Highest-rated cheap eats in Bellingham 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 Bellingham 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.

Arlis's Restaurant

1 / 29

#29. Arlis's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1525 Cornwall Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: American
- Read more on Yelp

Taco Time NW

2 / 29

#28. Taco Time NW

- Rating: 4.0/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3600 Bill Mcdonald Pkwy Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Tadeo's Mexican Restaurant

3 / 29

#27. Tadeo's Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (232 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 207 East Holly St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Burrito King

4 / 29

#26. Burrito King

- Rating: 4.0/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 505 32nd St. Ste 102 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Pho 99

5 / 29

#25. Pho 99

- Rating: 4.1/5 (368 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3503 Byron St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

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Luxe Thai

6 / 29

#24. Luxe Thai

- Rating: 4.1/5 (189 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5685 3rd Ave. Ferndale, Washington
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Back East BBQ

7 / 29

#23. Back East BBQ

- Rating: 4.2/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Barbecue, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

Avellino Coffeehouse

8 / 29

#22. Avellino Coffeehouse

- Rating: 4.2/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1329 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Woods Coffee

9 / 29

#21. Woods Coffee

- Rating: 4.2/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1135 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Super Mario's

10 / 29

#20. Super Mario's

- Rating: 4.3/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1422 North Forest St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Food Stands, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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Caffe Adagio

11 / 29

#19. Caffe Adagio

- Rating: 4.3/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1435 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

AB Crepes

12 / 29

#18. AB Crepes

- Rating: 4.3/5 (304 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1311 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Creperies
- Read more on Yelp

Tacos el Tule

13 / 29

#17. Tacos el Tule

- Rating: 4.4/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 200 Prospect St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

Zoom Zoom Espresso

14 / 29

#16. Zoom Zoom Espresso

- Rating: 4.4/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 845 Lincoln St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Pelmeni

15 / 29

#15. Pelmeni

- Rating: 4.4/5 (632 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1211 North State St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Russian
- Read more on Yelp

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A Que Tacos

16 / 29

#14. A Que Tacos

- Rating: 4.4/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 125 South Samish Way Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

Taqueria Tecalitlan

17 / 29

#13. Taqueria Tecalitlan

- Rating: 4.4/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1263 Barkley Blvd. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Mi Rancho Meat Market

18 / 29

#12. Mi Rancho Meat Market

- Rating: 4.4/5 (253 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3092 Northwest Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican, Meat Shops, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Makeworth Coffee Roasters

19 / 29

#11. Makeworth Coffee Roasters

- Rating: 4.4/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1201 North State St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Coffee Roasteries
- Read more on Yelp

La Gloria Taqueria

20 / 29

#10. La Gloria Taqueria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4739 Guide Meridian Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

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Our Diner

21 / 29

#9. Our Diner

- Rating: 4.5/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5962 Guide Meridian Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Netos Market & Bakery

22 / 29

#8. Netos Market & Bakery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2612 West Maplewood Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Bakeries, Grocery, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

El Capitán's

23 / 29

#7. El Capitán's

- Rating: 4.6/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1201 Cornwall Ave. Unit 101 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Pretzels, American
- Read more on Yelp

The Sandwich Odyssey

24 / 29

#6. The Sandwich Odyssey

- Rating: 4.6/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2001 Cornwall Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Sandwiches, Salad, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

Cuscatlan

25 / 29

#5. Cuscatlan

- Rating: 4.7/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 410 West Bakerview Road Ste 108 Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Salvadoran
- Read more on Yelp

Jt's Smokin BBQ

26 / 29

#4. Jt's Smokin BBQ

- Rating: 4.7/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2228 James St. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Food Trucks, Barbecue, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp

Hollys Meat Pies

27 / 29

#3. Hollys Meat Pies

- Rating: 4.8/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4073 Hannegan Road Ste J Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: New American, Desserts, Italian
- Read more on Yelp

Ashuri Baklava & Cafe

28 / 29

#2. Ashuri Baklava & Cafe

- Rating: 4.8/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 103 Grand Ave. Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Turkish, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Tacos Tecalitlan

29 / 29

#1. Tacos Tecalitlan

- Rating: 4.9/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5309 Guide Meridian Bellingham, Washington
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- 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.