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    Home » Gluten-Free Resources

    Panda Express Gluten-Free Menu Guide 2023

    Apr 26, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    Panda Express provides a selection of food items that are naturally free of wheat flour or gluten. However not all of the items on the Panda Express menu are gluten free, which is why this guide can be helpful.

    Panda Express gluten free options
    Jump to:
    • 📖 Panda Express History
    • 💭Is Panda Express Gluten Free?
    • 🔖 Panda Express Gluten-Free Menu Options 
    • 💬 Common Questions Asked When Ordering Gluten Free From Panda Express
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Copycat Panda Express Gluten-Free Recipes
    • 📙 Gluten-Free Chinese Fast Food Chains Alternatives
    • Sources
    • 📙 Other Gluten-Free Menu Guides

    📖 Panda Express History

    Panda Express, a fast-food chain with a Chinese theme, was established in October 1983 in Glendale, California by Andrew and Peggy Cherng. Their main mission is to bring people together to enjoy Americanized Chinese cuisine in a cozy and enjoyable environment. The current headquarters of Panda Express is in Rosemead, California.

    The journey began when Andrew Cherng opened the first restaurant and enlisted Peggy to fine-tune its operations for top-notch food and service. By 1987, they had created a signature dish called Orange Chicken, with the help of their skilled chef Andy Kao. This dish draws inspiration from the original flavors of the Hunan Province and features crispy chicken bites coated in a sweet, tangy orange sauce.

    Panda Express serves a number of additional Asian-inspired meals in addition to Orange Chicken, including Beijing Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, and Firecracker Chicken Breast. These are available as combo meals with a variety of side dishes, including fried rice, chow main, steamed rice, or mixed veggies.

    According to Panda Express Website, they utilize only natural products free of any artificial additives. They also don't buy their goods from vendors that use enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) before they are delivered.

    💭Is Panda Express Gluten Free?

    Panda Express doesn’t have a special gluten-free menu, however they do have some items on their menu that are naturally gluten-free. However it is important to note that if you have Celiac or severe gluten-free allergy you should avoid eating at Panda Express because there can be cross-contamination. All of the ingredients at Panda Express are prepared in the same kitchen so when the naturally gluten-free ingredients come in contact with ingredients that contain gluten they can get cross contaminated. 

    🔖 Panda Express Gluten-Free Menu Options 

    This is a list of items from Panda Express Menu that are naturally gluten-free:

    Sides

    • Brown Steamed Rice
    • White Steamed Rice

    Sauces

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

    Drinks

    • All drinks are gluten-free 

    💬 Common Questions Asked When Ordering Gluten Free From Panda Express

    Is Kung Pao chicken from Panda Express gluten-free?

    On Panda Express website Kung Pao Chicken is described as A Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts and vegetables, finished with chili peppers.
    However as I have mentioned above, Panda Express prepares its main dishes fresh with shared equipment so this dish can be cross contaminated and allergens can be present. So Kung Pao Chicken from Panda Express is not gluten-free

    Is Teriyaki Chicken from Panda Express gluten-free?

    Teriyaki chicken from panda Express consists of grilled chicken brest, teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds. The teriyaki sauce is made of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar. Moreover the ingredients are prepared fresh using shared utensils which can cause cross contamination with different allergens.
    Therefore teriyaki chicken from Panda Express is not gluten-free.

    Is Fried Rice at Panda Express gluten-free?

    Fried rice from Panda Express is made with steamed white rice with soy sauce, eggs, peas, carrots and green onions.
    Most soy sauces contain gluten, moreover panda express prepares its entrees fresh with shared kitchen utensils, which is why allergens can be present in the dish. Therefore Fried Rice from Panda Express is not gluten-free.
     

    Is Panda Express Beef and Broccoli Gluten Free?

    On Panda Express website  beef and broccoli is described to be made with Tender beef and fresh broccoli in a ginger soy sauce.
    Most soy sauces contain gluten and according to their website Panda Express prepares its entrees fresh with shared cooking equipment and therefore allergens could be present in any entree. Therefore Beef and Broccoli is not gluten-free.

    Does Panda Express have gluten-free Fortune Cookies?

    On their fortune cookies packaging is written that they contain 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.

    Is Panda Express Orange Chicken gluten-free?

    The short answer is no, the orange chicken from panda express is not gluten-free as it contains wheat.
    Taken directly from their website the ingredients used in their orange chicken are: 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. *The dish uses a proprietary batter and sauce. Batter includes the following primary ingredients: wheat flour, salt, eggs, spices, leavening; sauce includes the following primary ingredients: water, sugar, soy sauce, salt, spices. 

    👩🏻‍🍳 Copycat Panda Express Gluten-Free Recipes

    Gluten Free Orange Chicken
    Easy Copycat Panda Express gluten free orange chicken. This recipe tastes just like your favorite Chinese take-out!
    Make the recipe
    Gluten-Free Sweet Fire Chicken
    This Gluten-Free Sweet Fire Chicken Panda Express copycat recipe is a tasty gluten-free rendition of the popular restaurant dish. Great for when that fast-food craving hits!
    Make the recipe

    📙 Gluten-Free Chinese Fast Food Chains Alternatives

    PF Changs  

    Pf Changs offers a gluten free menu, however their gluten-free dishes are prepared on shared equipment with gluten containing dishes, so if you have celiac or severe gluten allergies you should avoid this restaurant as well.

    Pei Wei

    Pei Wei offers some gluten-free dishes on their menu. You can check their page with allergen information to see which items are gluten-free.

    If you have celiac or severe gluten allergies you should ask them whether they prepare the gluten-free meals with shared utensils.

    Sources

    https://s3.amazonaws.com/PandaExpressWebsite/files/IngredientList.pdf

    https://www.pandaexpress.ca/en/

    https://www.pfchangs.com/menu/gluten-free

    https://www.peiwei.com/allergen-information/

    📙 Other Gluten-Free Menu Guides

    • Dunkin’ Donuts Gluten-Free Menu Guide
    • Texas Roadhouse Gluten-Free Menu Guide
    • Tim Hortons Gluten-Free Menu

    Please comment below if this Panda Express Gluten-Free Menu was useful to you or if you detect any inaccuracies.

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    Dunkin’ Donuts Gluten-Free Menu Guide 2023 »

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