Highest-rated cheap eats in Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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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Wilkes Bar-B-Q Co

1 / 29

#29. Wilkes Bar-B-Q Co

- Rating: 4.3/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3700 Victoria Blvd. Hampton, Virginia
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Ya Ya Asian Gourmet House

2 / 29

#28. Ya Ya Asian Gourmet House

- Rating: 4.3/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 109 College Place Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Chinese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Tealux Cafe

3 / 29

#27. Tealux Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7870 Tidewater Drive Ste 201 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Vietnamese, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Johnson's Bar-B-Que

4 / 29

#26. Johnson's Bar-B-Que

- Rating: 4.4/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1903 South Military Hwy Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Golden City Chinese Restaurant

5 / 29

#25. Golden City Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2700 Azalea Garden Road Ste D Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Sweet Jam Cafe

6 / 29

#24. Sweet Jam Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1446A Church St. Bldg A Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

Manny's Burger

7 / 29

#23. Manny's Burger

- Rating: 4.4/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2912 Lafayette Blvd. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Kervan Kebab House

8 / 29

#22. Kervan Kebab House

- Rating: 4.4/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1757 Parkview Drive Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Turkish, Mediterranean, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

Clean Eatz

9 / 29

#21. Clean Eatz

- Rating: 4.4/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1065 Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Salad, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp

Philly Station

10 / 29

#20. Philly Station

- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2401 Kecoughtan Road Hampton, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

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Perfectly Frank

11 / 29

#19. Perfectly Frank

- Rating: 4.4/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4408 Monarch Way Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, fast food, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Lew's Hot Dogs

12 / 29

#18. Lew's Hot Dogs

- Rating: 4.4/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1531 Azalea Garden Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp

Cinnaholic

13 / 29

#17. Cinnaholic

- Rating: 4.4/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 209 Central Park Ave. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp

Irwin's Fountain

14 / 29

#16. Irwin's Fountain

- Rating: 4.4/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4300 Indian River Road Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

C4 Coffee

15 / 29

#15. C4 Coffee

- Rating: 4.4/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4676 Princess Anne Road Ste 120 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Colombian
- Read more on Yelp

Catnip Cat Cafe

16 / 29

#14. Catnip Cat Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1611-B Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Pet Adoption, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

J&K Style Grill

17 / 29

#13. J&K Style Grill

- Rating: 4.5/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6557 College Park Sq Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Burgers, Waffles
- Read more on Yelp

Lamia's Crepes

18 / 29

#12. Lamia's Crepes

- Rating: 4.5/5 (227 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 401 Granby St. Ste B Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Creperies, French, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Marchese Italian Market

19 / 29

#11. Marchese Italian Market

- Rating: 4.6/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1700 Pleasure House Road Ste 106 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Coffee & Tea, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Poppy's Top Dog

20 / 29

#10. Poppy's Top Dog

- Rating: 4.6/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4027 Bainbridge Blvd. Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp

Firehouse Coffee

21 / 29

#9. Firehouse Coffee

- Rating: 4.6/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 Ruckman Road Hampton, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp

The Cutting Edge Cafe

22 / 29

#8. The Cutting Edge Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (322 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1434 Sams Drive Ste 102 Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Southside BBQ & Catering

23 / 29

#7. Southside BBQ & Catering

- Rating: 4.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1113 Poindexter St. Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

The BBQ Shack

24 / 29

#6. The BBQ Shack

- Rating: 4.7/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 849 Old George Washington Hwy North Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Barbecue, American
- Read more on Yelp

Mea Culpa Cafe

25 / 29

#5. Mea Culpa Cafe

- Rating: 4.7/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2410 Colonial Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Colattao Coffee House

26 / 29

#4. Colattao Coffee House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1115 Independence Blvd. Ste 102 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Chimney Cakes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Tira's Foods

27 / 29

#3. Tira's Foods

- Rating: 4.8/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5444 Virginia Beach Blvd. Ste 109 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Vietnamese, Coffee & Tea, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

Flame and Pie - Mobile Pizzeria

28 / 29

#2. Flame and Pie - Mobile Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.8/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Hampton, Virginia
- Categories: Food Trucks, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Deutscher Imbiss

29 / 29

#1. Deutscher Imbiss

- Rating: 4.8/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Food Trucks, German
- 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.