Any recommendations on portable/counter top ice makers that don't break the bank but are still reliable? Thanks!

So - not sure on the portable part. I don't know of one that would check that box

But - our friends here just got the GE Opal, countertop. And it make that good / soft / small cubes. Like the old school stuff. And, it makes ice very fast. Like, he and I were drinking mix drinks the other night (at a manly pace I might add) - by the time we made another drink the ice was replaced.

https://www.amazon.com/GE-Profile-Countertop-Nugget-Maker/dp/B07YF9SGBW

We had one in Croatia in 2019...made a batch every seven minutes. Faster than I can drink! Container catchescubes, but doesn’t freeze once made. Just transfer a couple of batches to the boat freezer periodically and use for drinks. Stateside, they are ~$100-125. Only takes about 1.2 sqft on the counter

Ice makerhttps://www.amazon.com/Frigidaire-EFIC108-SILVER-Ice-Maker-Silver

I freeze 1 liter water bottles overnight, and use those in the deck cooler for beer, water, sodas - only restocking what is used. Put a couple of 10/20lb ice bags in the freezer, not in a cooler. Don’t waste ice cooling what you aren’t going to drink. Then we use the melted bottle for drinking water. Refill w boat water for more igloo cooling ice - rinse and repeat!🤪