Highest-rated cheap eats in Athens 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 Athens 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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Automatic Pizza

1 / 28

#28. Automatic Pizza

- Rating: 3.9/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1397 Prince Ave. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Inoko Hibachi Express Eastside

2 / 28

#27. Inoko Hibachi Express Eastside

- Rating: 3.9/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1860 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria La Parrilla

3 / 28

#26. Taqueria La Parrilla

- Rating: 3.9/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2439 Jefferson Road Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Donderos'

4 / 28

#25. Donderos'

- Rating: 4.0/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 590 North Milledge Ave. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Mama Sid's Pizza

5 / 28

#24. Mama Sid's Pizza

- Rating: 4.0/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2240 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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Groove Burgers

6 / 28

#23. Groove Burgers

- Rating: 4.0/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1791 Oconee Connector Ste 510 Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Willy's Mexicana Grill

7 / 28

#22. Willy's Mexicana Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 196 Alps Road Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican, fast food, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp

Mediterranean Grill

8 / 28

#21. Mediterranean Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1591 South Lumpkin St. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

Your Pie Watkinsville

9 / 28

#20. Your Pie Watkinsville

- Rating: 4.2/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1430 Capital Ave. Ste 113 Watkinsville, Georgia
- Categories: Pizza, Salad, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Weaver D's

10 / 28

#19. Weaver D's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1016 East Broad St. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Southern, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

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Larry's Giant Subs

11 / 28

#18. Larry's Giant Subs

- Rating: 4.3/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1720 Epps Bridge Pkwy Ste 404 Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Bubble Cafe

12 / 28

#17. Bubble Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 247 East Broad St. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Soup, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Poke - Athens

13 / 28

#16. Poke - Athens

- Rating: 4.3/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1791 Oconee Connector Ste 740 Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Poke, Sushi Bars, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp

Plantation Buffet

14 / 28

#15. Plantation Buffet

- Rating: 4.3/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1119 Martin Luther King Pkwy Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Buffets
- Read more on Yelp

Ideal Bagel

15 / 28

#14. Ideal Bagel

- Rating: 4.3/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 815 West Broad St. Ste B Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Delis, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp

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Tlaloc El Mexicano

16 / 28

#13. Tlaloc El Mexicano

- Rating: 4.3/5 (393 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1225 North Chase St. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican, Salvadoran, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Sr Sol

17 / 28

#12. Sr Sol

- Rating: 4.4/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 175 Tallassee Road Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Wing House Grill

18 / 28

#11. Wing House Grill

- Rating: 4.4/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8727 Hwy 29 Hull, Georgia
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Burgers, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Em's Kitchen

19 / 28

#10. Em's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 975 Hawthorne Ave. Hawthorne Drugs Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Food For The Soul

20 / 28

#9. Food For The Soul

- Rating: 4.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1965 West Broad St. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Southern, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

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Rachel's Southern Style Restaurant

21 / 28

#8. Rachel's Southern Style Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1021 Jamestown Blvd. Watkinsville, Georgia
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp

Manna Weenta

22 / 28

#7. Manna Weenta

- Rating: 4.6/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1055 Gaines School Road Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Ethiopian, Breakfast & Brunch, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp

Ahi Hibachi & Poke

23 / 28

#6. Ahi Hibachi & Poke

- Rating: 4.6/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 489 East Clayton St. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Japanese, fast food, Poke
- Read more on Yelp

ADD Drug Store

24 / 28

#5. ADD Drug Store

- Rating: 4.6/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1695 South Lumpkin St. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

Angie's Place

25 / 28

#4. Angie's Place

- Rating: 4.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10336 Hwy 72 West Hull, Georgia
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

Sips Espresso

26 / 28

#3. Sips Espresso

- Rating: 4.6/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1390 Prince Ave. Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Tacos Los Plebes

27 / 28

#2. Tacos Los Plebes

- Rating: 4.8/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3077 Danielsville Road Athens, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Krimson Kafe

28 / 28

#1. Krimson Kafe

- Rating: 4.9/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 40 Greensboro Hwy Watkinsville, Georgia
- Categories: Cafes, Salad, Sandwiches
- 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.