Panda Express Just Dropped a New Menu Item and Surf & Turf Lovers Are Ecstatic
Panda Express just launched its newest limited-time dish, and it’s not another orange-glazed chicken remix. The American Chinese food chain has rolled out Crispy Sesame Shrimp & Beef, a combo entrée that, according to "Allrecipes," pairs tempura-battered shrimp with crispy fried beef, tossed in a savory-sweet sesame sauce with bell peppers, string beans, and a sesame seed finish. It’s Panda’s version of surf and turf—not necessarily white tablecloth style, but saucy, spicy, and ready to be piled over noodles or rice.
The new combo means Panda Express is leaning into the current trend of “double protein” orders. It's the kind of meal that looks like someone couldn’t choose which direction to go, and decided to get both. The new offering will be available in both bowl and plate builds, but it's only available for a limited time.
As part of the rollout, the brand is also promoting Wok Wednesdays through its app, offering digital-exclusive rewards, along with games and other promotions tied to the launch. Panda Express isn’t just adding a menu item, it’s adding another reason to tap into the app and make a return visit.
Sesame Shrimp & Beef Doubles Down On Protein
This isn’t surf and turf in the classic steakhouse sense. No butter dishes or prime cuts, but it delivers the same marriage of steak and seafood that's known to be an indulgent and winning combination. On Reddit, early customers noted that the shrimp pieces are large and tempura-style, while the beef carries more of a sweet glaze. Some users commented on the shrimp-to-beef ratio, mentioning that the mix leans more seafood-heavy, which sparked discussion over whether it qualifies as a true “split” or more of a shrimp dish with beef added in.
The Sesame Shrimp & Beef flavor profile isn’t just a subtle dash of oil or seasonings. It shows up as a glossy, slightly sweet sauce with a toasted finish, closer to a “street food” glaze than a simple sesame oil drizzle. It’s the kind of flavor that reads instantly familiar, even if you couldn’t technically define it. A little sweet, a little savory, a little umami, and built to cling to fried shrimp and beef in a way that makes it register as comfort food first.
New Panda Express drops like this aren’t meant to reset the menu. They’re designed to tap into how people are ordering right now. Customers are chasing higher protein entrées, mixing multiple proteins, and still want something new without leaving their comfort lane. Limited-time dishes let Panda test that demand in real time. They create buzz, get people back in line, and give the chain a way to trial flavors without committing them to the permanent menu. Crispy Sesame Shrimp & Beef fits that pattern. It’s familiar, doubled-up on protein, and different enough to get a second look.
As fast-casual chains experiment with menu mash-ups, Panda’s move feels right in line with modern ordering habits: go heavy on the protein. Whether it becomes a new fan favorite or just a novelty stop on the way back to Orange Chicken, it’s already doing its job. People are talking about it and heading out to try it.