Which is cheaper, Denny's or Panda Express?

Denny's is cheaper, averaging $6.39 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 17% difference. Based on 182 menu items as of April 2026.

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

Denny's has more menu items (171 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 182 items.

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

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 544 for Denny's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Denny's and Panda Express similar?

Denny's (1,350 US locations) and Panda Express (2,500 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 6%.

Denny's vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 171 items at Denny's vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Denny's averages $6.39 per item across 171 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. Denny's is $1.34 cheaper per item (17% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 544 per item).

Quick Comparison

Denny's vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Denny's	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$6.39	$7.73	Denny's
Menu Items	171	11	Denny's
Avg Calories	544	479	Panda Express
US Locations	1,350	2,500	Panda Express
Secret Menu	0	1	Panda Express

Denny's is 17% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($1.34 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

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

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

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: Denny's vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Denny's delivers 1.49¢/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

Denny's and Panda Express share 1 menu categories (6% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Denny's fits 1 item (270 cal), Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: Denny's fits 0 items, Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: Denny's fits 3 items (961 cal), Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Denny's ranks #168 of 414 on price (cheaper than 60% of tracked chains). Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 (pricier 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 Panda Express, 55% are under 500 calories. Denny's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Denny's ($6.39 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Denny's (171 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

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