Highest-rated cheap eats in Boston by diners

Written by:
July 22, 2022
Joshua Resnick // Shutterstock

Highest-rated cheap eats in Boston 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 Boston 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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Café Rustica

#30. Café Rustica

- Rating: 4.6/5 (364 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 356 Beacon St. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30
Bella Ravioli

#29. Bella Ravioli

- Rating: 4.6/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 369 Main St. Medford, Massachusetts
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 30
Billy's Sub Shop

#28. Billy's Sub Shop

- Rating: 4.6/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 57 Berkeley St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Diners, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30
Sultana's Bakery & Cafe

#27. Sultana's Bakery & Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1585 Commonwealth Ave. Brighton, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cafes, Bakeries, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 30
Phin Coffee House

#26. Phin Coffee House

- Rating: 4.6/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10 High St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Vietnamese, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30
Meat Spot

#25. Meat Spot

- Rating: 4.6/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 28 Mt Auburn St. Watertown, Massachusetts
- Categories: Delis, Meat Shops, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 30
Don Julio Restaurant

#24. Don Julio Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 514 Medford St. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30
Haley House Bakery Café

#23. Haley House Bakery Café

- Rating: 4.6/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 12 Dade St. Roxbury, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30
Virginia's Fine Foods

#22. Virginia's Fine Foods

- Rating: 4.6/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8A Cypress St. Brookline, Massachusetts
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 30
Fresh Food Generation

#21. Fresh Food Generation

- Rating: 4.6/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 185 Talbot Ave. Dorchester, Massachusetts
- Categories: Food Trucks, Salad, Empanadas
- Read more on Yelp

11 / 30
Stoked Wood Fired Pizza

#20. Stoked Wood Fired Pizza

- Rating: 4.6/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Food Trucks, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30
Effie's Kitchen

#19. Effie's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 37 Poplar St. Roslindale, Massachusetts
- Categories: Greek
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 30
Curio Coffee

#18. Curio Coffee

- Rating: 4.6/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 441 Cambridge St. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Waffles, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 30
ANI Catering & Cafe

#17. ANI Catering & Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (250 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 687 Belmont St. Belmont, Massachusetts
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Armenian, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

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Cambridge Deli & Grill

#16. Cambridge Deli & Grill

- Rating: 4.7/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 90 River St. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Delis, American
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 30
Teresa's Market

#15. Teresa's Market

- Rating: 4.7/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 571 Washington St. Brighton, Massachusetts
- Categories: Latin American, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 30
Ernie's Lunch

#14. Ernie's Lunch

- Rating: 4.7/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 458 Franklin St. Melrose, Massachusetts
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 30
Carmella's Market

#13. Carmella's Market

- Rating: 4.7/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 86 Cottage St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cheese Shops, Delis, Grocery
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 30
Third Cliff Bakery

#12. Third Cliff Bakery

- Rating: 4.7/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3531 Washington St. Ste 103 Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 30
P & K Delicatessen

#11. P & K Delicatessen

- Rating: 4.7/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 244 Beacon St. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: Delis
- Read more on Yelp

21 / 30
Bikeeny Caffe

#10. Bikeeny Caffe

- Rating: 4.7/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 62 Summer St. Malden, Massachusetts
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30
Energize

#9. Energize

- Rating: 4.7/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 618 Washington St. Brighton, Massachusetts
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Vegan, Organic Stores
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30
Livite

#8. Livite

- Rating: 4.7/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1644 Beacon St. Brookline, Massachusetts
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Salad, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 30
Magic Bites Bakery

#7. Magic Bites Bakery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 916 Massachusetts Ave. Arlington, Massachusetts
- Categories: Bakeries, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 30
Vinal Bakery

#6. Vinal Bakery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 222 Somerville Ave. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

26 / 30
Elmendorf Baking Supplies

#5. Elmendorf Baking Supplies

- Rating: 4.8/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 594 Cambridge St. Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Categories: Cafes, Specialty Food, Hobby Shops
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 30
Maprang Bakery & Cafe

#4. Maprang Bakery & Cafe

- Rating: 4.8/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 51 Union Square Somerville, Massachusetts
- Categories: Desserts, Cafes, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp

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Mo'Rockin Fusion

#3. Mo'Rockin Fusion

- Rating: 4.8/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 100 Hanover St. Boston, Massachusetts
- Categories: Moroccan, Mediterranean, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 30
Recreo Coffee & Roasterie

#2. Recreo Coffee & Roasterie

- Rating: 4.8/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1876 Centre St. West Roxbury, Massachusetts
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

30 / 30
Natural FruttiBerri

#1. Natural FruttiBerri

- Rating: 5.0/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 127 Mt Auburn St. Watertown, Massachusetts
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Soup
- 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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