Highest-rated cheap eats in Hickory 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 Hickory 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.

Pancho Villa

1 / 29

#29. Pancho Villa

- Rating: 3.7/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 31 Pinewood Road Granite Falls, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

EL Sarape

2 / 29

#28. EL Sarape

- Rating: 3.8/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3180 Nc Hwy 127 South Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Chubby's of Hildebran

3 / 29

#27. Chubby's of Hildebran

- Rating: 3.8/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 511 US Highway 70 West Ste D Hildebran, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Windy City Grill

4 / 29

#26. Windy City Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2514 North Center St. Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Saigon Garden

5 / 29

#25. Saigon Garden

- Rating: 3.9/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 614 Conover Blvd. West Conover, North Carolina
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Roc'n Oven Pizzeria

6 / 29

#24. Roc'n Oven Pizzeria

- Rating: 3.9/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 902 Conover Blvd. East Ste D Conover, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Buffets, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Jin's Buffet

7 / 29

#23. Jin's Buffet

- Rating: 4.0/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1217 North Nc 16 Hwy Conover, North Carolina
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Four Peas In A Pod

8 / 29

#22. Four Peas In A Pod

- Rating: 4.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 426 Conover Blvd. West Conover, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts, Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Mulan Chinese Gourmet

9 / 29

#21. Mulan Chinese Gourmet

- Rating: 4.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2725 B Northwest Blvd. Newton, North Carolina
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Tony's Pizza

10 / 29

#20. Tony's Pizza

- Rating: 4.0/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1832 Catawba Valley Blvd. Southeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Little Pigs Barbecue

11 / 29

#19. Little Pigs Barbecue

- Rating: 4.1/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1904 North Main Ave. Newton, North Carolina
- Categories: Barbecue, Burgers, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Pho 777 Vietnamese Cuisine

12 / 29

#18. Pho 777 Vietnamese Cuisine

- Rating: 4.1/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 434 Conover Blvd. West Conover, North Carolina
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Harbor Inn Seafood

13 / 29

#17. Harbor Inn Seafood

- Rating: 4.1/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2555 US Hwy 70 Southeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Gold Mine Café

14 / 29

#16. Gold Mine Café

- Rating: 4.1/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3888 Section House Road Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Akito

15 / 29

#15. Akito

- Rating: 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3068 Nc Hwy 127 South Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

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Taste Full Beans

16 / 29

#14. Taste Full Beans

- Rating: 4.2/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 29 2nd St. Northwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Tea Rooms, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Duck N Good Food Place

17 / 29

#13. Duck N Good Food Place

- Rating: 4.2/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3005 1st Ave. Southwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Chinese, Laotian
- Read more on Yelp

Frankie's Pizza

18 / 29

#12. Frankie's Pizza

- Rating: 4.2/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 265 River Bend Drive Granite Falls, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Geppeto's Pizza

19 / 29

#11. Geppeto's Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 114 North College Ave. Newton, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Hart & Soul Cafe

20 / 29

#10. Hart & Soul Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 25 4th St. Southwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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Amalfi's Pizza of Conover

21 / 29

#9. Amalfi's Pizza of Conover

- Rating: 4.3/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 104-N Thornburg Drive Conover, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Bubblys

22 / 29

#8. Bubblys

- Rating: 4.3/5 (282 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1854 Catawba Valley Blvd. Southeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Sub Station II

23 / 29

#7. Sub Station II

- Rating: 4.4/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 422 Hwy 64/70 West Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Authentic Mexican Restaurant Las Isabelas

24 / 29

#6. Authentic Mexican Restaurant Las Isabelas

- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 305 1st Ave. Southwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Charlie Graingers

25 / 29

#5. Charlie Graingers

- Rating: 4.5/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2450 North Center St. Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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The Hen & Egg

26 / 29

#4. The Hen & Egg

- Rating: 4.5/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 204 North College Ave. Newton, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Dick's Cafe

27 / 29

#3. Dick's Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2207 North Main Ave. Newton, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Hermanos Chavez Mexican Restaurant

28 / 29

#2. Hermanos Chavez Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1901 Northwest Blvd. Ste G Newton, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Crossroads Grill

29 / 29

#1. Crossroads Grill

- Rating: 4.9/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5585 Rink Dam Road Taylorsville, North Carolina
- Categories: American
- 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.