Highest-rated cheap eats in Ames 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 Ames 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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Taco John's

1 / 22

#22. Taco John's

- Rating: 2.7/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 500 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Whiskey River

2 / 22

#21. Whiskey River

- Rating: 3.1/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 134 Main St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

888 Restaurant

3 / 22

#20. 888 Restaurant

- Rating: 3.1/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 809 Wheeler St. Ste 106 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Le's Restaurant

4 / 22

#19. Le's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.3/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 113 Colorado Ave. Ste 117 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Chinese, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

B-Bop's

5 / 22

#18. B-Bop's

- Rating: 3.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1112 South Duff Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Burgers, American
- Read more on Yelp

Abelardo's Mexican Fresh

6 / 22

#17. Abelardo's Mexican Fresh

- Rating: 3.5/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 533 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

El Azteca

7 / 22

#16. El Azteca

- Rating: 3.6/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2120 Isaac Newton Drive Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Cafe Milo

8 / 22

#15. Cafe Milo

- Rating: 3.6/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4800 Mortensen Road Ste 101 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: American, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

May House Cuisine

9 / 22

#14. May House Cuisine

- Rating: 3.6/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3417 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Grove Cafe

10 / 22

#13. Grove Cafe

- Rating: 3.8/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 124 Main St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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House of Chen

11 / 22

#12. House of Chen

- Rating: 3.8/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 705 East Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Kitchen

12 / 22

#11. Thai Kitchen

- Rating: 3.8/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2410 Chamberlain St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Thai, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Joy's Mongolian Grill

13 / 22

#10. Joy's Mongolian Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 112 Hayward Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Dim Sum, Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

Blaze Pizza

14 / 22

#9. Blaze Pizza

- Rating: 4.2/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2320 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Salad, fast food, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Pizza Pit

15 / 22

#8. Pizza Pit

- Rating: 4.2/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 207 Welch Ave. Ste 201 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Pizza, Chicken Wings, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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West Street Deli

16 / 22

#7. West Street Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2810 West St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp

Mr. Burrito

17 / 22

#6. Mr. Burrito

- Rating: 4.5/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2508 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

1+1 Restaurant & Tea

18 / 22

#5. 1+1 Restaurant & Tea

- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2814 West St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Pammel Grocery and Deli

19 / 22

#4. Pammel Grocery and Deli

- Rating: 4.6/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 113 Colorado Ave. Ste 133 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: International Grocery, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Downtown Deli

20 / 22

#3. Downtown Deli

- Rating: 4.7/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 328 Main St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Delis
- Read more on Yelp

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Carlos Quesadillas

21 / 22

#2. Carlos Quesadillas

- Rating: 4.7/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 806 Stange Road Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Rico's Tacos

22 / 22

#1. Rico's Tacos

- Rating: 4.8/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 624 East Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Food Trucks, 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.