Panda Express Super Greens: What To Know Before Ordering
While you may be going to Panda Express solely for the Beijing Beef or the Orange Chicken, don't sleep on its sides, particularly the Super Greens. This veggie dish doesn't get much love, but we're telling you, it's definitely something you should consider trying. The fiber-filled menu item is great when combined with those other sauce-laden mains, as the more neutral taste of the vegetables absorbs the flavors of the entrees, making it extremely versatile. The dish is also mostly vegan, but is sometimes cooked with garlic butter. If you follow a vegan diet, be sure to contact your local Panda Express to double-check the ingredients (via Veg Knowledge).
Do we have your attention now? If you are thinking of making the journey over to your local Panda Express to try out this underrated product, here are some things you'll want to know before ordering.
What are the Panda Express Super Greens?
The Super Greens side dish is a combination of broccoli, kale, and cabbage, according to the Panda Express website. Brand Eating reports the menu item was introduced by the company in January 2019. It mainly served as a replacement for the restaurant's previous vegetable medley, which included broccoli, string beans, zucchini, and carrots. The veggies are boiled in a sauce of starch, vegetable powder, water, and a bit of garlic, says Reddit user @Chompyzzgone, making it appropriate for plant-based diets.
Customers typically have the choice of selecting the Super Greens for any meal that they order at the chain, along with other menu items like Chow Mein, Fried Rice, and White Steamed Rice (via Panda Express). However, some people have reported that it is possible to order this dish alone as an entree. That said, Verywell Fit notes that "it's a bit light to serve as its own filling meal."
How much do the Panda Express Super Greens cost?
Because Panda Express is an assembly line-style restaurant (like Chipotle, Subway, or Cold Stone Creamery) adding the Super Greens to your meal is included in the price of your order. The Super Greens can be ordered as a side to a bowl, plate, or bigger plate meal. The bowl size includes one entree and a side, the plate includes two entrees and a side, and the bigger plate includes three entrees and a side. According to Real Menu Prices, Panda Express' entrees all cost under $14, with a create-your-own-plate option ranging from $6.80 to $8.30.
You can also get the $30 Family Feast, which feeds four to five people and includes three large entrees and two large sides. So if you are a huge fan of the Super Greens, you can get double the serving with this option, which is great for loading up on veggies.
What are the Panda Express Super Greens made out of and how do they taste?
As its name implies, the Super Greens' ingredients are extremely simple, but do not be mistaken — this dish isn't the plain vegetable medley you buy at your local supermarket. As mentioned on Reddit, the dish consists of broccoli, kale, and cabbage, cooked in a starchy garlic vegetable powder sauce, which gives it a boost of flavor. You are encouraged to pair it with dishes like the Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, or Eggplant Tofu, which is a vegetarian option offered at select Panda Express locations (via The Beet).
Some of the chain's customers stated that they enjoyed the previous vegetable medley more, but one Reddit user, @homer344, stated that, "I like it, been getting it each visit. I usually get Kung Pao Chicken so the zucchini got boring with the old greens. Also I've been getting lucky with fresh batches."
When were the Panda Express Super Greens released and are they a permanent staple?
As stated above, Panda Express' Super Greens was added to the menu in January 2019 to replace an earlier vegetable mix consisting of zucchini, carrots, and green beans (via Brand Eating). The dish was met with a pretty positive reception, which seems to suggest that it will either be around for a while, or will be replaced with another, similar plant-based option. The Beet described the menu item as an, "attempt to reinvent its formerly limited plant-based options." As a pioneer menu item to this Panda Express movement, the Super Greens should, hopefully, continue to be offered for a long period of time.
According to PETA, the Super Greens are just one of the many ways that Panda Express has been experimenting with plant-based foods. In fact, in July 2021, they chain launched its Beyond the Original Orange Chicken in select locations.
Are Panda Express Super Greens healthy?
Compared to the other side options mentioned above (Chow Mein, Fried Rice, and White Steamed Rice), the Super Greens definitely have the lowest in both carbs and calories, totaling 10 grams of carbs and 90 calories per serving (via Panda Express).
Verywell Fit also notes that there are smaller quantities of sodium in this dish compared to other Panda Express menu items, which is comforting if you are being mindful of your salt intake. In addition, there is no cholesterol, as this dish is totally plant-based and the waxy substance is only found in animal products (via UCSF Health). Furthermore, because the vegetables are high in fiber and boiled, this dish is great for digestion, especially when you're chowing down on those other fried menu items. While these dishes are also delicious, if you are particularly sensitive to cholesterol and sodium, it will pay off to add in some Super Greens for balance.