Highest-rated cheap eats in Johnson City by diners

Written by:
September 3, 2025
RFondren Photography // Shutterstock

Highest-rated cheap eats in Johnson City 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 Johnson City 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.

1 / 27
Happy Wok

#27. Happy Wok

- Rating: 3.4/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4307 North Roan St. Ste 6 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese
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2 / 27
Sammons Hot Dogs

#26. Sammons Hot Dogs

- Rating: 3.4/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2020 West Elk Ave. Elizabethton, Tennessee
- Categories: Burgers, Hot Dogs, Sandwiches
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3 / 27
Vega's Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

#25. Vega's Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1976 Hwy 11 East Jonesborough, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Desserts, Tex-Mex
-

4 / 27
Panda House

#24. Panda House

- Rating: 3.6/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1805 West State Of Franklin Road Ste 700 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
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5 / 27
Ole's Guacamoles

#23. Ole's Guacamoles

- Rating: 3.6/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1000 South Roan St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
-

6 / 27
Holy Taco & Cantina

#22. Holy Taco & Cantina

- Rating: 3.7/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 211 East Main St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Cocktail Bars
-

7 / 27
Cranberries

#21. Cranberries

- Rating: 3.8/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1904 Knob Creek Road Ste 5 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches, Soup, Breakfast & Brunch
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8 / 27
Amigo Mexican Restaurant III

#20. Amigo Mexican Restaurant III

- Rating: 3.8/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3211 Peoples St. Ste 70 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
-

9 / 27
Moto Japanese Restaurant

#19. Moto Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4260 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Japanese
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10 / 27
El Charolais

#18. El Charolais

- Rating: 3.9/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3102 Bristol Hwy Ste B Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
-

11 / 27
Magic Wok Chinese Restaurant

#17. Magic Wok Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 701 South Roan St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Chinese
-

12 / 27
Daylight Donuts

#16. Daylight Donuts

- Rating: 4.1/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1735 West State Of Franklin Road Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Donuts, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
-

13 / 27
Pennyman's Diner

#15. Pennyman's Diner

- Rating: 4.1/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1409 East Main St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
-

14 / 27
Stephens Pizzeria

#14. Stephens Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.1/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5049 Bobby Hicks Hwy Ste 105 Gray, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
-

15 / 27
Pal's

#13. Pal's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3206 Bristol Hwy Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Fast food
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16 / 27
Pal's

#12. Pal's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1200 West State Of Franklin Road Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Hot Dogs, American, Coffee & Tea
-

17 / 27
Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza

#11. Johnny Brusco's New York Style Pizza

- Rating: 4.3/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2111 North Roan St. Ste 30 Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Sandwiches
-

18 / 27
La Perla 3 Mexican Restaurant & Grocery Store

#10. La Perla 3 Mexican Restaurant & Grocery Store

- Rating: 4.3/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2508 South Roan St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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19 / 27
Dos Gatos Coffee Bar

#9. Dos Gatos Coffee Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 238 East Main St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Creperies
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20 / 27
Open Doors Coffeehouse

#8. Open Doors Coffeehouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 East 8th Ave. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Waffles
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21 / 27
Pal's

#7. Pal's

- Rating: 4.4/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4224 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Fast food, Burgers
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22 / 27
The Shack

#6. The Shack

- Rating: 4.4/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4231 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, Tennessee
- Categories: Barbecue, Burgers, Sandwiches
-

23 / 27
Bluff City Diner

#5. Bluff City Diner

- Rating: 4.5/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4267 Bluff City Hwy Bluff City, Tennessee
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
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24 / 27
Main Street Cafe & Catering

#4. Main Street Cafe & Catering

- Rating: 4.6/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 117 West Main St. Jonesborough, Tennessee
- Categories: Cafes
-

25 / 27
Pal's

#3. Pal's

- Rating: 4.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2011 North Roan St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Sandwiches
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26 / 27
Italian Pizza Pub

#2. Italian Pizza Pub

- Rating: 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 807 West Walnut St. Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Italian
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27 / 27
Caribbean Grill

#1. Caribbean Grill

- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 824 Sunset Drive Johnson City, Tennessee
- Categories: Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Food Trucks
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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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