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).
Quick 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
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Panda Express
Papa John's
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)