Chick-fil-A vs Waffle House (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 102 items at Chick-fil-A vs 101 items at Waffle House.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chick-fil-A averages $5.32 per item across 102 menu items, while Waffle House averages $4.18 across 101 items. Waffle House is $1.15 cheaper per item (22% difference). Waffle House has lower average calories (362 vs 381 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Chick-fil-A | Waffle House | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $5.32 | $4.18 | Waffle House |
| Menu Items | 102 | 101 | Chick-fil-A |
| Avg Calories | 381 | 362 | Waffle House |
| US Locations | 3,140 | 2,000 | Chick-fil-A |
| Secret Menu | 10 | 0 | Chick-fil-A |
Waffle House is 22% cheaper on average than Chick-fil-A ($1.15 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Chick-fil-A
Waffle House
Lowest Calorie Options
Chick-fil-A
Waffle House
Deep Comparison: Chick-fil-A vs Waffle House
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Chick-fil-A delivers 1.91¢/cal on average, while Waffle House delivers 2.36¢/cal. Chick-fil-A gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Chick-fil-A and Waffle House share 5 menu categories (17% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: salads, sides, beverages, breakfast, kid’s meals. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- breakfast: Chick-fil-A avg $3.23 vs Waffle House $7.41 — Chick-fil-A is 56% cheaper
- salads: Chick-fil-A avg $7.98 vs Waffle House $4.55 — Waffle House is 43% cheaper
- beverages: Chick-fil-A avg $3.28 vs Waffle House $1.95 — Waffle House is 40% cheaper
- kid’s meals: Chick-fil-A avg $3.35 vs Waffle House $4.25 — Chick-fil-A is 21% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 0 items, Waffle House fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (650 cal), Waffle House fits 3 items (721 cal)
- $20 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (600 cal), Waffle House fits 3 items (260 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Chick-fil-A ranks #115 of 414 on price (cheaper than 72% of tracked chains). Waffle House ranks #50 of 414 (cheaper than 88% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Chick-fil-A, 79% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Waffle House, 63% are under 500 calories. Chick-fil-A offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Waffle House ($4.18 avg vs $5.32)
- More variety: Chick-fil-A (102 items)
- More locations: Chick-fil-A (3,140 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Chick-fil-A (1.91¢/cal)