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By Alisa Fleming on Fast Food Restaurants
Updated April 2024! Panda Express is the largest Asian fast food chain in the U.S., specializing in American Chinese cuisine. They used to have some very odd menu labeling for milk, but we helped them get it fixed, so now every section of their menu is filled with dairy-free options. We’ve summarized them into a quick menu guide below.
Panda Express Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes & Vegan Options
This information is for the U.S., but their menu only varies slightly in Canada. Please note that not all menu items listed below will be available at each Panda Express location. The entrees and sides can rotate, or some locations might choose not to order certain items. They do have a limited number of options that they can offer at any given time.
Allergen & Special Diet Notes: All non-dairy items listed below are also egg-free by ingredients, except the Fried Rice and Hot & Sour Soup. The only item below that contains peanuts is the Kung Pao Chicken, and none of the non-dairy items contain tree nuts. However, almost every menu item contains wheat and soy. There are no gluten-free entrees, appetizers, or sides (aside from plain rice) at Panda Express. We have labeled the few soy-free, dairy-free options below, but keep in mind that they might not label soy oil as allergenic, per the FDA definition of allergenic soy. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Appetizers
- Chicken Potstickers
- Vegetable Spring Rolls
Heads Up! The Chicken Egg Rolls and Rangoons at Panda Express do contain milk.
Soup
- Hot & Sour Soup
Sides
- Brown Steamed Rice (soy-free)
- White Steamed Rice (soy-free)
- Fried Rice
- Chow Mein
- Super Greens
Heads Up! The Chow Fun used to be dairy-free, but it does now contain milk.
Veggie Entrees
- Beyond Orange Chicken
- Eggplant Tofu
- Super Greens
Chicken Entrees
- Asian Chicken
- Black Pepper Chicken
- Grilled Asian Chicken
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
- Honey Sesame Chicken Breast
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Mushroom Chicken
- Potato Chicken
- String Bean Chicken Breast
- Sweet & Sour Chicken Breast (soy-free)
- Sweetfire Chicken Breast (soy-free)
- Teriyaki Chicken
Heads Up! The Orange Chicken at Panda Express does contain milk.
Beef Entreees
- Beijing Beef
- Black Pepper Angus Steak
- Broccoli Beef
Heads Up! The Beijing Beef at Panda Express used to contain milk, but according to their recent allergen update, it’s now dairy-free by ingredients. There is an ingredient guide that pops up in search that shows this dish “contains milk” but there are no milk-based foods in the actual ingredients. It seems to be a transitionary error, but as always, confirm it is dairy-free at your location before ordering.
Seafood Entrees
- Chili Crispy Shrimp
- Firecracker Shrimp
- Golden Treasure Shrimp
- Steamed Ginger Fish
- Wok-Fired Shrimp
Heads Up! The Honey Walnut Shrimp at Panda Express does contain milk. The Steamed Ginger Fish used to contain milk, but according to their recent update, it’s now dairy-free by ingredients. In past years, the Firecracker Shrimp has been both dairy-free and egg-free, but we are confirming if the 2024 version is still made without milk.
Cub Meals
- Broccoli Beef Cub Meal
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Cub Meal
Sauces
- Chili Sauce (soy-free)
- Hot Mustard (soy-free)
- Plum Sauce (soy-free)
- Potsticker Sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Sweet & Sour Sauce (soy-free)
- Teriyaki Sauce
Dessert
- Apple Pie Roll (soy-free)
- Fortune Cookies
- Tree Top Apple Crisps (soy-free)
Panda Express Vegan Menu Guide
To accommodate the ordering style at Panda Express, we have broken the vegan menu items down by category.
Vegan Appetizers
- Vegetable Spring Rolls
Vegan Sides
- Chow Mein
- Super Greens
- Brown Steamed Rice
- White Steamed Rice
Vegan Entrees
- Beyond Orange Chicken
- Eggplant Tofu
- Super Greens
Vegan Sauces
- Chili Sauce
- Hot Mustard
- Plum Sauce
- Potsticker Sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
Vegan Dessert
- Apple Pie Roll
- Fortune Cookies
- Tree Top Apple Crisps
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find Panda Express
There are over 2000 Panda Express locations in the U.S., with a smattering in other countries around the world. See the website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.pandaexpress.com
4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5
4.9 out of 5 stars (based on 19 reviews)
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Love this page, though may have been a change at Panda Express
Rated 5.0 out of 5
April 13, 2024
This page has been a great resource in helping me avoid dairy. I just got some food from Panda Express and checked here first, but when I went to Panda Express’ page, it looks like Beijing Beef and Steamed Ginger Fish no longer have dairy. So possible additional options for those avoiding dairy.
Tabitha
Response from Go Dairy Free
Thank you for the heads up. We’re reviewing now for the update.
Dairy Free I’m so happy that the menu is so honest
Rated 5.0 out of 5
October 26, 2023
We love Panda Express❤️
AngiebeeChynidollZiZi
A better list needs to be available
Rated 3.0 out of 5
September 22, 2023
Make one like McDonald’s. My child has like 7 allergy issues and this addresses 1, and maybe egg also except it’s very unclear.
Bex
Response from Go Dairy Free
This listing covers more allergens than dairy and eggs. Please read the Special Diet Notes right before the menu. It addresses the options for peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and soy. That’s why eggs are the only labeled one in the post. It is too overwhelming if we list all items containing wheat and soy. And please keep in mind that this is a dairy-free menu guide. We do our best to go above and beyond to address other top allergens where it is most feasible, but each guide is a little different.
Thank you, but questions!
Rated 5.0 out of 5
June 12, 2023
I recently contacted Panda Express to ask for an accurate, up to date allergen guide. They sent me a link which I followed and their allergen guide differed from yours. In particular, the vegetable spring rolls contain milk according to the guide they sent me. Do you know if this is actually true? Thanks!
Sarah Rien
Response from Go Dairy Free
They had an incorrect allergen guide for a number of years that they finally corrected a year or so ago. It’s a bit odd they sent you that dated guide since they now have their allergen information live online. It’s listed under their nutrition information, which includes an ingredient guide link dated this year. The spring rolls are made without dairy ingredients, according to the company’s current allergen guide and ingredient guide (both for this year). We source the most current and accurate information available for our guides. Unfortunately, customer service sometimes references outdated information. I’ve seen this happen many times before with other companies. I hope that helps!
Thanks
Rated 5.0 out of 5
April 10, 2023
Thank you so much for providing this information. One has to be vigilant when avoiding dairy as it can still come in things that would ordinarily not, such as some sourdough bread, Italian dressings, honey mustards and stuff like that you wouldn’t usually expect.
John adams
Question about Veggie Spring Rolls
Rated 5.0 out of 5
April 4, 2023
On their allergen menu, it says the Veggie Spring rolls contain milk?
Danielle Latigo
Response from Go Dairy Free
I think you are looking at their 2018 allergen chart. For some reason, Google ranks this old allergen chart at the top of the search. Our information is based on the most current allergen information, which is from 2023. I just double verified and our information is correct. The veggie spring rolls are not made with milk at this time.
Very Happy with Panda service and taste of food.
Rated 5.0 out of 5
March 15, 2023
Hi.
I get fried rice and Orange chicken. I cannot take too much dairy but I take Lactaid OTC. Before every meal if I feel there is milk so I wont get a reaction or ask your dr if there is anyother medications you can take with milk foods. I have lupus and trying to have a normal life.
I eat healthy foods fried rice has veggies in it that makes it easier for me because It is harder for me to cook at home with my Osteoperosis so the egg veggies and rice has some nutrition value I can have in my meals with the Orange chicken and Panda has other vegan options we can ask:)
Thank you kindly for your services!
Joanne K
Joanne
I have a deadly dairy allergy
Rated 5.0 out of 5
August 11, 2022
This website helps so much with dairy free foods when i’m not sure! i do occasionally ask the workers to double check but 100% of the time it is accurate.
Daisy Saunders
Great Food!
Rated 5.0 out of 5
May 29, 2022
I love Panda! Great food at a good price. They always give you lots of food in your order. Thanks Panda!!!
Trinityrose
Truly Appreciate The Vegan Options
Rated 5.0 out of 5
May 15, 2022
Really hard to find quick and easy vegan options for take out. This was an excellent quick review of possible choices to make.
Barb
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
