00:00We are 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
00:14from 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
01:01after tax was $10.09. It weighed in at 574 grams, which makes it about 710 calories. That equals out
01:08to $1.76 per 100 grams, $1.42 per 100 calories. And finally, the last stop is Panera. I ordered
01:17a
01:17U-Pick 2 with broccoli cheddar soup, half a turkey bacon Bravo sandwich, and a baguette side. The price
01:23after tax was $13.58. It weighed in at about 541 grams, which makes it about 910 calories. That
01:31equals out to $2.51 per 100 grams, $1.49 per 100 calories. And with all those numbers tabulated,
01:39here's how the meals compare. The cheapest meal overall was Chipotle at $10.09. The meal with the
01:45most food per calorie, coming in at about 81 grams of food per every 100 calories, was also
01:51Chipotle. But the meal that delivered the most calories per dollar, coming in at about 72 cents
01:56per 100 calories, was Panda Express, roughly twice the calorie value of the other two meals. Now,
02:02that difference explains what's happening across the industry. Brands like Chipotle, Sweet Green,
02:06and Cava emphasize fresh ingredients, vegetables, and lean proteins, and their meals usually have
02:11lower calorie density. But on the flip side, chains serving heavier comfort foods like Wingstop,
02:16Raising Cane's, Dave's Hot Chicken, and Panda Express have seen more success than some bowl and
02:21salad-focused concepts. Which then raises a broader question for the industry, and one for you too.
02:26When Americans are strapped for cash, are they incentivized to eat healthier, or are they simply
02:29looking for the most filling meal they can afford? Drop your answer in the comments. If you like what we
02:34did here, give us a follow and check out our website for more.
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