Pennsylvania’s best restaurant for a cheap meal serves barbecue and soft pretzels
In the market for some budget-friendly grub? It seems one of the top-rated spots in the country for a cheap meal sits about halfway between State College and Philadelphia.
The BBQ Barn, a Pennsylvania Dutch barbecue joint located at 2395 Covered Bridge Drive in Lancaster is the top-rated cheap eat spot in the Keystone State, according to data and Yelp reviews compiled in a recent report by CashNetUSA. The barbecue stand features Amish-made food at the Amish Farm and House, a Lancaster attraction offering an “authentic and respectful” look into the Amish culture.
In its report, online lender CashNetUSA identified some of the most highly rated places for low-cost food in each state, plus major cities throughout the U.S. CashNetUSA browsed each restaurant’s offerings to confirm prices could be considered budget-friendly and reviewed customer testimonials to see if prices were mentioned favorably.
If you’ve never visited Amish country but are looking for a cheap meal, here’s what you need to know about the BBQ Barn.
What makes the BBQ Barn a top spot for cheap eats?
A quick look at the BBQ Barn’s menu shows the restaurant offers bang for your buck.
This Pennsylvania Dutch establishment specializes in barbecue chicken, pulled pork and ribs, all of which are offered in dinner platters that feature a meat of your choice, three barbecued potatoes, homemade coleslaw, a roll, butter, a whoopie pie and a drink. The BBQ Barn’s chicken leg dinner starts at just $9.95, while pulled pork and rib dinners go for $12.50 and $17.50, respectively.
A la carte menu items are available, too. You can grab a hot dog for $2.25, a cheeseburger for $4.50 or a pulled pork sandwich for $6.50, for example.
No Pennsylvania Dutch stand would be complete without soft pretzels, which run for $2.25 apiece, hand-rolled to order and are very popular, according to online reviewers. The restaurant also offers soft-serve ice cream, plus strawberry and apple cider milkshakes for $4.25 each. Peach milkshakes returned to the menu in late July.
According to its website, the BBQ Barn is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The restaurant is not open Sunday through Wednesday.
The BBQ Barn stand is located at Lancater’s Amish Farm and House, marketed as the area’s original Amish educational farm museum. Guests who visit the area can learn more about the Amish culture through guided farmhouse tours and bus tours on top of shopping at farmer’s markets and more.
Bus tours start at about $28 for adults and $21 for children, while farmhouse tours start at roughly $14 for adults and $10 for children. The Amish Farm and House is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and reservations are highly recommended.
Visit amishfarmandhouse.com to learn more about offerings in the area.
The best cheap eats by state
Here’s a brief look at the restaurants in Pennsylvania’s bordering states that received a mention among CashNetUSA’s best picks for cheap eats:
- Cabanas Restaurant in Delaware
- Stoney’s Munchie Bar in Ohio
- Louie & Ernie’s Pizza in New York
- Barbera Seafood and Produce in New Jersey
- Juliet’s Italian Market and Cafe in Maryland
CashNetUSA also recognized top picks for cheap eats in some of the largest U.S. cities. Knead Bagels claimed the top spot for Philadelphia thanks to its wide variety of bagels, spreads, sandwiches and more.
Visit cashnetusa.com/blog/best-cheap-restaurant-in-every-state to read more about some of the best budget-friendly dining options across the country.
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