Panda Express Gluten-Free Menu Guide 2023

Panda Express offers some items that naturally don’t contain wheat flour or gluten so it’s helpful to know which foods these are and if it’s okay to eat them. But if you are one of those extreme celiac disease sufferers or have mild gluten allergies, it’s best to steer clear of Panda Express because gluten-containing foods are prepared in the same kitchen areas as gluten free food items .

Panda Express History

Panda Express is a fast food restaurant chain serving American Chinese cuisine. It was founded in October 1983 in the United States. The original proprietors were Andrew and Peggy Cherng. Currently, the company is headquartered in the township of Rosemead, California, their goal being to draw people together to enjoy the best of americanized Chinese food in an enjoyable atmosphere.

Apart from panda express’ orange chicken thanks to their chef Andy Kao , the chain also serves other Asian inspired signature dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken, Beijing Beef, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken, and Firecracker Chicken Breast. There are also combo meals that can be served together with various sides from their sides section such as egg rolls, white rice, fried rice, brown rice, chow mein, steamed rice or mixed vegetables. As per Panda Express’s Website, no artificial additives are added to Panda Express meals and each signature dish uses natural ingredients. The company also does not purchase ingredients from suppliers who add enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) prior to delivery.

Why is Panda Express not gluten free?

If you have Celiac disease or are very gluten sensitive, it’s probably best to avoid Panda Express due to cross contamination concerns. The majority of food items on the menu contain wheat or wheat ingredients.

Panda Express Gluten Free Menu Options

While there isn’t a separate Panda Express allergen menu for those with celiac disease or eating a gluten-free diet, the good news is Panda Express does feature naturally gluten-free dishes and sauces.However its important to know none of these dishes can or should substitute as a gluten-free meal. 

Now onto the gluten-free items found on the menu!

Side Dishes

• Brown Steamed Rice
• White Steamed Rice

These are the only menu items that are gluten-free.

Sauces

• Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Chili Sauce
• Hot Mustard Sauce
• Plum Sauce

Drinks

• All of the fountain drinks are gluten-free!

These are the only gluten-free options found on the Panda Express Menu. To view menu nutrition details and allergen listings on the above list (the entirety of food found on their menu) click here.

Is fried rice at Panda Express gluten-free?

Panda uses ingredients that contain all the major FDA allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, soy and wheat). Panda prepares its entrees fresh with shared cooking equipment and therefore allergens could be present in any entree. So fried rice from Panda Express is not gluten-free.

Is teriyaki chicken from Panda Express gluten-free?

Panda Express teriyaki chicken screams Asian cooking. It is made with juicy, grilled chicken breast, glazed with the flavorful teriyaki sauce and topped with sesame seeds. The sauce is made of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar. However because Panda Express prepares its entrees fresh with shared cooking equipment and therefore allergens could be present in any entree. So teriyaki chicken from panda express is not gluten-free.

Is kung pao chicken from Panda Express gluten-free?

Taken directly from Panda Express’s website their kung pao chicken is described as a Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts and vegetables, finished with chili peppers. However because Panda Express prepares its entrees fresh with shared cooking equipment and therefore allergens could be present in any entree. So kung pao chicken from panda express is not gluten-free.

What are Panda Express noodles made of?

Panda Express Noodles Ingredients: bleached enriched flour, dark meat chicken, water, cabbage, onion, napa cabbage, carrot, green onion, mung bean vermicelli, durum flour, contains less than 2% of: clear vermicelli, vegetable oil , sesame oil, soy sauce, wine, salt, natural flavor, dehydrated chicken, chicken fat, sugar, rice vinegar, whey, maltodextrin.

Does Panda Express have gluten-free fortune cookies?

The package of their fortune cookie notes that the product contains wheat and may contain egg and soy ingredients. Therefore, Panda Express fortune cookies are vegan but are not gluten-free. Those with egg or soy allergies should avoid Panda’s fortune cookies due to possible cross contamination.

What is Panda Express’ orange chicken made of?

Panda Express Orange Chicken Ingredients: dark meat chicken, water, sugar, distilled vinegar, modified food starch, corn starch, potato starch, contains less than 2% of: wheat, orange extract, caramel color, salt, garlic, phosphoric acid, rice, sesame oil.

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe Alternatives

If you are on a gluten free diet and can’t eat the Panda Express orange chicken try making one of these super tasty recipes!

Gluten-Free Chinese Fast Food Chains Alternatives

Here are some Asian American fast food restaurants that are great alternatives to Panda Express. Both of these fast-food chains have more than one food item that is gluten-free on their menu!

PF Changs

PF Changs offers dishes that are gluten-free as prepared, or can be modified to be gluten-free. Their gluten-free ingredients include gluten-free marinades and gluten-free soy sauce. However, gluten-containing dishes are prepared on shared cooking equipment gluten-free dishes, so if you have celiac disease you may want to skip out on this restaurant as well.

Pei Wei

Another Asian American fast food chain that offers gluten-free menu items is Pei Wei. Pei Wei’s gluten free foods include Asian chopped chicken garden fresh salad, spicy Pei Wei chicken, spicy Pei Wei shrimp, spicy chicken and shrimp, sweet and sour chicken, sweet and sour shrimp, Vietnamese chicken salad rolls, and traditional edamame. However, if you’re gluten-sensitive or have celiac disease, ask if gluten-free food items are prepared in the same kitchen as gluten-containing foods.

Sources

• https://www.pandaexpress.com/nutritioninformation
• https://www.pandaexpress.ca/en/menu/entrees/kung-pao-chicken
• https://s3.amazonaws.com/PandaExpressWebsite/files/IngredientList.pdf
• https://www.vegknowledge.com/vegan/are-fortune-cookies-vegan/#:~:text=Panda%20Express&text=The%20package%20also%20notes%20that,due%20to%20possible%20cross%20contamination.
• https://s3.amazonaws.com/PandaExpressWebsite/files/IngredientList.pdf
• https://www.pfchangs.com/menu/gluten-free
• http://www.peiwei.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/nutrition-info.pdf

Other Gluten Free Menu Guides

• Jack In The Box Gluten Free Menu Guide

Gluten Free Panda Express Menu 2022 Google Web Story!