Panda Express continues to have its highs and lows with vegan options. Please know they do not claim to be vegetarian or vegan friendly, as most items do have cross-contamination.
We give you more info below but ultimately, you choose your comfort level with this.
In February 2019, thanks to the organizations Vegan Outreach and PETA, Panda Express took out chicken broth in the items that could be vegetarian/vegan.
On October 27, 2021, they began testing and then ultimately rolled out The Beyond Orange Chicken* to 70 locations across the United States for a limited time. This lasted until January 2022.
On September 7, 2022, Beyond Orange Chicken came back and rolled out to every location across the United States. It did say for a limited time… and it appears that time has come. As of January 2023, the limited time has expired.
And in September 2023 they added a dessert to go with your order that they have stated is plant-based but will have cross-contamination.
Let’s get into what Panda Express has to offer!
Vegan Options at Panda Express
Cross-contamination info is just below Sauces.
Easy Order
Choose any of the menu items a la carte or as meals. Super Greens can be counted as a Side and/or an Entree. You are allowed to make all of your entrees one menu item… same with the sides.
- Bowl. Choose 1 Side + 1 Entree.
- Plate. Choose 1 Side + 2 Entrees.
- Bigger Plate. Choose 1 Side + 3 Entrees.
- Family Meal. Choose 2 Large Sides + 3 Large Entrees.
- Cub Meal. Choose 1 Jr. Side + 1 Jr. Entree. Also comes with a Fruit Side and Bottled Water.
Appetizers
- Vegetable Spring Rolls*
Entrees
- Super Greens*
- Eggplant Tofu.* This is a regional dish. Check with your location for availability.
Sides
- Chow Mein*
- Super Greens*
- Chow Fun*
- Steamed Brown Rice
- Steamed White Rice
Desserts
- Apple Pie Rolls*
- Fortune Cookie
Sauces
- Teriyaki
- Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Chili Sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Potsticker Sauce
- Hot Mustard
- Plum Sauce
Cross-Contamination
*Panda Express does share surfaces with animal products; therefore, cross-contamination can/will occur. The woks are shared but are wiped out after each item.
Panda Express will not call any of their items vegetarian or vegan-friendly. Be aware of this due to cross-contamination. You choose your level of comfort.
Note: VeggL is a US-based website. All info contained on our site (and app) is regarding US based locations.
Panda Express Vegan FAQ
Is Panda Express’ Apple Pie Roll Vegan?
Yes! We consider Panda Express’ Apple Pie Roll to be “accidentally vegan.” To see more information, including the ingredient list, visit here
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Does Panda Express use Chicken Broth in their Vegetarian/Vegan Items?
No. Panda Express used to use chicken broth but thanks to petitions from Vegan Outreach and PETA, in February 2019, the chicken broth was removed from the vegetarian and vegan-friendly items.
For more info on this, check out these two articles from Livekindly and PETA.
Are the noodles at Panda Express vegan?
The Chow Mein noodles at Panda Express are vegan but they do share a wok. We were told the woks are wiped clean after but it is still a shared surface.
Are the veggie rolls at Panda Express vegan?
Yes. The Vegetable Spring Rolls are vegan. I feel like this goes without saying, but just for clarity, the Chicken Egg Roll is not.
Does the Chow Mein at Panda Express contain egg?
No. According to their ingredients list, the Chow Mein does not contain egg.
Does Panda Express offer Vegan Orange Chicken?
Let’s first answer if the Beyond Orange Chicken is vegan. The ingredients of the Orange Chicken are vegan. The frying process may be vegan–we were told they have their own oil and fryer. But we suggest verifying this with your location if it is a concern for you because we were also told some locations are frying it with animal products.
The addition of the sauce is what makes it 100% cross-contaminated. They use a wok that has been wiped clean but has shared it’s surface with animal products. You choose your comfort level with this. And if you still have concerns, please ask your location for more information.
Beyond Orange Chicken Timeline:
In July 2021, Panda Express began testing Beyond Orange Chicken in specific locations. They started in NYC and in southern California.
On October 27, 2021, they began testing and then ultimately rolled out The Beyond Orange Chicken* to 70 locations across the United States for a limited time. This lasted until January 2022.
On September 7, 2022, Beyond Orange Chicken came back and rolled out to every location across the United States. It did say for a limited time… and it appears that time has come.
January 2023, the limited time had expired. Each location continued to sell it until their supply was gone.Â
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Our Picks
Ryan’s Pick: Big fan of the Beyond Orange Chicken (no longer available), Chow Mein and Spring Rolls.Â
Jen’s Pick: I always order the Spring Rolls with a Sweet & Sour sauce packet, then mix together the Super Greens with Brown Rice and top it with their Mandarin Teriyaki sauce. The Apple Pie Roll is a decent little dessert. 🙂
More Info
- If you’d like to see Panda Express’ full menu, check out their Official Menu Page
- To check out the Panda Express full nutritional menu and allergen information, see Panda Express Nutrition Info
- Not quite what you’re looking for? VeggL has over 215 Cheat Sheet Guides for popular chain restaurants including locations like P.F. Chang’s and Pei Wei Asian Diner
- Disclaimer: We do everything possible at VeggL to make sure all our Vegan Guides are as up-to-date as possible, but sometimes menus and menu items can change. VeggL is not responsible for incorrect or outdated information. Always check with your location and server to confirm items are vegan when ordering. If you notice something that needs to be corrected – please let us know!
