Highest-rated cheap eats in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem 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.

Johnny B's Grillhouse

1 / 30

#30. Johnny B's Grillhouse

- Rating: 4.2/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2504 Somerset Center Drive Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Hot Dog City

2 / 30

#29. Hot Dog City

- Rating: 4.2/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2300 North Patterson Ave. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

May Way Dumplings

3 / 30

#28. May Way Dumplings

- Rating: 4.2/5 (236 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 113 Reynolda Village Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Chinese, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

King's Hot Dogs

4 / 30

#27. King's Hot Dogs

- Rating: 4.2/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1009 Bethania Rural Hall Road Rural Hall, North Carolina
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Sawatdee

5 / 30

#26. Thai Sawatdee

- Rating: 4.2/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2281 Cloverdale Ave. Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

La Casa Lopez Mexican Grill

6 / 30

#25. La Casa Lopez Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3028 Healy Drive Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Los Jimadores Mexican Restaurant

7 / 30

#24. Los Jimadores Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1022 Bethania Rural Hall Road Rural Hall, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Old Richmond Grill

8 / 30

#23. Old Richmond Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6425 Reynolda Road Pfafftown, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp

J S Pulliam Barbeque

9 / 30

#22. J S Pulliam Barbeque

- Rating: 4.2/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4400 Old Walkertown Road Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Barbecue, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Bagel Station

10 / 30

#21. Bagel Station

- Rating: 4.3/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 129 Oakwood Drive Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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El Taquito

11 / 30

#20. El Taquito

- Rating: 4.3/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2518 Lewisville Clemmons Road Clemmons, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Mr Lus Chinese Restaurant

12 / 30

#19. Mr Lus Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3430 Robinhood Road Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Little Italy Pizza

13 / 30

#18. Little Italy Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 696 Angus St. Rural Hall, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

P.B.'s Takeout

14 / 30

#17. P.B.'s Takeout

- Rating: 4.4/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1412 South Hawthorne Road Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

El Triunfo Restaurant

15 / 30

#16. El Triunfo Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7842 North Point Blvd. Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Salvadoran, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Bobo's Deli And Grill

16 / 30

#15. Bobo's Deli And Grill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3478 Robinhood Road Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: American, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

El Rancho Taqueria

17 / 30

#14. El Rancho Taqueria

- Rating: 4.5/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 613 East Sprague St. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Dogwood Hops and Crops

18 / 30

#13. Dogwood Hops and Crops

- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 517 North Liberty St. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp

El Rey Del Taco

19 / 30

#12. El Rey Del Taco

- Rating: 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1225 West Clemmonsville Road Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Arriba Villa Taqueria and Mexican Food

20 / 30

#11. Arriba Villa Taqueria and Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.5/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3040 University Pkwy Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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Momo Ashi Cafe

21 / 30

#10. Momo Ashi Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1961 North Peace Haven Road Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Waffles, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Waterbean Coffee

22 / 30

#9. Waterbean Coffee

- Rating: 4.6/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3485 Burke Mill Road Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Slappy's Chicken

23 / 30

#8. Slappy's Chicken

- Rating: 4.6/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 200 West Acadia Ave. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

Paisano El Tacos

24 / 30

#7. Paisano El Tacos

- Rating: 4.6/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2742 Waughtown St. Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

The Remedy Cafe & Bar

25 / 30

#6. The Remedy Cafe & Bar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 492 West End Blvd. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Jade Garden

26 / 30

#5. Jade Garden

- Rating: 4.7/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2201 Old Lexington Road Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Szechuan, Cantonese
- Read more on Yelp

Antojitos Las Delicias

27 / 30

#4. Antojitos Las Delicias

- Rating: 4.7/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1521 East 5th St. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Boone Doggies

28 / 30

#3. Boone Doggies

- Rating: 4.7/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Stands, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Al-Falah Halal Food

29 / 30

#2. Al-Falah Halal Food

- Rating: 4.8/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Halal, Pakistani
- Read more on Yelp

To the Moon and Back Frozen Treats

30 / 30

#1. To the Moon and Back Frozen Treats

- Rating: 4.9/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1692 Hwy 68 North Ste A-B Oak Ridge, North Carolina
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Food Trucks, Comfort Food
- 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.

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