00:00We're hitting three fast casual restaurants to see which one gives you the most value for your
00:05money. Fast casual restaurants like Chipotle, Panda Express, Cava, and Sweetgreen built their
00:09reputation as the middle ground between fast food and full-service restaurants. A recent analysis
00:15from Restaurant Business found many fast casual chains struggled in 2025 as consumers became more
00:20selective about where they spend their money, so I wanted to take a closer look at the numbers.
00:25I ordered the most popular meals from the top three fast casual chains and measured five things,
00:30and without further ado, stop one is Panda Express. I ordered a plate with orange chicken,
00:35Beijing beef, and chow mein. The price after tax was $11.52. It weighed approximately 653 grams,
00:42which makes it 1,590 calories. That all equals out to $1.76 per 100 grams and 72 cents per
00:50100 calories.
00:51Next up is Chipotle. I ordered a chicken burrito bowl with white rice, black beans,
00:56corn salsa, and cheese. A little basic for my taste, but that was the most popular item. The price after
01:01tax was $10.09. It weighed in at 574 grams, which makes it about 710 calories. That equals out to
01:08$1.76
01:09per 100 grams, $1.42 per 100 calories. And finally, the last stop is Panera. I ordered a U-Pick
01:172 with
01:18broccoli cheddar soup, half a turkey bacon Bravo sandwich, and a baguette side. The price after
01:23tax was $13.58. It weighed in at about 541 grams, which makes it about 910 calories. That equals out
01:32to $2.51 per 100 grams, $1.49 per 100 calories. And with all those numbers tabulated, here's how the
01:40meals compare. The cheapest meal overall was Chipotle at $10.09. The meal with the most food
01:46per calorie coming in at about 81 grams of food per every 100 calories was also Chipotle. But the
01:52meal that delivered the most calories per dollar coming in at about 72 cents per 100 calories was
01:57Panda Express, roughly twice the calorie value of the other two meals. Now that difference explains
02:03what's happening across the industry. Brands like Chipotle, Sweet Green, and Kava emphasize fresh
02:07ingredients, vegetables, and lean proteins, and their meals usually have lower calorie
02:12density. But on the flip side, chains serving heavier comfort foods like Wingstop, Raising
02:17Cane's, Dave's Hot Chicken, and Panda Express have seen more success than some bowl and salad
02:21focused concepts. Which then raises a broader question for the industry, and one for you
02:25too. When Americans are strapped for cash, are they incentivized to eat healthier, or are
02:29they simply looking for the most filling meal they can afford? Drop your answer in the comments.
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