Highest-rated cheap eats in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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.

Woodees

1 / 28

#28. Woodees

- Rating: 4.1/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 201 Capital Beach Blvd. Ste 1B Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: American, New American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Rolling Wok

2 / 28

#27. Rolling Wok

- Rating: 4.1/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2600 South 48th St. Ste 1 Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Cantonese
- Read more on Yelp

Cheesesteak Grille

3 / 28

#26. Cheesesteak Grille

- Rating: 4.1/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5640 South 16th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Cheesesteaks
- Read more on Yelp

Southwest Pit BBQ

4 / 28

#25. Southwest Pit BBQ

- Rating: 4.1/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1601 P St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Barbecue, Food Stands, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

Panda Garden

5 / 28

#24. Panda Garden

- Rating: 4.1/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 233 North 48th St. Ste Z Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Korean, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Mr Hui's 2

6 / 28

#23. Mr Hui's 2

- Rating: 4.2/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4131 Pioneer Woods Drive Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp

Chopsticks

7 / 28

#22. Chopsticks

- Rating: 4.2/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6891 A St. Ste 215 Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Cook's Cafe

8 / 28

#21. Cook's Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 333 North Cotner Blvd. Ste 1 Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Taco Inn

9 / 28

#20. Taco Inn

- Rating: 4.3/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 245 South 70th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Pho Nguyenn Restaurant

10 / 28

#19. Pho Nguyenn Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 611 North 27th St. Ste 5 Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Lincoln

El Chaparro

11 / 28

#18. El Chaparro

- Rating: 4.3/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 900 South 13th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Tia Lety's

12 / 28

#17. Tia Lety's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2701 North 27th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Mexican, Salvadoran
- Read more on Yelp

Great Wall

13 / 28

#16. Great Wall

- Rating: 4.3/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 850 North 70th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Tina's Cafe & Catering

14 / 28

#15. Tina's Cafe & Catering

- Rating: 4.3/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 616 South St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Le Quartier Bakery & Cafe - Meridian Park

15 / 28

#14. Le Quartier Bakery & Cafe - Meridian Park

- Rating: 4.3/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6900 O St. Ste 132 Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Desserts, Bakeries, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Where people in Lincoln are looking to buy homes

The Coffee House

16 / 28

#13. The Coffee House

- Rating: 4.4/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1324 P St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

White or Wheat Sandwich Shoppe

17 / 28

#12. White or Wheat Sandwich Shoppe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6940 Van Dorn Ste 101 Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Heoya

18 / 28

#11. Heoya

- Rating: 4.4/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Vietnamese, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Super Taco

19 / 28

#10. Super Taco

- Rating: 4.4/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5501 Holdrege St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

The Mill at Telegraph

20 / 28

#9. The Mill at Telegraph

- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 330 South 21st St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Best places to live in the Lincoln metro area

Grateful Bread

21 / 28

#8. Grateful Bread

- Rating: 4.4/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1625 South 17th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Bakeries, Soul Food, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria El Rey

22 / 28

#7. Taqueria El Rey

- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 116 South 27th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Vung Tau Pho & Grill

23 / 28

#6. Vung Tau Pho & Grill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2708 Y St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Delis, Vietnamese, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Sultan's Kite

24 / 28

#5. Sultan's Kite

- Rating: 4.5/5 (375 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1309 O St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Dos De Oros

25 / 28

#4. Dos De Oros

- Rating: 4.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Omaha, Nebraska
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: The highest-value homes in Lincoln

Banhwich Cafe

26 / 28

#3. Banhwich Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (390 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 940 North 26th St. Ste 201 Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Sandwiches, Vietnamese, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Heoya

27 / 28

#2. Heoya

- Rating: 4.6/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3280 Superior St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Korean
- Read more on Yelp

Neveria San Marcos

28 / 28

#1. Neveria San Marcos

- Rating: 4.7/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1317 North 10th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
- Categories: Desserts, Mexican, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- 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.