Which is cheaper, IHOP or Panda Express?

IHOP is cheaper, averaging $6.36 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 18% difference. Based on 150 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, IHOP or Panda Express?

IHOP has more menu items (139 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 150 items.

Which has lower calories, IHOP or Panda Express?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 584 for IHOP. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are IHOP and Panda Express similar?

IHOP (1,750 US locations) and Panda Express (2,500 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

IHOP vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 139 items at IHOP vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, IHOP averages $6.36 per item across 139 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. IHOP is $1.37 cheaper per item (18% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 584 per item).

Quick Comparison

IHOP vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	IHOP	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$6.36	$7.73	IHOP
Menu Items	139	11	IHOP
Avg Calories	584	479	Panda Express
US Locations	1,750	2,500	Panda Express
Secret Menu	0	1	Panda Express

IHOP is 18% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($1.37 less per item).

Cheapest Items

IHOP

Kids Drinks (soft drinks, milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, juice) $1.19

Add Hashbrowns $1.29

Kids Ice Cream Sundae $1.29

Ice Cream $1.29

Juice (Orange, Apple, Tomato, or Grapefruit) $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

IHOP

Kid’s Fresh Fruit Dish 60 cal

Fresh Fruit Bowl 60 cal

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger 90 cal

Bacon & Egg Cheeseburger 90 cal

Sourdough Bacon Burger Melt 90 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: IHOP vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

IHOP delivers 1.86¢/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

IHOP 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: IHOP fits 1 item (971 cal), Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: IHOP fits 3 items (150 cal), Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: IHOP fits 3 items (1021 cal), Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

IHOP ranks #166 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 IHOP, 45% 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: IHOP ($6.36 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: IHOP (139 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

IHOP Menu Panda Express Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide