Highest-rated cheap eats in Reading 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 Reading 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.

Taqueria El Carreton

1 / 30

#30. Taqueria El Carreton

- Rating: 3.6/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 817 Oley St. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Salvatore's Pizza-Pasta & Subs

2 / 30

#29. Salvatore's Pizza-Pasta & Subs

- Rating: 3.6/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 200 Revere Blvd. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Gourmand Cafe

3 / 30

#28. Gourmand Cafe

- Rating: 3.7/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 945 Berkshire Blvd. Ste 103 Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Food Trucks, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Great China

4 / 30

#27. Great China

- Rating: 3.7/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2675 Shillington Road Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Shell's Food & Mini Golf

5 / 30

#26. Shell's Food & Mini Golf

- Rating: 3.7/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4625 5th Ave. Temple, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sandwiches, Mini Golf, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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New York Bagelry

6 / 30

#25. New York Bagelry

- Rating: 3.8/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2720 Penn Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sandwiches, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp

No.1 Chinese Restaurant

7 / 30

#24. No.1 Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 160 Kenhorst Plz Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Screpesis Sandwich Shop

8 / 30

#23. Screpesis Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 3.8/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 500 Lancaster Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Wong's Chinese Restaurant

9 / 30

#22. Wong's Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 835-5 Hiesters Lane Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Chatty's

10 / 30

#21. Chatty's

- Rating: 3.9/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3130 Pricetown Road Fleetwood, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Let's Taco Bout It

11 / 30

#20. Let's Taco Bout It

- Rating: 4.1/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 616 Penn Ave. West Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Russo's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

12 / 30

#19. Russo's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 527 Penn St. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Breakfast Hut

13 / 30

#18. Breakfast Hut

- Rating: 4.1/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4170 Perkiomen Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe

14 / 30

#17. Mi Casa Su Casa Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 320 Penn St. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes, Latin American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Chapman's Deli

15 / 30

#16. Chapman's Deli

- Rating: 4.1/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1110 Lancaster Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Pizza Italia

16 / 30

#15. Pizza Italia

- Rating: 4.2/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1528 North 14th St. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Wonderful Chinese Restaurant

17 / 30

#14. Wonderful Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4301 Penn Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Chinese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Station House Grille

18 / 30

#13. Station House Grille

- Rating: 4.2/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 157 Tuckerton Road Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Comfort Food, Sandwiches, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

Crave Cafe

19 / 30

#12. Crave Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4600 Penn Ave. Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Mike's Sandwich Shop

20 / 30

#11. Mike's Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1755 Centre Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Lattanzio Sandwiches

21 / 30

#10. Lattanzio Sandwiches

- Rating: 4.3/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3226 Kutztown Road Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Paraiso Rosel

22 / 30

#9. Paraiso Rosel

- Rating: 4.3/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 119 North 8th St. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Sebastiano's Italian Restaurant And Pizzeria

23 / 30

#8. Sebastiano's Italian Restaurant And Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3227 Perkiomen Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Jimenez

24 / 30

#7. Taqueria Jimenez

- Rating: 4.4/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 810 Oley St. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Mexican, Imported Food
- Read more on Yelp

Paparone's Pizza & Restaurant

25 / 30

#6. Paparone's Pizza & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3803 Penn Ave. Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

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Boehringer's Drive-In

26 / 30

#5. Boehringer's Drive-In

- Rating: 4.4/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3160 North Reading Road Adamstown, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

Pizza Como USA

27 / 30

#4. Pizza Como USA

- Rating: 4.4/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4600 5th St. Hwy Temple, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Andy Pepper's

28 / 30

#3. Andy Pepper's

- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 820 Limekiln Road Oley, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Vietnamese Delights

29 / 30

#2. Vietnamese Delights

- Rating: 4.7/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2934 North 5th St. Hwy Reading, Pennsylvania
- Categories: Vietnamese, Coffee & Tea, Street Vendors
- Read more on Yelp

Sal's Pizza Style: Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

30 / 30

#1. Sal's Pizza Style: Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.8/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 401 East 1st St. Birdsboro, Pennsylvania
- 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.