With over 2,500 locations worldwide, Panda Express has achieved global success. But before Panda Express, there was Panda Inn. In 1973, Andrew Cherng and chef Ming-Tsai Cherng opened Panda Inn in Pasadena, CA with a menu inspired by Mandarin and Sichuan cuisine. A decade later, Andrew Cherng launched the first Panda Express.
The first Panda Express location opened inside the Glendale Galleria, a popular mall located in Glendale, CA. Two years later, in 1985, the second location opened inside the Westside Pavilion, yet another mall food court. And in 1987, the chain developed the now world famous Original Orange Chicken. Since then, Panda Express has moved beyond mall food courts and has opened thousands of locations around the world.
Panda Express has always been committed to American Chinese cuisine, and the menu has seen a number of changes throughout the years. In 2021, for example, the chain trialed vegan orange chicken with the help of Beyond Meat, which was aptly named Beyond the Original Orange Chicken. While this collaboration was just for a limited time, since then, the chain has reintroduced the vegan dish a number of times. At the time of writing, the plant-based Beyond the Original Orange Chicken is back on the menu (more on this below).
Does Panda Express have vegan options?
Yes, Panda Express has vegan options. After relaunching Beyond the Original Orange Chicken in hundreds of US locations on July 3, 2024, Panda Express is now offering the vegan entrée in 300 additional locations as of October 2, 2024.
This move comes after customers expressed disappointment with the limited availability announced in July. The beloved vegan dish was initially available in major US metro areas including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, CA; Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; Orlando and Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; and New York, NY, among others. However, entire states including Oregon, Texas, Arizona, Washington, and North and South Carolina were completely left out.
Panda Express
Today’s expansion now brings Beyond the Original Orange Chicken to Portland, OR; Vancouver and Seattle, WA; Phoenix, AZ; Austin and Dallas, TX, and more. To find this vegan orange chicken near you, be sure to check out Panda Express’ store locator for participating locations.
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How to eat vegan at Panda Express
The next time you find yourself peering into the hot buffet trays of Panda Express, follow this guide to fill your plate with all the vegan goods.
Panda Express
1Beyond the Original Orange Chicken
For a limited time, this cult-favorite plant-based entrée is back at Panda Express. After debuting in 2021 for a limited time, Beyond the Original Orange Chicken returned to the menu the following year and was available at all Panda Express locations nationwide. As of October 2024, this fan-favorite item is available at more than 300 US locations.
Panda Express
2 Rice and noodles
No need to worry about chicken, fish, or beef broth here—Panda Express has a few options when it comes to carbs. Use them as a hearty, satiating base to soak in any lingering sauce that drips from your main dish.
As of 2019, the chow mein is also vegan. The company nixed the chicken broth and animal-based seasonings following a robust campaign by Vegan Outreach.
Unfortunately, the fried rice contains egg. Still, that leaves you with a few solid picks. Your vegan options for rice and noodles are:
- Steamed brown rice
- Chow mein
- Steamed white rice
Panda Express
3 Vegetables
Honestly speaking, Panda Express could put a bit more effort into its vegetable offerings.
However, the one vegetable option available at all 2,300 locations does a suitable job.
The Super Greens are simply prepared with steamed broccoli, kale, and cabbage. It’s always a delight to find a healthy green option that’s not a limp salad at any fast-food joint.
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Panda Express
4 Eggplant Tofu
Not finding Beyond the Original Orange Chicken at a location near you? Call your nearest store and ask if they carry the Eggplant Tofu. The dish consists of browned tofu, eggplant, red bell peppers, and sweet and spicy sauce. A Panda Express representative has confirmed that the sauce does not contain any animal ingredients. Be warned, however, as consumers have reported it is not always available at some locations.
Convenient Keto
5 Sauces
Zhush up those Super Greens or a carton of rice with one of the many vegan-friendly sauces.
When you opt for the 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 stand to add a little more variety to its vegan menu. But, with the demand for plant-based food, we can’t wait to see what else the chain has in store.
For more vegan ordering guides, read:
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Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
