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.

Regal Bagel

1 / 30

#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

Imagine It Bakery

2 / 30

#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

Indian Express

3 / 30

#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

Imperio Taqueria

4 / 30

#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

Vanessa's Hot Dogs

5 / 30

#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

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

Somisomi

6 / 30

#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

Anytime Is Taco Time

7 / 30

#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

Viva Michoacan Taqueria

8 / 30

#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

Happy Donuts

9 / 30

#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

Antojitos Chapines Guatemala and Mexican Food

10 / 30

#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

You may also like: Coat drives near San Jose

Quiroga Taqueria

11 / 30

#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

Shuei-Do Manju Shop

12 / 30

#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

Nirvana Soul Coffee

13 / 30

#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

Gutierrez Autentica Comida Mexicana

14 / 30

#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

Cafe Dolce Sicilia

15 / 30

#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

Best Artisan Empanadas

16 / 30

#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

Casa Guzmania

17 / 30

#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

Tamales El Tamalero

18 / 30

#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

El Califas Tacos

19 / 30

#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

Churros El Guero

20 / 30

#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

You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in San Jose by diners

Gateway Cafe

21 / 30

#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

Cafe Docanto

22 / 30

#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

El Sabroson De La Linea 2

23 / 30

#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

Churros La Guadalupana

24 / 30

#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

Joe's Taco Shop

25 / 30

#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

Quick Dog

26 / 30

#5. Quick Dog

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

La Costeñita

27 / 30

#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

Tono coffee project

28 / 30

#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

Aina's Vegan Banh Mi

29 / 30

#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

Pranita's Kitchen

30 / 30

#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.

You may also like: How many homes are for sale in San Jose right now?