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Panda Express

momof2

By momof2
in Gluten-Free Restaurants

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momof2 Explorer
momof2
Posted

I emailed Panda Express for info on any gluten-free items on their menu, and sadly, the reply stated that not 1 of their dishes are gluten-free. My Celiac daughter loved eating there before she was dx, and now it looks like we will no longer be able to go! Isn't all steamed rice gluten-free? I remember reading something awhile back about being careful about steamed rice, but I can't remember why. Does anybody know?

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Alexolua Explorer
Alexolua
Posted
Isn't all steamed rice gluten-free? I remember reading something awhile back about being careful about steamed rice, but I can't remember why

I haven't heard of Panda Express.. so I might be a bit wrong here. But, I'm gonna guess they sell steamed rice?

I would think rice that was steamed would be gluten-free, but it could be cross-contaminated with something that contains gluten. Another guess, that what you were reading, was warning you about a company that contaminated it's steamed rice? If so, that's your answer. Or if it was warning you about being careful about cooking it at home, maybe the careful part was to aviod contanimation.

If I'm totally way off, sorry! =)

Niteyx13 Explorer
Niteyx13
Posted

I ate Panda Express' rice one day, and just had plain veggies (I of course made sure there was no soy sauce or anything else on it). It was kinda bland, but I was fine afterward. I have a bad habit of not eating breakfast, and if I get out doing something I will go until I am so hungry I feel like passing out. Yes, I know this in unhealthy and as I am writing is my husband is reminding me of that...lol...anyway... That was one of those days where I was desperate to eat. I was fine on what I ate there. But, you are right just about EVERYTHING there is covered in soy sauce, and so I would assume gluten.

Deanna

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Someone mentioned that PeiWei - a faster food place that spun off of PF Changs - has gluten-free items.

  • 2 weeks later...
Littlewolf Newbie
Littlewolf
Posted

Steamed rice has gluten? Maybe they use something with it? My BF never had problems eating Chineese but he is not super-duper sensitive. He can normally eat soy and can have chicken w/ veggies. I would think they would be conserned with cross-contamination. . probably don't want you to sue if something goes wrong. Food alleriges are so icky.

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

My in-laws recently moved to a new town. We went to visit them for my FIL's birthday and he wanted chinese food. I was going to try to get the restaraunt to custom make some gluten-free dishes for us, but we ended up at Panda Express. :rolleyes: I knew that there wasn't going to be anything for my kids and I to eat, but we went anyhow. The steamed rice was fine. It was kept in a separate area away from the other foods and served on the plates first with its own separate scoop (also kept away from the other foods). So we just had rice. I had brought beef jerky for us in the car, so we ate that and had juice. The staff was concerned that we weren't ordering, but after making sure that every other dish contained soy sauce, except the egg rolls which contained wheat, I just got the rice. They didn't offer plain steamed veggies and I wasn't going to risk trying to get them to make a special dish. I could see right into the kitchen area and the risk of cross-contamination was very high!

On a side note, my MIL who never seemed to understand why we don't eat their food at their parties started to understand what I mean when I say "NO GLUTEN/WHEAT/DAIRY". After two days of watching what we eat and having me check labels and verify everything we put in our mouths maybe she will understand a bit more next time we come over and she won't get so offended when we don't eat their Philippino dishes filled with soy sauce and wheat flour. Of course they finished the night with Coconut Cream Pie and offered it to me and my kids! Wouldn't it be funny if my husband ever gets tested and finds that most of his family also has problems with gluten and dairy! They buy Pepto Bismol by the case to deal with all their gastro problems!

God bless,

Mariann

pturse Apprentice
pturse
Posted

Another disappointing note about Panda Express is that their "vegetarian" meal which is supposed to be just veggies, is covered and cooked in chicken stock! I was mortified. How can they claim "vegetarian" and do that? I only eat the rice at Panda Express and that is only if we can't find another place to eat that is better.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Mballerina Explorer
Mballerina
Posted

Steamed Rice is often given a sticky consistency by adding vinegars, sugars and other such things to it. If you look at packages for a lot of prepared sushi rice packages you will see the there are some horrid things in there that just shouldn't be.

  • 8 years later...
clairereddick Newbie
clairereddick
Posted

i love Panda Express but I have celiac disease.. I thought panda had grilled chicken?

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

This thread is from 2004. Any info that old is out- of- date. It is very likely that the grilled chicken is marinated in soy sauce. I would think there soy sauce is the cheaper, more common version, and contains wheat. Also, the risk of cross contamination from the other food would be great, in my opinion. You could email the company and ask but I would not feel safe eating anything there.

Looks like most everything has gluten. I wouldn't trust the plain rice as I have seen them put the spoons from one item to another when serving. You should be OK with a soft drink.

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