Vegan Guide to P.F. Chang's: The Best Menu Options and Swaps

Paul Fleming, founder of the Fleming’s Steakhouse chain, developed the P.F. Chang’s concept with restaurateur Philip Chiang (Chang). Given that steakhouse background, who would have guessed that this restaurant group would become one of the most innovative and welcoming casual dining venues for vegans? Credit it to a menu showcasing sumptuous sauces, seasonings, and creative combinations of vegetables.

Our Top Picks

Need a quick recommendation? Check out our favorite vegan menu items — definitely enough to make a satisfying meal.

Buddha’s Feast

There’s a reason why this dish is one of P.F. Chang’s most popular, even among omnivores. Savory sauce envelopes a vibrant steamed or stir-fried mix of tofu, asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, and carrots. Buddha's Feast is served with a choice of steamed white or brown rice.

If you're a vegan who abstains from refined sugars, a steamed Buddha's Feast with no sauce is your safest and tastiest bet. We like to add ginger to ours and dress it with soy sauce and a dash of chili or hot mustard.

Ma Po Tofu

This is the choice offering for spice hounds, as the kitchen will not skimp on spicy red chili sauce, which helps set the crispy silken tofu and steamed broccoli ablaze. A side of white or brown steamed rice will help cool the palate. Pairs beautifully with a sharable order of edamame or chili garlic green beans.

Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

This dish is pure fun, shared or enjoyed as a meal. Use the lettuce leaves to scoop up the seasoned tofu, green onion, mint, water chestnuts, and crispy rice sticks. Add extra chili oil and soy sauce to get that full, satisfying flavor.

Vegan Dim Sum & Appetizers

P.F. Changs is one of the rare fast-casual places where vegans can dine out with omnivore or vegan friends, and never have to give anything a second thought. This is thanks to the abundance of options that can be mixed, matched, shared, or enjoyed as a single dish.

• Chang's Lettuce Wraps
• Edamame
• Chili Garlic Green Beans

Vegan Sides

These tasty vegan sides may not be on the menu, but they can be ordered by request to bulk up your Buddha's Feast or share with the table. Ordered steamed, they contain no sugar or any animal-derived products. If the sides are stir fried, they are cooked with oils and sauces that contain sugar.

• Green beans (steamed or stir fry)
• Broccoli (steamed or stir fry)
• Noodles (available only as stir fry)

Vegan Main Entrees

These dishes are great on their own. However, if you’re very hungry, order an extra side of steamed broccoli or green beans to add more substance.

• Buddha’s Feast (stir-fried or steamed if you're a sugar-free vegan)
• Ma Po Tofu
• Stir-Fried Eggplant
• Chang's Lettuce Wraps (Order extra tofu and your choice of steamed rice to turn this side into a meal.)

Vegan Lunch Bowls

Unfortunately, there are no vegan options in this particular category at P.F. Chang's. The sauces in these lunch bowls contain either egg or shellfish, explaining why none of these items boast the vegetarian leaf.

Vegan Noodles and Rice

The only possible vegan option in this category is the modified yet still tasty Korean Glass Noodles. Order yours with vegetable as the protein of choice, and turn the leaf for vegetarian into vegan by asking your server to remove the egg. (This can be tricky when ordering online, so we suggest calling for delivery or pick-up if you're not dining in.)

Vegan Dessert

You'll have to satisfy your sweet tooth after your meal as none of the desserts at P.F. Chang's are vegan-friendly. Although they're not on the menu, most fortune cookies are vegan-friendly. Ask your server if you have concerns.

Vegan Drinks

There are some interesting original creations alongside familiar favorites and old standbys.

• Iced Tea
• Simply Lemonade
• Coca-Cola Soft Drinks
• Full leaf teas (variety)

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