American quick service restaurant Panda Express has locations all over the country and serves American Chinese food.
It was established in Glendale, California, in October 1983.
Andrew and Peggy Cherng were the company’s original owners.
The company’s current location is in the township of Rosemead, California, and its mission is to bring people together to enjoy the best Chinese cuisine (food) in a fun environment.
You can find over 2,200 Panda Express locations across North America.
The intriguing part is that panda express meals contain no artificial additives, and everything is natural some of their meals include orange chicken thanks, Kung Pao Chicken, grilled teriyaki chicken, crispy chicken bites, and chow mein, firecracker chicken breast, Beijing beef, teriyaki sauce, and mixed vegetables.
Finding gluten-free types of food in fast food chains can be challenging if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
For example, Panda Express sells some items that generally don’t contain wheat or gluten.
However, since gluten-containing foods are made in the same cooking area as gluten-free foods, it is best to avoid Panda Express if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.
Panda Express clearly states that neither vegetarian nor gluten-free options are available on its website.
As a result, if you must consume gluten-free food, panda express is not the place for you.
Some menu items might be safe for you if you are eating gluten-free but do not have celiac disease or severe gluten allergy.
The following are the only dishes available at Panda Express that are gluten-free.
Based on Panda Express’s menu, please also note that none of the items listed below contain wheat or gluten.
But be aware that these gluten-free products still may contain traces of gluten and may be cross-contaminated.
Rice
- Brown Steamed Rice
- White Steamed Rice
If you want (or need) to avoid gluten, rice, white rice or plain rice is an excellent option because it is naturally gluten-free.
However, if you have a severe gluten sensitivity, avoid the brown and white steamed rice at Panda Express because they are prepared in the same kitchen as gluten-containing dishes.
Sauce
On panda’s website, some sauces at Panda Express are listed as wheat-free, indicating that they may not contain gluten.
- Chili Sauce
- Plum Sauce
- Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Hot Mustard
Panda Express Sweet Chili Sauce
Panda Express Sweet Chili Sauce is a tantalizing condiment that brings the flavors of Asian cuisine to your palate.
Known for its balance of tanginess and sweetness, designed to complement a variety of dishes, from stir-fries to appetizers.
Its unique blend of ingredients aims to offer a delightful taste experience that will transport you to the vibrant streets of Asia.
Beverages/ Soft Drinks
The healthy menu at Panda Express lists every soft drink as being free of wheat.
Since most soft drinks are gluten-free, you should be less worried about drinking beverages from Panda Express because of cross-contamination.
- Barq’s Root Beer
- Black Tea
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
- Cherry Coca-Cola
- Coca-Cola
- Diet Coke
- Dr. Pepper
- Fanta Orange
- Fanta Strawberry
- Fanta Fruit Punch
- Fuze Lemon Black Tea
- Fuze Raspberry Tea
- Gold Peak Unsweetened Tea
- Vitamin Water Squeezed Zero
- Hi-C Flashin Fruit Punch
- Lemon Green Tea
- Minute Maid Lemonade
- Passionfruit Mango Black Tea
- Minute Maid Light Lemonade
- Powerade Fruit Punch
- Powerade Mountain Berry Blast
- Seagram’s Ginger Ale
- Sprite
- Sprite Zero
- Sweet Tea
Tips for a gluten-free panda express
Let the waiter or server know if you have gluten sensitivity.
It’s also important to let them know if you have celiac disease.
Study the menu and also the ingredients that went into preparing their food.
In case of doubt, do not eat.
It isn’t gluten-free because they said so; always ensure you know what you are eating. No meal is worth jeopardizing your life for.
Even if a restaurant claims to be gluten-free, you should still look into the ingredients before ordering.
Gluten-Free Restaurant Options to Consider
- Pei Wei
- Mellow Mushroom
- PF Changs
- Bonefish Grill restaurant
- Melting Pot
Pei Wei
Pei Wei food chain offers gluten-free Asian-inspired dishes, including their Vietnamese chicken salad rolls, traditional edamame, spicy Pei Wei chicken, spicy Pei Wei shrimp, spicy chicken and shrimp, sweet and sour chicken, and spicy chicken and shrimp.
The inspiration for Pei Wei came from a desire to open a restaurant that offered genuine Asian-inspired cuisine quickly without sacrificing freshness.
Mellow Mushroom
Founded in 1974 as a single pizzeria in Atlanta, Georgia, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is a national chain of pizza eateries.
Having more than 200+ locations across the United States, it runs as a franchise under Home Grown Industries, Inc. of Georgia.
Atlanta is where it’s headquartered.
While everyone is aware that pizza is one of the quickest meals available, we still want to ensure that our meals are nutritious, which is why the Mellow Mushroom restaurant is the best choice.
The majority of the gluten-free pizzas on the menu are made with crust.
Additionally, you have various gluten-free topping options when making your pizza.
PF Changs
At P.F. Chang’s, each dish is prepared differently.
However, their freshly prepared meals are deserving of a try.
Consumers who are gluten-sensitive and on a strict diet are already tuning in.
Additionally, their menu selections are tasty.
Gluten-free sauces, gluten-free marinades, and gluten-free soy sauce are among PF Chang’s gluten-free ingredients.
Melting Pot
There are many gluten-free options on The Melting Pot menu!
The Melting Pot is the ideal setting for those adhering to a gluten-free diet. Everything is cooked or dipped at your table.
Doing this eliminates the level of cross-contamination you might have in a typical restaurant kitchen.
They went above and beyond to obtain validation because they are so particular, they won’t contaminate your food!
Bonefish Grill restaurant
Happy hour at the Bonefish Grill restaurant is popular and runs from Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.
It is growing in popularity because it offers a special allergen menu with a range of healthy choices for every customer.
The risk for cross-contamination
Cross-contamination is the unintentional contamination of gluten-free food by gluten-containing foods.
Despite the words “gluten-free” appearing on a menu, there is still a chance of cross-contamination.
This risk is significant for people with celiac disease or those who are gluten intolerant because even tiny amounts of gluten can cause damage to their guts.
Before dining in a restaurant, one must become familiar with its menu items to avoid food contamination.
Because the food is prepared in a shared kitchen with the possibility of gluten exposure, some restaurants advise you to inform your server when placing your order that you are ordering a gluten-free menu item.
The advice is given because the restaurants cannot guarantee those menu items are completely gluten-free.
Conclusion
Making your gluten-free food with your gluten-free products is the most secure way to eat.
But if you can tolerate small amounts of gluten, pick dishes from restaurants that offer gluten-free menus.
To prevent food contamination, always eat a healthy diet and familiarize yourself with the menu items, and if possible avoid the panda express gluten-free menu.
