Which is cheaper, Applebee's or Panda Express?

Panda Express is cheaper, averaging $7.73 per item versus $8.80 for Applebee's — a 12% difference. Based on 89 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Applebee's or Panda Express?

Applebee's has more menu items (78 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 89 items.

Which has lower calories, Applebee's or Panda Express?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 682 for Applebee's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Applebee's and Panda Express similar?

Applebee's (1,483 US locations) and Panda Express (2,500 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Applebee's vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. Panda Express is $1.08 cheaper per item (12% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 682 per item).

Quick Comparison

Applebee's vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Applebee's	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$8.80	$7.73	Panda Express
Menu Items	78	11	Applebee's
Avg Calories	682	479	Panda Express
US Locations	1,483	2,500	Panda Express
Secret Menu	0	1	Panda Express

Panda Express is 12% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($1.08 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Applebee's

Brownie Bites $1.00

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Per Person $1.49

Cole Slaw Per Person $1.49

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes $1.99

Side Garlicky Green Beans $1.99

Panda Express

Honey Walnut Shrimp $1.50

Bowl (1 entree + 1 side) $8.30

Plate (2 entrees + 1 side) $9.80

Bigger Plate (3 entrees + 1 side) $11.30

Lowest Calorie Options

Applebee's

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes 100 cal

Side House Salad 120 cal

Side Garlic Mashed Potatoes 130 cal

Grilled Shrimp Avocado & Grapefruit Salad 150 cal

Side Fire-Grilled Veggies 150 cal

Panda Express

Broccoli Beef 150 cal

Kung Pao Chicken 290 cal

Honey Walnut Shrimp 360 cal

White Steamed Rice 380 cal

Beijing Beef 470 cal

Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Applebee's and Panda Express share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 (pricier than 52% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panda Express, 55% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $8.80)
More variety: Applebee's (78 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Applebee's Menu Panda Express Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide