Which is cheaper, KFC or Waffle House?

Waffle House is cheaper, averaging $4.18 per item versus $7.23 for KFC — a 42% difference. Based on 147 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, KFC or Waffle House?

Waffle House has more menu items (101 vs 46). The total combined menu across both chains is 147 items.

Which has lower calories, KFC or Waffle House?

Waffle House averages 362 calories per item, compared to 430 for KFC. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are KFC and Waffle House similar?

KFC (4,205 US locations) and Waffle House (2,000 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 3%.

KFC vs Waffle House (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 46 items at KFC vs 101 items at Waffle House.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, KFC averages $7.23 per item across 46 menu items, while Waffle House averages $4.18 across 101 items. Waffle House is $3.05 cheaper per item (42% difference). Waffle House has lower average calories (362 vs 430 per item).

Quick Comparison

KFC vs Waffle House: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	KFC	Waffle House	Winner
Avg Price	$7.23	$4.18	Waffle House
Menu Items	46	101	Waffle House
Avg Calories	430	362	Waffle House
US Locations	4,205	2,000	KFC
Secret Menu	7	0	KFC

Waffle House is 42% cheaper on average than KFC ($3.05 less per item).

Cheapest Items

KFC

Cookies $1.29

Biscuit $1.49

Go Large Combo $1.50

Soft Drink $1.69

Aquafina Water $1.69

Waffle House

Add Chocolate Chips or Peanut Butter Waffle $0.25

Make It a 3-Egg Omelet $0.40

Additional Topping on Chili $0.40

Additional Topping $0.40

Hold the Yolks $0.50

Lowest Calorie Options

KFC

Corn on the Cob 70 cal

Green Beans 80 cal

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 120 cal

Kentucky Fried Wings 130 cal

Coleslaw 170 cal

Waffle House

Bert’s Chili & 3 Toppings 80 cal

Bowl of Grits 90 cal

Bowl of Cheese Grits 90 cal

City Ham 110 cal

Cheesesteak 130 cal

Deep Comparison: KFC vs Waffle House

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

KFC delivers 1.67¢/cal on average, while Waffle House delivers 2.36¢/cal. KFC gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

KFC and Waffle House share 1 menu categories (3% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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:

sides: KFC avg $2.09 vs Waffle House $2.94 — KFC is 29% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: KFC fits 0 items, Waffle House fits 0 items
$15 budget: KFC fits 1 item, Waffle House fits 3 items (721 cal)
$20 budget: KFC fits 1 item (180 cal), Waffle House fits 3 items (260 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

KFC ranks #201 of 414 on price (cheaper than 52% of tracked chains). Waffle House ranks #50 of 414 (cheaper than 88% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At KFC, 56% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Waffle House, 63% are under 500 calories. Waffle House offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Waffle House ($4.18 avg vs $7.23)
More variety: Waffle House (101 items)
More locations: KFC (4,205 US locations)
Best calorie value: KFC (1.67¢/cal)

Full Menus

KFC Menu Waffle House Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide