Table of Contents
First of all, What is Panda Express?
Panda Express is a quite popular American fast-food restaurant chain that mainly offers Americanized Chinese cousins. It was founded in 1983 and now the restaurant chain has over 2.200 stores all across the country. The Chinese-styled chain is famous for its spicy chicken dishes mostly, but it doesn’t mean they do not offer anything plant-based.
So, does Panda Express have vegan options at all?
Let’s be honest, they used to be extremely bad for vegans with only their rice being vegan, but now they have a few Panda Express vegan options including multiple entrees and delicious sides, and of course rice.
This is largely thanks to PETA, while many vegans aren’t a fan of them they do good sometimes, and in this case they definitely did good — thanks to a petition they started and shared everywhere they pressured them into a complete menu revamp that included adding tons of Panda Express vegan options and removing unnecessary ingredients like chicken stock or butter to their vegetable dishes.
Now the Asian styled restaurant chain doesn’t do such nonsense so their vegetable dishes are largely vegan-friendly. Unfortunately Panda Express stopped having multiple vegan-friendly vegetable entrees at all locations now; so some locations won’t have things like Eggplant Tofu. If you aren’t sure it’s safer to go to Pei Wei, which always seems to have vegan-friendly options.
Let’s see Panda Express Vegan Menu!
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
Panda Express (@officialpandaexpress) által megosztott bejegyzés
Appetizers
- Vegetable Spring Roll (Not all locations)
That’s the only Panda Express Vegan “Appetizer” — personally I see spring rolls more as a side-dish than an appetizer, but hey, they call it an appetizer so I suppose it’s an appetizer at Panda Express.
It’s cabbage, celery, carrots, green onions, and Chinese noodles together in a crispy wonton wrapper. Although, celery may be substituted with other non-animal products like green beans, mushrooms, onions, and tofu at some locations.
Entrees
- Eggplant Tofu (Not all locations)
- Vegetable Chow-Mein (Not all locations)
- Super-Greens
- Vegan Beyond-Meat Orange Chicken
Generally at Panda Express you’ll pick one of the above as a “double-portion” and 2 sides to go with it, so keep this in mind — you can also order super greens or chowmein as a side-dish rather than an entree, it’ll just be a smaller portion if you select it as your side-dish to, say, the eggplant tofu.
Eggplant Tofu
Unfortunately not available at all locations anymore. According to the restaurant’s official site, It contains lightly browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. While It doesn’t contain any animal ingredients, they use the same fryer so the risk for cross-contamination is pretty high.
Beyond Original Orange Chicken
The Original Orange Chicken we know and love, but made with Beyond Meat’s plant-based protein. It was launched one year ago as a test. The results speak for themselves, It’s still on the menu! However, If the cross-contamination is a no-go, then the plant-based orange chicken is as well.
Chow Mein
Stir-fried wheat noodles with various vegetables could be a great plant-based alternative for brown or white steamed rice. Luckily, the fast-food chain doesn’t use chicken broth to make it any more like it used to.
Vegan Side Options at Panda Express:
- Brown Rice (steamed)
- White Rice (steamed)
- Vegetable Chow-Mein (not all locations)
- Super-Greens (broccoli/kale mix)
You can’t order spring rolls as a side dish at Panda Express, or at least they’re not supposed to allow it — although it doesn’t hurt to ask if you want them and don’t want to order them as an appetizer. Don’t shy away from the super-greens here, they’re not so bad and when you get it with a vegan-friendly sauce (mentioned below) they actually become quite tasty while remaining relatively healthy.
Super greens
It isn’t the most delicious meal, in another hand it is quite healthy and probably vegan everywhere according to the Panda Express allergen guide. However, better if you tell them to make it certainly dairy-free. What’s in Panda Express super greens? Kale, Broccoli, and cabbages all together in a bowl.
Steamed rice
There is no Asian-style restaurant without plain rice. Luckily, they do not use butter to fry the rice.
Chow mein
There was a time when the restaurant chain used chicken broth to cook the pasta, but fortunately, those days are gone. So, it is totally vegan according to Panda’s allergen guide.
Sauces/Dips
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Chili Sauce
- Plum Sauce
- Potsticker (dumpling) Sauce
- Hot Mustard
- Soy Sauce
All of the above sauces are vegan-friendly at the restaurant chain — personally we’d recommend the plum sauce if you just want a mild flavor enhancer, say to cover up some kale flavor in the super-greens, the Chili sauce if you want to spice up your rice or chow mein, and the others if you just really love Teriyaki or Sweet & Sour Sauce. But they are all really tasty, so it really depends on your preference.
Dessert
- Fortune Cookie
- Sweet Tea’s/Drinks
You may be wondering are fortune cookies vegan? While many Chinese Buffet’s have ones that are made with egg, the Fortune cookies at Panda Express are 100% Vegan-friendly, and completely free. Yep, you heard it right, plus they are pretty tasty as well.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/PandaExpress
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any further questions other than below, free feel to contact us!
Is Panda Express chow mein vegan?
Yes, Panda Express Chow Mein is considered vegan, sence this side does not contain animal-based derivatives. However, cross-contamination can be a problem, since the woks are only washed but not dedicated for plant-based food.
Does Panda Express have vegan orange chicken
Yes, They do! They announced the signature meal with Beyond meat in September.
Where to get Panda Express Vegan Orange Chicken?
Everywhere! It is available nationwide according to Panda.
Does Panda Express have vegan options?
Panda Express has several vegan options including multiple entrees like the Eggplant Tofu, Vegetable Chow-Mein, Super Greens, and delicious sides, and of course rice (brown and white).
Are Panda Express fortune cookies vegan?
Yes, Panda Express Fortune Cookies are vegan, because they do not contain any animal-based derivatives. Usually, fortune cookies do contain dairy, but not Panda’s. Cross-contamination can be a problem though.
Are Panda Express spring rolls vegan?
Yes, Panda Express Spring Rolls are vegan. They contain vegetables and no animal-based derivatives.
Is Panda Express teriyaki sauce vegan?
Yes, The Teriyaki Sauce at Panda Express is considered vegan. It does not contain any animal products.
Does Panda Express have vegan food?
Certainly, It does! While there isn’t too much of it, they are pretty decent.
