Panda Express Eggplant Tofu: Price, Calories & Locations 2026 

Yes, Panda Express Eggplant Tofu exists, but it’s a regional item, not a permanent nationwide menu offering. It’s Panda Express’s only fully plant-based entrée, made with browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers in a sweet and spicy sauce. Availability is concentrated in California and parts of Hawaii, so checking your local menu is essential before making a trip.

If you’ve searched “Panda Express Eggplant Tofu” hoping to find it at your nearest location, you’re not alone. This dish has a cult following among vegans and vegetarians, largely because it’s the only entrée on Panda’s menu that skips meat entirely. But finding it can feel like a scavenger hunt. Below, we break down everything you need to know: what’s in it, what it costs, how many calories it packs, and how to track down a location that actually serves it.

What Is Panda Express Eggplant Tofu?

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu is a wok-fired dish made from browned cubes of firm tofu, chunks of eggplant, and red bell peppers, all tossed in a proprietary sweet and spicy sauce. It’s the chain’s only vegan entrée as of 2026, distinguishing it from meat-and-seafood-heavy staples like Orange Chicken and Beijing Beef.

• Protein: Browned firm tofu
• Vegetables: Eggplant (often Chinese or Japanese variety) and red bell peppers
• Sauce: Sweet, spicy, and savory  thickened with cornstarch
• Cooking method: High-heat wok frying

Does Panda Express Have Eggplant Tofu?

Panda Express does carry Eggplant Tofu, but only at select locations rather than chain-wide. An independent analysis of nearly 2,000 Panda Express restaurants found that just 157 locations  roughly 8%  actually served the dish. If your local Panda doesn’t have it, you’re in the majority, not the exception.

Is Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Vegan?

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu is vegan by ingredient list  it contains no meat, dairy, eggs, or honey. PETA includes it on its 2026 list of vegan Panda Express items. That said, there’s a catch worth knowing before you order.

Cross-contamination note: Because Panda Express uses shared woks and cooking oil across menu items, eggplant tofu may come into contact with meat or seafood during preparation. Strict vegans concerned about this should ask staff about dedicated cooking equipment, though availability of a “clean wok” varies by location.

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Ingredients

The core ingredients, based on Panda’s menu description and cross-referenced with copycat recipe developers, include:

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Calories and Nutrition

A single serving (5.9 oz) of Panda Express Eggplant Tofu contains the following:

The fat content runs higher than you might expect for a vegetable-forward dish, largely because eggplant absorbs oil like a sponge during wok-frying.

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Price

Eggplant Tofu is priced the same as Panda’s other entrées  there’s no premium upcharge for the vegan option.

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Near Me: How to Check Locations

Since Eggplant Tofu isn’t a nationwide staple, the smartest move is to confirm availability before you go. Here’s how:

1. Visit pandaexpress.com and enter your ZIP code to pull up your local menu.
2. Check if “Eggplant Tofu” appears in the entrée list for that specific store.
3. Call Panda Express Customer Service at 800-877-8988 if the online menu is unclear.
4. Call your local store directly  staff can confirm same-day availability.
5. Check the Panda Express app, which will mark the item “unavailable” if your location doesn’t carry it.

Locations that do stock it are concentrated in California, with limited availability in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest, according to copycat recipe bloggers and location-mapping data.

Building a Vegan Meal at Panda Express

If your location does serve Eggplant Tofu, here’s how to pair it for a fully plant-based meal:

Vegan sides:

• Super Greens (broccoli, kale, cabbage)
• Steamed brown rice
• Steamed white rice
• Chow mein (no eggs in the noodles)
• Avoid: Fried rice  it contains eggs

Vegan appetizer:

• Vegetable Spring Roll

Sample vegan bowl combos:

• Eggplant Tofu + Super Greens
• Eggplant Tofu + Steamed Brown Rice
• Eggplant Tofu + Chow Mein

What If Your Panda Express Doesn’t Have Eggplant Tofu?

If your local store doesn’t carry it, you have a few options. Order a vegan-friendly bowl of Super Greens and steamed rice instead, or watch for Beyond the Original Orange Chicken, a plant-based option Panda has run as a limited-time offer in past years. You can also call 800-877-8988 to request the dish at your location  enough customer requests can influence regional menu decisions.

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Recipe (Copycat)

Can’t find it nearby? Making it at home takes about 30-45 minutes and uses ingredients you can find at any grocery store.

Ingredients:

• 14 oz extra-firm tofu, cubed
• ¼ cup cornstarch (for coating tofu)
• 1 lb eggplant (Chinese or Japanese), cut into chunks
• 1-2 red bell peppers, diced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• Green onion, chopped (optional garnish)

For the sauce:

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp chili paste (sambal oelek)
• 1-2 tsp cornstarch mixed with water

Method:

1. Whisk the sauce ingredients together and set aside.
2. Toss tofu cubes in cornstarch, then pan-fry in oil until golden and crispy. Set aside on a wire rack.
3. Stir-fry the eggplant in batches until browned and softened, adding oil as needed since eggplant absorbs it quickly.
4. Stir-fry the bell peppers, then add garlic and ginger for 30 seconds.
5. Pour the sauce into the pan and let it thicken, about 1 minute.
6. Return the tofu and vegetables to the pan, toss to coat, and serve warm over rice.

Tip: Air-frying the eggplant and tofu cuts down significantly on oil while still achieving a crisp texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panda Express Eggplant Tofu vegan?
Yes, Panda Express Eggplant Tofu contains no animal products. However, it’s prepared in shared woks with meat and seafood dishes, so strict vegans concerned about cross-contamination should ask staff about separate cooking equipment.

Why doesn’t my local Panda Express have Eggplant Tofu?
Eggplant Tofu is a regional item, not available at all locations. Only about 8% of Panda Express restaurants carry it, with most concentrated in California. Check your ZIP code at pandaexpress.com to confirm.

How many calories are in Panda Express Eggplant Tofu?
A 5.9 oz serving contains 340 calories, 24g of total fat, 7g of protein, and 680mg of sodium. The fat content is higher than expected because eggplant absorbs oil during frying.

What ingredients are in Panda Express Eggplant Tofu?
The dish contains browned firm tofu, eggplant, red bell peppers, and a sauce made from soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, and chili paste, all wok-fried at high heat.

Is Panda Express Eggplant Tofu spicy?
It has a mild-to-medium spice level. The sauce carries noticeable heat but is milder than Kung Pao Chicken and spicier than Orange Chicken.

How much does Panda Express Eggplant Tofu cost?
À la carte pricing starts at $6.50. A Bowl costs $9.30, a Plate is $11.10, and a Bigger Plate runs $12.90  the same pricing as Panda’s meat-based entrées.

What vegan sides can I order at Panda Express?
Vegan sides include Super Greens, Steamed Brown Rice, Steamed White Rice, and Chow Mein. Avoid Fried Rice, since it contains eggs. The Vegetable Spring Roll is the only vegan appetizer.

Does Panda Express have a vegan Orange Chicken?
Panda Express has periodically offered Beyond the Original Orange Chicken, made with plant-based Beyond Meat, as a limited-time item since 2021. It is not a permanent menu fixture and isn’t currently available in 2026.

Is Panda Express Eggplant Tofu gluten-free?
No. The dish contains wheat through its soy sauce base, so it is not gluten-free. Vegans avoiding gluten should opt for Super Greens and steamed rice instead.

How can I find Panda Express locations that serve Eggplant Tofu?
Enter your ZIP code at pandaexpress.com to view your local menu, call Panda Express Customer Service at 800-877-8988, or call your nearest store directly to confirm same-day availability.