Jack in the Box competes primarily with other major national fast-food chains such as McDonald's, Yum! Brands (Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken), and Wendy's. Food items include the Jumbo Jack, Potato Wedges, and Ultimate Cheeseburger. The Ultimate Cheeseburger won the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 Golden Icon Awards for "Best Burger"; the Golden Icon Awards are presented annually by Travolta Family Entertainment.

Jack in the Box also offers an American version of ethnic cuisine - such as egg rolls and tacos, along with breakfast burritos. New items come in on a rotation every three to four months, including the Philly Cheesesteak and the deli style pannidos (deli trio, ham & turkey, zesty turkey) which were replaced by Jack's ciabatta burger and included the original ciabatta burger and the bacon n' cheese ciabatta. Jack in the Box also carries seasonal items such as pumpkin pie shakes, Oreo mint shakes, and eggnog shakes during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. In locations in Hawaii, local delicacies are a regular part of the menu. They include the Paniolo Breakfast (Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice platter) and teriyaki chicken and rice bowl. In the Southern United States, the company offers biscuits and sweet tea. In the spring of 2007 Jack in the Box also introduced its sirloin burger and followed this up with recently the sirloin steak melt. Its more recent foray into the deli market was the less-popular Ultimate Club Sandwich which was initially removed in Arizona due to poor sales and has since been phased out at all locations.

Many Jack in the Box locations are freestanding, while others may be attached to some filling station service centers or at shopping malls and centers. Most Jack in the Box locations serve the entire menu, including breakfast, during all operational hours, and many Jack in the Box locations are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.