The customer says a Panda Express employee asked him for his last initial when he picked up a preordered meal while the person served just before him was not asked for extra verification. He posted the encounter on TikTok (@project.chai) and suggested the differing treatment — and the worker’s change in demeanor — could indicate racial profiling. Panda Express’ public pickup instructions don’t mention a last-initial check, and without comment from the restaurant or staff the motive remains unknown.
Black Customer Questions Why Panda Express Asked for His 'Last Initial' While Serving Another Customer Without It
Image by Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
A man posted a video recounting an encounter at a Panda Express pickup counter that left him questioning whether race played a role in how he was treated. He says an employee asked him for his last initial before handing over a preordered meal, while the customer who was served immediately before him was not asked for the same extra verification.
What the Customer Says Happened
The man says he arrived at the restaurant around 3 p.m. to pick up a plate he had ordered in advance. The dining area was reportedly quiet, with about five people eating when he entered. A Hispanic woman arrived at nearly the same time and reached the pickup counter just before him.
According to his account, the employee asked the woman whether she was there to pick up an order; she gave a name and received her food without additional questions. When the man approached the counter, he provided the name on his order. The worker appeared uncertain about the name, so he repeated and spelled it. After confirming the name, the employee allegedly changed her demeanor and then asked for the last initial of his name. He gave the letter "M," and the employee handed him his order.
Why He Shared the Incident
The man posted the interaction on TikTok (@project.chai), describing the differing treatment as possibly rooted in racial profiling. He acknowledged he could not know the employee’s motive but said the extra verification and the change in tone were the reasons he found the encounter suspicious and worth sharing publicly.
What Is Known — And What Is Not
Panda Express’ public online pickup instructions ask customers to select a location and arrive during the designated pickup window but do not list a requirement to provide a last initial or any other specific verification at the counter. The video shows the customer’s recollection but does not include footage of the exchange at the counter or what the employee saw on her screen.
Bottom line: The customer noticed inconsistent treatment and raised concerns about race. Without a statement from Panda Express or the employee involved, the reason for the extra question remains unclear.
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