Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Whataburger?

Whataburger is cheaper, averaging $3.88 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 50% difference. Based on 96 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Whataburger?

Whataburger has more menu items (85 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 96 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Whataburger?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 560 for Whataburger. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Whataburger similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Whataburger (1,030 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 7%.

Panda Express vs Whataburger (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 85 items at Whataburger.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Whataburger averages $3.88 across 85 items. Whataburger is $3.84 cheaper per item (50% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 560 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Whataburger: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Whataburger	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$3.88	Whataburger
Menu Items	11	85	Whataburger
Avg Calories	479	560	Panda Express
US Locations	2,500	1,030	Panda Express
Secret Menu	1	7	Whataburger

Whataburger is 50% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($3.84 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

Whataburger

Bacon $0.40

Fruit Chews $0.49

Jalapeños or Grilled Peppers & Onions $0.50

Cheese $0.50

Avocado $0.75

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

Whataburger

Fruit Chews 80 cal

Orange Juice 160 cal

Milk 160 cal

Hash Brown Sticks 190 cal

Chocolate Chunk Cookie 230 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Whataburger

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Whataburger delivers 1.14¢/cal. Whataburger gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Whataburger share 1 menu categories (7% 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, Whataburger fits 3 items (35 cal)
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (1395 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (2495 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Whataburger ranks #36 of 414 (cheaper than 92% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Whataburger, 49% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Whataburger ($3.88 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Whataburger (85 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Whataburger (1.14¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Whataburger Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide