All Restaurant Menus

Panda Express vs Papa John's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 79 items at Papa John's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Panda Express is $3.99 cheaper per item (34% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 479 per item).

Ad Space

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Papa John's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric Panda Express Papa John's Winner
Avg Price $7.73 $11.72 Panda Express
Menu Items 11 79 Papa John's
Avg Calories 479 369 Papa John's
US Locations 2,500 3,200 Papa John's
Secret Menu 1 1 Tie

Panda Express is 34% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($3.99 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

Papa John's

Cheese (Large) $0.50
Special Garlic $0.50
Barbeque $0.50
Blue Cheese $0.50
Buffalo $0.50
Ad Space

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

Papa John's

Jalapeño Peppers 60 cal
Ranch 100 cal
Special Garlic 150 cal
Honey Mustard 150 cal
Blue Cheese 160 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Papa John's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Papa John's share 1 menu categories (11% 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, Papa John's fits 0 items
  • $15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
  • $20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

  • Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $11.72)
  • More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
  • More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
  • Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Papa John's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide