Panda Express has now worked hard to get vegetarian options on the menu as it ramps up plant-based offerings like many other fast-food chains. It worked alongside vegan meat mainstay Beyond Meat to create a plant-based version of its menu A-lister, orange chicken. It’s currently on the menu for a limited time at all locations, but Panda Express also has other vegetarian options.
Are there vegan options at Panda Express?
Yes, Panda Express has vegan options, but not as many as you might expect.
According to chief brand officer Andrea Cherong, the restaurant chain has seen “incredible demand” for its vegan orange chicken, officially dubbed Beyond the Original Orange Chicken, which it’s currently rolling out for a limited time at 2,300 locations nationwide. This is far from Beyond Meat’s first collaboration with a fast-food chain—the plant-based meat company has worked with McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and more.
Panda Express
However, this is only going to be for a limited time, leaving most people to opt for vegetarian options with rice, noodles and green vegetables only. Panda Express confirmed that its chefs will continue to explore plant-based entrées for future launches. For now, enjoy the chain’s vegan orange chicken while supplies last.
How to Eat Vegan on Panda Express
The next time you find yourself plunging into a hot buffet tray at Panda Express, follow these guidelines to fill your paper containers with all-vegetarian goodies.
Panda Express
1 Rice and noodles
No need to worry about chicken, fish, or beef broth—Panda Express has a few options when it comes to carbs. Use them as a hearty, satisfying base to soak up any lingering sauce drippings from your main dish.
As of 2019, Chow Men is also vegetarian. The company ditched chicken broth and animal-based seasonings after a vigorous campaign of vegan outreach.
Unfortunately, fried rice contains eggs. Still, it leaves you with some tough choices. Your vegan options for rice and noodles are:
- Steamed brown rice
- chow mein
- Steamed white rice
Panda Express
2 vegetables
To be honest, Panda Express could put a little more effort into its vegetable offerings.
However, a veggie option available at all 2,300 locations does a decent job.
Super greens are simply prepared with steamed broccoli, kale and cabbage. It’s always nice to find a healthy green option that isn’t a limp salad at a fast-food joint.
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Panda Express
3 mains
Panda Express’ Beyond the Original Orange Chicken is available for a limited time until September 2022. Meat-free chicken nuggets are made from a base of faba bean protein that is battered, fried, and drizzled with a sweet and vinegar-y orange sauce. .
Eggplant tofu is a hardy and much-loved plant-based staple, though consumers report it’s not always available in some places. The dish consists of brown tofu, eggplant, red bell pepper and sweet and spicy sauce. A Panda Express representative confirmed that the sauce does not contain any animal ingredients.
Convenient Keto
4 the sauce
Swish up those super greens or a carton of rice in one of the many vegetarian-friendly sauces.
When you choose chili, hot mustard, plum, potsticker, soy, sweet and sour, or teriyaki sauce, you’re in the clear. Pro tip: Ask for extra sauces and use them in your own kitchen for a panda-esque stir-fry or tofu dish.
As you can see, Panda Express has options that won’t leave you feeling hungry, but it could still add a bit more variety to its vegetarian menu. But, with plant-based foods in demand, we can’t wait to see what else the chain has in store.
For more vegetarian restaurant guides, read:
Tanya Flink is a digital editor for VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.