Which is cheaper, Denny's or KFC?

Denny's is cheaper, averaging $6.39 per item versus $7.23 for KFC — a 12% difference. Based on 217 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Denny's or KFC?

Denny's has more menu items (171 vs 46). The total combined menu across both chains is 217 items.

Which has lower calories, Denny's or KFC?

KFC averages 430 calories per item, compared to 544 for Denny's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Denny's and KFC similar?

Denny's (1,350 US locations) and KFC (4,205 US locations) compete on 2 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 6%.

Denny's vs KFC (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 171 items at Denny's vs 46 items at KFC.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Denny's averages $6.39 per item across 171 menu items, while KFC averages $7.23 across 46 items. Denny's is $0.84 cheaper per item (12% difference). KFC has lower average calories (430 vs 544 per item).

Quick Comparison

Denny's vs KFC: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Denny's	KFC	Winner
Avg Price	$6.39	$7.23	Denny's
Menu Items	171	46	Denny's
Avg Calories	544	430	KFC
US Locations	1,350	4,205	KFC
Secret Menu	0	7	KFC

Denny's is 12% cheaper on average than KFC ($0.84 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Denny's

Eggs $0.79

Eggs(Scrambled With Cheese) $0.79

Sauces & Dressings $0.89

2% Milk $1.19

Chocolate Milk $1.19

KFC

Cookies $1.29

Biscuit $1.49

Go Large Combo $1.50

Soft Drink $1.69

Aquafina Water $1.69

Lowest Calorie Options

Denny's

Lemonade Iced Tea 80 cal

Grilled Ham Slice 90 cal

Grits 90 cal

Seasonal Fruit 110 cal

Bacon (4 Bacon Strips) 130 cal

KFC

Corn on the Cob 70 cal

Green Beans 80 cal

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 120 cal

Kentucky Fried Wings 130 cal

Coleslaw 170 cal

Deep Comparison: Denny's vs KFC

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Denny's delivers 1.49¢/cal on average, while KFC delivers 1.67¢/cal. Denny's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Denny's and KFC share 2 menu categories (6% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, desserts. 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:

desserts: Denny's avg $5.30 vs KFC $2.64 — KFC is 50% cheaper
sides: Denny's avg $3.44 vs KFC $2.09 — KFC is 39% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Denny's fits 1 item (270 cal), KFC fits 0 items
$15 budget: Denny's fits 0 items, KFC fits 1 item
$20 budget: Denny's fits 3 items (961 cal), KFC fits 1 item (180 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Denny's ranks #168 of 414 on price (cheaper than 60% of tracked chains). KFC ranks #201 of 414 (cheaper than 52% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Denny's, 56% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At KFC, 56% are under 500 calories. Denny's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Denny's ($6.39 avg vs $7.23)
More variety: Denny's (171 items)
More locations: KFC (4,205 US locations)
Best calorie value: Denny's (1.49¢/cal)

Full Menus

Denny's Menu KFC Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide