Panda Express Cub Meal: What's Included, Calories & Nutrition Facts
The Cub Meal includes 1 cub-sized entree, 1 cub-sized side, apple crisps, and bottled water. Full calorie breakdown for every option — 300 to 580 calories.
QUICK ANSWER — OFFICIAL DATA
A Panda Express Cub Meal includes one cub-sized entree, one cub-sized side, apple crisps (~25 cal), and bottled water. The three pre-configured meals range from 300 calories (Broccoli Beef) to 580 calories (Orange Chicken). Cub portions are 30–40% smaller than adult servings — the Orange Chicken cub is 380 calories per entree, not 415 (Hot Orange Chicken cub is 415).
What Is a Panda Express Cub Meal?
The Cub Meal is Panda Express's kids meal format. Every Cub Meal includes four components:
1 Cub-Sized Entree
Your choice from the full menu
1 Cub-Sized Side
Same options as adult meals
Apple Crisps
~25 calories, included
Bottled Water
0 calories, included
Cub portions are about 30–40% smaller than adult servings. Adult Orange Chicken is 5.92 oz; the cub version is 4.44 oz. Adult sides are typically 10–11 oz; cub sides are 7.5–8.25 oz. Same items, proportionally smaller. You can choose any side and entree available — the three listed configurations below are pre-built defaults, not the only options.
The 3 Standard Cub Meals — Full Nutrition
Panda Express publishes full nutrition for three pre-configured Cub Meals. All totals include the apple crisps and bottled water. Data verified from official Panda Express nutrition files.
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Cub Meal
Chow mein + super greens + grilled teriyaki chicken + apple crisps + water
400
calories
28g
protein
36g
carbs
5g
fiber
Broccoli Beef Cub Meal
White steamed rice + super greens + broccoli beef + apple crisps + water
300
calories
11g
protein
49g
carbs
6g
fiber
Orange Chicken Cub Meal
White steamed rice + super greens + orange chicken + apple crisps + water
580
calories
22g
protein
84g
carbs
5g
fiber
Source: Official Panda Express nutrition data (2026). Totals include apple crisps and water.
Every Cub-Sized Entree — Ranked by Calories
All 18 available cub entrees ranked lightest to heaviest. Sodium is included because it varies widely — Wok-Fired Shrimp (860mg) and Black Pepper Chicken (830mg) are notably high for a kids meal. White Steamed Rice as the side adds 0mg sodium.
| Entree (Cub Size) | Calories | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli Beef | 110 | 11g | 390mg |
| Black Pepper Sirloin Steak | 130 | 14g | 440mg |
| Potato Chicken | 140 | 6g | 510mg |
| Wok-Fired Shrimp | 140 | 13g | 860mg |
| String Bean Chicken Breast | 160 | 9g | 420mg |
| Mushroom Chicken | 170 | 10g | 650mg |
| Black Pepper Chicken | 200 | 10g | 830mg |
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 210 | 25g | 350mg |
| Kung Pao Chicken | 220 | 12g | 750mg |
| Honey Walnut Shrimp | 240 | 7g | 380mg |
| Honey Sesame Chicken Breast | 250 | 12g | 400mg |
| Teriyaki Chicken | 250 | 31g | 470mg |
| Eggplant Tofu | 250 | 5g | 390mg |
| Sweetfire Chicken Breast | 270 | 11g | 280mg |
| Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast | 270 | 9g | 220mg |
| Beijing Beef | 360 | 11g | 450mg |
| Orange Chicken | 380 | 14g | 645mg |
| Hot Orange Chicken | 415 | 13g | 710mg |
Source: Official Panda Express nutrition data (2026). Cub-sized portions only — not adult serving sizes.
Cub-Sized Sides — Calories and Sodium
Super Greens is the lightest side at 90 calories with 6g of protein. White Steamed Rice is the only side with zero sodium — relevant if the chosen entree is already high in sodium.
| Side (Cub Size) | Size | Calories | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Greens | 7.5 oz | 90 | 6g | 290mg |
| Chow Fun | 6.2 oz | 300 | 6g | 810mg |
| White Steamed Rice | 8.25 oz | 390 | 8g | 0mg |
| Chow Mein | 8.25 oz | 440 | 11g | 860mg |
| Fried Rice | 8.25 oz | 466 | 9g | 760mg |
Source: Official Panda Express nutrition data (2026).
Build your child's exact Cub Meal and see the nutrition
Choose any entree and side — the Cub Meal calculator shows live calorie, protein, and sodium totals.
Cub Meal vs Regular Bowl — What's the Difference?
Parents often ask whether the Cub Meal is meaningfully smaller than an adult Bowl, or whether it's worth ordering the kids format at all. Here is a direct comparison.
| Cub Meal | Adult Bowl | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Cub entree + cub side + apple crisps + water | Adult entree + adult side |
| Entree portion | ~75% of adult | Full adult |
| Side portion | ~75% of adult | Full adult |
| Calorie range | 300–580 cal | 280–1,170 cal |
| Extras included | Apple crisps, water | None |
| Example (OC) | OC Cub Meal = 580 cal | SG + OC Bowl = 640 cal |
| Example (GTC) | GTC Cub Meal = 400 cal | SG + GTC Bowl = 405 cal |
The calorie difference between a Cub Meal and the lightest adult Bowl is smaller than most parents expect. The Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Cub Meal (400 cal) is virtually identical in calories to an adult Super Greens + Grilled Teriyaki Bowl (405 cal). The Cub format makes more of a practical difference for younger children who cannot eat a full adult portion rather than for calorie reduction specifically.
About the data on this page
A common point of confusion: Orange Chicken cub is 380 calories, while Hot Orange Chicken cub is 415 calories — they are different items. Some guides list the Orange Chicken cub at 415, which is incorrect. The 380-calorie figure for Orange Chicken cub is confirmed by official Panda Express nutrition data. Similarly, the Grilled Teriyaki Chicken cub has 210 calories and approximately 25g of protein — some apps round this to 24g or 26g, but the official value is 24.75g.
All values on this page come from official Panda Express nutrition data. The Cub Meal calculator on this site uses the same source — so totals you see there match exactly what is in the tables above.
Ordering the Cub Meal: what parents should know
White Steamed Rice is the only side with zero sodium — a meaningful choice when the entree itself carries 600–850mg. If your child orders Orange Chicken (645mg sodium) or Kung Pao Chicken (750mg) as the entree, pairing it with White Steamed Rice (0mg) keeps the meal's total sodium under 700mg. Pairing with Chow Mein (860mg) would push the cub meal sodium above 1,500mg before the apple crisps.
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is the only entree in the cub menu that is grilled rather than fried. At 210 calories and 25g of protein, it delivers far more protein per calorie than Orange Chicken (380 cal, 14g protein). The lower sodium (350mg) and grilled preparation make it the most nutritionally straightforward option for kids who will eat it.
Orange Chicken is the most ordered cub entree for obvious reasons — the sweet sauce and crispy texture have wide appeal. The cub portion (380 cal, 14g protein) is meaningfully smaller than the adult version (510 cal, 16g protein), which makes it a reasonable occasional choice. The main thing to manage is the side: pairing with White Steamed Rice (390 cal) vs. Super Greens cub (90 cal) is a 300-calorie difference for the same meal format.
The included apple crisps (~25 cal) are considerably better than the kids-sized fountain drink option available at some locations (130–160 cal, with significant sugar). If you have the option, keeping the bottled water and apple crisps rather than substituting a drink is the better nutritional default for kids.
Common questions about the Panda Express Cub Meal
What is a Panda Express Cub Meal?
A Panda Express Cub Meal is the kids meal format. It includes one cub-sized entree, one cub-sized side, a bag of apple crisps (about 25 calories), and a bottled water. Cub portions are roughly 30–40% smaller than adult servings. The three pre-configured options are Orange Chicken (580 cal), Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (400 cal), and Broccoli Beef (300 cal).
How many calories are in a Panda Express Cub Meal?
A complete Panda Express Cub Meal ranges from 300 to 580 calories depending on your choices. The Broccoli Beef Cub Meal (white rice + super greens + broccoli beef + apple crisps + water) is 300 calories. The Orange Chicken Cub Meal is 580 calories. The Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Cub Meal is 400 calories with 28g of protein.
What is the healthiest Panda Express Cub Meal?
The Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Cub Meal is the most nutritionally balanced at 400 calories with 28g of protein and 5g of fiber. For the lowest total calories, the Broccoli Beef Cub Meal at 300 calories is the lightest option. Both are better choices for protein and fiber than the Orange Chicken Cub Meal (580 cal, 22g protein).
Does the Cub Meal come with a drink?
Yes — the standard Panda Express Cub Meal includes bottled water (0 calories) and apple crisps (~25 calories). Some locations may offer a kids-sized fountain drink as an alternative to the bottled water. Kids-sized fountain drinks range from 130–160 calories depending on the flavor.
How big are cub-sized portions?
Cub-sized portions are roughly 30–40% smaller than standard adult servings. For example, cub Orange Chicken is 4.44 oz vs. 5.92 oz for adults — about 75% the adult size. Cub Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is 4.5 oz vs. 6.0 oz for adults. Sides follow a similar pattern: cub White Steamed Rice is 8.25 oz vs. 11 oz for adults.
How does the Cub Meal compare to a regular Bowl?
A regular Bowl (adult-sized side + adult-sized entree) ranges from 280 to 1,170 calories. A Cub Meal (cub-sized side + cub-sized entree + apple crisps + water) ranges from 300 to 580 calories. The lightest adult Bowl (Super Greens + Broccoli Beef = 280 cal) is actually slightly lighter than the lightest Cub Meal (300 cal). Cub Meals are smaller per item but include apple crisps and water in the total.
What are the lowest-sugar Cub Meal entree options?
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken cub has moderate sugar (from the teriyaki sauce). The lowest-sugar options among cub entrees are Broccoli Beef (110 cal, beef-and-vegetable dish), Wok-Fired Shrimp (140 cal), and String Bean Chicken Breast (160 cal). Orange Chicken cub has the highest sugar content — about 15g — from its sweet orange sauce.
Can I customize a Panda Express Cub Meal?
Yes. You can choose any available entree and side in cub-sized portions. The three pre-configured options (Orange Chicken, Grilled Teriyaki, Broccoli Beef) are just defaults — at most locations you can build your own combination. Use the free Cub Meal calculator at pandacalories.com to see exact nutrition for any combination before you order.
All nutrition values are sourced from official Panda Express nutrition data (). Not affiliated with Panda Express, Inc. Menu items and nutrition values can change — confirm in-store or at pandaexpress.com if precision matters for dietary or allergy needs.