Highest-rated cheap eats in Memphis 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 Memphis 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.

Electrolyfe Juice Bar

1 / 30

#30. Electrolyfe Juice Bar

- Rating: 4.1/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1417 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Wraps, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Tacos Los Jarochos

2 / 30

#29. Tacos Los Jarochos

- Rating: 4.1/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4900 Summer Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Sweden Kream

3 / 30

#28. Sweden Kream

- Rating: 4.1/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1472 National St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Caminos de Michoacan

4 / 30

#27. Caminos de Michoacan

- Rating: 4.1/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3896 Macon Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Four Way Restaurant

5 / 30

#26. Four Way Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 998 Mississippi Blvd. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Soul Food, Desserts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Java Cabana

6 / 30

#25. Java Cabana

- Rating: 4.2/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2170 Young Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Kwik Chek

7 / 30

#24. Kwik Chek

- Rating: 4.2/5 (317 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2013 Madison Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Mediterranean, Korean, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Peggy's Heavenly Home Cooking

8 / 30

#23. Peggy's Heavenly Home Cooking

- Rating: 4.2/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 326 South Cleveland St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Southern, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp

Uncle Lous Fried Chicken

9 / 30

#22. Uncle Lous Fried Chicken

- Rating: 4.2/5 (670 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1725 Winchester Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Chicken Wings, American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Tokyo Grill

10 / 30

#21. Tokyo Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4514 Summer Ave. Ste 4 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Ramblin' Joe's Coffee

11 / 30

#20. Ramblin' Joe's Coffee

- Rating: 4.2/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4610 Poplar Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

French Truck Coffee

12 / 30

#19. French Truck Coffee

- Rating: 4.3/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1350 Concourse Ave. Ste 167 Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Picosos

13 / 30

#18. Picosos

- Rating: 4.3/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3937 Summer Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Highland Super Submarine Sandwich Shop

14 / 30

#17. Highland Super Submarine Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3316 Summer Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Earnestine & Hazel's Bar & Grill

15 / 30

#16. Earnestine & Hazel's Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 531 South Main St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Dive Bars, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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Pollard's BBQ

16 / 30

#15. Pollard's BBQ

- Rating: 4.3/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4560 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Front Street Deli

17 / 30

#14. Front Street Deli

- Rating: 4.3/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 77 South Front St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

The Wing Factory

18 / 30

#13. The Wing Factory

- Rating: 4.4/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2280 Park Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

Emilio's Grocery

19 / 30

#12. Emilio's Grocery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2757 Getwell Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Grocery, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Payne's Bar-B-Que

20 / 30

#11. Payne's Bar-B-Que

- Rating: 4.4/5 (360 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1762 Lamar Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Wild Bill's

21 / 30

#10. Wild Bill's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1580 Vollintine Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Qahwa Coffee Bar

22 / 30

#9. Qahwa Coffee Bar

- Rating: 4.4/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 109 North Main St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Belltower Coffeehouse & Studio

23 / 30

#8. Belltower Coffeehouse & Studio

- Rating: 4.4/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 525 South Highland St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Lucchesi's Beer Garden

24 / 30

#7. Lucchesi's Beer Garden

- Rating: 4.4/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 84 South Reese St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Beer Gardens, Pubs, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

KC's Southern Style Rice

25 / 30

#6. KC's Southern Style Rice

- Rating: 4.4/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4405 Third St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Southern, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Happy Greek Cafe

26 / 30

#5. Happy Greek Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 547 South Highland St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Dr. Bean's Coffee and Tea Emporium

27 / 30

#4. Dr. Bean's Coffee and Tea Emporium

- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 387 South Main Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Hammer & Ale

28 / 30

#3. Hammer & Ale

- Rating: 4.6/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 921 South Cooper St. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Castle Restaurant

29 / 30

#2. Castle Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3992 Park Ave. Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Mediterranean, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Mr. Rusty's Real Taste of Chicago

30 / 30

#1. Mr. Rusty's Real Taste of Chicago

- Rating: 4.6/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1859 Winchester Road Memphis, Tennessee
- Categories: Fast food, Sandwiches, Burgers
- 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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