did panda express discontinue honey walnut shrimp

Did Panda Express Discontinue Honey Walnut Shrimp? An Investigation into the Mysterious Disappearance of a Fan Favorite

As someone who has been a loyal Panda Express customer for over 10 years, I was shocked and disappointed when I recently visited my local restaurant and discovered that the beloved Honey Walnut Shrimp was no longer on the menu. This sweet, crispy, and addictive shrimp dish has long been one of Panda Express’ most popular menu items, which made its sudden disappearance all the more confusing

After asking the cashier what happened to the Honey Walnut Shrimp, I was simply told “it’s unavailable right now.” No further explanation was provided. As a disappointed customer, I decided to investigate further to get to the bottom of this mystery.

The Quest to Uncover the Truth

The first thing I did was look online to see if Panda Express had made any official statements about taking Honey Walnut Shrimp off their menu. Unfortunately, I came up empty. They didn’t say anything on their website or social media pages about ending this fan favorite.

Next, I visited several other Panda Express locations in my area. None of them had Honey Walnut Shrimp either. At each restaurant, I asked the staff if they knew why it was taken off the menu. Most seemed just as puzzled as I was. One employee speculated that it could be a temporary supply chain issue. Another theorized that it was discontinued due to poor sales performance. But no one could provide a definitive answer.

I decided to take my investigation straight to the source. I reached out to Panda Express’ customer service department, both by phone and email. The customer service reps I spoke with were friendly, but they did not have any specific information to share regarding the removal of Honey Walnut Shrimp. The standard response was that “menu offerings vary by location” and that I should “check with my local restaurant for item availability.” Not exactly satisfying.

Scouring the Web for Clues

I looked to food blogs, Reddit, and Twitter to see if other loyal customers could help me since Panda Express wasn’t giving me any clear answers. Looking through message boards and social media showed that people across the country were just as confused and upset as I was about Honey Walnut Shrimp going away.

Numerous posts asked the same question – “Did Panda Express discontinue Honey Walnut Shrimp?” Commenters lamented the loss of their “favorite Panda item” and begged the company to bring it back. Some theorized it was a temporary promotion that expired. Others speculated Honey Walnut Shrimp would return when shrimp prices declined. But again, nothing definitive emerged online to solve this mystery.

So Why Did It Disappear?

After hitting dead end after dead end in my investigation, I could only speculate about the real reason behind Panda Express inexplicably removing Honey Walnut Shrimp from their menus nationwide. Here are the most likely possibilities:

Supply Chain Issues

Like many restaurants, Panda Express has likely faced supply chain disruptions and shortages over the past couple years, especially when it comes to seafood. With shrimp prices fluctuating and availability unpredictable, they may have simply suspended Honey Walnut Shrimp until inventory and costs stabilize.

Seasonal Promotion

Some customers speculated that Honey Walnut Shrimp was only ever intended to be a temporary featured item to drive sales during certain seasons or holidays. Once the promotion period ended, Panda Express removed it from the permanent menu. If this is true, it’s possible it could return for limited-time seasonal offerings.

Poor Sales Performance

If Honey Walnut Shrimp was not a top-selling menu item nationally, Panda Express may have decided to discontinue it to streamline operations and focus on more popular dishes. With rising costs everywhere, slower-moving menu items often get cut.

New Menu Strategy

Panda Express may be in the process of overhauling their menu offerings with new items and promotions. As part of a refreshed menu lineup, they may have cut Honey Walnut Shrimp to make room for new dishes despite its devoted fanbase.

Will Honey Walnut Shrimp Ever Return?

The sad truth is no one except Panda Express executives know if Honey Walnut Shrimp is gone for good or if it will eventually make a return. As a longtime, passionate customer of this dish, I sincerely hope Panda Express hears the overwhelmingly negative feedback about removing it.

My plea to Panda Express is to please, please bring back Honey Walnut Shrimp soon. Even if it’s just for limited-time promotions, your biggest fans would be thrilled to be able to order their favorite meal once more. I know I’m not alone when I say I miss the melt-in-your-mouth sweet shrimp coated in crunchy batter and drizzled in honey walnut sauce.

Until I hopefully get to enjoy Honey Walnut Shrimp from Panda Express again, I may try to recreate it at home. It won’t be as good as the original, but at least it will satisfy my craving for this cherished and deeply missed menu item. To Panda Express, if you’re listening, know that you have an army of devoted Honey Walnut Shrimp lovers eagerly awaiting its return. Don’t let us down!