If you live in the Coastal Bend and you’re a fan of orange chicken, then you’re in luck, because Panda Express is making plans to expand into an all-new territory for the California-based fast casual Chinese food chain.
According to a new filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Panda Express will soon begin construction of its first-ever restaurant in Portland, a small city in San Patricio County on the northern shore of Corpus Christi Bay.
The new restaurant will be located at 3054 U.S. Highway 181, Portland, TX 78374, according to TDLR records, which are subject to change. “Ground up” construction of the new restaurant is expected to begin in mid-July, with an expected completion date of February 2027.
The Portland Panda Express will be the company’s first location on the north side of Corpus Christi Bay. Its construction will be part of the latest phase of development of the Portland Town Center, a 45-acre mixed-use development located on the north side of town on the corner of U.S. 181 and Broadway Boulevard.
The property is being developed by Houston-based civil engineering firm, Sendero Industries, as part of a $100 million project to turn the area into a hub for retail, restaurants and multifamily housing. Already, the site is home to a Target store and a James Avery, as well as several other eateries, including a Bill Miller BBQ, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Five Guys, and a Chipotle.