Cheap Eats in Richmond

Sub Rosa Bakery ★ 4.8

church-hill · 620 N 25th Street, Richmond, VA 23223

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.

Sub Rosa Bakery ★ 4.8

church-hill · 620 N 25th Street, Richmond, VA 23223

Sub Rosa cafe in Church Hill pours drip coffee with the city's leading naturally-leavened breads. Multi-time James Beard semifinalist bakery.

Lamplighter Coffee Roasters ★ 4.7

the-fan · 116 S Addison Street, Richmond, VA 23220

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

the-fan · 1618 W Main Street, Richmond, VA 23220

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

scotts-addition · 3201 W Moore Street, Richmond, VA 23230

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

downtown · 3121 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230

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

scotts-addition · 3201 W Moore Street, Richmond, VA 23230

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

Tip: The counter sells by weight; a quarter pound of brisket with a side hits the budget line.

Mama J's Kitchen ★ 4.5

jackson-ward · 415 N 1st Street, Richmond, VA 23219

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.

Tip: Lunch hour runs cheaper than dinner; the Sunday plate-special is the local entry.

Sally Bell's Kitchen ★ 4.4

downtown · 2337 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220

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.

Sally Bell's Kitchen ★ 4.4

downtown · 2337 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220

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

Garnett's Cafe ★ 4.4

the-fan · 2001 Park Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220

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

forest-hill · 3414 Semmes Avenue, Richmond, VA 23225

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.

Sally Bell's Kitchen ★ 4.4

downtown · 2337 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220

Sally Bell's Kitchen has baked cupcakes, cheese wafers and pastries since 1924. Founded by Sarah Cabell Jones and Elizabeth Lee Milton; a century of Richmond.

Perly's Counter ★ 4.4

downtown · 111 E Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219

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

Sally Bell's Kitchen ★ 4.4

downtown · 2337 W Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220

Sally Bell's Kitchen has sold box lunches since 1924 for less than fifteen dollars. House-made sandwiches, cupcakes and deviled eggs daily on West Broad.

Tip: Order ahead by phone for pick-up; the line snaps to the corner at lunch hour.

Pearl's Bake Shoppe ★ 4.3

westhampton · 5811 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226

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

carytown · 2930 W Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221

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

downtown · 111 E Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219

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

carytown · 3120 W Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221

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

carytown · 3101 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221

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

forest-hill · 2557 Sheila Lane, Richmond, VA 23225

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

downtown · 111 E Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219

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.

Tip: Order at the counter for cheaper-than-table pricing.

Joe's Inn ★ 4.2

the-fan · 205 N Shields Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220

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.

Joe's Inn ★ 4.2

the-fan · 205 N Shields Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220

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.

Perly's Restaurant and Delicatessen ★ 4.2

downtown · 111 E Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Perly's on Grace Street is Richmond's daytime Jewish deli. Counter service, pastrami sandwiches and matzo ball soup, daily until 3 pm in the downtown core.

Goatocado ★ 4.2

the-fan · 1823 W Main Street, Richmond, VA 23220

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

the-fan · 401 Strawberry Street, Richmond, VA 23220

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.

8 1/2 ★ 4.2

the-fan · 401 Strawberry Street, Richmond, VA 23220

Ed Vasaio's 8 1/2 on Strawberry serves Italian pizza, pasta and sandwiches at takeout pricing. Slices, sandwiches and whole pies under fifteen dollars.

Tip: Cash discount on whole-pie takeout; slices priced as the cheapest sit-down in the Fan.

Croaker's Spot ★ 4.2

manchester · 1020 Hull Street, Richmond, VA 23224

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.

Tip: Lunch portions on the fish plates are the price-line; dinner adds a couple of dollars.

Garnett's Cafe ★ 4.1

the-fan · 2001 Park Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220

Garnett's Cafe on Park Avenue is the Fan's long-running sandwich shop. Made-to-order sandwiches, salads and morning coffee, Tuesday to Sunday.

Joe's Inn ★ 4.1

the-fan · 205 N Shields Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220

Joe's Inn on Shields in the Fan has poured drinks and served Italian-Greek-American food since 1952. Spaghetti a la Joe at under twelve dollars per plate.

Tip: Half-portions on most pasta plates run several dollars cheaper.

Galaxy Diner ★ 4.0

carytown · 3109 W Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221

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.

Sugar and Twine ★ 4.0

carytown · 2930 W Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221

Sugar and Twine in Carytown opened 2015 as a bakery cafe. Jam biscuits, hand pies, croissants and Danishes daily; indoor seating returned in late 2024.