Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Popeyes?

Panda Express ($7.73 avg) and Popeyes ($8.00 avg) have similar pricing — within 3% of each other. Based on 51 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Popeyes?

Popeyes has more menu items (40 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 51 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Popeyes?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 649 for Popeyes. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Popeyes similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Popeyes (5,001 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 7%.

Panda Express vs Popeyes (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 40 items at Popeyes.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Popeyes averages $8.00 across 40 items. Prices are within 3% — neither chain is meaningfully cheaper. Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 649 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Popeyes: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Popeyes	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$8.00	Tie
Menu Items	11	40	Popeyes
Avg Calories	479	649	Panda Express
US Locations	2,500	5,001	Popeyes
Secret Menu	1	1	Tie

Panda Express and Popeyes have similar average prices.

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

Popeyes

Jalapeno $0.49

Biscuit $0.79

Raspberry Cheesecake Fried Pie $1.20

Hot Cinnamon Apple Pie $1.29

Cajun Fries (Regular) $1.79

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

Popeyes

Lemonade or Fruit Punch 90 cal

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 110 cal

Bonafide® Chicken – Combo 160 cal

Biscuit 200 cal

Red Beans & Rice 230 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Popeyes

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Popeyes delivers 1.06¢/cal. Popeyes gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Popeyes 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, Popeyes fits 0 items
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Popeyes fits 0 items
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Popeyes fits 0 items

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Popeyes ranks #233 of 414 (pricier than 56% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Popeyes, 54% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $8.00)
More variety: Popeyes (40 items)
More locations: Popeyes (5,001 US locations)
Best calorie value: Popeyes (1.06¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Popeyes Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide