Panda Express just made its most ambitious menu move of the year.
The Cantonese BBQ Brisket hits all Panda Express restaurants nationwide tomorrow, June 2, marking the brand’s first brisket offering in its 43-year history. Available through August 10 while supplies last, the dish has been years in the making — and the specs alone make it worth trying: 44 grams of protein per serving, 410 calories, no vegetable fillers, and a Char Siu-style BBQ sauce that took the culinary team years to develop.
“Cantonese BBQ Brisket is the most ‘American Chinese’ dish we’ve ever made,” said Chef Jimmy Wang, Executive Director of Culinary Innovation at Panda Express.
What Makes This Different
Panda Express built its menu on dishes like Orange Chicken and Broccoli Beef — proteins and vegetables together. The Cantonese BBQ Brisket breaks that mold deliberately. Unlike other Panda Express favorites, the new Cantonese BBQ Brisket is served by itself, without any added vegetables. Chef Wang recommends pairing the new entrée with a simple white steamed rice.
The protein-to-calorie ratio is notably efficient for a fast food entrée — 44 grams of protein at 410 calories puts it among the best high-protein options in the fast-casual category.
How It’s Made
The dish is composed of slow-cooked brisket, hand-sliced into bite-sized pieces, which is then seared in a wok and tossed with a Cantonese-inspired char siu sauce, made with soy sauce, fermented soybean paste, mirin, sugar, onion, garlic, paprika, and sesame oil.
The brisket uses both parts: the point and the flat. Using both cuts is significant — the point delivers rich, fatty flavor while the flat provides leaner, more uniform slices — meaning every serving has textural and flavor variety built into it. The wok-searing step adds the high-heat char that differentiates this from a slow-cooked American-style brisket plate.
The Price Point
As a super-premium entrée, the Cantonese BBQ Brisket costs approximately $2 more than standard Panda Express proteins. Pricing varies by location, but expect it to run roughly $6–$7 as an individual entrée, or as the premium option in any bowl or plate combination.
Why This Launch Matters for Panda Express
Cantonese BBQ Brisket is a culinary innovation years in the making and Panda’s take on a new American Chinese classic — sitting at the crossroads of two great BBQ traditions, the dish reimagines one of America’s most prized cuts through the lens of Cantonese flavor.
The launch is strategically timed for summer grilling season — positioning Panda Express directly alongside backyard BBQ culture while doing something no other chain is doing with the same cut. Char siu — the Cantonese BBQ tradition that inspires the sauce — originated in the Guangdong region of China and has defined Chinese BBQ cooking for centuries. Applying those flavors to American brisket is a genuinely creative culinary synthesis, not just a flavor swap.
The Bottom Line
Panda Express’ Cantonese BBQ Brisket is available nationwide from June 2 through August 10, or while supplies last. It’s the chain’s first brisket offering, its highest-protein entrée to date, and one of the more distinctive summer launches in fast-casual dining this year. Pair it with steamed white rice and let the Char Siu sauce do the work.
