Does Panda Express follow halal rules? – Panda Express has become one of the most well-known fast food chains in the world. Panda Express has over 2,300 locations worldwide. There are a lot of people, including some who have asked us, who want to know the answer to the question, “Can you eat there if you keep halal?” It turns out that this is a real question.
Chinese-American food has grown from its small beginnings in 1983 to become one of the biggest names in fast food today. John and Perry Cherng started out small with their American Chinese food in California. Their chain now has over 3,000 restaurants around the world and makes more than $3 billion a year. It’s crazy how big and popular Panda Express has become, huh?
As a Muslim living in the West, finding halal food can be tricky. Many popular restaurants don’t explicitly state whether their food is halal. This leaves us wondering – is Panda Express shrimp halal?
I decided to do some research to find out. Here’s what I learned about the halal status of Panda Express shrimp.
An Overview of Panda Express
For those who don’t know, Panda Express is a fast casual restaurant chain that serves American Chinese cuisine. They have over 2,000 locations across the United States and parts of Canada.
Panda Express is best known for their orange chicken. But shrimp is also a popular menu item. Their shrimp dishes include Honey Walnut Shrimp String Bean Chicken Breast and Shrimp Chow Mein.
When you look at the Panda Express website or menu boards in their restaurants, there is no mention of halal or haram. This makes it hard to tell if their shrimp is acceptable for Muslims to eat.
Why Panda Express Shrimp is Likely Haram
After researching this topic extensively, I believe Panda Express shrimp is most likely haram and not halal certified. There are a few reasons why:
1. Cross-Contamination with Pork
Even if the shrimp itself contains no haram ingredients, cross-contamination is a big concern. Panda Express serves pork dishes like Sweet and Sour Pork from the same kitchen. They use the same equipment and surfaces to prepare shrimp and pork.
As we know, pork is absolutely haram in Islam. This high risk of cross-contamination makes it difficult to consider their shrimp halal.
2 Alcohol and Other Questionable Ingredients
Many Panda Express shrimp dishes have questionable ingredients that may contain alcohol. For example, their Honey Walnut Shrimp contains cooking wine. They also use flavor enhancers and extracts in unknown quantities.
3. No Certification or Guarantees
Panda Express does not have halal certification from an accredited organization. They also don’t provide any guarantees about halal preparation procedures. This lack of transparency is concerning.
When I contacted a Panda Express support representative online, they confirmed their food is not halal certified or labelled. They could not guarantee any steps are taken to avoid cross-contamination.
Are There Any Panda Express Shrimp Dishes That Could Be Halal?
The only shrimp dish on the Panda Express menu that has a chance of being halal is the Shrimp Chow Mein.
This is because it’s the only shrimp entree that doesn’t list questionable ingredients like cooking wine. As long as this dish is prepared on clean surfaces and cooking equipment, it may be acceptable to eat.
However, there is still a risk of cross-contamination from pork products in the same kitchen. And without halal certification, it’s impossible to be 100% certain.
How to Order Halal at Panda Express
Since most menu items are likely haram, ordering halal food at Panda Express is tricky. Here are some tips:
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Stick to certified halal side dishes like steamed rice and chow mein (hold the shrimp).
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Ask about ingredients and preparation methods each time to double check.
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Avoid cross-contamination by requesting food be prepared on clean surfaces.
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Opt for vegetarian entrées like eggplant tofu or mixed veggies.
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Seek out a Panda Express location with dedicated halal procedures if possible. These are rare in North America.
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Consider other halal Chinese restaurants in your area for more options.
The Verdict on Panda Express Shrimp
Based on my research, I don’t believe Panda Express shrimp can be safely considered halal. The high risk of cross-contamination combined with questionable ingredients and lack of certification make their shrimp dishes too doubtful to eat.
The only possible exception is the Shrimp Chow Mein. Even then, it would need to be prepared very carefully to avoid haram contamination.
Overall, I would advise Muslims to avoid Panda Express shrimp, or only eat it if you can confirm the halal status directly with that specific location. It’s better to find certified halal alternatives than take the risk.
IS Panda Express Halal In USA?
Panda Express doesn’t meet the bar for halal. None of their meat is certified halal according to Islamic guidelines. And they don’t prepare the food following Shariah laws either. For Muslims who want to eat only halal foods, most of the food at Panda Express is not allowed. They just aren’t able to make their dishes in a way that works with halal standards. Too bad for fans wanting to enjoy some American Chinese cuisine without compromising their religious dietary rules. Guess those cravings for orange chicken will have to stay dreams for now!.
It should be noted that Panda Express’ website states,
“Panda Express does not have any vegetarian, vegan or gluten free products”
due to the cross contamination that can occur by using the same equipment.
A Panda Express representative told VegNews that while the dishes in Panda Express:
“do not have any animal products or byproducts. All of Panda Express’s food is cooked and prepared in the same shared kitchen and equipment, so we have not said that our menu is vegetarian or vegan.” ”.
Panda Express Halal in UAE & Saudia Arabia?
Yes – In Muslim countries such as UAE & Saudi Arabia, Panda Express’s menu is 100% halal.
Is Panda Express halal?
FAQ
Does Panda Express use shellfish?
Does Panda Express orange chicken have alcohol?
Does Panda Express have meat in their chow mein?
Is Panda Express halal?
Alcohol is also forbidden in Islam. However, they also serve plant-based Orange Chicken with no animal-based ingredients. This dish is considered vegetarian but cannot be considered halal due to cross-contamination risks in the kitchen. Many Muslims think that the veg items served by Panda Express are halal, but it is not true.
Is Panda Express Haram?
Panda Express is haram because they serve pork, which is strictly forbidden in Islam. Their menu items, such as Orange Chicken, String Bean Chicken Breast, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and Kung Pao Chicken, contain pork-based ingredients or items made with pork fat.
Is Panda Express a good restaurant?
Panda Express is an American fast food restaurant chain that serves American Chinese cuisine. It was founded in Glendale California by John Andrew Cherng and Perry Cherng in 1983. It has over 2,300 branches worldwide. It generates over $3 billion annually. In short, Panda Express is huge and popular! Some of the popular items on the menu are:
What is Panda Express fried shrimp?
It is exactly what the name implies: shrimp with walnuts in a mayonnaise honey sauce. The Panda Express recipe coats the shrimp in a tempura batter, fries them up, and tosses them in a wok with glazed walnuts and their signature honey sauce that does not include mayonnaise.