8 Top Vegan Options at Panda Express (The Ultimate Guide)


Top Vegan Options at Panda Express

A popular American Chinese fast-food chain, Panda Express is a popular mall food court option around the U.S. Known for their Original Orange Chicken, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and Broccoli Beef, Panda Express is not a top choice on a vegan’s dining list. If for some reason you must eat at Panda Express and follow a vegan lifestyle, rest assured, there are some vegan options on the menu.

Vegan-friendly menu options at Panda Express include Chow Mein, Super Greens, Veggie Spring Roll, Steamed White Rice, Steamed Brown Rice, Eggplant Tofu, sauces such as Teriyaki Sauce, Plum Sauce, Sweet & Sour Sauce, and Potsticker Sauce, as well as Fortune Cookies and a variety of beverages. It is important to note that menu offerings vary per location.

In this article, we’ll offer some tips and tricks for ordering vegan at Panda Express, as well as discuss which menu items are vegan-friendly. Let’s dig in!

Tips & Tricks for Ordering Vegan at Panda Express

  • The Chow Mein and Super Greens are both vegan-friendly and a combination of both can make for a satisfying meal.
  • All sauces at Panda Express are vegan-friendly, so feel free to add any of these to your dish for added-flavor.
  • Eggplant Tofu is vegan, but it is served at only select locations. Check with your local store if it is available.
  • Avoid the Fried Rice, as it contains eggs. Instead, ask for a side of steamed rice.
  • Avoid the Hot & Sour soup, as it contains eggs.
  • For dessert, opt for the Fortune Cookies, as they are vegan-friendly.

Nutrition Information & Allergen Guide

The full nutritional and allergen guide is provided by Panda Express. Though an ingredients list is not readily available, the guide provides helpful information regarding top allergens and whether a food item contains eggs.

It is important to note that while some food items at Panda Express may be vegan, cross-contamination with meat is highly likely, as the same woks are used for all items.

Meal Types & Ordering Options

Panda Express provides the following ordering options. The sides and entrees are the same for any of the options below. While 2 of the side options are vegan-friendly, the only entrée option that is vegan friendly is the Super Greens.

  1. Family Meal: 2 Large Sides & 3 Large 1 Entrées
  2. Bowl: 1 Side & 1 Entrée
  3. Plate: 1 Side & 2 1 Entrées
  4. Bigger Plate: 1 Side & 3 1 Entrées
  5. Cub Meal: 1 Jr. Side, 1 Jr. Entrée & Bottled Water
  6. A La Carte: Individual 1 Entrées & Sides

Non-Vegan Food to Avoid at Panda Express

Entrées

  1. The Original Orange Chicken
  2. Black Pepper Angus Steak
  3. Honey Walnut Shrimp
  4. Broccoli Beef
  5. Kung Pao Chicken
  6. Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
  7. Beijing Beef
  8. Mushroom Chicken
  9. SweetFire Chicken Breast
  10. String Bean Chicken Breast
  11. Black Pepper Chicken
  12. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
  13. Grilled Asian Chicken
  14. Potato Chicken
  15. Crispy Almond Chicken Breast
  16. Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast
  17. Wok-Seared Steak and Shrimp
  18. Shanghai Angus Steak
  19. Steamed Ginger Fish
  20. Golden Treasure Shrimp
  21. Firecracker Shrimp

Sides

  1. Fried Rice (contains eggs)

Appetizers

  1. Chicken Egg Roll
  2. Chicken Potsticker
  3. Cream Cheese Ragoon
  4. Crispy Shrimp

Soup

  1. Hot & Sour Soup (contains eggs)

Dessert

  1. Chocolate Chunk Cookie (contains eggs & milk)

Vegan Options at Panda Express

Entrées

1. Super Greens

Ingredients:

  • Broccoli
  • Kale
  • Cabbage

Nutrition Facts (per 7 oz):

  • Calories: 90
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrate: 10g
  • Protein: 6g

2. Eggplant Tofu

Ingredients:

  • Tofu
  • Eggplant
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Sweet & Spicy Sauce

Nutrition Facts (per 6.10 oz):

  • Calories: 340
  • Saturated Fat: 3.5g
  • Carbohydrate: 23g
  • Protein: 7g

Sides

1. Chow Mein

Ingredients:

  • Wheat Noodles
  • Onions
  • Cabbage

Nutrition Facts (Per 9.4 oz):

  • Calories: 510
  • Saturated Fat: 3.5g
  • Carbohydrate: 80g
  • Protein: 13g

2. Super Greens

Ingredients:

  • Broccoli
  • Kale
  • Cabbage

Nutrition Facts (per 7 oz):

  • Calories: 90
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrate: 10g
  • Protein: 6g

3. Steamed White Rice

4. Steamed Brown Rice

Appetizers

1. Veggie Spring Roll

Though the Veggie Spring Roll is vegan, it is safe to assume that these spring rolls are fried in the same oil as the chicken egg rolls and other chicken and beef offerings. Thus, cross contamination is highly likely.

Ingredients:

  • Cabbage
  • Celery
  • Carrots
  • Green Onions
  • Chinese Noodles
  • Wonton Wrapper

Nutrition Facts (per 3.4 oz):

  • Calories: 190
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Carbohydrate: 27g
  • Protein: 3g

Sauces

  1. Teriyaki Sauce

  2. Sweet & Sour Sauce

  3. Chili Sauce

  4. Soy Sauce

  5. Potsticker Sauce

  6. Hot Mustard

  7. Plum Sauce

Dessert

1. Fortune Cookie

Nutrition Facts (per 8 oz):

  • Calories: 32
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrate: 7g
  • Protein: 1g

Beverages

Beverages available in 4 sizes: large, medium, small, and kids.

  1. Dr Pepper

  2. Coca Cola

  3. Diet Coke

  4. Barq’s Root Beer

  5. Fanta Orange

  6. Minute Maid Lemonade

  7. Fuze Raspberry Iced Tea

  8. Fuze Lemon Black Tea

  9. Sprite

  10. Sprite Zero

  11. Fanta Strawberry

  12. Dasani

  13. Seagram’s Ginger Ale

  14. Sprite

  15. Bai Coco Fusion

  16. Black Tea

  17. Cherry Coca Cola

  18. Coca Cola Zero Sugar

  19. Glaceau Vitaminwater Squeezed Zero

  20. Gold Peak Premium Unsweetened Tea

  21. HI-C Flashin Fruit Punch

  22. Lemon Green Tea

  23. Minute Maid Lemonade

  24. Passion Fruit Mango Black Tea

  25. Powerade Fruit Punch

  26. Powerade Mountain Berry Blast

  27. Sweet Tea

Find a Panda Express Near You

With 2,200 locations in areas such as the U.S., Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Aruba, Russia, Saudi Arabia and more, Panda Express is a global fast-food American Chinese restaurant. Use the Panda Express store locator to find a location near you.

Similar Restaurant to Panda Express

If you do not have a Panda Express near you or if you are traveling and looking for a similar option, check out the list below.

  1. Pei Wei Asian Kitchen
  2. P.F. Chang’s
  3. Mr. Chow

Related Questions

Is Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce Vegan?

Yes, the sauce used in orange chicken is vegan-friendly.

Are Panda Express Spring Rolls Vegan?

Yes, the vegetable spring rolls at Panda Express are vegan. However, it is safe to assume they are fried in the same oil as the Chicken Egg Rolls.

Is Panda Express Chow Mein Vegan?

Yes! The Chow Mein at Panda Express are vegan, as they do not contain eggs or chicken or beef broth. However, cross-contamination is possible, as the same woks are used for sautéing meat.

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Choosing Nutrition Team

Here at Choosing Nutrition, our goal is to help people with making smarter food choices. Whether you're wondering about vegan, keto, paleo, or other diets, we'll help you determine which options fit your nutritional lifestyle. Our staff is composed of registered dieticians, nutritionists, and health-conscious individuals.

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