Highest-rated cheap eats in Columbus, Georgia 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 Columbus 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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Jim Bob's Chicken Fingers

1 / 25

#25. Jim Bob's Chicken Fingers

- Rating: 3.6/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6409 Whittlesey Blvd. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

The Speakeasy

2 / 25

#24. The Speakeasy

- Rating: 3.6/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3123 Mercury Drive Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: American, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Panda Garden Restaurant

3 / 25

#23. Panda Garden Restaurant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5600 Milgen Road Ste 101-7 Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Cook's Place

4 / 25

#22. Cook's Place

- Rating: 3.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2520 Airport Thruway Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Macon Road Barbecue

5 / 25

#21. Macon Road Barbecue

- Rating: 3.6/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2703 Avalon Road Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Barberitos

6 / 25

#20. Barberitos

- Rating: 3.7/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1012 Broadway Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp

Maple Sport Bar & Restaurant

7 / 25

#19. Maple Sport Bar & Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8328 Veterans Pkwy Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Sports Bars, Restaurants
- Read more on Yelp

China Star

8 / 25

#18. China Star

- Rating: 3.8/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3709 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Clearview Barbecue

9 / 25

#17. Clearview Barbecue

- Rating: 3.9/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4222 River Road Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

JL Japanese Express

10 / 25

#16. JL Japanese Express

- Rating: 3.9/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. Ste L4 Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Teppanyaki, Sushi Bars, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Sharks Fish & Chicken

11 / 25

#15. Sharks Fish & Chicken

- Rating: 3.9/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1226 Veterans Pkwy Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Your Pie

12 / 25

#14. Your Pie

- Rating: 4.0/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5592-L Whitesville Road Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Pizza, Salad, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Smokey Pig Barbecue

13 / 25

#13. Smokey Pig Barbecue

- Rating: 4.0/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1617 11th Ave. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Your Pie

14 / 25

#12. Your Pie

- Rating: 4.1/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1019 Broadway Ste 1 Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Pizza, Salad, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Las Americas Super Mercado & Restaurant

15 / 25

#11. Las Americas Super Mercado & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4101 Hamilton Road Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican, Salvadoran
- Read more on Yelp

Rose's Caribbean Restaurant

16 / 25

#10. Rose's Caribbean Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2039 Torch Hill Road Ste 200 Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Caribbean
- Read more on Yelp

La Mexicana

17 / 25

#9. La Mexicana

- Rating: 4.2/5 (244 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3305 Victory Drive Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Just Thai

18 / 25

#8. Just Thai

- Rating: 4.2/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5156 River Road Ste A Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Minnie's Uptown Restaurant

19 / 25

#7. Minnie's Uptown Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 104 8th St. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Soul Food, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

Country Life Vegetarian Restaurant & Natural Food Store

20 / 25

#6. Country Life Vegetarian Restaurant & Natural Food Store

- Rating: 4.3/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1217 Eberhart Ave. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Health Markets, Vegetarian, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp

Pepper's Barbeque & Catering

21 / 25

#5. Pepper's Barbeque & Catering

- Rating: 4.3/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4620 Warm Springs Road Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Plucked Up Chicken & Biscuits

22 / 25

#4. Plucked Up Chicken & Biscuits

- Rating: 4.3/5 (465 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1208 1st Ave. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

CC's Place

23 / 25

#3. CC's Place

- Rating: 4.4/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2023 Fort Benning Road Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Cricket Wireless Authorized Retailer

24 / 25

#2. Cricket Wireless Authorized Retailer

- Rating: 4.5/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4403 17th Ave. Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Mexican, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp

Jordan Girls Gourmet Dawgs

25 / 25

#1. Jordan Girls Gourmet Dawgs

- Rating: 4.8/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 803 Veterans Pkwy Columbus, Georgia
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- 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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