When a Chinese brand such as Panda Express comes to the US and succeeds in making itself a household name in the fast-food business, that means the brand has got many things right. One of the things that Panda Express Chinese Kitchen has gotten right is the payments option.
The fast-food brand supports the use of various contactless payment options, popular amongst which is Apple Pay. Apple Pay is an online payment solution developed by Apple for its devices. This payment option is fast, safe, and secure. This article will focus on the use of Apple Pay at Panda Express.
Does Panda Express Take Apple Pay in 2025?
Panda Express accepts Apple Pay as a means of payment at its outlets and branches. While the news release came out in June 2019, it turned out that the brand had started accepting Apple Pay since February 2019. However, the rollout at Panda Express stores was slow at the time.
However, Panda Express doesn’t allow you to pay with Apple Pay on its app. You can only use Gift cards or Debit/Credit cards.
How to Use Apple Pay at Panda Express
The biggest advantage of using Apple Pay is the speed with which the payment solution completes the payment process. Combined with the security it provides, Apple Pay is one of the best payment options out there. However, the payment solution is only available on Apple devices.
These devices include iPhone models from iPhone 6 and 6 Plus upward, Apple Watch, iPad, and the likes. Before you can use the payment options on these devices, you need to have them set up. The process involved is very simple as stated in the succeeding paragraphs.
Go to the Wallet and Apple Pay option under the Setting menu. Select a card as your preferred payment method and input the details of your credit/debit card. You can do this manually or automatically by scanning the card with your iPhone.
You then need to accept the terms and conditions for using Apple Pay and verify your card. Then you are set to use Apple Pay. The process is also similar for the Apple watch. The only difference is that you need a linked iPhone. You will input your card details through the linked iPhone and make payments with the watch.
How to use Apple Pay inside Panda Express
The process for using Apple Pay inside Panda Express Stores includes the following steps;
- Double-click the button on the right side of your iPhone to open your phone.
- Unlock your device using Touch ID, Face ID, or Passcode
- Hold your phone against the contactless point of the sales reader
- After a few seconds, you will hear the ping sound and a checkmark on your phone screen
- This means that the payment is successful
Note: The sale reader is the machine that receives your credit or debit card.
For users of the Apple Watch, the process is not that different from that of the iPhone. You need to double-tap the button on the right side of the watch’s dial. Proceed to provide the passcode to your Smart Watch if prompted. After unlocking the watch, hold it against the contactless point on the machine until the payment is complete.
Does Panda Express take Apple Pay for Drive Through? How?
If you prefer to use the drive-through option at Panda Express, it would please you to know that you can pay with Apple Pay at Panda Express’s numerous drive-thru locations. The inclusion of Apple Pay as a payment option at the brand’s drive-through location seeks to provide a better customer experience for its customers.
The process of using Apple Pay at a Panda Express drive-through location is quite easy. All you need to do is make your order through the speaker, drive to the counter and the attendant will give you a contactless reader. Place your device over it and you are good to go.
Does Panda Express Take Apple Pay for online/app? How?
Almost all fast food brands have an app these days. With the app, it becomes easier for customers to order the foods they like without leaving the comfort of their personal space. Also, it allows for the delivery of Panda Express foods to the customer’s doorstep.
While the use of an app for online ordering improves the customer experience, customers would realize that they cannot pay for the orders made through the app with Apple Pay. The app only allows the use of gift cards and debit/credit cards.
Can You Pay for Panda Express Orders With Apple Pay On Delivery Services?
Panda Express allows customers to order their favorite foods from the restaurant through delivery services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and many others. However, whenever or not you can make payments for these orders through Apple Pay depends solely on the delivery system. If these delivery services allow the use of Apple Pay as a payment method, then you can use Apple Pay. Otherwise, you have to get another means of payment.
In the case where the delivery service allows the use of Apple Pay, the steps involved in using Apple Pay would look as follows;
- Download and install the app of the delivery service
- Create an account if you don’t have one already and sign in if you do
- Set your preferred delivery address
- Select the restaurant you intend to buy the food from, which in this case is the nearest Panda Express location.
- Go ahead to select the food you want and after choosing the food
- Add them to the cart and review items
- Select Continue to Payment to finalize the order and pay with Apple Pay
Can I Use Apple Pay at Panda Express?
You can use Apple Pay as your preferred method of payment at Panda Express. However, this is only relevant with in-store purchases and drive-thru purchases. The brand doesn’t allow you to use Apple Pay for orders made through the app.
Apple Pay is a very secure and fast method of payment. While no online payment method is completely protected against fraud, Apple Pay uses a wide range of anti-fraud layers of protection to reduce the possibility of fraud occurring.