Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Zaxby's?

Panda Express is cheaper, averaging $7.73 per item versus $14.83 for Zaxby's — a 48% difference. Based on 112 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Zaxby's?

Zaxby's has more menu items (101 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 112 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Zaxby's?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 877 for Zaxby's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Zaxby's similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Zaxby's (900 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 7%.

Panda Express vs Zaxby's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 101 items at Zaxby's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Zaxby's averages $14.83 across 101 items. Panda Express is $7.10 cheaper per item (48% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 877 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Zaxby's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Zaxby's	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$14.83	Panda Express
Menu Items	11	101	Zaxby's
Avg Calories	479	877	Panda Express
US Locations	2,500	900	Panda Express
Secret Menu	1	1	Tie

Panda Express is 48% cheaper on average than Zaxby's ($7.10 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

Zaxby's

Zax Sauce $0.25

Sauce $0.25

Dressing $0.25

Coleslaw $0.49

Fresh-Baked Cookie $0.49

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

Zaxby's

Apple Juice 91 cal

Milk 110 cal

Coleslaw 140 cal

Cole Slaw 140 cal

Tea (Sweet or Unsweetened) 150 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Zaxby's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Zaxby's delivers 1.46¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Zaxby's 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, Zaxby's fits 0 items
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Zaxby's fits 1 item
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Zaxby's fits 3 items (1020 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Zaxby's ranks #382 of 414 (pricier than 92% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Zaxby's, 37% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $14.83)
More variety: Zaxby's (101 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

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