Highest-rated cheap eats in McAllen by diners

·Stacker

Brent Hofacker // Shutterstock
Brent Hofacker // 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 McAllen 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.

You may also like: Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the McAllen area by diners

#30. Marco's Burgers and More

Marco's Burgers and More

1 / 30

#30. Marco's Burgers and More

- Rating: 3.9/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2507 East Griffin Pkwy Mission, Texas
- Categories: Burgers, Salad, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

#29. Maria's Restaurant

Maria's Restaurant

2 / 30

#29. Maria's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 221 South 16th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#28. Taqueria Mary

Taqueria Mary

3 / 30

#28. Taqueria Mary

- Rating: 4.0/5 (55 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2704 West Mile 5 Road Ste 2 Mission, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#27. Azure Bistro

Azure Bistro

4 / 30

#27. Azure Bistro

- Rating: 4.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 400 Virgen De San Juan Blvd. Ste B San Juan, Texas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

#25. Cowboy Chicken

Cowboy Chicken

6 / 30

#25. Cowboy Chicken

- Rating: 4.0/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1020 West Nolona Ave. Ste 3749 McAllen, Texas
- Categories: American, Chicken Shop, Southern
- Read more on Yelp

#24. Jimmy's Egg

Jimmy's Egg

7 / 30

#24. Jimmy's Egg

- Rating: 4.1/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4100 North 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#23. Diaz Diner

Diaz Diner

8 / 30

#23. Diaz Diner

- Rating: 4.1/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 501 East 9th St. Mission, Texas
- Categories: American, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#22. Las Tortas

Las Tortas

9 / 30

#22. Las Tortas

- Rating: 4.1/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2718 North 10th St. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

#20. Delia's

Delia's

11 / 30

#20. Delia's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2000 North Jackson Pharr, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#19. La Morenita Bakery

La Morenita Bakery

12 / 30

#19. La Morenita Bakery

- Rating: 4.2/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1102 West University Drive Ste B Edinburg, Texas
- Categories: Donuts, Bakeries, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#18. Kusina Restaurant & Market

Kusina Restaurant & Market

13 / 30

#18. Kusina Restaurant & Market

- Rating: 4.2/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6700 North 23rd St. Ste A&B McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Filipino
- Read more on Yelp

#17. YaYa's Cocina Mexicana

YaYa's Cocina Mexicana

14 / 30

#17. YaYa's Cocina Mexicana

- Rating: 4.2/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2501 East Griffin Pkwy Mission, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#15. Delia's

Delia's

16 / 30

#15. Delia's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1501 East Monte Cristo Road Edinburg, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#14. Las Margaritas Restaurant

Las Margaritas Restaurant

17 / 30

#14. Las Margaritas Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 106 North Cage Blvd. Pharr, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#13. Kolache Factory

Kolache Factory

18 / 30

#13. Kolache Factory

- Rating: 4.3/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7017-U North 10th Mcallen, Texas
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

#12. La Curva Taqueria

La Curva Taqueria

19 / 30

#12. La Curva Taqueria

- Rating: 4.3/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 319 South Sugar Road Edinburg, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#10. Pupusas To Go

Pupusas To Go

21 / 30

#10. Pupusas To Go

- Rating: 4.4/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3501 North Veterans Blvd. Pharr, Texas
- Categories: Salvadoran
- Read more on Yelp

#9. Ms G's Tacos N' More

Ms G's Tacos N' More

22 / 30

#9. Ms G's Tacos N' More

- Rating: 4.4/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2263 Pecan Blvd. McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Delia's

Delia's

23 / 30

#8. Delia's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4800 South 23rd St. Ste 5 McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#7. El Itacate

El Itacate

24 / 30

#7. El Itacate

- Rating: 4.5/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 807 South Jackson Road Ste 6 Pharr, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#5. Delia's

Delia's

26 / 30

#5. Delia's

- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 602 West Griffin Pkwy Mission, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#4. Taqueria Rios

Taqueria Rios

27 / 30

#4. Taqueria Rios

- Rating: 4.6/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5107 Raul Longoria Road San Juan, Texas
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

#3. Las Doñas

Las Doñas

28 / 30

#3. Las Doñas

- Rating: 4.6/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1786 West Hwy 83 Mission, Texas
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

#2. Azucar and Sal

Azucar and Sal

29 / 30

#2. Azucar and Sal

- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6100 North 10th St. Ste D McAllen, Texas
- Categories: Sandwiches, Desserts, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

#1. Southern Fried

Southern Fried

30 / 30

#1. Southern Fried

- Rating: 4.7/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1505 North Conway Ave. Mission, Texas
- Categories: Southern, Seafood, Chicken Wings
- 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.

You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the McAllen metro area