What oil does Panda Express (Bowl) fry in?
Panda Express (Bowl) has not publicly confirmed exactly which oil it fries in. Here is what its menu tells us about the seed-oil load, and the cleanest things to order.
The 5 cleanest things to order at Panda Express (Bowl)
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 3.0g |
| Fried Rice | 5.0g |
| Chow Mein | 6.0g |
| Orange Chicken | 8.0g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Why the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Panda Express (Bowl) report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index.
Frequently asked
Does Panda Express (Bowl) use beef tallow?
Panda Express (Bowl) has not disclosed using beef tallow, and chains without a disclosure typically fry in seed oils. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.