Highest-rated cheap eats in Durham 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 Durham 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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Bralie's Sports Bar & Grill

1 / 29

#29. Bralie's Sports Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1725 Carpenter Fletcher Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Sports Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

Arepa Culture NC

2 / 29

#28. Arepa Culture NC

- Rating: 4.2/5 (196 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6274 Glenwood Ave. Ste 100 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Venezuelan, Food Trucks, Gluten-Free
- Read more on Yelp

Chelsea Cafe

3 / 29

#27. Chelsea Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1007 Slater Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

ItsAWrap Vietnamese Eatery

4 / 29

#26. ItsAWrap Vietnamese Eatery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10970 Chapel Hill Road Ste 120 Morrisville, North Carolina
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken

5 / 29

#25. Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken

- Rating: 4.3/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 401 Foster St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Southern, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

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Sympathy For the Deli

6 / 29

#24. Sympathy For the Deli

- Rating: 4.3/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Food Trucks, Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Piper's in The Park

7 / 29

#23. Piper's in The Park

- Rating: 4.3/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2945 South Miami Blvd. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp

Super Taqueria

8 / 29

#22. Super Taqueria

- Rating: 4.3/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2842 North Roxboro Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria La Vaquita

9 / 29

#21. Taqueria La Vaquita

- Rating: 4.3/5 (280 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2700 Chapel Hill Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

Guasaca

10 / 29

#20. Guasaca

- Rating: 4.3/5 (371 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2200 West Main St. Ste A-100 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Venezuelan, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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Tasty Stop

11 / 29

#19. Tasty Stop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3600 North Duke St. Ste 39B Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Seafood, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Byrd's Barbecue

12 / 29

#18. Byrd's Barbecue

- Rating: 4.3/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2816 Cheek Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Barbecue, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Dulce Cafe

13 / 29

#17. Dulce Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (377 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5826 Fayetteville Road Ste 106 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Azteca Grill

14 / 29

#16. Azteca Grill

- Rating: 4.4/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1929 Chapel Hill Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Blue Ridge Deli & Cafe

15 / 29

#15. Blue Ridge Deli & Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3530 South Alston Ave. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

The Parlour

16 / 29

#14. The Parlour

- Rating: 4.5/5 (747 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 117 Market St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp

Guanajuato Restaurant

17 / 29

#13. Guanajuato Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2103 North Roxboro St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken

18 / 29

#12. Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken

- Rating: 4.5/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 703A 9th St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Peruvian
- Read more on Yelp

Gussy's

19 / 29

#11. Gussy's

- Rating: 4.5/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Loaf

20 / 29

#10. Loaf

- Rating: 4.5/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 111 West Parrish St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

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La Superior Carniceria

21 / 29

#9. La Superior Carniceria

- Rating: 4.5/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3325 North Roxboro St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

El Molcajete Taco Truck

22 / 29

#8. El Molcajete Taco Truck

- Rating: 4.6/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Cruz

23 / 29

#7. Taqueria Cruz

- Rating: 4.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3300 Guess Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

The Chicken Hut

24 / 29

#6. The Chicken Hut

- Rating: 4.6/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3019 Fayetteville St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

Fount Coffee + Kitchen

25 / 29

#5. Fount Coffee + Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (463 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10954 Chapel Hill Road Morrisville, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Acai Bowls, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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Omie's Coffee Shop and Roastery

26 / 29

#4. Omie's Coffee Shop and Roastery

- Rating: 4.6/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2300 North Roxboro St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Esmeralda Taco Truck

27 / 29

#3. Taqueria Esmeralda Taco Truck

- Rating: 4.7/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 413 Airport Blvd. Morrisville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Plumpeez Deli

28 / 29

#2. Plumpeez Deli

- Rating: 4.9/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2818 Chapel Hill Road Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Specialty Food
- Read more on Yelp

Banu Vegan

29 / 29

#1. Banu Vegan

- Rating: 4.9/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2534 South Roxboro St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Vegan, Burgers, 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.