Which is cheaper, Chick-fil-A or Olive Garden?

Chick-fil-A is cheaper, averaging $5.32 per item versus $7.98 for Olive Garden — a 33% difference. Based on 151 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Chick-fil-A or Olive Garden?

Chick-fil-A has more menu items (102 vs 49). The total combined menu across both chains is 151 items.

Which has lower calories, Chick-fil-A or Olive Garden?

Chick-fil-A averages 381 calories per item, compared to 850 for Olive Garden. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Chick-fil-A and Olive Garden similar?

Chick-fil-A (3,140 US locations) and Olive Garden (956 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 5%.

Chick-fil-A vs Olive Garden (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 102 items at Chick-fil-A vs 49 items at Olive Garden.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chick-fil-A averages $5.32 per item across 102 menu items, while Olive Garden averages $7.98 across 49 items. Chick-fil-A is $2.66 cheaper per item (33% difference). Chick-fil-A has lower average calories (381 vs 850 per item).

Quick Comparison

Chick-fil-A vs Olive Garden: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Chick-fil-A	Olive Garden	Winner
Avg Price	$5.32	$7.98	Chick-fil-A
Menu Items	102	49	Chick-fil-A
Avg Calories	381	850	Chick-fil-A
US Locations	3,140	956	Chick-fil-A
Secret Menu	10	0	Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A is 33% cheaper on average than Olive Garden ($2.66 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Chick-fil-A

Icedream Topping $0.25

Upsize Fries & Drink $0.46

Buttered Biscuit $0.89

Hash Browns $0.99

Substitute Medium Premium Side $1.00

Olive Garden

Sundae $1.79

Italian Bottled Water $2.50

Iced Tea Fresh Brewed $2.69

Fountain Drinks $2.69

Fruit Juices $2.89

Lowest Calorie Options

Chick-fil-A

Fruit Cup 60 cal

1% Milk Plain or Chocolate 90 cal

Hand-Spun Milkshakes (Cookies & Cream, Chocolate, Strawberry, or Vanilla) 90 cal

Kale Crunch Side 120 cal

Grilled Nuggets (8-ct) 130 cal

Olive Garden

Minestrone 110 cal

Famous House Salad To Go 150 cal

Pasta e fagioli 150 cal

Zuppa Toscana 220 cal

Chicken And Gnocchi 230 cal

Deep Comparison: Chick-fil-A vs Olive Garden

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Chick-fil-A delivers 1.91¢/cal on average, while Olive Garden delivers 1.69¢/cal. Olive Garden gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Chick-fil-A and Olive Garden share 1 menu categories (5% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: desserts. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

Price Differences by Shared Category

Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:

desserts: Chick-fil-A avg $1.75 vs Olive Garden $6.26 — Chick-fil-A is 72% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 0 items, Olive Garden fits 0 items
$15 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (650 cal), Olive Garden fits 1 item (1480 cal)
$20 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (600 cal), Olive Garden fits 0 items

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Chick-fil-A ranks #115 of 414 on price (cheaper than 72% of tracked chains). Olive Garden ranks #229 of 414 (pricier than 55% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Chick-fil-A, 79% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Olive Garden, 21% are under 500 calories. Chick-fil-A offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Chick-fil-A ($5.32 avg vs $7.98)
More variety: Chick-fil-A (102 items)
More locations: Chick-fil-A (3,140 US locations)
Best calorie value: Olive Garden (1.69¢/cal)

Full Menus

Chick-fil-A Menu Olive Garden Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide