What should I order at Panda Express for high protein?
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is the highest-protein entree we could confirm as broadly orderable, at 33 g for 275 calories. The nutrition table also lists Teriyaki Chicken at 41 g for 340 calories, but availability must be checked for the selected restaurant.
Key takeaways
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is the highest-protein entree we could confirm as broadly orderable, at 33 g for 275 calories.
- Most entrees here carry less protein than their portion size suggests: several sit at 15 to 17 g even in a full regular-size order.
- The nutrition table lists plain Teriyaki Chicken as a 6 oz serving at 41 g for 340 calories, but Panda Express warns that regional, seasonal and test items may not be available at every location.
- Black Pepper Sirloin Steak is the leanest entree by calories, 180 for 19 g of protein, just under most smaller-appetite calorie targets.
- Broccoli Beef has the second-best protein-to-calorie ratio on the whole menu, 15 g for just 150 calories, even though its protein total is modest.
Panda Express's entrees carry less protein than their portion size suggests across most of the menu, with one clear exception.
The highest protein items
33 g proteinGrilled Teriyaki Chickenregular entree, 275 kcal
19 g proteinBlack Pepper Sirloin Steakregular entree, 180 kcal
17 g proteinHot Orange Chickenregular entree, 550 kcal
17 g proteinKung Pao Chickenregular entree, 320 kcal
17 g proteinWok-Fired Shrimpregular entree, 190 kcal
16 g proteinOrange Chickenregular entree, 510 kcal
High protein, low calorie: better for a smaller appetite
Panda Express genuinely has little in a typical smaller-appetite calorie band that clears 20 g of protein. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is the one entree that does so comfortably; the rest are the closest real matches.
- 33 g proteinGrilled Teriyaki Chickenregular entree, 275 kcal
- 19 g proteinBlack Pepper Sirloin Steakregular entree, 180 kcal
- 17 g proteinKung Pao Chickenregular entree, 320 kcal
16 g proteinHoney Sesame Chicken Breastregular entree, 340 kcal
15 g proteinSteamed Ginger Fishregular entree, 200 kcal
15 g proteinSweetFire Chicken Breastregular entree, 360 kcal
Swap this for that
- Swap Orange Chicken for Grilled Teriyaki Chicken: about double the protein for 235 fewer calories.
- Swap Hot Orange Chicken for Kung Pao Chicken: the same protein for 230 fewer calories.
- Swap SweetFire Chicken Breast for Black Pepper Sirloin Steak: +4 g protein for 180 fewer calories.
If Taco Bell is more often on your route, the Taco Bell high protein menu works the same way.
If you're managing a GLP-1 prescription and unsure how a heavier order fits your plan for the day, that is a question for your prescriber or dietitian rather than a menu page.
More questions about Fast food
What's the highest protein item at Panda Express?
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, at 33 g of protein for 275 calories, is the highest-protein entree we could confirm as broadly orderable. The nutrition table lists plain Teriyaki Chicken at 41 g, but availability must be checked for the selected restaurant.
What should I order at Panda Express if I'm on a GLP-1 medication?
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is the clear choice: it's the one entree on this menu that clears 20 g of protein comfortably under 300 calories. Black Pepper Sirloin Steak is a close second at 19 g for 180 calories. Check bigger changes to how you eat around your prescription with your prescriber or dietitian.
What about the plain 'Teriyaki Chicken' at 41 g of protein?
The nutrition table lists it in the Chicken section as a 6 oz serving, at 41 g of protein for 340 calories. That placement does not prove nationwide availability: Panda Express says regional, seasonal and test items may appear in nutrition information without being offered at every restaurant.
