Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Waffle House?

Waffle House is cheaper, averaging $4.18 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 46% difference. Based on 112 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Waffle House?

Waffle House has more menu items (101 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 112 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Waffle House?

Waffle House averages 362 calories per item, compared to 479 for Panda Express. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Waffle House similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Waffle House (2,000 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 4%.

Panda Express vs Waffle House (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 101 items at Waffle House.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Waffle House averages $4.18 across 101 items. Waffle House is $3.55 cheaper per item (46% difference). Waffle House has lower average calories (362 vs 479 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Waffle House: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Waffle House	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$4.18	Waffle House
Menu Items	11	101	Waffle House
Avg Calories	479	362	Waffle House
US Locations	2,500	2,000	Panda Express
Secret Menu	1	0	Panda Express

Waffle House is 46% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($3.55 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

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

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

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: Panda Express vs Waffle House

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Waffle House delivers 2.36¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Waffle House 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, Waffle House fits 0 items
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Waffle House fits 3 items (721 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Waffle House fits 3 items (260 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Waffle House ranks #50 of 414 (cheaper than 88% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% 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 $7.73)
More variety: Waffle House (101 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Waffle House Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide