Highest-rated cheap eats in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph 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.

Taco Bandido

1 / 12

#12. Taco Bandido

- Rating: 2.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1601 Saint Joseph Ave. Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Twin Dragon

2 / 12

#11. Twin Dragon

- Rating: 2.7/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2604 North Belt Hwy Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

El Maguey

3 / 12

#10. El Maguey

- Rating: 3.1/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2201 North Belt Hwy Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Ford's Drive In

4 / 12

#9. Ford's Drive In

- Rating: 3.4/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5028 Lake Ave. Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

Nelly's Mexican Food

5 / 12

#8. Nelly's Mexican Food

- Rating: 3.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4506 Southeast US Hwy 169 Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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Crumbly Burger

6 / 12

#7. Crumbly Burger

- Rating: 3.8/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2701 Frederick Ave. Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Le Peep

7 / 12

#6. Le Peep

- Rating: 4.1/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 919 North Woodbine Road Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, American
- Read more on Yelp

Magoons Famous Delicatessen

8 / 12

#5. Magoons Famous Delicatessen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 632 South 8th St. Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Hi-Ho Bar & Grill

9 / 12

#4. Hi-Ho Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1817 Frederick Ave. Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

Pronto Café

10 / 12

#3. Pronto Café

- Rating: 4.2/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2513 Frederick Ave. Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

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Betty's Café

11 / 12

#2. Betty's Café

- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6307 King Hill Ave. Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Abelardo's Mexican Fresh

12 / 12

#1. Abelardo's Mexican Fresh

- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 915 Jonathan Lane Saint Joseph, Missouri
- Categories: Mexican
- 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.