Panda Express opened in November 2012 at a location that used to be a Blockbuster Video store. This is the company’s second location in Marin; the other is in the Northgate mall in San Rafael. The Chinese food chain, based in Southern California, was established in 1983 and has more than 1,500 restaurants.
In a town with as many Asian-styled dining places as Novato, it can be difficult to find one that stands out. But Dragon Cafe, a Mandarin-style eating establishment with Cantonese flavor, manages to do just that. Unlike other Asian-themed eateries in town, it serves up super-fresh food, with many of the vegetables coming straight from the on-site garden. Due to the limited seating availability inside, many customers opt for take-out. Popular dishes include chow-fun, kung pao chicken and sweet and sour chicken.
One of Novato's many Asian cuisine houses, Ming Yen is one of the longest-established places in Marin County. With an affordable menu of favorites including beef chow fun, lemon chicken and eggplant pork, it is a popular place to visit more than once in a week. It also offers varying degrees of spice, from mild (lemon chicken) to extreme (Szechuan chicken). Conveniently located on busy Grant Avenue, it provides excellent bang for the diner's buck.