Home & Garden Home Vegan Guide to Panda Express: The Best Menu Options and Swaps The Chinese-American chain heads down a new path filled with plant-based options. By Elyse Glickman Elyse Glickman Writer Elyse has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of food and drink writing and journalism. In addition to contributing to a variety of food, nutrition, and travel publications, she has developed and managed her own publication, Liquid Living, focused on home entertaining. Learn about our editorial process Updated January 25, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Treehugger / Photo Illustration by Catherine Song / Panda Express Home Sustainable Eating Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Green Living Thrift & Minimalism In This Article Expand Our Top Picks Main Courses Sides and Appetizers Sauces & Condiments Drinks Vegan Desserts Frequently Asked Questions Panda Express epitomizes everything customers like about Chinese-American food with its “something for everyone” menu. However, “everyone” did not include vegans until a few years ago, when individual vegans and vegan-focused organizations teamed up to put the Panda under pressure to find new avenues of vegan options. Management responded, and it appears Panda Express is now on a plant-based path. Eggplant Tofu was its first entirely vegan entrée, and other vegan-friendly options at Panda Express followed, including the Super Greens mixed vegetables and Chow Mein. The chain’s partnership with Beyond Meat followed; they launched a plant-based version of their popular orange chicken that is now available nationwide. Here, we detail all things vegan at Panda Express, including our favorite menu items. Treehugger Tip While the plant-based items contain no animal products or byproducts, all items at Panda Express are cooked and prepped in the same shared facilities and equipment in store. Ask the management at your local store if it is possible to keep the preparation of plant-based selections separate from non-vegan foods. Our Top Picks These three favorite menu items are substantial and pack plenty of flavor. Beyond the Original Orange Chicken Think of it as the original only better. Beyond Meat delivers the crunch, the juiciness, and the texture with no trace of animal-based content. Eggplant Tofu Lightly browned tofu and eggplant constitute the heart of this satisfying dish while red bell peppers add light, crunchy contrast, and a sweet and spicy sauce offers a touch of heat. Vegetable Spring Rolls Nobody can go wrong with this timeless mix of cabbage, celery, carrots, green onions and Chinese noodles wrapped in a crispy wonton wrapper. Vegan Main Courses Hopefully, the success of these recently added mains will lead to the introduction of more delicious plant-based selections. Beyond the Original Orange ChickenEggplant Tofu Vegan Sides and Appetizers Though not necessarily a meal in themselves, these sides nicely complement the mains or can be upgraded when combined with one another. We recommend simply mixing the Super Greens with the rice or noodle dishes, then swirling in a sauce or two. Chow MeinChow FunSteamed Brown RiceSteamed White RiceSuper GreensVegetable Spring Rolls Treehugger Tip Try a plant-based combo, including the Beyond the Original Orange Chicken and Eggplant Tofu, with a choice of plain or brown rice or chow mein (or a little of each) and a vegetable spring roll. You can also swap the spring roll for Super Greens and add a mix of sauces. Vegan Sauces & Condiments Think of these tasty vegan sauces as paints to add additional color and flair to the basic dishes and sides. TeriyakiSweet & Sour SauceChili SauceSoy SaucePotsticker SauceHot MustardPlum Sauce Vegan Drinks Wash the spice and heat in your meal down with one of the many cool classics avaiable. Cherry Coca-ColaCoca-ColaCoca-Cola Zero SugarDiet CokeDr. PepperBarq’s Root BeerFanta Fruit PunchFanta OrangeFanta StrawberryFuze Lemon Black TeaFuze Raspberry TeaGlaceau Vitaminwater Squeezed ZeroGold Peak Premium Unsweetened TeaHi-C Flashin Fruit PunchMinute Maid LemonadeMinute Maid Light LemonadePOWERade Mountain BlastSeagram’s Ginger AleSpriteSprite ZeroBlack TeaLemon Green TeaPassion Fruit Mango Black TeaSweet Tea Vegan Desserts There isn't much in the name of vegan sweets at Panda Express, but you do have the reliable fortune cookie to enjoy. Frequently Asked Questions Is fried rice at Panda Express vegan? No, the fried rice is not vegan because it contains eggs. Are the spring rolls at Panda Express vegan? Yes, the spring rolls are vegan. As far as allergens go, they only contain wheat and soy—no animal products. Is the Beyond the Original Orange Chicken at Panda Express vegan? Yes, it is. Beyond the Original Orange Chicken, a vegan version of the Panda Express classic, contains no animal products.