Whataburger
1 / 25#25. Whataburger
- Rating: 2.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2411 Louisville Ave. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
Highest-rated cheap eats in Monroe by diners
Americans spend a lot of money on eating out—in 2024, that totaled $1.54 trillion, or nearly 59% of all food spending. So, it's only natural to want the best bang for your restaurant dollar.
Value has become a key component of what diners look for when they eat out, with more than 7 in 10 consumers eyeing menus for value meals. At the same time, many diners also look for something new and exciting, hoping to sample new flavors or food with ingredients that are too expensive to make at home.
Many ethnic cuisines also provide a lot of value because they aren't as expensive to produce. Many Mexican dishes fall into this category because tortillas are cheaper to produce than bread. Many Asian cuisines, including Chinese, Filipino, and Cambodian food, also rely on low-cost ingredients and simple food preparation techniques.
Food trucks and street food vendors also offer cheaper food, thanks to lower overhead costs. Their limited menus typically focus on one type of food, allowing them to simplify purchasing and pass the savings on in the form of lower prices.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cheap eats restaurants within 10 kilometers of the Monroe area using data from Yelp. Data is as of Aug. 8, 2025. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews were considered, and a cost of "$" (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 Bandido
2 / 25#24. Taco Bandido
- Rating: 2.6/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2127 Forsythe Ave. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
Danken Trail B-B-Q
3 / 25#23. Danken Trail B-B-Q
- Rating: 3.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7712 Desiard St. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
Podnuh's Bar-B-Q
4 / 25#22. Podnuh's Bar-B-Q
- Rating: 3.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1108 Sterlington Road Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Barbecue, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
Johnny's Pizza House
5 / 25#21. Johnny's Pizza House
- Rating: 3.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3501 Desiard St. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Italian, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
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Jade Garden
6 / 25#20. Jade Garden
- Rating: 3.3/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1822 Forsythe Ave. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
Scott's Catfish & Seafood
7 / 25#19. Scott's Catfish & Seafood
- Rating: 3.3/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2812 Cypress St. West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
Magic Grill
8 / 25#18. Magic Grill
- Rating: 3.4/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2500 Arkansas West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Cafes, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
El Sombrero
9 / 25#17. El Sombrero
- Rating: 3.5/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 407 Constitution Drive West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
Newk's Eatery
10 / 25#16. Newk's Eatery
- Rating: 3.7/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 811 Splane Drive West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
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Slim Chickens
11 / 25#15. Slim Chickens
- Rating: 3.8/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5081 Cypress St. West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Southern, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
Newk's Eatery
12 / 25#14. Newk's Eatery
- Rating: 3.8/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2320 Tower Drive Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
Eastern Empire Chinese
13 / 25#13. Eastern Empire Chinese
- Rating: 3.9/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3426 Cypress St. Ste 11 West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
Johnny's Pizza House
14 / 25#12. Johnny's Pizza House
- Rating: 3.9/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 809 Warren Drive West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
West Monroe Coney Island
15 / 25#11. West Monroe Coney Island
- Rating: 4.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 410 Natchitoches St. West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Diners, Hot Dogs, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
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Mel's Cajun Fried Chicken & Catfish
16 / 25#10. Mel's Cajun Fried Chicken & Catfish
- Rating: 4.0/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 340 Hwy 594 Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
Ray's PeGe
17 / 25#9. Ray's PeGe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8209 DeSiard St. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
Lea's of Monroe
18 / 25#8. Lea's of Monroe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 319 Louisville Ave. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Cafes, Southern, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
Magic Grill
19 / 25#7. Magic Grill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1210 North 18th st Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Burgers, Donuts, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
Eskamoe's Frozen Custard & More
20 / 25#6. Eskamoe's Frozen Custard & More
- Rating: 4.4/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2800 Forsythe Ave. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, American, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
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Daily Press
21 / 25#5. Daily Press
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2899 Sterlington Road Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Fast food, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
Belle's Ole South Diner
22 / 25#4. Belle's Ole South Diner
- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4624 Cypress St. West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Diners, Southern, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
Shaw Nuff BBQ
23 / 25#3. Shaw Nuff BBQ
- Rating: 4.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1509 Martin Luther King Jr Drive Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp
Latin Food
24 / 25#2. Latin Food
- Rating: 4.6/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1102 Thomas Road West Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: Latin American, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
Big Momma's Fine Foods
25 / 25#1. Big Momma's Fine Foods
- Rating: 4.8/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1118 South 2nd St. Monroe, Louisiana
- Categories: 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.
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