Highest-rated cheap eats in Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids 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.

Beijing Chinese Restaurant

1 / 28

#28. Beijing Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 421 Edgewood Road Northwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Ting's Red Lantern

2 / 28

#27. Ting's Red Lantern

- Rating: 3.7/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 540 Boyson Road Northeast Ste C Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Mr Beans

3 / 28

#26. Mr Beans

- Rating: 3.8/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1080 East Post Road Marion, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Oscars

4 / 28

#25. Oscars

- Rating: 3.8/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 768 North Center Point Road Hiawatha, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Nick's Bar & Grill

5 / 28

#24. Nick's Bar & Grill

- Rating: 3.8/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4958 Johnson Ave. Northwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

Fieldhouse 1st Ave

6 / 28

#23. Fieldhouse 1st Ave

- Rating: 3.9/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5001 1st Ave. Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Sports Bars, American, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

China King

7 / 28

#22. China King

- Rating: 3.9/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2240 7th Ave. Marion, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Pita'z

8 / 28

#21. Pita'z

- Rating: 3.9/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1057 North Center Point Road Hiawatha, Iowa
- Categories: Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

9 / 28

#20. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 4.0/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4640 1st Ave. North East Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Union Station Sports Bar & Grill

10 / 28

#19. Union Station Sports Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1724 16th Ave. Southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Sports Bars, American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant

11 / 28

#18. Phong Lan Vietnamese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 216 8th St. Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Breakfast House

12 / 28

#17. Breakfast House

- Rating: 4.0/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 820 6th St. Southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Parlor City Ice Cream

13 / 28

#16. Parlor City Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.1/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1936 42nd St. Northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Mikhael's Restaurant

14 / 28

#15. Mikhael's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1426 6th St. Southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Salad, American
- Read more on Yelp

Lucky's on 16th

15 / 28

#14. Lucky's on 16th

- Rating: 4.1/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 86-16TH Ave. Southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: American, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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Country Kitchen

16 / 28

#13. Country Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 699 7th Ave. Marion, Iowa
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

American Skillet

17 / 28

#12. American Skillet

- Rating: 4.2/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4820 Johnson Ave. Northwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

El Super Burrito & Lupita's

18 / 28

#11. El Super Burrito & Lupita's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3300 Johnson Ave. Northwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

Cross Roads Bistro

19 / 28

#10. Cross Roads Bistro

- Rating: 4.2/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 232 16th Ave. Southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Tornado's Grub and Pub

20 / 28

#9. Tornado's Grub and Pub

- Rating: 4.2/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1600 3rd St. Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: American, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp

La Guanajuato

21 / 28

#8. La Guanajuato

- Rating: 4.2/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3915 Center Point Road Northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Grocery, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Gyro Hut

22 / 28

#7. Gyro Hut

- Rating: 4.3/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1455 Mount Vernon Road Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Lu's Deli

23 / 28

#6. Lu's Deli

- Rating: 4.3/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1010 3rd St. Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Delis, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Panda Lin

24 / 28

#5. Panda Lin

- Rating: 4.4/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 624 12th Ave. Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Rio Burritos

25 / 28

#4. Rio Burritos

- Rating: 4.4/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5001 1st Ave. Southeast Unit 104 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Dash Coffee Roasters

26 / 28

#3. Dash Coffee Roasters

- Rating: 4.7/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 120 3rd Ave. Southwest Ste 2 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

The Full Bowl

27 / 28

#2. The Full Bowl

- Rating: 4.8/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 120 10th Ave. Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Categories: Vegan, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp

Island Vybz

28 / 28

#1. Island Vybz

- Rating: 4.9/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Caribbean, Food Trucks
- 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.