Looking for Pei Wei vegetarian options? You’re in good shape here. Pei Wei has a full tofu menu with six entrées, plus edamame, vegetable spring rolls, and a customizable bowl builder that works well for plant-based eaters. Two of those tofu dishes contain shellfish or fish-based allergens, so you need to know which ones to avoid. This guide covers every vegetarian-friendly item on the current menu, which options are vegan, and where cross-contamination is a real concern. For a broader guide to plant-based dining out, see what the vegetarians say on WhatsVegetarian.com.
A Quick Look at Pei Wei
Pei Wei opened in 2000 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Paul Fleming and Rick Federico, both central figures in building P.F. Chang’s, created it as a faster and more affordable version of the full-service concept. The idea was made-to-order Asian food at a quick-serve pace, drawing on Chinese, Thai, and Japanese flavors.
For most of its history, Pei Wei operated under the P.F. Chang’s corporate umbrella. The two brands officially separated in 2017. Pei Wei moved its headquarters from Scottsdale to Irving, Texas, and rebranded the following year to Pei Wei Asian Kitchen. In June 2019, PWD Acquisition LLC purchased the brand from Centerbridge Partners. The new ownership group, led by Lorne Goldberg, also operates Pick Up Stix and Leeann Chin. As of 2021, Pei Wei runs about 119 locations across 19 US states, down from a peak of more than 200 before COVID-related closures.
Tofu has been a standard protein option throughout Pei Wei’s history. The brand has leaned into that over time, now offering a dedicated tofu section with six crispy preparations. That makes it one of the stronger fast-casual options for vegetarians who want a sit-down-style meal at counter-service speed.
Pei Wei Vegetarian Options: What to Order
Here’s the full rundown of Pei Wei vegetarian options, including the key caveats for two tofu dishes that contain animal-derived allergens.
| Menu Item | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Edamame | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Vegetable Spring Rolls | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (eggs in wrapper) |
| Firecracker Crispy Tofu | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Teriyaki Crispy Tofu | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (honey in sauce) |
| Honey-Seared Crispy Tofu | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (no actual honey) |
| Sesame Crispy Tofu | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Check allergen chart |
| Spicy General Tso’s Crispy Tofu | ⚠️ Check (shellfish listed) | ❌ No |
| Thai Coconut Crispy Tofu | ⚠️ Check (fish listed) | ❌ No |
| White Rice | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Brown Rice | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Cauliflower Rice | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mixed Greens | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Lettuce Cups | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Tofu Entrées: The Main Event
All six of Pei Wei’s tofu entrées start with the same crispy-fried tofu base and differentiate through the sauce. Four of the six are safe for vegetarians. Two need a warning before you order.
Firecracker Crispy Tofu is the boldest pick on the menu. It uses a spicy chili-based sauce with no animal products. The Vegetarian Resource Group confirmed this as vegan after direct contact with Pei Wei. This is the most popular tofu order, and it’s the one to go with if you want heat.
Honey-Seared Crispy Tofu is a misleading name. Despite what it sounds like, the sauce does not contain honey. Pei Wei confirmed this dish is vegan-friendly. The name is a holdover from an earlier recipe. If you prefer a mildly sweet sauce over something spicy, this is your pick.
Teriyaki Crispy Tofu is vegetarian but not vegan. The teriyaki sauce contains honey. If you eat honey, this is a solid umami-forward option. If you follow a strict vegan diet, skip it.
Sesame Crispy Tofu is vegetarian. Check the current allergen chart at peiwei.com/allergen-information/ if you need to confirm vegan status, as sauce formulas can change.
Spicy General Tso’s Crispy Tofu and Thai Coconut Crispy Tofu are the two to watch out for. Pei Wei’s allergen chart lists shellfish as an allergen in the General Tso’s preparation and fish in the Thai Coconut. That makes both unsuitable for strict vegetarians. Always check the current allergen guide before ordering these, since recipes do get updated.
Shareables: Starters and Salads
Pei Wei’s Shareables section lists two vegetarian-friendly starters. Both work as a side dish or a starter before your main entrée.
Edamame is the cleanest choice on the menu. Steamed soybeans with kosher salt, nothing else. It’s vegan, contains no egg, and is one of the simplest dishes at Pei Wei. A solid side dish before a tofu bowl or a quick standalone snack.
Vegetable Spring Rolls are vegetarian but not vegan. The wrapper contains egg. The filling is all plant-based: cabbage, ginger, carrots, celery, mushrooms, onions, and glass noodles, served with sweet chili dipping sauce. If eggs are fine in your diet, this is the better Shareables pick for flavor and substance.
The Asian Chopped Salad can be ordered with tofu as the protein. Pair it with the lime vinaigrette and you have a lighter vegetarian dish. Ask your server whether the vinaigrette contains any animal-derived ingredients, as salad dressings change periodically at most restaurants.
Build Your Own Bowl (Greens & Grains)
Pei Wei’s Greens & Grains bowl builder is where you get the most control over your meal as a vegetarian or vegan. You pick a base, a sauce recipe or flavor profile, a protein, and add-ons. It’s the most flexible section of the menu.
Vegan bases: white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, mixed greens, and lettuce cups are all plant-based. Noodles may contain eggs depending on the variety, so ask before adding them. Dan Dan Noodles and Pad Thai noodles have different formulations, and Pei Wei can sometimes swap to an egg-free noodle for Pad Thai on request.
Vegan sauce recipes for the custom bowl: Thai Dynamite, Sweet & Sour, and Honey-Seared are all vegan-compatible when used in a custom bowl with tofu and a plant-based base. The Vegetarian Resource Group verified these three after contacting Pei Wei directly.
Vegetables and add-ons: the bowl builder includes vegetable options like broccoli, red bell peppers, snap peas, and carrots as add-ins, depending on what’s available at your location. These are plant-based and add bulk without changing the vegan status of your bowl. Confirm the current add-on list at the counter since offerings vary.
Sauces to know: Pei Wei’s sauces are the flavor engine of the menu. Thai Dynamite is a spicy-tangy sauce with no animal products. Sweet & Sour is clean and vegan. Honey-Seared contains no actual honey despite the name. The Teriyaki sauce contains honey and is vegetarian but not vegan. Many of Pei Wei’s sauces are soy-sauce based (contains wheat), and some contain animal-derived flavor compounds. The allergen chart at peiwei.com lists current sauce compositions dish by dish.
What to skip in the bowl builder: any sauce that contains honey, oyster sauce, or fish-derived ingredients is off the vegan list. When in doubt, ask at the counter. The staff can usually pull up the ingredient list for a specific sauce on request.
Build-your-own is the safest path for strict vegans. You control every component and can verify each one before committing. It’s also the best way to keep the dish entirely free of animal-derived ingredients.
What’s Vegan at Pei Wei?
Pei Wei vegan options are more plentiful than at most Asian fast-casual chains and restaurants. Here’s what’s clearly in the clear for the Pei Wei vegan menu, based on Pei Wei’s allergen information and the Vegetarian Resource Group’s audit after direct contact with the company.
- Edamame
- Firecracker Crispy Tofu
- Honey-Seared Crispy Tofu (no honey in the sauce despite the name)
- Custom bowl with Thai Dynamite or Sweet & Sour recipe, tofu protein, and a vegan base (white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, mixed greens, or lettuce cups)
Menu updates happen, so always cross-check the current allergen chart at peiwei.com/allergen-information/ before ordering.
Special Dietary Requirements and Allergies
A few cross-contamination risks matter at Pei Wei.
Shared fryer. Pei Wei’s crispy tofu is fried in the same equipment used for meat. If you need strict separation for allergy or religious reasons, mention this when ordering. Kitchen staff at most locations can advise on current practices.
Steamed vegetables. Vegetable sides may be steamed in the same equipment as steamed chicken. If cross-contamination matters to you, ask the counter staff about the preparation at that specific location.
Shellfish and fish in two tofu dishes. Spicy General Tso’s Crispy Tofu and Thai Coconut Crispy Tofu list shellfish and fish respectively in Pei Wei’s allergen chart. These are not suitable for vegetarians who avoid those ingredients.
Soy. Pei Wei uses soy in most sauces, and soy sauce (wheat-based) is a key ingredient in many preparations. If you have a soy allergy, the allergen chart at peiwei.com/allergen-information/ shows exactly which items contain it. Edamame is itself a soy product, so skip that one too. Most of the fried tofu dishes are soy-forward by nature.
Gluten. Most sauces contain wheat-based soy sauce. Cauliflower rice and steamed edamame carry the lowest gluten risk, but cross-contamination is possible in a shared kitchen. Pei Wei does not operate dedicated gluten-free stations.
Tips for Vegetarians at Pei Wei
- Start with Firecracker or Honey-Seared Crispy Tofu. Both are vegan, confirmed by the allergen chart and the Vegetarian Resource Group. They’re the safest and most popular picks.
- Skip General Tso’s and Thai Coconut for now. Both list shellfish or fish in the allergen chart. Double-check peiwei.com/allergen-information/ before ordering in case recipes have changed.
- Build a custom bowl for full control. Pick tofu, a vegan base like cauliflower rice or mixed greens, and one of the three confirmed-vegan sauce recipes: Thai Dynamite, Sweet & Sour, or Honey-Seared.
- Ask about the fryer if cross-contamination is a concern. The crispy tofu shares frying oil with meat. Most locations can tell you their current setup.
- The Vegetarian Resource Group published a vegan guide for Pei Wei in 2017 after direct contact with the company. It’s a useful reference, but always verify against the current menu since formulas do change.
- Pei Wei’s allergen chart is the authoritative source. When in doubt about a specific sauce or preparation, go straight to peiwei.com/allergen-information/ rather than relying on general descriptions.
Conclusion
Pei Wei gives vegetarians a real menu to work with. The tofu section covers most of what you’d want from a fast-casual Asian restaurant, and the custom bowl makes building a vegan meal straightforward. Two of the six tofu entrées contain shellfish or fish-based allergens, so pay attention to that before you order. When in doubt, stick with Firecracker or Honey-Seared, load up your bowl with veggies, and you won’t go wrong.
For more on eating vegetarian at Asian restaurants and fast-casual chains, see what’s vegetarian at P.F. Chang’s, what’s vegetarian at Panda Express, and what’s vegetarian at Teriyaki Madness. Our guide to eating vegetarian and vegan at restaurants covers the full approach for any restaurant, and the complete restaurant list has every chain we’ve reviewed.
