Cheap Eats in Richmond

Sub Rosa Bakery

• ★ 4.8
• Bakery
• $
• Church Hill

Order Country sourdough loaf

Evrim and Evin Dogu's Sub Rosa Bakery in Church Hill is the Richmond bakery to know. Multi-year James Beard semifinalist; reopened December 2025.

Lamplighter Coffee Roasters

• ★ 4.7
• Café
• $
• The Fan

Drink Espresso with house-roasted single origin

Lamplighter's Addison Street cafe pours espresso and single-origin pour-overs in the Fan. Plant-friendly menu of breakfast sandwiches and pastries, daily.

Rostov's Coffee and Tea

• ★ 4.6
• Café
• $
• The Fan

Drink House blends roasted on a 1930s Jabez Burns

Rostov's on West Main has roasted coffee since 1979 on a 1930s Jabez Burns. Tammy Rostov runs the family shop; one of Virginia's oldest roasters.

ZZQ Counter

• ★ 4.6
• Street food
• $
• Scott's Addition

Try Texas brisket plates and sandwiches

ZZQ runs Texas-style brisket and ribs from a counter in Scott's Addition. Plates and sandwiches; Wednesday to Sunday until the day's smoke runs out.

Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co

• ★ 4.5
• Café
• $
• Downtown

Drink Single-origin pour over

Blanchard's flagship on West Broad runs pour-overs, espresso and whole-bean retail. Founded 2005; Richmond's longest-running third-wave roaster.

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque

• ★ 4.5
• Texas Barbecue
• $
• Scott's Addition

Order Brisket sandwich with one side for under twenty dollars.

ZZQ in Scott's Addition runs Texas brisket sandwiches under twenty dollars. Counter-service barbecue, mezcal on the side, until sold out daily.

Mama J's Kitchen

• ★ 4.5
• Soul Food
• $
• Jackson Ward

Order Fried catfish lunch plate for under fifteen dollars.

Mama J's runs a lunch plate of fried catfish, collard greens and mac for under fifteen dollars. Velma Johnson's Jackson Ward soul food standby.

Sally Bell's Kitchen

• ★ 4.4
• Southern American
• $
• Downtown

Sally Bell's Kitchen has sold box lunches since 1924, founded by Sarah Cabell Jones and Elizabeth Lee Milton. House-made cupcakes and deviled eggs daily.

Garnett's Cafe

• ★ 4.4
• Sandwich Shop
• $
• The Fan

Garnett's Cafe on Park Avenue is the Fan neighborhood sandwich shop. Long-running daytime counter, made-to-order sandwiches and a strong salad menu.

WPA Bakery

• ★ 4.4
• Bakery
• $
• Forest Hill

Order WPA cake slice

WPA Bakery on Semmes in Forest Hill bakes the city's vegan-leaning sweet program. Slice cakes, hand pies and cookies; Saturday line is long.

Perly's Counter

• ★ 4.4
• Street food
• $
• Downtown

Try Pastrami sandwich, matzo ball soup

Perly's downtown deli runs a counter-service Jewish sandwich shop alongside its dining room. Pastrami sandwiches, latkes and matzo ball soup, daytime only.

Pearl's Bake Shoppe

• ★ 4.3
• Bakery
• $
• Westhampton

Order Cupcakes

Pearl's Bake Shoppe on Patterson runs scratch-baked cupcakes, cakes and pastries. Sit-down counter near Westhampton, open Tuesday through Saturday.

Sugar and Twine

• ★ 4.3
• Bakery
• $
• Carytown

Order Jam biscuit

Sugar and Twine in Carytown opened 2015 as a sit-down bakery cafe. Jam biscuits, croissants and Danishes daily; the indoor seating returned in October 2024.

Perly's Bakery

• ★ 4.3
• Bakery
• $
• Downtown

Order House rye loaf

Perly's house bakery runs alongside the deli with rye, challah and bagels. Take-home loaves available at the counter, breakfast through 3 pm.

Can Can Brasserie Bakery

• ★ 4.3
• Bakery
• $
• Carytown

Order Almond croissant

Can Can's bakery side runs French pastry through the Carytown brasserie. Almond croissants, baguettes and morning bun pastries served at the bar and to-go.

Black Hand Coffee Co

• ★ 4.3
• Café
• $
• Carytown

Drink Espresso and pour over

Black Hand Coffee on Patterson in Carytown pours house-roasted coffee in a corner room. Quiet seating, board games, and a strong subscription program.

Boka Tako Truck

• ★ 4.3
• Street food
• $
• Forest Hill

Try Asian fusion tacos and bowls

Boka Tako runs Richmond's longest-active Asian fusion food truck and a parked Boka Grill on Sheila Lane. Tacos, bowls and rotating specials, six days a week.

Perly's Restaurant and Delicatessen

• ★ 4.3
• Jewish Deli
• $
• Downtown

Order Pastrami sandwich for under fifteen dollars at the counter.

Perly's pastrami sandwich at the counter sits at the city's classic Jewish deli line. House-cured meats, latkes and matzo ball soup, daily until 3 pm.

Joe's Inn

• ★ 4.2
• Italian Greek American
• $
• The Fan

Joe's Inn on Shields has been a Fan standard since 1952. Italian-Greek-American plates, oversized spaghetti and a regulars-heavy bar, daily until midnight.

Goatocado

• ★ 4.2
• Street food
• $
• The Fan

Try Salad bowls with quinoa and avocado

Goatocado on West Main runs healthy salad bowls and quinoa plates. Started as a food truck, the Main Street counter is the year-round bricks-and-mortar.

8 1/2

• ★ 4.2
• Street food
• $
• The Fan

Try Italian takeout pizza and pasta

Ed Vasaio's 8 1/2 on Strawberry Street is the Fan's Italian takeout standby. Pizza, pasta and sandwiches; cash-leaning room with quick-service counter.

Croaker's Spot

• ★ 4.2
• Soul food
• $
• Manchester

Order Fried whiting plate under fifteen dollars.

Croaker's Spot on Hull runs a generous fried-fish plate at under fifteen dollars. Black-owned soul-food and seafood across the river since the 1990s.

Galaxy Diner

• ★ 4.0
• American Diner
• $
• Carytown

Galaxy Diner on West Cary in Carytown is the late-night diner with a chrome-and-vinyl room. Breakfast all day, burgers and milkshakes through midnight.