PDQ Menu Prices 2026: Chicken Tenders, Waffle Fries & Sauces

PDQ's 3-Tender Meal (with one side and a sauce) is $9.49 and the 5-Tender Meal is $11.49 nationally as of May 2026. The Chicken Sandwich Meal (sandwich + waffle fries + drink) is $12.49. Kids Meal (3 tenders + side + drink) is $6.49. Pricing varies by location — Florida, Tennessee and Texas flagship markets are the price reference for these figures.

PDQ stands for People Dedicated to Quality. The chain was founded in 2011 in Tampa, Florida by Bob Basham and Nick Reader — both of whom had previously built Outback Steakhouse. The name reflects the founding philosophy of using fresh, never-frozen chicken and house-made sauces as the core differentiator in the fast-casual chicken category.

PDQ's chicken tenders are fresh, never frozen — this is the chain's primary marketing claim and menu differentiator. The tenders are hand-battered in-store before cooking, using a proprietary coating that produces the signature crunchy exterior. This distinguishes PDQ from competitors like Raising Cane's (also fresh) and differentiates it from frozen-patty competitors. The freshness commitment extends to the sauces, which are also made in-house from scratch.

PDQ offers 17 house-made dipping sauces. One sauce is included with every tender meal; extra sauces are $0.49 each. The lineup includes Honey Mustard (the #1 seller), Ranch, PDQ Sauce (the house signature), BBQ, Spicy Ranch, Buffalo, Hot Honey, Parmesan Ranch, Honey, Blue Cheese, Sriracha Mayo, and several others. The broad sauce selection is one of PDQ's major brand pillars alongside the fresh tenders themselves.

PDQ's waffle fries are thick-cut potato fries with a waffle-grid pattern, fried to a golden crisp. The waffle pattern creates more surface area than straight-cut fries, which means more crispy exterior and more surface for sauces to cling to. Regular waffle fries are $3.99 and large are $4.99. They're PDQ's most-attached side item — the equivalent of Smashburger's Smashfries or Chick-fil-A's waffle fries (a format PDQ shares with Chick-fil-A, though the recipes differ).

The cheapest items: Extra dipping sauce $0.49, Coleslaw $2.99, Fruit Cup $2.99, Fountain Drink $2.99. The cheapest full item with chicken: Tenders (3 pc, no side) at $7.49. The 3-Tender Kids Meal ($6.49) is the cheapest full meal. The 3-Tender Meal with side and sauce at $9.49 is the cheapest adult full-meal combo.

PDQ's healthier picks include the Grilled Tenders Salad ($11.49) — grilled (not fried) tenders over romaine with tomato, cucumber, cheddar and dressing (350–500 calories depending on dressing). The Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($8.99) is another lower-calorie option. The Garden Salad ($9.49) without tenders is the lowest-calorie entree build. The Fruit Cup ($2.99) is the healthiest side. Grilled tenders save roughly 100–150 calories vs. hand-battered tenders at the same serving size.

PDQ operates approximately 100 locations as of 2026, concentrated in the Southeast United States — Florida (the home market), Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas and a small number of other states. The chain has not expanded nationally at the same rate as larger chicken-tender chains but has maintained a strong reputation in its core markets. Use the store locator at eatpdq.com for the nearest location.