Highest-rated cheap eats in Altoona 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 Altoona 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.

D'ottavio's Italian House

1 / 18

#18. D'ottavio's Italian House

- Rating: 2.6/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 306 Allegheny St. Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Prime Sirloin Buffet

2 / 18

#17. Prime Sirloin Buffet

- Rating: 2.6/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 501 Municipal Drive Duncansville, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Buffets, Bakeries, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

Lychee

3 / 18

#16. Lychee

- Rating: 2.7/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 224 East Chestnut Ave. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Eat'n Park

4 / 18

#15. Eat'n Park

- Rating: 2.7/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 137 Bowling Lane Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp

Nicoletta's Family Restaurant

5 / 18

#14. Nicoletta's Family Restaurant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1700 8th Ave. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian, Breakfast & Brunch, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Great China Chinese Restaurant

6 / 18

#13. Great China Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 525 East 25th Ave. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

7 / 18

#12. Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

- Rating: 3.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3300 Pleasant Valley Blvd. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Irvin's On Main

8 / 18

#11. Irvin's On Main

- Rating: 3.8/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 400 Main St. Bellwood, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

Main Moon

9 / 18

#10. Main Moon

- Rating: 4.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 209 Allegheny St. Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Altoona's Original Texas Hotdogs

10 / 18

#9. Altoona's Original Texas Hotdogs

- Rating: 4.2/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1122 12th Ave. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Hot Dogs, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Texas Hot Dogs

11 / 18

#8. Texas Hot Dogs

- Rating: 4.2/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 58th St. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Mama Randazzo's

12 / 18

#7. Mama Randazzo's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1600 Broadway St. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian, Sandwiches, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Black Dog Coffee & Catering

13 / 18

#6. Black Dog Coffee & Catering

- Rating: 4.3/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 519 Allegheny St. Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Caterers, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Greenwood Steak House

14 / 18

#5. Greenwood Steak House

- Rating: 4.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1523 East Pleasant Valley Blvd. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: American, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

Front Street Deli

15 / 18

#4. Front Street Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 405 Front St. Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

The Athenian Cafe

16 / 18

#3. The Athenian Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 217 Union Ave. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Mike's Court

17 / 18

#2. Mike's Court

- Rating: 4.7/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1908 5th St. Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pubs, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Houser Subs

18 / 18

#1. Houser Subs

- Rating: 4.8/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 539 North Tuckahoe St. Bellwood, Pennsylvania
- Categories: 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.