Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Sonic Drive-In?

Sonic Drive-In is cheaper, averaging $3.28 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 58% difference. Based on 103 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Sonic Drive-In?

Sonic Drive-In has more menu items (92 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 103 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Sonic Drive-In?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 578 for Sonic Drive-In. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Sonic Drive-In similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Sonic Drive-In (3,519 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 7%.

Panda Express vs Sonic Drive-In (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 92 items at Sonic Drive-In.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Sonic Drive-In averages $3.28 across 92 items. Sonic Drive-In is $4.45 cheaper per item (58% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 578 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Sonic Drive-In: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Sonic Drive-In	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$3.28	Sonic Drive-In
Menu Items	11	92	Sonic Drive-In
Avg Calories	479	578	Panda Express
US Locations	2,500	3,519	Sonic Drive-In
Secret Menu	1	7	Sonic Drive-In

Sonic Drive-In is 58% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($4.45 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

Sonic Drive-In

Add (American Cheese, Hot Chili or Spicy Jalapeños) $0.60

Add (Crispy Bacon) $0.60

Tots or Fries $0.79

Vanilla Cone $1.00

Jr. Breakfast Burrito $1.19

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

Sonic Drive-In

Cherry Limeade (Medium) 170 cal

Ocean Water (Medium) 200 cal

Slush (Medium) 200 cal

Super Crunch Chicken Strips 200 cal

Super Crunch Chicken Strips – Combo 200 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Sonic Drive-In

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Sonic Drive-In delivers 0.86¢/cal. Sonic Drive-In gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Sonic Drive-In 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, Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (320 cal)
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (1790 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Sonic Drive-In fits 3 items (2090 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Sonic Drive-In ranks #18 of 414 (cheaper than 96% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Sonic Drive-In, 46% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Sonic Drive-In ($3.28 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Sonic Drive-In (92 items)
More locations: Sonic Drive-In (3,519 US locations)
Best calorie value: Sonic Drive-In (0.86¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Sonic Drive-In Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide