Highest-rated cheap eats in Carbondale 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 Carbondale 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.

Country Cupboard Restaurant

1 / 21

#21. Country Cupboard Restaurant

- Rating: 2.9/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1323 South Division St. Carterville, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Tequila's

2 / 21

#20. Tequila's

- Rating: 3.1/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 North Glenview Drive Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Pagliai's Pizza

3 / 21

#19. Pagliai's Pizza

- Rating: 3.2/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 509 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Martel's Pizza

4 / 21

#18. Martel's Pizza

- Rating: 3.3/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 706 Walnut St. Murphysboro, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Don Taco

5 / 21

#17. Don Taco

- Rating: 3.3/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 780 East Grand Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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New Kahala

6 / 21

#16. New Kahala

- Rating: 3.7/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 600 East Grand Ave. Ste 3 Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Taiwanese
- Read more on Yelp

Pita Alley

7 / 21

#15. Pita Alley

- Rating: 3.7/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1711 West Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mediterranean, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Moe's Southwest Grill

8 / 21

#14. Moe's Southwest Grill

- Rating: 3.7/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 715 North Giant City Road Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp

Sam's Cafe

9 / 21

#13. Sam's Cafe

- Rating: 3.8/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 521 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Cafes, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Chango's Bar & Grill

10 / 21

#12. Chango's Bar & Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 519 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Bars, Mexican, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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Dale's Burger Shack

11 / 21

#11. Dale's Burger Shack

- Rating: 3.9/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1709 West Main St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Mary Lou's Grill

12 / 21

#10. Mary Lou's Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 118 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

Common Grounds Coffeehouse

13 / 21

#9. Common Grounds Coffeehouse

- Rating: 4.0/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 600 East Grand Ave. Ste 6 Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Cindy B's Cafe

14 / 21

#8. Cindy B's Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1110 Locust St. Murphysboro, Illinois
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

PK's

15 / 21

#7. PK's

- Rating: 4.1/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 308 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Dive Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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Tienda Mexicana El Paisano

16 / 21

#6. Tienda Mexicana El Paisano

- Rating: 4.3/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 North Glenview Drive Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Blend Tea & Crepe Lounge

17 / 21

#5. Blend Tea & Crepe Lounge

- Rating: 4.3/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 719 South University Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Harbaugh's Cafe

18 / 21

#4. Harbaugh's Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (194 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 901 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Cristaudo's Cafe & Bakery

19 / 21

#3. Cristaudo's Cafe & Bakery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 209 South Illinois Ave. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Pat's BBQ & Catering

20 / 21

#2. Pat's BBQ & Catering

- Rating: 4.9/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 111 Tower Rock Lane Murphysboro, Illinois
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Doña Camila

21 / 21

#1. Doña Camila

- Rating: 4.9/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 West Jackson St. Carbondale, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- 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.