Highest-rated cheap eats in Panama City 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 Panama City 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.

Red Star Chinese

1 / 27

#27. Red Star Chinese

- Rating: 3.6/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1219 Ohio Ave. Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Off The Hook Bar & Grill

2 / 27

#26. Off The Hook Bar & Grill

- Rating: 3.6/5 (274 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5711 North Lagoon Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Burgers, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

Whataburger

3 / 27

#25. Whataburger

- Rating: 3.7/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2401 South Hwy 77 Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Blue Top Waffle Shoppe

4 / 27

#24. Blue Top Waffle Shoppe

- Rating: 3.8/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2802 Navy Blvd. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Waffles, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Tom's Hot Dogs

5 / 27

#23. Tom's Hot Dogs

- Rating: 3.8/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 416 Harrison Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

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Tally-Ho Drive In

6 / 27

#22. Tally-Ho Drive In

- Rating: 3.9/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1449 Harrison Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: American, Hot Dogs, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Gyro Cafe

7 / 27

#21. Gyro Cafe

- Rating: 3.9/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 665 West 23rd St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Bikini Bob's Bar

8 / 27

#20. Bikini Bob's Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8743 Thomas Drive Panama City, Florida
- Categories: American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Old Mexico Restaurant

9 / 27

#19. Old Mexico Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1812 South Highway 77 Ste 123 Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Parlor Doughnuts

10 / 27

#18. Parlor Doughnuts

- Rating: 4.1/5 (241 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10260 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Donuts
- Read more on Yelp

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Flap Jacks

11 / 27

#17. Flap Jacks

- Rating: 4.1/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2004 South Hwy 77 Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Big Mama's on the Bayou

12 / 27

#16. Big Mama's on the Bayou

- Rating: 4.1/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 620 West Beach Drive Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp

Jesse's Place

13 / 27

#15. Jesse's Place

- Rating: 4.2/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7008 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

Hershey's Beach Ice Cream Shop

14 / 27

#14. Hershey's Beach Ice Cream Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8815 Thomas Drive Ste A Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Maddie's La Casita

15 / 27

#13. Maddie's La Casita

- Rating: 4.3/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 561 Harrison Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Key West Sandwich Shop

16 / 27

#12. Key West Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2413 South Hwy 77 Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Juan Taco

17 / 27

#11. Juan Taco

- Rating: 4.3/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9902 South Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Tacos, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Liza's Kitchen Cafe & Catering

18 / 27

#10. Liza's Kitchen Cafe & Catering

- Rating: 4.5/5 (376 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7328 Thomas Drive Ste L Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Victoria's Last Bite

19 / 27

#9. Victoria's Last Bite

- Rating: 4.6/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 827 Florida Ave. Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Sandwiches, Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

FINNS Island Style Grub on Thomas Drive

20 / 27

#8. FINNS Island Style Grub on Thomas Drive

- Rating: 4.6/5 (419 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7210 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

Fatty's Sandwich Shop

21 / 27

#7. Fatty's Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 4.6/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 916 Thomas Drive Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

Trigo San Francisco Style Deli

22 / 27

#6. Trigo San Francisco Style Deli

- Rating: 4.6/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 119 Harrison Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Sandwiches, Delis, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Royal Thai Cuisine

23 / 27

#5. Royal Thai Cuisine

- Rating: 4.6/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6212 East Hwy 98 Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

The Bagel Maker

24 / 27

#4. The Bagel Maker

- Rating: 4.7/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 41 West 4th St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Bakeries, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Dan-D-Donuts & Deli

25 / 27

#3. Dan-D-Donuts & Deli

- Rating: 4.8/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1147 Harrison Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Donuts, Bakeries, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

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Jamaican Food Store & Cafe

26 / 27

#2. Jamaican Food Store & Cafe

- Rating: 4.8/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 555 Harrison Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Caribbean, Grocery
- Read more on Yelp

Gypsea Crepes

27 / 27

#1. Gypsea Crepes

- Rating: 4.9/5 (282 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7012 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Japanese, Breakfast & Brunch
- 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.