It's since changed hands, and while it's still okay for a change, it's never met the standards set by the original owners.

• 22 Chris // May 31, 2010 at 2:06 pm

  Used to eat and order from there a lot _ not any more….last time was the LAST TIME

Leave a Comment (read our comment rules)