Highest-rated cheap eats in Tuscaloosa by diners

Americans spend a lot of money on eating out—in 2024, that totaled $1.54 trillion, or nearly 59% of all food spending. So, it's only natural to want the best bang for your restaurant dollar.

Value has become a key component of what diners look for when they eat out, with more than 7 in 10 consumers eyeing menus for value meals. At the same time, many diners also look for something new and exciting, hoping to sample new flavors or food with ingredients that are too expensive to make at home.

Many ethnic cuisines also provide a lot of value because they aren't as expensive to produce. Many Mexican dishes fall into this category because tortillas are cheaper to produce than bread. Many Asian cuisines, including Chinese, Filipino, and Cambodian food, also rely on low-cost ingredients and simple food preparation techniques.

Food trucks and street food vendors also offer cheaper food, thanks to lower overhead costs. Their limited menus typically focus on one type of food, allowing them to simplify purchasing and pass the savings on in the form of lower prices.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cheap eats restaurants within 10 kilometers of the Tuscaloosa area using data from Yelp. Data is as of Aug. 8, 2025. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews were considered, and a cost of "$" (out of 4) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than five locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

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Swen Chinese Restaurant

1 / 27

#27. Swen Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.3/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3380 McFarland Blvd. Ste 1 Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Jalapeño's Mexican Grill Cottondale

2 / 27

#26. Jalapeño's Mexican Grill Cottondale

- Rating: 3.3/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4432 Old Birmingham Hwy Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Jalapeño's Mexican Grill

3 / 27

#25. Jalapeño's Mexican Grill

- Rating: 3.4/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4700 Rose Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

La Hacienda El Mexicano

4 / 27

#24. La Hacienda El Mexicano

- Rating: 3.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1817 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Taco Casa

5 / 27

#23. Taco Casa

- Rating: 3.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4530 Rice Mine Road Northeast Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Tex-Mex, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

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Quick Grill

6 / 27

#22. Quick Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1208 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Frida's Mexican Grill

7 / 27

#21. Frida's Mexican Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 13620 Hwy 43 North Ste D Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

OEC Japanese Hibachi & Sushi McFarland

8 / 27

#20. OEC Japanese Hibachi & Sushi McFarland

- Rating: 3.6/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6 Mcfarland Blvd. East Ste 6 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Wright's Restaurant

9 / 27

#19. Wright's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3750 University Blvd. East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Waysider Restaurant

10 / 27

#18. Waysider Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1512 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

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Hoolies Grill

11 / 27

#17. Hoolies Grill

- Rating: 3.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1351 McFarland Blvd. Northeast Ste 112 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mediterranean, American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

La Gran Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

12 / 27

#16. La Gran Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9770 Highway 69 South Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Taco Casa

13 / 27

#15. Taco Casa

- Rating: 3.8/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 619 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Jalapeño's Mexican Grill - Tuscaloosa

14 / 27

#14. Jalapeño's Mexican Grill - Tuscaloosa

- Rating: 3.8/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1845 New Watermelon Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Rama Jama's

15 / 27

#13. Rama Jama's

- Rating: 3.9/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1000 Paul West Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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China No 1

16 / 27

#12. China No 1

- Rating: 4.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 16 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Oasis Bar & Grill

17 / 27

#11. Oasis Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6720 University Blvd. East Cottondale, Alabama
- Categories: Dive Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

The Blue Plate - Northport

18 / 27

#10. The Blue Plate - Northport

- Rating: 4.1/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 450 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

China Bob

19 / 27

#9. China Bob

- Rating: 4.1/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5550 Mcfarland Blvd. Ste 600 Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Pearl Garden Chinese Restaurant

20 / 27

#8. Pearl Garden Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2719 Lurleen B Wallace Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

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Catfish Heaven

21 / 27

#7. Catfish Heaven

- Rating: 4.2/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2502 21st St. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Soul Food, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

City Cafe

22 / 27

#6. City Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 408 Main Ave. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: American, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

Heritage House Coffee & Tea

23 / 27

#5. Heritage House Coffee & Tea

- Rating: 4.4/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2370 Jack Warner Pkwy Ste A 108 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Heritage House Coffee & Tea

24 / 27

#4. Heritage House Coffee & Tea

- Rating: 4.5/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 700 Towncenter Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Pastor's Kitchen Mexican Food

25 / 27

#3. Pastor's Kitchen Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.6/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2511 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

The Brown Bag Restaurant

26 / 27

#2. The Brown Bag Restaurant

- Rating: 4.7/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9425 Jones Road Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

Antojitos Izcalli

27 / 27

#1. Antojitos Izcalli

- Rating: 4.8/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 623 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 388 metros.