Panda Express Diet Coke

Diet Coke is one of two zero calorie colas at the Panda Express fountain: 0 calories, 0 g of sugar, $2.20 for a small. It has been the default diet option for decades, and it tastes nothing like regular Coca Cola, which is either the point or the problem depending on who you ask.

The flavor is lighter and sharper than Coke Zero Sugar, with a distinct profile that its long time drinkers actively prefer rather than tolerate. Both sit on the same machine at the same price, so the choice between them is purely taste. Against a regular cola at 370 calories, either one saves a full side dish worth of calories for free.

Sizes run from $2.20 for a small upward, with a medium included in any bundle format. Nothing about the calorie count changes with size, which makes this the one drink where ordering large costs nothing beyond the cup price.

It suits anyone who grew up on it, anyone tracking calories, and anyone pairing a drink with an already heavy order like Beijing Beef at 470 calories. Other zero calorie options at the station include Coke Zero Sugar and the unsweetened teas listed on the Panda Express drinks menu.