Panda Express Food Blog Awards
Our signature award for unforgettable food experiences
The Panda Express Food Blog Award is our way of saying “this place is worth rearranging your travel plans for.” It highlights restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars, food trucks, and markets that create truly memorable experiences — not just good photos for social media.
What the award means
Venues that receive the Panda Express Food Blog Award:
- Have outstanding food, with a clear identity and point of view.
- Offer warm, genuine hospitality and a welcoming atmosphere.
- Show respect for ingredients and sustainable practices where possible.
- Tell a story — through the menu, the space, or the people behind it.
- Leave our team talking about the experience long after the last bite.
Awarded venues are featured across our blog, social media, and travel guides. We also share professional photography and a detailed write-up that restaurants can showcase on their own channels.
How venues are nominated & selected
There are three main paths to a Panda Express Food Blog Award:
- Editorial discovery — Our team discovers a venue while traveling and nominates it internally.
- Community nominations — Readers, locals, and industry professionals can submit their favorite places for consideration.
- Restaurant invitations — Owners may invite us to visit. If we accept, we always disclose the nature of the visit in our coverage.
Once a venue is nominated, at least two of our experts visit (often separately) to experience the menu, service, and atmosphere. We compare notes and photos, review consistency, and decide whether the place meets our award standards.
How to apply for the Panda Express Food Blog Award
If you believe your restaurant, cafe, bar, or food concept should be on our radar, you can invite us to visit:
- Go to the Visit Your Restaurant page.
- Create an account in our creator portal via the Sign up button.
- Fill out the short application form with details about your concept.
- Attach photos of your food, interior, and team if available.
We review invitations monthly. If your venue is a good fit for an upcoming trip or special theme, we’ll reach out to schedule a visit.
What award recipients receive
- A dedicated feature article on Panda Express Food Blog.
- A digital award badge you can display on your website and social media.
- Professional photography from our shoot (for non-exclusive use, with credit).
- Inclusion in relevant city and country guides for at least one year.
- Priority consideration for future collaborations and events.
We never charge venues to be considered for or to receive the award. Our goal is to celebrate genuine excellence, not to sell recognition.