Highest-rated cheap eats in Appleton 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 Appleton 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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Little Diner Xpress

1 / 29

#29. Little Diner Xpress

- Rating: 3.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1939 North Richmond St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Min Du Buffet

2 / 29

#28. Min Du Buffet

- Rating: 3.6/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1000 West Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Chinese, Buffets
- Read more on Yelp

Pappa's Cafe and Pub

3 / 29

#27. Pappa's Cafe and Pub

- Rating: 3.7/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1360 South Commercial St. Neenah, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Garden View Family Restaurant

4 / 29

#26. Garden View Family Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 216 East College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

Old Glory Cafe

5 / 29

#25. Old Glory Cafe

- Rating: 3.8/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 104 West Kimberly Ave. Kimberly, Wisconsin
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

Wooden Nickel Sports Bar & Grill

6 / 29

#24. Wooden Nickel Sports Bar & Grill

- Rating: 3.8/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 217 East College Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Tom's Drive In

7 / 29

#23. Tom's Drive In

- Rating: 3.8/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3301 East Calumet St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Fast food, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

Galvan's Restaurants

8 / 29

#22. Galvan's Restaurants

- Rating: 4.1/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2220 East Northland Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Scuba's Pourhouse

9 / 29

#21. Scuba's Pourhouse

- Rating: 4.1/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1309 East Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Pubs, Chicken Wings, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

JD's Drive-In

10 / 29

#20. JD's Drive-In

- Rating: 4.2/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1939 East John St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

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Jersey Bagel & Deli

11 / 29

#19. Jersey Bagel & Deli

- Rating: 4.2/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2641 North Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bagels, Delis, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Mohnen's Family Restaurant

12 / 29

#18. Mohnen's Family Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: W5669 County Road Kk Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

Rookie's Sports Bar & Grill

13 / 29

#17. Rookie's Sports Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 325 North Appleton St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Sports Bars, American, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

Eggrolls

14 / 29

#16. Eggrolls

- Rating: 4.2/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1015 Mutual Way Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Chopstix Hibachi Asian Cuisine

15 / 29

#15. Chopstix Hibachi Asian Cuisine

- Rating: 4.2/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2205 South Memorial Drive Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

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Camelot Bar and Grill

16 / 29

#14. Camelot Bar and Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1700 East Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: American, Barbecue
- Read more on Yelp

Chefo's Pancake House

17 / 29

#13. Chefo's Pancake House

- Rating: 4.3/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 760 West Kimberly Ave. Kimberly, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

The Old Grog

18 / 29

#12. The Old Grog

- Rating: 4.3/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 546 Broad St. Menasha, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, American, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp

ICU Bar & Grill

19 / 29

#11. ICU Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 129 North Green Bay Road Neenah, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Mihm's Charcoal Grill

20 / 29

#10. Mihm's Charcoal Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 342 Chute St. Menasha, Wisconsin
- Categories: Burgers, Desserts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Chicago Grill

21 / 29

#9. Chicago Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 110 South Locust St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mediterranean, Wraps, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Tempest Coffee Collective

22 / 29

#8. Tempest Coffee Collective

- Rating: 4.3/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 181 South Riverheath Way Ste 1100 Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Schreiner's Diner

23 / 29

#7. Schreiner's Diner

- Rating: 4.4/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2437 South Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners
- Read more on Yelp

Copper Rock Coffee Company

24 / 29

#6. Copper Rock Coffee Company

- Rating: 4.4/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 West College Ave. Ste B Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Taste of the Windy City

25 / 29

#5. Taste of the Windy City

- Rating: 4.4/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1800 Freedom Road Ste B Little Chute, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Burgers, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp

Third Street Diner

26 / 29

#4. Third Street Diner

- Rating: 4.4/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 300 Depere St. Menasha, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners
- Read more on Yelp

My Lee's Egg Roll House

27 / 29

#3. My Lee's Egg Roll House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 305 North Richmond St. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Josef's Gyros Kabob

28 / 29

#2. Josef's Gyros Kabob

- Rating: 4.6/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 118 Soldiers Sq Appleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

Great Harvest Bread Co. - Neenah

29 / 29

#1. Great Harvest Bread Co. - Neenah

- Rating: 4.7/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 116 West Wisconsin Ave. Neenah, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- 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.