Vegan Guide to Noodles & Company: Best Menu Options, Swaps, and More

Founded in 1995, Noodles & Company is a fast-casual restaurant featuring noodle dishes from around the world. All of their noodles are vegan (except for the Egg Noodle), and their food is free from artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, and preservatives. Extra props go to Noodles & Company for their sustainability efforts, asking guests if they’d like plasticware as part of their online order. Now customers can even add Impossible Panko Chicken to their orders for a boost of plant-based protein.

Vegans will rejoice to learn that Noodles & Company offers transparent allergy information alongside a completely customizable menu with over a dozen freshly prepared vegetables available on any dish. No matter what kind of cuisine you’re craving, we’ll help you order a hearty vegan noodle meal precisely to your liking.

Our Top Picks

With such a variety of vegan entree choices at your fingertips, we’ve picked our favorites to make your next Noodles & Company order a snap.

Japanese Pan Noodles with Tofu

This yummy Asian noodle dish is perfectly vegan in its original form. Easy ordering, even easier eating. The Japanese Pan Noodles come with a bed of udon noodles carmelized in a vegan soy sauce with broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, black sesame seeds, and cilantro. We love to order ours with seasoned tofu (Bonus: All tofu at Noodles & Company is organic), cucumber, green onion, and peanuts for added crunch.

Cauliflower Rigatoni Fresca with Shrimp 

For a modern twist on a light Italian classic, order the Cauliflower Rigatoni Fresca without the shrimp or the parmesan cheese, and either go protein-free or top yours with the Impossible Panko Chicken. The signature Noodles & Company vegan cauliflower-infused rigatoni comes tossed with a Fresca sauce made with balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil and roasted garlic. Add your choice of veggies for more vegan goodness.

Vegan Classic Noodles

Treat yourself to the taste of Italy with these classic pasta dishes served vegan-style.

• Penne Rosa (Substitute the Rosa Cream Sauce for vegan-friendly Marinara or Fresca, then remove the parmesan cheese. To bulk up the mushrooms, tomato, and spinach already on your penne, add your choice of Impossible Panko Chicken, tofu, vegan veggies, and other toppings.).
• Spaghetti and Meatballs (Remove the cheese and swap the meatballs for either tofu or no protein. The included marinara is vegan, and you can customize this cibo italiano with all the vegan toppings you desire.)

Vegan Asian Noodles

Whether you think noodles originated in Italy or in Asia, you’ll love these three dishes that can be made vegan with minor adjustments. 

• Grilled Orange Chicken Lo Mein (Top your vegan lo mein with seasoned tofu instead of chicken, and this orange sauce noodle dish instantly becomes vegan. Tossed with snap peas, napa and red cabbage, and green onion, you can add more veggies for a heftier entree.)
• Japanese Pan Noodles (Totally vegan! Customize your vegan udon noodles with or without tofu, and add veggies for extra eating.)
• Spicy Korean Beef Noodles (Remove the steak and choose tofu or no protein. The sweet and spicy Korean-style Gochujang BBQ sauce, lo mein, and veggies here are all vegan.) 

Vegan Zoodles and Cauliflower Noodles

The Cauliflower Rigatoni Fresca with Shrimp (minus the shrimp and parmesan) is the only dish that can be made vegan in this category, but you can always select Zucchini Noodles as the noodle in any of the vegan dishes we’ve laid out. Don't forget about your veggie and protein toppings!

Vegan Salads

While there are no vegan soups at Noodle & Company, you can veganize their salads in a flash. Vegan dressing options are location-specific. If your Noodles & Company doesn’t offer Balsamic Vinaigrette or Citrus Vinaigrette, ask to dress your salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

• The Med Salad with Grilled Chicken (Exchange the grilled chicken for Impossible Panko Chicken or seasoned tofu, remove the feta, and select your dressing.)
• Chicken Veracruz Salad (Swap the chicken for Impossible Panko Chicken or seasoned tofu, remove the bacon, and select your vegan dressing.) 
• Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (This becomes a very simple vegan salad when you omit the cheese and croutons. Choose seasoned tofu, or Impossible Panko Chicken, then drizzle on your choice of vegan dressing.)

Vegan Perfect Bowls

While Noodles & Company’s Perfect Bowls are easy-order dishes, none of them are vegan. But thankfully, with a couple quick customizations, you can turn these dishes into a perfect plant-based meal. 

• Zucchini Rosa with Grilled Chicken (Swap the chicken for Impossible Panko Chicken, seasoned tofu or no protein, then substitute the Rosa Cream Sauce for Marinara or Fresca and leave off the parmesan.)
• Japanese Pan Noodles with Tofu (A dish so nice they put it on the menu twice—once without tofu and once with.)

Vegan Sides

Noodles & Company offers a vegan-friendly baguette and a side Caesar’s Salad that can be made vegan. You can also add a side of vegan seasoned tofu to any of the dishes here.

Vegan Drinks

All of Noodles & Company’s drinks are vegan. Select from Coca-Cola Freestyle Beverage, bottled water, and Honest Kids Organic Fruit Punch or Apple Juice.