Highest-rated cheap eats in Decatur, 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 Decatur 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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Lincoln Square Lounge

1 / 24

#24. Lincoln Square Lounge

- Rating: 2.9/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 121 North Main St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Lounges, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Steak 'n Shake

2 / 24

#23. Steak 'n Shake

- Rating: 3.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 920 US 51 Forsyth, Illinois
- Categories: Fast food, Burgers, American
- Read more on Yelp

Steak 'n Shake

3 / 24

#22. Steak 'n Shake

- Rating: 3.1/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2250 Mt Zion Road Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Burgers, fast food, American
- Read more on Yelp

Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant

4 / 24

#21. Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.1/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 351 West 1st Drive Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Lock Stock & Barrel

5 / 24

#20. Lock Stock & Barrel

- Rating: 3.2/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 129 South Oakland Ave. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Salad, Bars, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp

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Garden Family Restaurant

6 / 24

#19. Garden Family Restaurant

- Rating: 3.4/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 696 East Pershing Road Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: American, Bubble Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Krekel's Custard & Hamburger

7 / 24

#18. Krekel's Custard & Hamburger

- Rating: 3.4/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1340 North State Hwy 121 Mount Zion, Illinois
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Head West Sub Stop

8 / 24

#17. Head West Sub Stop

- Rating: 3.4/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 136 South Oakland Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Sandwiches, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

First Wok

9 / 24

#16. First Wok

- Rating: 3.6/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1683 West King St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp

EL Corral Restaurante Mexicano

10 / 24

#15. EL Corral Restaurante Mexicano

- Rating: 3.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3655 East State Route 36 Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Coney McKane's American Eatery

11 / 24

#14. Coney McKane's American Eatery

- Rating: 3.7/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 104 East Prairie Ave. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Burgers, American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Donnies Homespun Pizza

12 / 24

#13. Donnies Homespun Pizza

- Rating: 3.8/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 190 North Merchant St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant

13 / 24

#12. El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4204 North Prospect Drive Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Barbecue, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp

The Downtown Cafe

14 / 24

#11. The Downtown Cafe

- Rating: 3.8/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 217 North Main St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

University Dogs

15 / 24

#10. University Dogs

- Rating: 3.9/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1105 West Wood St. Ste 4 Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Barbecue, Burgers, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Asia House

16 / 24

#9. Asia House

- Rating: 3.9/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3074 North Water St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Lagondola Spaghetti House North

17 / 24

#8. Lagondola Spaghetti House North

- Rating: 4.1/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2825 North Water St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Diamond's Family Restaurant

18 / 24

#7. Diamond's Family Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2959 North Oakland Ave. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

Krekel's Custard

19 / 24

#6. Krekel's Custard

- Rating: 4.2/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1425 North Oakland Ave. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Carrol Lou's Smokehouse

20 / 24

#5. Carrol Lou's Smokehouse

- Rating: 4.3/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2612 North Martin Luther King Jr Drive Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: American, Smokehouse, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

PT's Barbeque

21 / 24

#4. PT's Barbeque

- Rating: 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 501 South Franklin St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Krekel's Custard & Hamburger

22 / 24

#3. Krekel's Custard & Hamburger

- Rating: 4.5/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2320 East Main St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Fast food, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria La Perlita

23 / 24

#2. Taqueria La Perlita

- Rating: 4.7/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 495 North 22nd St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Debbies Diner

24 / 24

#1. Debbies Diner

- Rating: 4.7/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1404 North 22nd St. Decatur, Illinois
- Categories: American, 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.