Woman orders a bowl from Panda Express for $10. Then she opens the bag and finds what they actually gave her: ‘idk if this is worth $10’

A TikTok user named Mimi, who posts as @xomi.00, shared a video that she said showed her lunch order from Panda Express. In the clip, she appeared in a close-up selfie with dark hair and bangs, wearing a white top and looking at the camera with a skeptical expression. On-screen text in the video read, “Guys why does Panda Express keep making their bowls smaller idk if this is worth $10.”

The video then cut to a top-down view of a small white plastic takeout container with a clear lid sitting on a blue surface. Mimi panned the camera around the container, which she described as much smaller than a standard Panda Express bowl. It appeared to be a small cup with a map design on the side. She zoomed in on the lid, which showed condensation and a limited amount of food inside.

The post carried the caption “I should’ve asked for refund.” The video drew more than a million views. In a comment on the post, Mimi wrote, “Update: I sent a complaint will update later.”

Panda Express responds to the complaint and sends a care package

A few days later, Mimi posted an update TikTok video framed as a get-ready-with-me for her 9 a.m. shift. She said in the video that she had posted about her lunch order and had not expected it to go viral. She explained that she and viewers had been confused about the container she received. After reading the comments, she said she sent a formal message to Panda Express asking for help.

Mimi stated that the company reached back out to her and apologized for what happened. She said the bowl containers have not changed and that what she received should not have happened. She described the company as genuinely nice and said the communication throughout the process was smooth and great. Disappointing food orders like hers keep going viral, including one man’s underwhelming Wingstop Uber Eats order.

In the same video, Mimi said Panda Express was sending her a few free meal coupons and a care package that would be on its way. She added that she would be excited to receive it and invited viewers to let her know if they wanted to see what she got. She said she appreciated the company for taking the time to reach out and address everything quickly.

Mimi later posted a care package unboxing video on TikTok. She held up a large black box with a red and white Panda Express logo sticker on the lid. Inside, she showed red patterned tissue paper and a large panda plushie holding a red takeout container. She lifted the plushie to cover her face.

She then appeared wearing a black T-shirt with a white panda graphic and Chinese characters. She held up a packaged red and black lanyard labeled with “HOT & SPICY” text. Next, she modeled a white and red canvas tote bag featuring the Panda Express logo. She also displayed a white envelope containing a red patterned card that she described as a handwritten letter.

Mimi held the open card along with a small red object and said on-screen text reading “so sweet thank you Panda Express!” She then showed a red gift card holder shaped like a takeout container and a sticker of a panda holding a takeout container.

The video ended with her holding the open box of items and placing her hand on her chest, with on-screen text that read “thank you soo much” and “Panda Express.” The caption on the post read, “Replying to @jissy @Panda Express care package unboxing!! Thank you sooo much #pandaexpress I love itttt.”

Several viewers commented on the original video. One commenter who said they work at Panda Express wrote that the container was “straight up a lid for the drinks” and told her to report them and get her money back.

Another commenter wrote, “Report them to corporate. If it’s a franchise they are breaking the contract.” A third commenter who also said they work at Panda Express wrote, “wtf is this.” One more commenter wrote, “Bestie they gave you the meal in a water cup.” Shrunken portions have frustrated other diners too, like a woman’s smaller McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish order.