• by Teresa Buyikian , Yesterday

Panda Express is injecting new meaning into the phase “singing for your supper.”

The largest family-owned and -operated Asian dining chain has brought its own form of the popular karaoke craze, known as Pandaoke.

Pandaoke, rolling out this May and June in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Months, is described as a “one-of-a-kind karaoke experience” popping up at select Panda Express locations across the country. The chosen locations will be transformed into “lively karaoke hubs where guests can grab the mic (and) share a meal…”

"At Panda, we often ask a simple yet meaningful question: 'Have you eaten yet?' -- a phrase that expresses care in so many cultures," said Andrea Cherng, chief brand officer at Panda Express in the announcement. "Providing our guests with comfort through flavorful dishes and a welcoming experience has been at the heart of what we do. Now, with Pandaoke, we're bringing this same spirit of comfort and connection to life in a new, joyful way.”

The Pandaoke experience will be hard to miss: a giant, 7-foot tall version of the iconic red Panda Express takeout container actually houses the karaoke room in front of selected restaurant locations. The box can fit two to three people at a time, where they will pick from a curated list of “feel-good hits,” and be able to sing their hearts out for 30 seconds. Customers will then receive an email version of their recorded performance for free.

Pandaoke actually kicks off in Panda Express’s home base of Los Angeles on May 9-11 S Figueroa St. location. Next stop will be Nashville, followed by Chicago and Austin throughout the rest of May and into June. The complete schedule can be found at https://www.pandaexpress.com/promo/pandaoke.

For those who would rather enjoy Pandaoke experience from the comfort of their own home, the brand is offering a Pandaoke Kit, which contains a Panda Express-branded mini karaoke machine and microphone. The kit is free with the purchase of a dine-in Panda Family Meal during at the participating Pandaoke locations.

Panda Express’s latest ad, created by Opinionated and entitled “Have You Eaten Yet?” depicts a group of Asian aunties having their own hilarious karaoke party, and served as the inspiration for Pandaoke, according to the brand.