Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Texas Roadhouse?

Panda Express is cheaper, averaging $7.73 per item versus $10.24 for Texas Roadhouse — a 25% difference. Based on 97 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Texas Roadhouse?

Texas Roadhouse has more menu items (86 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 97 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Texas Roadhouse?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 705 for Texas Roadhouse. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Texas Roadhouse similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Texas Roadhouse (750 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Panda Express vs Texas Roadhouse (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 86 items at Texas Roadhouse.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Texas Roadhouse averages $10.24 across 86 items. Panda Express is $2.51 cheaper per item (25% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 705 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Texas Roadhouse: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Texas Roadhouse	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$10.24	Panda Express
Menu Items	11	86	Texas Roadhouse
Avg Calories	479	705	Panda Express
US Locations	2,500	750	Panda Express
Secret Menu	1	0	Panda Express

Panda Express is 25% cheaper on average than Texas Roadhouse ($2.51 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

Texas Roadhouse

Buttered Corn $2.49

Seasoned Rice $2.49

Green Beans $2.49

Apple Sauce $2.49

Fresh Vegetables $2.49

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

Texas Roadhouse

Sauteed Mushrooms 90 cal

Green Beans 100 cal

Apple Sauce 150 cal

Sauteed Onions 150 cal

Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites 170 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Texas Roadhouse

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Texas Roadhouse delivers 1.67¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Texas Roadhouse share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Panda Express fits 0 items, Texas Roadhouse fits 1 item (1150 cal)
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Texas Roadhouse fits 1 item (480 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Texas Roadhouse fits 1 item (760 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Texas Roadhouse ranks #317 of 414 (pricier than 76% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Texas Roadhouse, 36% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $10.24)
More variety: Texas Roadhouse (86 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Texas Roadhouse Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide