Highest-rated cheap eats in Wilmington 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 Wilmington 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.

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Merritt's Burger House

1 / 29

#29. Merritt's Burger House

- Rating: 4.1/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2338 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Burgers, fast food
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The Original Salt Works

2 / 29

#28. The Original Salt Works

- Rating: 4.1/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6301 Oleander Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
-

Pt's Olde Fashioned Grille

3 / 29

#27. Pt's Olde Fashioned Grille

- Rating: 4.1/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5916 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Burgers
-

Port City Java

4 / 29

#26. Port City Java

- Rating: 4.1/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2099 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Cafes
-

Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q

5 / 29

#25. Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q

- Rating: 4.1/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7300 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Barbecue, Chicken Shop, American
-

Your Pie Pizza

6 / 29

#24. Your Pie Pizza

- Rating: 4.2/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4403 Oleander Drive Ste H Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: American, Pizza, Beer, Wine & Spirits
-

Shirley's Diner

7 / 29

#23. Shirley's Diner

- Rating: 4.2/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 112 Village Road Northeast Leland, North Carolina
- Categories: Diners
-

Carolina Girls' Grillin' Cafe

8 / 29

#22. Carolina Girls' Grillin' Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2535 Castle Hayne Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, fast food, Breakfast & Brunch
-

Pho Cafe

9 / 29

#21. Pho Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (290 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3926 Market St. Ste 201 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Vietnamese
-

P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille

10 / 29

#20. P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille

- Rating: 4.2/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1437 Military Cutoff Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Burgers, New American, Sandwiches
-

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Taqueria Los Portales 1

11 / 29

#19. Taqueria Los Portales 1

- Rating: 4.2/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1207 South Kerr Ave. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
-

Agostino's Pizza & Pasta

12 / 29

#18. Agostino's Pizza & Pasta

- Rating: 4.2/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4712 New Centre Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza, Pasta Shops
-

I Love NY Pizza

13 / 29

#17. I Love NY Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 28 North Front St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Pizza
-

Midtown Deli & Grill

14 / 29

#16. Midtown Deli & Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2316 South 17th St. Ste 100 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches
-

Capricho

15 / 29

#15. Capricho

- Rating: 4.3/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 215-A Princess St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
-

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Pe帽o Mediterranean Grill

16 / 29

#14. Pe帽o Mediterranean Grill

- Rating: 4.3/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 351-29 South College Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Salad, Mediterranean, Greek
-

P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille

17 / 29

#13. P.T.'s Olde Fashioned Grille

- Rating: 4.3/5 (303 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4544 Fountain Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Burgers
-

Goody Goody Omelet House Restaurant

18 / 29

#12. Goody Goody Omelet House Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3817 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
-

Grinders Caff猫

19 / 29

#11. Grinders Caff猫

- Rating: 4.4/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 890 South Kerr Ave. Unit 2b Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes
-

Seaside Bagels

20 / 29

#10. Seaside Bagels

- Rating: 4.4/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6400 Carolina Beach Road Ste 14 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
-

Block Taco

21 / 29

#9. Block Taco

- Rating: 4.5/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 120 Greenfield St. Unit B Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos
-

Louie's Hot Dogs

22 / 29

#8. Louie's Hot Dogs

- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 204 1/2 Princess St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Hot Dogs
-

Brodee Dogs Brew House

23 / 29

#7. Brodee Dogs Brew House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 103 A Village Road Northeast Leland, North Carolina
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers
-

Hoobie's Ny Pizza & Hoagies

24 / 29

#6. Hoobie's Ny Pizza & Hoagies

- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2708 Exchange Drive Ste B Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza
-

La G眉era

25 / 29

#5. La G眉era

- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6620-F Gordon Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
-

The Donut Inn

26 / 29

#4. The Donut Inn

- Rating: 4.5/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1427 Military Cutoff Road Ste 101 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
-

Casa Blanca

27 / 29

#3. Casa Blanca

- Rating: 4.6/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7409 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
-

Milner's Cafe & Catering

28 / 29

#2. Milner's Cafe & Catering

- Rating: 4.7/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 311 Judges Road Ste 1A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Salad
-

Broomtail Craft Brewery

29 / 29

#1. Broomtail Craft Brewery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6404 Amsterdam Way Unit 100 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breweries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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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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