Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Wingstop?

Panda Express is cheaper, averaging $7.73 per item versus $8.73 for Wingstop — a 11% difference. Based on 46 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Wingstop?

Wingstop has more menu items (35 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 46 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Wingstop?

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

Are Panda Express and Wingstop similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Wingstop (2,200 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 8%.

Panda Express vs Wingstop (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 35 items at Wingstop.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Wingstop averages $8.73 across 35 items. Panda Express is $1.00 cheaper per item (11% difference). Wingstop has lower average calories (380 vs 479 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Wingstop: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Wingstop	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$8.73	Panda Express
Menu Items	11	35	Wingstop
Avg Calories	479	380	Wingstop
US Locations	2,500	2,200	Panda Express
Secret Menu	1	1	Tie

Panda Express is 11% cheaper on average than Wingstop ($1.00 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

Wingstop

Fresh Baked Rolls $0.49

Dips (Creamy Ranch, Chunky Bleu Cheese or Honey Mustard) $0.69

Side of Flavor (Atomic, Mango Habanero, Cajun, Hot, Louisiana Rub, Mild, BBQ, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, Hawaiian or Teriyaki) $0.79

Veggie Sticks (Carrots, Celery or Mix & Match) $0.89

Fountain Soft Drink $1.69

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

Wingstop

Hot Cheddar Cheese Sauce 130 cal

Original Hot 142 cal

Mango Habanero 159 cal

Hickory Smoked BBQ 171 cal

Lemon Pepper 180 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Wingstop

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Wingstop delivers 1.15¢/cal. Wingstop gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Wingstop share 1 menu categories (8% 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, Wingstop fits 0 items
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Wingstop fits 0 items
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Wingstop fits 3 items (240 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Wingstop ranks #265 of 414 (pricier than 64% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wingstop, 76% are under 500 calories. Wingstop offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $8.73)
More variety: Wingstop (35 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Wingstop (1.15¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Wingstop Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide