Highest-rated cheap eats in Tuscaloosa by diners

Americans spend a lot of money on eating out鈥攊n 2024, that totaled, 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 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. 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.

compiled a list of the highest-rated cheap eats restaurants within 10 kilometers of the Tuscaloosa area using data from . 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.

Swen Chinese Restaurant

1 / 27

#27. Swen Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.3/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3380 McFarland Blvd. Ste 1 Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
-

Jalape帽o's Mexican Grill Cottondale

2 / 27

#26. Jalape帽o's Mexican Grill Cottondale

- Rating: 3.3/5 (34 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4432 Old Birmingham Hwy Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

Jalape帽o's Mexican Grill

3 / 27

#25. Jalape帽o's Mexican Grill

- Rating: 3.4/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4700 Rose Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

La Hacienda El Mexicano

4 / 27

#24. La Hacienda El Mexicano

- Rating: 3.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1817 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

Taco Casa

5 / 27

#23. Taco Casa

- Rating: 3.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4530 Rice Mine Road Northeast Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Tex-Mex, fast food
-

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Quick Grill

6 / 27

#22. Quick Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1208 University Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
-

Frida's Mexican Grill

7 / 27

#21. Frida's Mexican Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 13620 Hwy 43 North Ste D Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

OEC Japanese Hibachi & Sushi McFarland

8 / 27

#20. OEC Japanese Hibachi & Sushi McFarland

- Rating: 3.6/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6 Mcfarland Blvd. East Ste 6 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
-

Wright's Restaurant

9 / 27

#19. Wright's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3750 University Blvd. East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, New American
-

Waysider Restaurant

10 / 27

#18. Waysider Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1512 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, American
-

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Hoolies Grill

11 / 27

#17. Hoolies Grill

- Rating: 3.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1351 McFarland Blvd. Northeast Ste 112 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mediterranean, American, Burgers
-

La Gran Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

12 / 27

#16. La Gran Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9770 Highway 69 South Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

Taco Casa

13 / 27

#15. Taco Casa

- Rating: 3.8/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 619 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

Jalape帽o's Mexican Grill - Tuscaloosa

14 / 27

#14. Jalape帽o's Mexican Grill - Tuscaloosa

- Rating: 3.8/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1845 New Watermelon Road Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

Rama Jama's

15 / 27

#13. Rama Jama's

- Rating: 3.9/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1000 Paul West Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Sandwiches
-

China No 1

16 / 27

#12. China No 1

- Rating: 4.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 16 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
-

Oasis Bar & Grill

17 / 27

#11. Oasis Bar & Grill

- Rating: 4.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6720 University Blvd. East Cottondale, Alabama
- Categories: Dive Bars, American
-

The Blue Plate - Northport

18 / 27

#10. The Blue Plate - Northport

- Rating: 4.1/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 450 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: American
-

China Bob

19 / 27

#9. China Bob

- Rating: 4.1/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5550 Mcfarland Blvd. Ste 600 Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
-

Pearl Garden Chinese Restaurant

20 / 27

#8. Pearl Garden Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2719 Lurleen B Wallace Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Chinese
-

Catfish Heaven

21 / 27

#7. Catfish Heaven

- Rating: 4.2/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2502 21st St. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Soul Food, Seafood
-

City Cafe

22 / 27

#6. City Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 408 Main Ave. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: American, Southern
-

Heritage House Coffee & Tea

23 / 27

#5. Heritage House Coffee & Tea

- Rating: 4.4/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2370 Jack Warner Pkwy Ste A 108 Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
-

Heritage House Coffee & Tea

24 / 27

#4. Heritage House Coffee & Tea

- Rating: 4.5/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 700 Towncenter Blvd. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
-

Pastor's Kitchen Mexican Food

25 / 27

#3. Pastor's Kitchen Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.6/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2511 Mcfarland Blvd. Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
-

The Brown Bag Restaurant

26 / 27

#2. The Brown Bag Restaurant

- Rating: 4.7/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9425 Jones Road Northport, Alabama
- Categories: Soul Food
-

Antojitos Izcalli

27 / 27

#1. Antojitos Izcalli

- Rating: 4.8/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 623 Hargrove Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Categories: Mexican
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 388 metros.

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