Panda Express is a popular fast food chain in the United States. They have over 2,200 locations, making it the largest chain of Asian-segment restaurants. The company is a family-owned business and it has been around for more than 20 years. Panda Express is known for its American Chinese cuisine, which includes Chow Mein, as well as a variety of Panda Express vegan options.
But does Panda Express have vegan options? Panda Express is always striving to offer its customers more and more healthy food choices. The corporation has been working to identify new ingredients that might lower calories or fat content in their dishes, using meat alternatives and dairy-free ingredients without affecting the taste too much. They offer vegan options that are, in fact, quite plentiful and delicious.
Panda Express has always been a place for friends and family to get together for good food and fun. This includes their vegan guests who have the same fun, good food, and friendly service as anyone else. But what is vegan at Panda Express? In this blog post, we will learn more about Panda Express vegan options and what they are made of.
Vegan Options at Panda Express
The health consciousness of the average American has risen exponentially over the past few years. The number of people who want to eat a vegan diet or more specifically, a vegan lifestyle, has increased by 1% every year. There are many reasons that people decide to become vegan, but eating healthy is one of the most common reasons given, but is it possible to remain vegan while dining out?
In an effort to bring more healthy, delicious food to their customers, panda express is launching a new Panda Express Innovation Kitchen Menu. This new menu includes vegan options that feature dishes made with fresh ingredients and authentic flavors that don’t sacrifice taste. The goal is to help customers eat healthier while still enjoying their food.
Here is the list of Panda Express vegan options:
Brown And White Steamed Rice
The brown and white rice dishes offered by this restaurant are vegan-friendly making them an alternative for vegan food seekers when eating out.
Chow Mein
Another option when eating vegan at Panda Express is the Chow Mein fried noodles. Chow Mein is an Asian stir fry dish that is usually made with noodles, and vegetables. The noodles used for it are typically refrigerated yakisoba noodles which make the dish a quick and easy one to make at home.
This recipe will use Chow Mein sauce which is made of sesame oil, oyster sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and cornstarch to give it that authentic taste.
Panda Express’s Chow Mein used to include chicken broth but starting in February 2019, their recipe changed for the better! They no longer use chicken broth in their dish which makes this vegan-friendly and dairy free Panda Express item.
Vegetable Spring Roll
Vegetable Spring Rolls are made with fresh vegetables such as cabbage, green onions, celery, carrots, and Chinese noodles in a crispy vegetarian wonton wrapper. Pair these healthy and fresh spring rolls with \vegan sauces like sweet and sour sauces.
Super Greens
Another vegan food Panda Express item is the Super Greens. This dish is made of kale, broccoli, and cabbage. These vegetables are partially steamed and is pan-tossed in garlic sauce. Super Greens is not just healthy and delicious but also vegan-friendly.
Eggplant Tofu
Next is Panda Express’ Eggplant Tofu is vegetable-based which makes it safe for this diet. The Panda Express Eggplant Tofu recipe ingredients include fresh eggplants, lightly browned tofu, and red bell peppers. It is a good alternative for those who want meatless options in a fast food market.
Beyond the Original Orange Chicken (Limited Time Only)
Beyond The Original Orange Chicken was released for a limited time to 70 locations in the US. It may not be available right now but when they release this dish, it is a hit instantly. It is a plant-based dish, that is a great source of protein and it tastes like the restaurant’s best-selling dish, the original orange chicken.
Panda Express’ Sauces
One thing that sets Panda Express’ apart from the competition is its sauces. There are many different options, there includes:
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Chili Sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Potsticker Sauce
- Hot Mustard
- Plum Sauce
Panda Express’ Drinks
The chain doesn’t have any signature drinks, but the majority of their drinks are vegan-friendly. Here is their list of these drinks:
- Soda Drinks: Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Barq’s Root Beer, Fanta Orange, Fanta Strawberry, and Sprite.
- Iced Tea: Black Tea, Lemon Green Tea, Passion Fruit Mango Black Tea, Sweet Tea, Fuze Lemon Black Tea, Fuze Raspberry Tea, Gold Peak Premium Unsweetened Tea.
- Fruity Drinks: Minute Maid Lemonade, Minute Maid Light Lemonade, Glaceau Vitaminwater Squeezed Zero, and Hi-C Flashin Fruit Punch.
What to Avoid at Panda Express if You’re Vegan
If you are vegan, eating at any restaurant can be tough. So here are a few things you should avoid and tips when ordering:
Meat Items
The first thing is that the company offers plenty of meat products, this includes their chicken items such as Orange chicken, Kung Pao chicken, and steak. You should also avoid their Crispy Shrimp and Honey Walnut Shrimp.
Dairy Products
Secondly, dairy products are primarily not suitable for vegans which you should be careful about upon ordering. However, they do offer several veggie and tofu dishes as well as side orders like mixed vegetables and brown rice that are part of a Panda Express dairy free menu.
Vegan-Friendly Oil
Lastly, if you want to eat vegan at Panda Express, then make sure to confirm with your server what type of oil they use for cooking because some of them may be using animal sources such as butter or lard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Panda Express menu vegan?
Yes, the restaurant offers options to its customers who are on a vegan diet.
Are Panda Express Fortune Cookies vegan?
Unfortunately, they are not. the Panda Express fortune cookie ingredients include wheat, eggs, and soy ingredients. Eggs are not suitable for vegans, make sure to avoid ordering them.
What type of oil does Panda Express use?
The company uses pure soybean oil in cooking its dishes. Soybean oil is vegan and has low levels of trans fats while being high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Are Panda Express spring rolls vegan?
Yes, the Spring Roll is made of vegetables such as cabbage, green onions, celery, carrots, and Chinese noodles in a crispy wonton wrapper. It has no animal products.
Is Panda Express Chow Mein vegan?
Yes! The dish is made with vegetable-based broth and mixed vegetables. Are panda express noodles vegan? Yes, the yakisoba noodles are used to make Chow Mein.
Conclusion: Panda Express Vegan Options
In conclusion, Panda Express has a lot of vegan options. This is true for both their food and their drinks. The employees are more than happy to modify any dish to make it suitable for this diet. Their food items are healthy, delicious, and vegan-friendly; what more could you ask for? If you think we miss any vegan options panda express items, make sure to hit us in the comment section below.
If you’re interested in trying other fast-food chains, we also have guides with other restaurants like Burger King, Taco Bell, Chipotle, Shake Shack, Wendy’s, and more. These chain restaurants also offer options for different types of diets. We have a full article of guides about their vegan, keto, and gluten-free options and also tips on how to order them, make sure to check them out. Thanks for reading!
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Dwayne Austin
Monday 9th of January 2023
Spring rolls + chow mein for the win! I love this combo!