Highest-rated cheap eats in Joplin 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 Joplin 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.

Orient Express

1 / 24

#24. Orient Express

- Rating: 3.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 215 East 20th St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Babe's Drive In

2 / 24

#23. Babe's Drive In

- Rating: 3.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5018 North Main St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Burgers, American
- Read more on Yelp

Gringos

3 / 24

#22. Gringos

- Rating: 3.6/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1401 South Madison St. Webb City, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Wings N More

4 / 24

#21. Wings N More

- Rating: 3.6/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1318 East 7th St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Joplin Cafe

5 / 24

#20. Joplin Cafe

- Rating: 3.6/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2330 West 20th St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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Jimmy's Egg

6 / 24

#19. Jimmy's Egg

- Rating: 3.7/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1611 South Rangeline Road Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
- Read more on Yelp

El Vallarta

7 / 24

#18. El Vallarta

- Rating: 3.7/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2350 South Range Line Road Ste C Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Granny Shaffer's Restaurant

8 / 24

#17. Granny Shaffer's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2728 North Rangeline Road Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Comfort Food, American
- Read more on Yelp

Maria's Mexican Grill & Cantina

9 / 24

#16. Maria's Mexican Grill & Cantina

- Rating: 3.8/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2850 South Range Line Road Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

WiseGuys Italian

10 / 24

#15. WiseGuys Italian

- Rating: 3.8/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 612 South Main Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Italian, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

Habaneros Mexican Grill

11 / 24

#14. Habaneros Mexican Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2526 East 7th St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Webb City Cafe

12 / 24

#13. Webb City Cafe

- Rating: 3.9/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 21 South Main St. Webb City, Missouri
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Stogey's Coney Island

13 / 24

#12. Stogey's Coney Island

- Rating: 3.9/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2629 East 7th St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: New American, Burgers, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Cantina Bravo

14 / 24

#11. Cantina Bravo

- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1010 South Madison St. Webb City, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Festival

15 / 24

#10. Festival

- Rating: 4.1/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 631 South Duquesne Road Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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Red Onion Espressoria

16 / 24

#9. Red Onion Espressoria

- Rating: 4.1/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1007 East 32nd St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Cafes, American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Norma's Diner

17 / 24

#8. Norma's Diner

- Rating: 4.1/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1901 South Main St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Pho Saigon

18 / 24

#7. Pho Saigon

- Rating: 4.2/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2640 East 32nd St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Vietnamese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

MEs Place Soul Food Cafe

19 / 24

#6. MEs Place Soul Food Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1203 Broadway St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

Fred & Red's

20 / 24

#5. Fred & Red's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1719 South Main St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Diners, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp

Sub Shop Deli

21 / 24

#4. Sub Shop Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 328 South Hall St. Ste 1 Webb City, Missouri
- Categories: Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Lalo's Taqueria

22 / 24

#3. Lalo's Taqueria

- Rating: 4.5/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2501 East 7th St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

All Aboard Ice Cream

23 / 24

#2. All Aboard Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.6/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 102 Castle Drive Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burgers, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

The Bruncheonette

24 / 24

#1. The Bruncheonette

- Rating: 4.7/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 424 North Main St. Joplin, Missouri
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, 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.