10 Best Cities for Foodies in the USA
Let’s be honest: one of the best things about visiting a new place is checking out all the delicious food. But sometimes, it can be hard to know where to turn to find the absolute best dishes.
These are the top foodie hotspots in the United States that balance delicious flavors without breaking the bank.
Get ready to start planning your cross-country road trip!
Best Bites
WalletHub narrowed down the best and cheapest foodie scenes by comparing 180 US cities across 28 key indicators of foodie-friendliness, including:
- Accessibility & affordability of high-quality restaurants
- Food festivals per capita
- Food tax
- Restaurants per capita
- Access to healthy food options
- Restaurant diversity
1: Orlando, Florida
Home to Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando is the highest-ranking foodie city on WalletHub’s list. Orlando had the highest weighted score across all categories, receiving exceptionally high scores for its diversity, accessibility, and quality. According to TripAdvisor, the top-rated non-chain restaurant in Orlando is Bacán, a Michelin-recommended Latin American spot.
2: Portland, Oregon
With the second-highest weighted score overall, Portland has plenty of plates for foodies to enjoy. It comes in 5th overall for diversity, accessibility, and quality. From food carts to white-tablecloth restaurants, there’s something for almost everyone. Peruvian spot Casa Zoraya got a top shoutout from Eater Portland.
3: Sacramento, California
As the third-most foodie-friendly city in the US, Sacramento is another paradise for your taste buds. Among Eater San Francisco’s shortlist of essential restaurants are French-style bistro Restaurant Josephine and Bibi’s Enchiladas & Grill, which sells ooey-gooey, authentic tacos from a food truck in a parking lot.
4: Miami, Florida
Another Florida city that made the top five American foodie cities is Miami. Overall, it takes the number one spot for diversity, accessibility, and quality. With nearly one million Cuban residents in Miami, it’s a prime destination for worldly flavors.
5: San Francisco, California
Taking second place overall for diversity, accessibility, and quality, San Francisco follows closely behind Miami. So, why doesn’t it rank higher? It’s one of the least affordable cities for dining on WalletHub’s list. Foodies can find everything from world-class Korean barbecue to California-style burritos in San Francisco. The New York Times listed top-rated Filipino restaurant Abacá among its top 25 restaurants in the city.
6: Tampa, Florida
Sunshine and good vibes aren’t the only thing that’ll bring a smile to your face in Tampa. With a seemingly endless array of high-quality options, foodies rave about Tampa’s eats. Among the city’s top-rated restaurants on TripAdvisor is Vino E Pasta, a no-frills trattoria with build-your-own pasta.
7: San Diego, California
With an enjoyable year-round climate and world-famous attractions, San Diego attracts tourists in droves. It just so happens they have a food scene to match. Its proximity to the seaside makes for top-notch seafood. According to Hotels.com., one of the most popular dishes among San Diegans is fish tacos.
8: Las Vegas, Nevada
Rolling the dice in Vegas will undoubtedly work up an appetite. Luckily, the popular city is chock-full of delicious places to dine, from late-night haunts to splurge-worthy establishments. When it comes to can’t-miss eats in Sin City, Eater Las Vegas sings the praises of Tacos El Gordo.
9: Austin, Texas
Once you’ve had an authentic, fresh tortilla, it’s hard to return to Taco Bell. The good news? You’ll find ‘em in Austin. With restaurants spanning all cuisines and budgets, Austin is a notable foodie city. Interstellar BBQ, Con Todo, and House of Three Gorges stood out among Eater Austin’s list of essential restaurants.
10: Seattle, Washington
This Pacific Northwest city is a foodie’s paradise, offering everything from soba noodles to sourdough pizza. Ranking fourth overall in the diversity, accessibility, and quality categories, Seattle has something for almost all appetites and budgets. Eater Seattle specifically mentions that Ono Authentic Hawaiian Poke and Cafe Juanita are among the essential must-eat-at restaurants in the city.
Hosts With the Most
When it comes to cities with the most restaurants, there was a surprising five-way tie for first place. Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles all received the same score for most restaurants per capita.
Chill Out
Another five-way tie presented itself in the study, this time for chilly sweet treats. Orlando, Las Vegas, Miami, Tampa, and San Antonio all came out on top for the most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per capita.
A Latte to Love
Folks looking to get their morning buzz (from coffee) will have no problem finding a place for a cup of joe in Salt Lake City, Richmond, Spokane, Orlando, and Pittsburgh. They have the highest number of coffee shops per capita. There’s a whopping 12 times difference between the top cities and the one in last place: Pearl City, Hawaii.
Not So Fast
Being a foodie comes at a cost, especially with restaurant prices rising an average of 5.4% between October 2022 and October 2023. By the time customers add tips to their meal price, they might not have much wiggle room for restaurant hopping between paychecks.
Gourmet Groceries
Even cooking meals in your own kitchen is getting outrageously pricey. You’re not crazy for noticing your grocery bill getting bigger each visit. Grocery store prices rose 3% between August 2022 and August 2023, and they’re still growing. Honolulu, Hawaii, has the most expensive grocery costs on the list, whereas Brownsville, Texas, celebrates the cheapest.
Boozy Budgets
On that note, whether you’re hosting a party or looking to wind down at the end of the day, beer and wine prices can significantly impact your budget. Juneau, Arkansas, ranked the lowest on the list with pricey alcohol, and Brownsville, Texas, once again found itself on top for affordable libations.
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