Highest-rated cheap eats in Lansing 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 Lansing 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.

Tabooli Mediterranean

1 / 30

#30. Tabooli Mediterranean

- Rating: 4.0/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 515 West Grand River Ave. East Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

Georgio's Pizza

2 / 30

#29. Georgio's Pizza

- Rating: 4.0/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 120 Charles St. East Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Cleats Bar & Grille

3 / 30

#28. Cleats Bar & Grille

- Rating: 4.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5801 North Aurelius Road Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Sports Bars, American, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

Udon Sushi Restaurant

4 / 30

#27. Udon Sushi Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 134 North Harrison Road Ste A East Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Jersey Giant Submarine Sandwiches

5 / 30

#26. Jersey Giant Submarine Sandwiches

- Rating: 4.0/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3700 West Saginaw St. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Restaurants
- Read more on Yelp

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Olympic Broil

6 / 30

#25. Olympic Broil

- Rating: 4.1/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1320 North Grand River Ave. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: American, Hot Dogs, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Woody's Oasis

7 / 30

#24. Woody's Oasis

- Rating: 4.1/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1050 Trowbridge Road East Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mediterranean, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Aladdin's Express

8 / 30

#23. Aladdin's Express

- Rating: 4.1/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 208 South Washington Sq Lansing Charter Township, Michigan
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Capital City BBQ

9 / 30

#22. Capital City BBQ

- Rating: 4.1/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1026 West Saginaw St. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Barbecue, Burgers, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Pho So 1

10 / 30

#21. Pho So 1

- Rating: 4.1/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4790 Hagadorn Road East Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

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Alicia's Authentic Mexican Deli

11 / 30

#20. Alicia's Authentic Mexican Deli

- Rating: 4.2/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5025 North Grand River Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp

Aladdin's Restaurant

12 / 30

#19. Aladdin's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 300 North Clippert St. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mediterranean, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

La Cocina Cubana

13 / 30

#18. La Cocina Cubana

- Rating: 4.2/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 123 South Washington Sq Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Cuban, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria El Chaparrito

14 / 30

#17. Taqueria El Chaparrito

- Rating: 4.2/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4832 West Saginaw Hwy Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Nip N Sip

15 / 30

#16. Nip N Sip

- Rating: 4.2/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2603 North East St. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

The New Daily Bagel

16 / 30

#15. The New Daily Bagel

- Rating: 4.2/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 309 South Washington Sq Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Delis, Bagels, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp

Sultans Express

17 / 30

#14. Sultans Express

- Rating: 4.3/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 305 South Washington Sq Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Supermercado La Estrellita

18 / 30

#13. Supermercado La Estrellita

- Rating: 4.3/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2604 North East St. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Grocery, Bakeries, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Mancino's Pizza and Grinders

19 / 30

#12. Mancino's Pizza and Grinders

- Rating: 4.3/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 12900 South US 27 DeWitt, Michigan
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Iorio Gelato

20 / 30

#11. Iorio Gelato

- Rating: 4.4/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7420 West Saginaw Hwy Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Gelato, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Ozzy's Kabob

21 / 30

#10. Ozzy's Kabob

- Rating: 4.4/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3536 Meridian Crossings Drive Ste 260 Okemos, Michigan
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp

Jose's Cuban Sandwich & Deli

22 / 30

#9. Jose's Cuban Sandwich & Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 401 South Pennsylvania Ave. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Cuban, Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

El Oasis

23 / 30

#8. El Oasis

- Rating: 4.4/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2511 East Michigan Ave. Ste 2 Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Good Truckin' Diner

24 / 30

#7. Good Truckin' Diner

- Rating: 4.4/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1218 Turner Road Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp

Jerusalem Pita and More

25 / 30

#6. Jerusalem Pita and More

- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1456 East Michigan Ave. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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Mexico 2 Go

26 / 30

#5. Mexico 2 Go

- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 16995 South US Hwy 27 Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

South Riley Tavern

27 / 30

#4. South Riley Tavern

- Rating: 4.6/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10777 South Francis Road DeWitt, Michigan
- Categories: Burgers, American, Dive Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Choupli Wood Fired Kabob

28 / 30

#3. Choupli Wood Fired Kabob

- Rating: 4.8/5 (457 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4411 West Saginaw Hwy Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

King Subs

29 / 30

#2. King Subs

- Rating: 4.8/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2602 North Grand River Ave. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Maria's Cuisine Mexican Food

30 / 30

#1. Maria's Cuisine Mexican Food

- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 536 East Grand River Ave. Lansing, Michigan
- Categories: Mexican, 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.

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