Noodles & Company: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Noodles & Company builds its menu around customizable noodle and pasta bowls, which makes it one of the easier fast-casual chains for vegetarians. You can order a meat-free meal here without much fuss, though a few dishes hide animal ingredients worth knowing about.

What to order at Noodles & Company

The Japanese Pan Noodles are the standout, vegan exactly as served with udon noodles, broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots in a sweet soy sauce, and adding Seasoned Organic Tofu turns it into a full meal. Pasta Fresca goes vegan if you ask for no parmesan, since the penne, fresh tomatoes, red onion, and spinach are already plant-based. Spaghetti & Marinara without meatballs is a simple vegetarian plate that turns vegan once you skip the parmesan. Wisconsin Mac & Cheese and Buttered Noodles are both solid vegetarian comfort picks if you eat dairy.

What to watch out for

Penne Rosa and Pesto Cavatappi both use cream sauces, so they’re vegetarian but not vegan unless you ask for marinara instead. The 3-Cheese Tortelloni is vegetarian only, with no easy vegan swap listed. Pad Thai, Caesar Salad, and Potstickers all fail both vegetarian and vegan checks, so skip them entirely. The menu changed significantly in 2025, when the chain reworked about two-thirds of its offerings, so double-check that an older dish you remember is still on the current menu before you order.