Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $3.25 cheaper per item (42% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 670 per item).

Quick Comparison

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$4.48	$7.73	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Menu Items	120	11	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Avg Calories	670	479	Panda Express
US Locations	3,800	2,500	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Secret Menu	0	1	Panda Express

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 42% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($3.25 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Sour Cream $0.25

Upgrade to Medium Combo $0.59

Cookie $0.89

Chocolate Chip Cookie $0.89

Upgrade to Large Combo $0.99

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

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Side Salad 120 cal

Cookie 200 cal

Chocolate Chip Cookie 200 cal

Small Hamburger 250 cal

Apple Turnover 270 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: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. and Panda Express share 1 menu categories (9% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ranks #65 of 338 on price (cheaper than 81% of tracked chains). Panda Express ranks #186 of 338 (pricier than 55% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Hardee's / Carl's Jr., 24% 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: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
More locations: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (3,800 US locations)
Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)

Full Menus

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. Menu Panda Express Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide