Highest-rated cheap eats in Bloomington, Illinois 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 Bloomington 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.

First Wok

1 / 28

#28. First Wok

- Rating: 3.6/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1415 North Main St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Potbelly

2 / 28

#27. Potbelly

- Rating: 3.6/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 609 South Main St. Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Sandwiches, fast food, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Parkview Inn

3 / 28

#26. Parkview Inn

- Rating: 3.6/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1003 South Morris Ave. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp

CoreLife Eatery

4 / 28

#25. CoreLife Eatery

- Rating: 3.6/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 115 South Veterans Pkwy Ste D Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Salad, New American, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Super Gyros

5 / 28

#24. Super Gyros

- Rating: 3.7/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 115 Susan Drive Ste A Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Greek
- Read more on Yelp

China Star - Bloomington

6 / 28

#23. China Star - Bloomington

- Rating: 3.7/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2402 East Oakland Ave. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Lagondola Spaghetti House

7 / 28

#22. Lagondola Spaghetti House

- Rating: 3.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 509 South Main St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Cheeks Bar & Grill

8 / 28

#21. Cheeks Bar & Grill

- Rating: 3.7/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1206 Towanda Ave. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Burgers, American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Schooners

9 / 28

#20. Schooners

- Rating: 3.8/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 810 East Grove Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: American, Burgers, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Shannon's Five Star

10 / 28

#19. Shannon's Five Star

- Rating: 3.8/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1305 South Mercer Ave. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Comfort Food, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Uncle Tom's Pancake House

11 / 28

#18. Uncle Tom's Pancake House

- Rating: 3.9/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1700 Fredrick Lane Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Diners, American, Pancakes
- Read more on Yelp

La Carniceria Mexicana

12 / 28

#17. La Carniceria Mexicana

- Rating: 3.9/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1416 South Main St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Garden of Paradise

13 / 28

#16. Garden of Paradise

- Rating: 3.9/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1412 East Empire St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Greek, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

DR McKays

14 / 28

#15. DR McKays

- Rating: 3.9/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 909 North Hershey Road Ste 2 Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, American, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Potbelly

15 / 28

#14. Potbelly

- Rating: 3.9/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 North Veterans Pkwy Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Sandwiches, fast food, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Keller's Iron Skillet & Catering

16 / 28

#13. Keller's Iron Skillet & Catering

- Rating: 3.9/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 609 Hannah St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Herradura

17 / 28

#12. Herradura

- Rating: 4.0/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 909 North Hershey Road Ste 3 Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Western Tap

18 / 28

#11. Western Tap

- Rating: 4.0/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1301 North Western Ave. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant

19 / 28

#10. Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 111 West Monroe St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Kicks Bar & Grill

20 / 28

#9. Kicks Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 19578 North 1960 East Road Towanda, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Tony's Tacos

21 / 28

#8. Tony's Tacos

- Rating: 4.1/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 304 North Main St. Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Times Past Inn

22 / 28

#7. Times Past Inn

- Rating: 4.2/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1216 Towanda Ave. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

The Spotted Dog

23 / 28

#6. The Spotted Dog

- Rating: 4.2/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1504 Morrissey Drive Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Sports Bars, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

The Rock Restaurant

24 / 28

#5. The Rock Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (456 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 203 West North St. Normal, Illinois
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria El Porton

25 / 28

#4. Taqueria El Porton

- Rating: 4.2/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 901 North Main St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Crawford's Corner Pub

26 / 28

#3. Crawford's Corner Pub

- Rating: 4.3/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 610 West Chestnut Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Pubs, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Tony's Diner

27 / 28

#2. Tony's Diner

- Rating: 4.3/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1917 South Main St. Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
- Read more on Yelp

Veracruz Restaurant

28 / 28

#1. Veracruz Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1704 Eastland Drive Ste 13 Bloomington, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
- 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.