Sometimes I have a hankering for an Asian Buffet. Most are located far from transit lines and are surrounded by acres of parking in suburbia. However, I found The Golden Panda Buffet practically adjacent to the Baldwin Park Metrolink station in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles.
My adventure began at Los Angeles Union Station where I took San Bernadino line train #314 with stops at Cal State Los Angeles and El Monte. Arrival is 32 minutes later at 1:10 pm. This only a bit slower than driving. According to Google Maps, it take 45 minutes at this time of a day is a comparable 45 minutes
Upon arrival, take the elevator upstairs to the crossing bridge over the tracks and enter the garage. Walk through the garage and exit. Make an immediate left, walk past small apartment complex, probably build as a Transit Oriented Development, and you will see The Golden Panda Buffet.
The Golden Panda Buffet is clean, well air-conditioned for these hot summer days, and serves a variety of Asian Buffet standards such as sushi, gyoza, hot and sour soup, and Mushroom Chicken, all for a value conscious 2024 $19.95--including a drink.
The return train departs at 2:47 pm. Train number 329 returned me to Union Station at 3:21 pm, 34 minutes later. (I even had time to take a post Buffet nap!)
Write in the comments below if you have a favorite restaurant within walking distance to a commuter rail line in your area, and I hope you enjoyed reading about this mini adventure.
