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Panda Express vs Wendy's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 77 items at Wendy's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $4.20 cheaper per item (54% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 479 per item).

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Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Wendy's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric Panda Express Wendy's Winner
Avg Price $7.73 $3.52 Wendy's
Menu Items 11 77 Wendy's
Avg Calories 479 445 Wendy's
US Locations 2,500 6,154 Wendy's
Secret Menu 1 2 Wendy's

Wendy's is 54% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($4.20 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

Wendy's

Upgrade to Medium Combo $0.60
Jr. Cheeseburger $0.99
Classic Chicken Sandwich $0.99
Spicy Chicken Sandwich $0.99
4 Pc. Regular or Spicy Chicken Nuggets $0.99
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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

Wendy's

Trumoo Milk 1% Low-Fat (White or Chocolate) 90 cal
Chili (Small) 170 cal
Baked Potato 270 cal
Oatmeal Bar 270 cal
Hamburger 270 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Wendy's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Wendy's share 1 menu categories (5% 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, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
  • $15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
  • $20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wendy's, 73% are under 500 calories. Wendy's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

  • Budget pick: Wendy's ($3.52 avg vs $7.73)
  • More variety: Wendy's (77 items)
  • More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
  • Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Wendy's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide