Highest-rated cheap eats in Kingsport 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 Kingsport 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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Moto Japanese Restaurant

1 / 25

#25. Moto Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 2.9/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1001 East Stone Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Macado's

2 / 25

#24. Macado's

- Rating: 3.0/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 Broad St. Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

La Carreta Restaurant

3 / 25

#23. La Carreta Restaurant

- Rating: 3.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4252 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Fox's Pizza Den

4 / 25

#22. Fox's Pizza Den

- Rating: 3.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1233 North Eastman Road Ste 310 Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

China Luck

5 / 25

#21. China Luck

- Rating: 3.1/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5205 Bobby Hicks Hwy Ste 8 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp

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Sakura Japanese Express

6 / 25

#20. Sakura Japanese Express

- Rating: 3.4/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1801 East Stone Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

China House Chinese Restaurant

7 / 25

#19. China House Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.4/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1001 North Eastman Road Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

La Carreta Mexican Restaurant

8 / 25

#18. La Carreta Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.4/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5494 Bobby Hicks Hwy Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Purple Cow

9 / 25

#17. Purple Cow

- Rating: 3.6/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1648 East Stone Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: American, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Italian Village

10 / 25

#16. Italian Village

- Rating: 3.6/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2101 Fort Henry Drive Ste 48 Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian, Pizza, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

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Moto Japanese Restaurant

11 / 25

#15. Moto Japanese Restaurant

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

Nick's Family Restaurant & Catering

12 / 25

#14. Nick's Family Restaurant & Catering

- Rating: 3.9/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2406 Memorial Blvd. Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

Chef's Pizzeria

13 / 25

#13. Chef's Pizzeria

- Rating: 3.9/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 254 West New St. Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Two Dads Cafe N Catering

14 / 25

#12. Two Dads Cafe N Catering

- Rating: 3.9/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 301 East Sullivan St. Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Braedens BBQ Catering

15 / 25

#11. Braedens BBQ Catering

- Rating: 4.0/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 823 Eastman Road Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Salad, Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

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Santa Fe Mexican Grill

16 / 25

#10. Santa Fe Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1213 East Stone Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Sloopys

17 / 25

#9. Sloopys

- Rating: 4.2/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 819 North Eastman Road Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Diners, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Pal's

18 / 25

#8. Pal's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 327 Revere St. Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Model City Tap House

19 / 25

#7. Model City Tap House

- Rating: 4.3/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 151 East Main St. Ste 1 Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Bars, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Pal's

20 / 25

#6. 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

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Phil's Dream Pit

21 / 25

#5. Phil's Dream Pit

- Rating: 4.4/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 534 Eastern Star Road Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Pops Restaurant

22 / 25

#4. Pops Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3016 North John B Dennis Hwy Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

The Shack

23 / 25

#3. 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

Thai Cuisine

24 / 25

#2. Thai Cuisine

- Rating: 4.5/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 116 Jack White Drive Ste 2 Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

The Bagel Exchange

25 / 25

#1. The Bagel Exchange

- Rating: 4.7/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 107 West Center St. Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- 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.