Highest-rated cheap eats in San Jose by diners

Written by:
September 3, 2025
Brent Hofacker // Shutterstock

Highest-rated cheap eats in San Jose 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 San Jose 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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Regal Bagel

#30. Regal Bagel

- Rating: 4.6/5 (625 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 125 Bernal Road Ste 10 San Jose, California
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30
Imagine It Bakery

#29. Imagine It Bakery

- Rating: 4.6/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1920 Lafayette St. Unit G Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 30
Indian Express

#28. Indian Express

- Rating: 4.6/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: North 1st St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Halal, Indian
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30
Imperio Taqueria

#27. Imperio Taqueria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 Delmas Ave. Delmas Market San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 30
Vanessa's Hot Dogs

#26. Vanessa's Hot Dogs

- Rating: 4.6/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2770 Story Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30
Somisomi

#25. Somisomi

- Rating: 4.6/5 (424 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1477 Berryessa Road Ste 20 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Korean
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 30
Anytime Is Taco Time

#24. Anytime Is Taco Time

- Rating: 4.6/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: San Jose, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30
Viva Michoacan Taqueria

#23. Viva Michoacan Taqueria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1711 Mc Laughlin Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30
Happy Donuts

#22. Happy Donuts

- Rating: 4.6/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1345 South Winchester Blvd. San Jose, California
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 30
Antojitos Chapines Guatemala and Mexican Food

#21. Antojitos Chapines Guatemala and Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.6/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1898 North Capitol Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

11 / 30
Quiroga Taqueria

#20. Quiroga Taqueria

- Rating: 4.6/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 295 Lawrence Expy Sunnyvale, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30
Shuei-Do Manju Shop

#19. Shuei-Do Manju Shop

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1140 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 217 Jackson St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 30
Nirvana Soul Coffee

#18. Nirvana Soul Coffee

- Rating: 4.7/5 (961 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 315 South 1st St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Waffles
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 30
Gutierrez Autentica Comida Mexicana

#17. Gutierrez Autentica Comida Mexicana

- Rating: 4.7/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1645 Foxworthy Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 30
Cafe Dolce Sicilia

#16. Cafe Dolce Sicilia

- Rating: 4.7/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1165 Lincoln Ave. Ste 110 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Italian, Pasta Shops
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 30
Best Artisan Empanadas

#15. Best Artisan Empanadas

- Rating: 4.7/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 533 East Campbell Ave. Campbell, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Empanadas, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 30
Casa Guzmania

#14. Casa Guzmania

- Rating: 4.7/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 350 South Market St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Empanadas, Mexican, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 30
Tamales El Tamalero

#13. Tamales El Tamalero

- Rating: 4.7/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2920 Alum Rock San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 30
El Califas Tacos

#12. El Califas Tacos

- Rating: 4.7/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 499 North Mathilda Ave. Sunnyvale, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 30
Churros El Guero

#11. Churros El Guero

- Rating: 4.7/5 (378 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2217 Quimby Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp

21 / 30
Gateway Cafe

#10. Gateway Cafe

- Rating: 4.8/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2025 Gateway Place Ste 126 San Jose, California
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30
Cafe Docanto

#9. Cafe Docanto

- Rating: 4.8/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7 North 33rd St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Portuguese
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30
El Sabroson De La Linea 2

#8. El Sabroson De La Linea 2

- Rating: 4.8/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2945 Oakmead Village Court Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 30
Churros La Guadalupana

#7. Churros La Guadalupana

- Rating: 4.8/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2020 East San Antonio St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Spanish
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 30
Joe's Taco Shop

#6. Joe's Taco Shop

- Rating: 4.8/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1609 Morrill Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

26 / 30
Quick Dog

#5. Quick Dog

- Rating: 4.9/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Campbell, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Street Vendors
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 30
La Costeñita

#4. La Costeñita

- Rating: 4.9/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 377 Royal Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 30
Tono coffee project

#3. Tono coffee project

- Rating: 4.9/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 525 North 7th St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Pop-Up Restaurants
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 30
Aina's Vegan Banh Mi

#2. Aina's Vegan Banh Mi

- Rating: 5.0/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 449 East Santa Clara St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Vegan, Sandwiches, Beverage Store
- Read more on Yelp

30 / 30
Pranita's Kitchen

#1. Pranita's Kitchen

- Rating: 5.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 324 Commercial St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Indian, Vegetarian, Food Delivery Services
- 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.

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