Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread is cheaper, averaging $4.34 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 44% difference. Based on 208 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread has more menu items (197 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 208 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread averages 380 calories per item, compared to 479 for Panda Express. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Panera Bread similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Panera Bread (2,254 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 4%.

Panda Express vs Panera Bread (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 197 items at Panera Bread.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Panera Bread averages $4.34 across 197 items. Panera Bread is $3.38 cheaper per item (44% difference). Panera Bread has lower average calories (380 vs 479 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Panera Bread: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Panera Bread	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$4.34	Panera Bread
Menu Items	11	197	Panera Bread
Avg Calories	479	380	Panera Bread
US Locations	2,500	2,254	Panda Express
Secret Menu	1	6	Panera Bread

Panera Bread is 44% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($3.38 less per item).

Cheapest Items

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

Panera Bread

Preserves $0.50

Soft Dinner Roll $0.75

French Baguette $0.75

Peanut Butter $0.80

Chips $0.85

Lowest Calorie Options

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

Panera Bread

Fruit 60 cal

Kids Low-Fat Garden Vegetable Soup 70 cal

Apple Crunch Muffin 80 cal

Apple 80 cal

Chicken Noodle (Cup) 100 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Panera Bread

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Panera Bread delivers 2.45¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Panera Bread share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Panda Express fits 0 items, Panera Bread fits 1 item
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Panera Bread fits 3 items (500 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Panera Bread fits 3 items (830 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Panera Bread ranks #62 of 414 (cheaper than 85% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panera Bread, 72% are under 500 calories. Panera Bread offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panera Bread ($4.34 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Panera Bread (197 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Panera Bread Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide