Appetizers
Shareable starters built for the table — wings, dips, fried bites, and the loaded boards that show up before the entrees. Pricing here usually runs from $7 to $16 at the chains we cover.
Cross-chain comparisons
All menu categories on MenuDive
Each category page collects the same dish across every chain in the directory, so you can compare prices and calories side-by-side.
Soups & Salads
House soups, broth bowls, and chef salads available as standalone meals or paired with a half sandwich. Many casual chains build their identity around one signature soup that anchors this section.
Entrees
Plated mains: grilled chicken, baked fish, ribs, and steak combos that arrive with two or three sides. Average pricing in this category ranges from $14 to $28 across the chains we track.
Burgers & Sandwiches
Stacked burgers, hand-cut grilled sandwiches, and chicken handhelds built on house buns. Most chains let you swap to a turkey, veggie, or impossible patty without changing the topping lineup.
Pasta
Long pastas, baked pastas, and stuffed shells with red, white, or vodka sauces. Italian-American chains pace their menus around this section and often offer unlimited refills on a small subset.
Steaks & Grill
Hand-cut sirloins, ribeyes, filets, and combo plates. Steakhouses dominate this section but most casual chains keep at least one steak option on the entree page.
Seafood
Wood-grilled fish, fried shrimp baskets, lobster tails, and salmon plates. Most chains rotate the catch of the day weekly so the printed menu shows a base price with a market upcharge.
Wings
Traditional and boneless wings tossed in house sauces or dry seasonings. Pricing usually scales by piece count — six, ten, fifteen, or twenty — and bone-in tends to run a dollar or two over boneless.
Breakfast
Pancake stacks, omelets, breakfast platters, and skillets served all day at diner chains. Many of the chains we cover keep this section open 24 hours at most locations.
Sides
Add-on sides — fries, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, broccoli, and seasonal vegetables. Most casual chains include one or two sides with the entree price; extras run $3 to $6.
Desserts
Cheesecake slices, brownie sundaes, fried ice cream, and warm cookies. Average dessert pricing runs from $7 to $12 across the chains we cover.
Drinks & Bar
Specialty cocktails, draft beer flights, frozen margaritas, and zero-proof options. Bar menus rotate seasonally; most chains run a margarita or beer of the month at a discounted price.