Highest-rated cheap eats in Columbia, Missouri 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 Columbia 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.

Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe

1 / 26

#26. Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe

- Rating: 3.6/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1106 East Broadway Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

La Siesta Mexican Restaruant

2 / 26

#25. La Siesta Mexican Restaruant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3890 Rangeline St. Ste 115 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Angelo's Pizza & Steakhouse

3 / 26

#24. Angelo's Pizza & Steakhouse

- Rating: 3.7/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4107 South Providence Road Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Pizza, Steakhouses, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Lakota Coffee Company

4 / 26

#23. Lakota Coffee Company

- Rating: 3.7/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 24 South 9th St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

The Italian Village

5 / 26

#22. The Italian Village

- Rating: 3.8/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 711 Vandiver Drive Ste B Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Booches Billiard Hall

6 / 26

#21. Booches Billiard Hall

- Rating: 3.8/5 (230 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 110 South 9th St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Pool Halls, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Mugs-Up Drive In

7 / 26

#20. Mugs-Up Drive In

- Rating: 3.9/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 603 Orange St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

El Rancho

8 / 26

#19. El Rancho

- Rating: 3.9/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1014 East Broadway Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Tony's Pizza Palace

9 / 26

#18. Tony's Pizza Palace

- Rating: 3.9/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 17 North 5th St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Jimmy's Family Steak House

10 / 26

#17. Jimmy's Family Steak House

- Rating: 4.0/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3101 South Providence Road Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Steakhouses, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Ernie's Cafe & Steak House

11 / 26

#16. Ernie's Cafe & Steak House

- Rating: 4.0/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1005 East Walnut St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

Uprise Bakery

12 / 26

#15. Uprise Bakery

- Rating: 4.0/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10 Hitt St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Bakeries, New American, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Chinese Wok Express

13 / 26

#14. Chinese Wok Express

- Rating: 4.0/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 422 East Broadway Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Broadway Diner

14 / 26

#13. Broadway Diner

- Rating: 4.0/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 22 South 4th St. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

15 / 26

#12. Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

- Rating: 4.1/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2316 Paris Road Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

G & D Pizzaria

16 / 26

#11. G & D Pizzaria

- Rating: 4.1/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2101 West Broadway Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Pizza, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Mad Cow

17 / 26

#10. Mad Cow

- Rating: 4.2/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 503 East Nifong Blvd. Ste I Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: New American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Carlito's Cabo

18 / 26

#9. Carlito's Cabo

- Rating: 4.4/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 12-A Business Lp 70 East Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican, Peruvian
- Read more on Yelp

Pho Quan Viet Cuisine

19 / 26

#8. Pho Quan Viet Cuisine

- Rating: 4.4/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2016 Paris Road Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Vietnamese, Chinese, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Tortilleria El Patrón

20 / 26

#7. Tortilleria El Patrón

- Rating: 4.4/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 711 Vandiver Drive Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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QuikTrip

21 / 26

#6. QuikTrip

- Rating: 4.4/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3211 CLARK LN COLUMBIA, Missouri
- Categories: Gas Stations, Convenience Stores, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Penn Station

22 / 26

#5. Penn Station

- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 203 East Nifong Blvd. Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Cheesesteaks, fast food, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

B&B Bagel

23 / 26

#4. B&B Bagel

- Rating: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 124 East Nifong Blvd. Ste A Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Don Pancho

24 / 26

#3. Taqueria Don Pancho

- Rating: 4.7/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3907 Peachtree Drive Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Just Jeff's Street Food

25 / 26

#2. Just Jeff's Street Food

- Rating: 4.7/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 701 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Stands, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Ellianna's Donut Shop

26 / 26

#1. Ellianna's Donut Shop

- Rating: 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1105 Grindstone Pkwy Ste 101 Columbia, Missouri
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- 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.