Cracker Barrel vs Denny's: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 9, 2026 8 items matched

The short answer

Cracker Barrel is the cheaper of the two. Of the 8 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cracker Barrel is cheaper on 7 of them, by an average of $2.44 per item.

Typical menu price: Cracker Barrel $12.29 · Denny's $13.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Cracker Barrel's wording first.

Item	Cracker Barrel	Denny's	Difference
Country Fried Steakvs 55+ Country Fried Steak	$15.99	$12.29	$3.70 cheaper at Denny's
Grilled Chicken Tenderloinsvs Grilled Chicken Dinner	$14.49	$15.49	$1.00 cheaper at Cracker Barrel
Cheeseburgervs Double Cheeseburger	$13.29	$15.49	$2.20 cheaper at Cracker Barrel
Fried Chicken Sandwichvs BBQ Chicken Sandwich	$12.49	$13.29	$0.80 cheaper at Cracker Barrel
Grilled Chicken Sandwichvs BBQ Chicken Sandwich	$12.29	$13.29	$1.00 cheaper at Cracker Barrel
French Toast Breakfastvs French Toast Slam	$11.99	$12.99	$1.00 cheaper at Cracker Barrel
Chicken Salad Sandwichvs BBQ Chicken Sandwich	$11.49	$13.29	$1.80 cheaper at Cracker Barrel
Kids Grilled Chickenvs Grilled Chicken Dinner	$7.49	$15.49	$8.00 cheaper at Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel vs Denny's at a Glance

	Cracker Barrel	Denny's
Typical menu price	$12.29	$13.29
Average menu price	$14.30	$12.28
Cheapest item	Hashbrown Casserole — $3.99	Coffee (bottomless) — $3.49
Most expensive item	Family Meal — Homestyle Chicken (feeds 4) — $59.99	T-Bone Steak Dinner — $21.99
Items priced	45	41
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$$	$$
Founded	1969	1953
Headquarters	Lebanon, Tennessee	Spartanburg, South Carolina
Locations	About 660 stores across 44 states	About 1,500 restaurants in the U.S. and abroad

Which One Should You Order From?

Cracker Barrel has the lower typical menu price of the two — $12.29 against $13.29 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Denny's gets you in cheaper at $3.49.

Cracker Barrel is strongest on Old Timer's Breakfast, Chicken n' Dumplins, Momma's Pancake Breakfast; Denny's on Original Grand Slam, Build Your Own Grand Slam, Moons Over My Hammy. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Cracker Barrel

Breakfast is served all day at breakfast prices — the Old Timer's at $12.99 is cheaper than most dinner plates.
The Country Vegetable Plate at $11.99 gives four country sides plus bread, the lowest-cost full meal on the menu.
Cracker Barrel Rewards earns points toward free food and sends a birthday reward.

Denny's

The $5.99 Everyday Value Slam is the cheapest sit-down breakfast at any national chain — two pancakes, an egg and meat.
Build Your Own Grand Slam at $12.49 gives four items; ordering the same four à la carte typically costs $4 to $6 more.
The 55+ menu takes roughly $2 to $3 off the standard versions of the same dishes for guests 55 and older.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cracker Barrel vs Denny's — FAQ

Is Cracker Barrel cheaper than Denny's in 2026?

Cracker Barrel is cheaper on most matched items — 7 of 8. Across the whole menu Cracker Barrel is the lower-priced of the two, at $12.29 for a typical item against $13.29 at Denny's.

What is the price difference between Cracker Barrel and Denny's?

On matched items the average difference is $2.44, or about 14% overall. Cracker Barrel averages $14.30 across 44 priced items; Denny's averages $12.28 across 41.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cracker Barrel or Denny's?

Cracker Barrel starts at $3.99 (Hashbrown Casserole) and Denny's at $3.49 (Coffee (bottomless)).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.