Highest-rated cheap eats in Waco 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 Waco 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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The Ranchito 5 Waco

1 / 29

#29. The Ranchito 5 Waco

- Rating: 4.0/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2310 West Waco Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Zacatecas

2 / 29

#28. Taqueria Zacatecas

- Rating: 4.0/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2311 La Salle Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Taco Casa

3 / 29

#27. Taco Casa

- Rating: 4.1/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 710 Hewitt Drive Hewitt, Texas
- Categories: Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp

Slow Rise Slice House

4 / 29

#26. Slow Rise Slice House

- Rating: 4.1/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7608 Woodway Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Pizza, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Cheddar Box

5 / 29

#25. Cheddar Box

- Rating: 4.1/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 601 Webster Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Food Trucks, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

La Milpa

6 / 29

#24. La Milpa

- Rating: 4.2/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2015 La Salle Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

Sam's Southern Eatery

7 / 29

#23. Sam's Southern Eatery

- Rating: 4.2/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1824 West Waco Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Captain Billy Whizzbang's

8 / 29

#22. Captain Billy Whizzbang's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 901 Lake Air Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

El Charro Cafe

9 / 29

#21. El Charro Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2303 La Salle Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Tom's Burgers

10 / 29

#20. Tom's Burgers

- Rating: 4.2/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6818 Sanger Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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World Cup Cafe and Fair Trade Market

11 / 29

#19. World Cup Cafe and Fair Trade Market

- Rating: 4.2/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1321 North 15th St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Mama & Papa B's Bar-BQ

12 / 29

#18. Mama & Papa B's Bar-BQ

- Rating: 4.2/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 525 South 8th St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Schmaltz's Sandwich Shop

13 / 29

#17. Schmaltz's Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 4.2/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 105 South 5th St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Olympic Family Restaurant

14 / 29

#16. Olympic Family Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1901 North 18th St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp

Schmaltz's Sandwich Shop

15 / 29

#15. Schmaltz's Sandwich Shop

- Rating: 4.3/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1412 North Valley Mills Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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Mi Casita Mexican Food

16 / 29

#14. Mi Casita Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.4/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1520 Hewitt Drive Ste B Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Cupp's Drive Inn

17 / 29

#13. Cupp's Drive Inn

- Rating: 4.5/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1424 Speight Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Burgers, Diners
- Read more on Yelp

Tony DeMaria's Bar-B-Que

18 / 29

#12. Tony DeMaria's Bar-B-Que

- Rating: 4.5/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1000 Elm St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Molly's Restaurant

19 / 29

#11. Molly's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3211 Bellmead Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

La Familia Restaurant

20 / 29

#10. La Familia Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1111 La Salle Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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Club Sandwich

21 / 29

#9. Club Sandwich

- Rating: 4.6/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 601 Webster Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Food Trucks, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

900° Pizzeria mobile

22 / 29

#8. 900° Pizzeria mobile

- Rating: 4.6/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Waco, Texas
- Categories: Food Trucks, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Christi's Hamburgers

23 / 29

#7. Christi's Hamburgers

- Rating: 4.6/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3101 Beale St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Pizza Junction No 6

24 / 29

#6. Pizza Junction No 6

- Rating: 4.7/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 504 South Robinson Drive Robinson, Texas
- Categories: Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Jasper's Bar-B-Q

25 / 29

#5. Jasper's Bar-B-Q

- Rating: 4.7/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 105 Clifton St. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

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Taqueria El Crucero

26 / 29

#4. Taqueria El Crucero

- Rating: 4.8/5 (160 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2505 Robinson Drive Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Heritage Coffee

27 / 29

#3. Heritage Coffee

- Rating: 4.9/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 591 Halbert Lane Waco, Texas
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp

Jesse's Tortilla Factory

28 / 29

#2. Jesse's Tortilla Factory

- Rating: 4.9/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1226 Webster Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Krispy Chicken

29 / 29

#1. Krispy Chicken

- Rating: 5.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2307 Franklin Ave. Waco, Texas
- Categories: Chicken Shop
- 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.