From Time Out Abu Dhabi Eating Out 2010
Despite being located on a main street, you’re unlikely to stumble across Panda Panda by accident. It’s just down from Al Hosn fort, but it might as well be a million miles away. Behind it lies the old fish and vegetable market, now a building site and a rabbit warren of tat shops and iffy general stores. Panda Panda has literally been left in the dust, but it shouldn’t have been because this is one of the better independent Chinese restaurants in the city. Inside is a neat and clean interior, decked out in an almost stylish deep red.
In the corner a giant stuffed toy panda watches over diners, ensuring that you don’t forget where you are – you’re in panda country! A list of new additions is taped to the front of each bulging menu, but that is the only compromise in an otherwise spotless restaurant. Service is quick and helpful and the food is similarly good. Appetisers such as the prawn-stuffed mushrooms are sweet, chewy little delicacies. Its schezwan is also one of the better in the city – not smothered in sauce, but lightly flavoured and just hot enough. The overall impression is of a restaurant which deserves a more loyal clientele than it clearly receives. The same could be said of a number of restaurants in the capital, but few have the charm of this deserving little establishment.
