Denny's vs Jimmy John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 171 items at Denny's vs 42 items at Jimmy John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Denny's averages $6.39 per item across 171 menu items, while Jimmy John's averages $8.55 across 42 items. Denny's is $2.17 cheaper per item (25% difference). Denny's has lower average calories (544 vs 996 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Denny's | Jimmy John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.39 | $8.55 | Denny's |
| Menu Items | 171 | 42 | Denny's |
| Avg Calories | 544 | 996 | Denny's |
| US Locations | 1,350 | 2,550 | Jimmy John's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Jimmy John's |
Denny's is 25% cheaper on average than Jimmy John's ($2.17 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Denny's
Jimmy John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Denny's
Jimmy John's
Deep Comparison: Denny's vs Jimmy John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Denny's delivers 1.49¢/cal on average, while Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal. Denny's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Denny's and Jimmy John's share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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:
- sides: Denny's avg $3.44 vs Jimmy John's $1.56 — Jimmy John's is 55% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Denny's fits 1 item (270 cal), Jimmy John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Denny's fits 0 items, Jimmy John's fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Denny's fits 3 items (961 cal), Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Denny's ranks #168 of 414 on price (cheaper than 60% of tracked chains). Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 (pricier than 61% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Denny's, 56% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Jimmy John's, 20% are under 500 calories. Denny's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Denny's ($6.39 avg vs $8.55)
- More variety: Denny's (171 items)
- More locations: Jimmy John's (2,550 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Denny's (1.49¢/cal)