Steak 'n Shake
1 / 18#18. Steak 'n Shake
- Rating: 2.7/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2775 Herman Darlage Drive Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Fast food, Burgers, American
- Read more on Yelp
Highest-rated cheap eats in Columbus, Indiana 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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Chopstick Restaurant
2 / 18#17. Chopstick Restaurant
- Rating: 2.9/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3045 Columbus Center Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Chinese, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
3 / 18#16. Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1289 North National Road Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
Camila's Mexican Restaurant
4 / 18#15. Camila's Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1824 25th St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
Tasty Express
5 / 18#14. Tasty Express
- Rating: 3.7/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1804 25th St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
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Blackerby's Hangar 5 Restaurant
6 / 18#13. Blackerby's Hangar 5 Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4770 Ray Boll Blvd. Ste 3 Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
Jill's Diner
7 / 18#12. Jill's Diner
- Rating: 4.1/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 421 7th St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp
Sabor De La Vida
8 / 18#11. Sabor De La Vida
- Rating: 4.1/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1625 State St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
Yats
9 / 18#10. Yats
- Rating: 4.2/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 325 4th St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
Yee Kee Restaurant
10 / 18#9. Yee Kee Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3984 25th St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
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Fresh Take Kitchen
11 / 18#8. Fresh Take Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 424 Washington St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Soup, Salad, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
Riviera Maya Mexican Restaurant
12 / 18#7. Riviera Maya Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2326 25th St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
Tonala Mexican Resturant
13 / 18#6. Tonala Mexican Resturant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 628 Main St. Hope, Indiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
Ye Olde Fish House
14 / 18#5. Ye Olde Fish House
- Rating: 4.3/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2024 17th St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Sandwiches, American, Fish & Chips
- Read more on Yelp
Mrs Wick's Pie and Wick's Pies
15 / 18#4. Mrs Wick's Pie and Wick's Pies
- Rating: 4.3/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 Cherry St. Winchester, Indiana
- Categories: Bakeries, American
- Read more on Yelp
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El Mexicano Taqueria
16 / 18#3. El Mexicano Taqueria
- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 251 Center St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
Donuts N' Coffee
17 / 18#2. Donuts N' Coffee
- Rating: 4.8/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2222 State St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
Homeboyz Fried Chicken and Fish
18 / 18#1. Homeboyz Fried Chicken and Fish
- Rating: 4.8/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1451 Washington St. Columbus, Indiana
- Categories: Desserts, Seafood, Southern
- 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.
