Highest-rated cheap eats in Syracuse 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 Syracuse 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.

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Sam's Chicken Land

1 / 29

#29. Sam's Chicken Land

- Rating: 4.2/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 527 Charles Ave. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Burgers, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Lucky 7 Grocery & Deli

2 / 29

#28. Lucky 7 Grocery & Deli

- Rating: 4.2/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3100 Court St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Grocery, Convenience Stores, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Shifty's

3 / 29

#27. Shifty's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1401 Burnet Ave. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Music Venues, Dive Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Nick's Pizza

4 / 29

#26. Nick's Pizza

- Rating: 4.2/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6380 Thompson Road East Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Aloha Japanese Bento Express

5 / 29

#25. Aloha Japanese Bento Express

- Rating: 4.2/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 217 South Salina St. Ste 3 Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Japanese, Hawaiian, Burmese
- Read more on Yelp

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Carl's Kountry Kitchen

6 / 29

#24. Carl's Kountry Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2300 Teall Ave. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Trappers II Pizza Pub

7 / 29

#23. Trappers II Pizza Pub

- Rating: 4.2/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 North Main St. Minoa, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Arctic Island & Cafe

8 / 29

#22. Arctic Island & Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 West Seneca Tpke Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Wrap It Up Express

9 / 29

#21. Wrap It Up Express

- Rating: 4.3/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4130 State Rte 31 Clay, New York
- Categories: Salad, Soup, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

Johnny Mac's Pizzeria & Deli

10 / 29

#20. Johnny Mac's Pizzeria & Deli

- Rating: 4.3/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 894 State Fair Blvd. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Delis, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

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China Chen

11 / 29

#19. China Chen

- Rating: 4.3/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6197 State Route 31 Ste 2 Cicero, New York
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Pronto Fresh

12 / 29

#18. Pronto Fresh

- Rating: 4.3/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 133 East Water St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Recess Coffee House & Roastery

13 / 29

#17. Recess Coffee House & Roastery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 110 Harvard Place Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Recess Coffee - Downtown

14 / 29

#16. Recess Coffee - Downtown

- Rating: 4.4/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 110 Montgomery St. Ste 103 Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp

Paladino's Pizza

15 / 29

#15. Paladino's Pizza

- Rating: 4.4/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 231 Northern Lights Plz Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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Ruston's Diner

16 / 29

#14. Ruston's Diner

- Rating: 4.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6293 North St. Jamesville, New York
- Categories: Diners
- Read more on Yelp

PB & J's Lunch Box

17 / 29

#13. PB & J's Lunch Box

- Rating: 4.4/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 663 Old Liverpool Road Liverpool, New York
- Categories: Food Trucks, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Ky Duyen Cafe

18 / 29

#12. Ky Duyen Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 488 North Salina St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Redwood Diner

19 / 29

#11. Redwood Diner

- Rating: 4.4/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 121 East Manlius St. East Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Fair Deli Craft Beer

20 / 29

#10. Fair Deli Craft Beer

- Rating: 4.4/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 757 State Fair Blvd. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Delis, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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Mother's Cupboard

21 / 29

#9. Mother's Cupboard

- Rating: 4.5/5 (439 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3709 James St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Paladino's Cicero Pizza

22 / 29

#8. Paladino's Cicero Pizza

- Rating: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8154 Brewerton Road Cicero, New York
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Di Lauros Bakery & Pizza

23 / 29

#7. Di Lauros Bakery & Pizza

- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 502 East Division St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Bakeries, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Water Street Bagel

24 / 29

#6. Water Street Bagel

- Rating: 4.5/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 239 East Water St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Robbie T's Pizza

25 / 29

#5. Robbie T's Pizza

- Rating: 4.6/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4625 North St. Jamesville, New York
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Darwin

26 / 29

#4. Darwin

- Rating: 4.7/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 110 West Fayette St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Sandwiches, Soup, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Salt City Coffee

27 / 29

#3. Salt City Coffee

- Rating: 4.7/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 509 West Onondaga St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Soup R Salads

28 / 29

#2. Soup R Salads

- Rating: 4.8/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 308 South Warren St. Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Soup, Sandwiches, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Kostas Pizza House & Restaurant

29 / 29

#1. Kostas Pizza House & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.8/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 225 East Manlius St. East Syracuse, New York
- Categories: Pizza
- 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.