Dave's Hot Chicken vs Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Menu Prices Compared (2026)
The short answer
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is cheaper on 4 of them, by an average of $3.72 per item.
Deals Worth Knowing at Both
Dave's Hot Chicken
- Dave's #1 at $12.49 is the value anchor of the menu — two tenders plus every side for barely more than two tenders alone.
- Heat level is free at all seven tiers, so there is never a reason to pay for extra spice.
- Family packs bring the per-tender cost down by roughly 20 percent compared with ordering combos individually.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
- The $6 Big Box — two pieces of chicken, two sides and a biscuit — is the best price-per-calorie order at any national chicken chain.
- A 12-piece Signature at $23.99 works out to $2.00 per piece against $2.75 for an 2-piece; the family sizes are where Popeyes beats Chick-fil-A outright.
- Red beans and rice at $2.99 is priced the same as plain fries and is a genuine side dish rather than a filler — order it instead.
Dave's Hot Chicken vs Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — FAQ
Is Dave's Hot Chicken cheaper than Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in 2026?
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is cheaper on most matched items — 4 of 4. Across the whole menu Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is the lower-priced of the two, at $5.99 for a typical item against $7.49 at Dave's Hot Chicken.
What is the price difference between Dave's Hot Chicken and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen?
On matched items the average difference is $3.72, or about 29% overall. Dave's Hot Chicken averages $12.91 across 25 priced items; Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen averages $9.16 across 40.
Which has the cheaper entry price, Dave's Hot Chicken or Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen?
Dave's Hot Chicken starts at $2.79 (Bottled Water) and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at $1.29 (Biscuit).
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.