Highest-rated cheap eats in Johnson City by diners

·Stacker

RFondren Photography // Shutterstock
RFondren Photography // Shutterstock

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 Johnson City 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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#27. Happy Wok

Happy Wok

1 / 27

#27. Happy Wok

- Rating: 3.4/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4307 North Roan St. Ste 6 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

#26. Sammons Hot Dogs

Sammons Hot Dogs

2 / 27

#26. Sammons Hot Dogs

- Rating: 3.4/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2020 West Elk Ave. Elizabethton, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Hot Dogs, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#25. Vega's Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

Vega's Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

3 / 27

#25. Vega's Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1976 Hwy 11 East Jonesborough, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Desserts, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp

#24. Panda House

Panda House

4 / 27

#24. Panda House

- Rating: 3.6/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1805 West State Of Franklin Road Ste 700 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

#22. Holy Taco & Cantina

Holy Taco & Cantina

6 / 27

#22. Holy Taco & Cantina

- Rating: 3.7/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 211 East Main St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

#21. Cranberries

Cranberries

7 / 27

#21. Cranberries

- Rating: 3.8/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1904 Knob Creek Road Ste 5 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches, Soup, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#20. Amigo Mexican Restaurant III

Amigo Mexican Restaurant III

8 / 27

#20. Amigo Mexican Restaurant III

- Rating: 3.8/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3211 Peoples St. Ste 70 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#19. Moto Japanese Restaurant

Moto Japanese Restaurant

9 / 27

#19. Moto Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4260 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

#17. Magic Wok Chinese Restaurant

Magic Wok Chinese Restaurant

11 / 27

#17. Magic Wok Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 701 South Roan St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

#16. Daylight Donuts

Daylight Donuts

12 / 27

#16. Daylight Donuts

- Rating: 4.1/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1735 West State Of Franklin Road Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Donuts, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#15. Pennyman's Diner

Pennyman's Diner

13 / 27

#15. Pennyman's Diner

- Rating: 4.1/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1409 East Main St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#14. Stephens Pizzeria

Stephens Pizzeria

14 / 27

#14. Stephens Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.1/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5049 Bobby Hicks Hwy Ste 105 Gray, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#12. Pal's

Pal's

16 / 27

#12. Pal's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1200 West State Of Franklin Road Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Hot Dogs, American, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

#11. Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza

Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza

17 / 27

#11. Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2111 North Roan St. Ste 30 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#10. La Perla 3 Mexican Restaurant & Grocery Store

La Perla 3 Mexican Restaurant & Grocery Store

18 / 27

#10. La Perla 3 Mexican Restaurant & Grocery Store

- Rating: 4.3/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2508 South Roan St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#9. Dos Gatos Coffee Bar

Dos Gatos Coffee Bar

19 / 27

#9. Dos Gatos Coffee Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 238 East Main St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Creperies
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Open Doors Coffeehouse

Open Doors Coffeehouse

20 / 27

#8. Open Doors Coffeehouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 East 8th Ave. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Waffles
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Pal's

Pal's

21 / 27

#7. Pal's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4224 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Fast food, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

#6. The Shack

The Shack

22 / 27

#6. The Shack

- Rating: 4.4/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4231 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#5. Bluff City Diner

Bluff City Diner

23 / 27

#5. Bluff City Diner

- Rating: 4.5/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4267 Bluff City Hwy Bluff City, Tennessee
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
- Read more on Yelp

#4. Main Street Cafe & Catering

Main Street Cafe & Catering

24 / 27

#4. Main Street Cafe & Catering

- Rating: 4.6/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 117 West Main St. Jonesborough, Tennessee
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#2. Italian Pizza Pub

Italian Pizza Pub

26 / 27

#2. Italian Pizza Pub

- Rating: 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 807 West Walnut St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp

#1. Caribbean Grill

Caribbean Grill

27 / 27

#1. Caribbean Grill

- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 824 Sunset Drive Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Food Trucks
- 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.