Highest-rated cheap eats in Chico 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 Chico 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.

You may also like: Where people in Chico are looking to buy homes

Upper Crust Bakery

1 / 28

#28. Upper Crust Bakery

- Rating: 4.1/5 (447 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 130 Main St. Chico, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Ramirez

2 / 28

#27. Taqueria Ramirez

- Rating: 4.1/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 409 Nord Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Kona's Sandwiches-Nord

3 / 28

#26. Kona's Sandwiches-Nord

- Rating: 4.1/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 965 Nord Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Sandwiches, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Durham Taco Wagon

4 / 28

#25. Durham Taco Wagon

- Rating: 4.2/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9405 Midway Durham, California
- Categories: Mexican, Street Vendors
- Read more on Yelp

CJ's Last Chance Diner

5 / 28

#24. CJ's Last Chance Diner

- Rating: 4.2/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 13670 Anderson Brothers Drive Chico, California
- Categories: Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-paying management jobs for people in Chico

Coffee Ranch

6 / 28

#23. Coffee Ranch

- Rating: 4.2/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1288 East 1st Ave. Ste 100 Chico, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp

Crazy Taco

7 / 28

#22. Crazy Taco

- Rating: 4.2/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1205 Park Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Chico Locker & Sausage Co. Inc.

8 / 28

#21. Chico Locker & Sausage Co. Inc.

- Rating: 4.2/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 196 East 14th St. Chico, California
- Categories: Meat Shops, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Tacos El Pinolero

9 / 28

#20. Tacos El Pinolero

- Rating: 4.3/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Esplanade & Tonea Way Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Tacos El Tapatio

10 / 28

#19. Tacos El Tapatio

- Rating: 4.3/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: East 1st Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Is it cheaper to buy or rent in Chico in 2026?

Bidwell Perk

11 / 28

#18. Bidwell Perk

- Rating: 4.3/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 664 East 1st Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

El Paisa Taco Truck

12 / 28

#17. El Paisa Taco Truck

- Rating: 4.3/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1295 East 8th St. Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Amigos De Acapulco

13 / 28

#16. Amigos De Acapulco

- Rating: 4.3/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 820 Oroville Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

JT's Oven

14 / 28

#15. JT's Oven

- Rating: 4.3/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1380 East Ave. Ste 120 Chico, California
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Guzzetti's Catering & Indian Food

15 / 28

#14. Guzzetti's Catering & Indian Food

- Rating: 4.3/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 117 West 14th St. Chico, California
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Nobby's

16 / 28

#13. Nobby's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (598 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1444 Park Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

El Super Grullense

17 / 28

#12. El Super Grullense

- Rating: 4.4/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1026 Skyway Chico, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Aztlan

18 / 28

#11. Aztlan

- Rating: 4.4/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1645 Park Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Kathy's Deli

19 / 28

#10. Kathy's Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 671 Walnut St. Chico, California
- Categories: Sandwiches, Asian Fusion, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Spiteri's Delicatessen

20 / 28

#9. Spiteri's Delicatessen

- Rating: 4.4/5 (316 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 971 East Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Chico

Fresh Twisted Cafe

21 / 28

#8. Fresh Twisted Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (618 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 156 Eaton Road Ste East Chico, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

The Grateful Bean Coffee House

22 / 28

#7. The Grateful Bean Coffee House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6 West Eaton Road Chico, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Monstros Pizza

23 / 28

#6. Monstros Pizza

- Rating: 4.5/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 628 West Sacramento Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Great Harvest Bread Company

24 / 28

#5. Great Harvest Bread Company

- Rating: 4.6/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1223 Mangrove Ave. Chico, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Ali Baba

25 / 28

#4. Ali Baba

- Rating: 4.6/5 (262 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 138 Broadway St. Chico, California
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Are home prices going down in Chico in 2026?

Country Morning Bakery & Cafe

26 / 28

#3. Country Morning Bakery & Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2625 Aztec Drive Ste A Chico, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Tacos El Paisa

27 / 28

#2. Tacos El Paisa

- Rating: 4.6/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Walnut & West 2nd St. Chico, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Supreme Gyros

28 / 28

#1. Supreme Gyros

- Rating: 4.7/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Yuba City, California
- Categories: Greek, Food Trucks, Caterers
- 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.