Best Foodie Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterOct 7, 2019

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Oct 7, 2019

Americans today apply the term “foodie” to anyone who loves gourmet dining. But foodie culture isn’t limited to restaurants. More importantly, far fewer than the many who claim to be foodies truly deserve the label. “Authentic” foodies, according to experts, not only crave new and different flavors but also savor the exploratory experience of eating, learning and discovering food.

Naturally, the foodie lifestyle can be quite expensive, considering that restaurant prices rose 3.2% just between July 2018 and July 2019. And in 2015, Americans spent more money at food establishments than at grocery stores for the first time, and restaurant purchases continue to experience greater year-over-year growth than grocery sales in 2019. And while people may view dining at home to be more cost-effective, eating at home still can be pricey, depending on the local cost of living as well as the type and quality of ingredients used.

Fortunately, culinary hotspots across the U.S. offer plenty of affordable options for cash-strapped foodies. These wallet-friendly cities cater to diners who prefer to cook at home, explore the local flavors or both. To determine the best and cheapest foodie scenes, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 30 key indicators of foodie-friendliness. Our data set ranges from cost of groceries to affordability and accessibility of high-quality restaurants to food festivals per capita. Read on for the winners, expert foodie insight and a full description of our methodology.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Best Food Cities in America

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Diversity, Accessibility & Quality’ Rank
1	Portland, OR	69.79	13	5
2	New York, NY	68.74	175	1
3	Miami, FL	67.52	123	3
4	San Francisco, CA	67.21	172	2
5	Los Angeles, CA	66.96	107	4
6	Las Vegas, NV	66.30	15	7
7	San Diego, CA	62.54	47	9
8	Seattle, WA	61.01	168	6
9	Chicago, IL	60.64	103	8
10	Austin, TX	60.12	17	15
11	Orlando, FL	59.46	48	11
12	Sacramento, CA	57.00	77	14
13	Tampa, FL	56.68	86	13
14	Atlanta, GA	55.27	78	18
15	Denver, CO	55.22	84	17
16	Charleston, SC	54.38	61	19
17	Washington, DC	53.50	171	12
18	Honolulu, HI	53.41	178	10
19	Philadelphia, PA	53.02	88	20
20	Oakland, CA	52.94	155	16
21	Houston, TX	52.60	21	25
22	Richmond, VA	51.77	30	22
23	San Antonio, TX	50.91	1	44
24	Cincinnati, OH	50.62	14	30
25	Grand Rapids, MI	50.49	5	40
26	Milwaukee, WI	50.06	9	43
27	Columbus, OH	50.01	8	42
28	Pittsburgh, PA	49.84	74	21
29	Rochester, NY	49.66	70	24
30	Cleveland, OH	48.68	45	34
31	St. Louis, MO	48.48	106	23
32	Scottsdale, AZ	48.33	27	39
33	Fort Lauderdale, FL	48.21	71	28
34	Minneapolis, MN	47.77	101	26
35	Louisville, KY	47.60	12	52
36	Buffalo, NY	47.08	81	31
37	Tucson, AZ	46.88	25	48
38	Santa Ana, CA	46.45	90	38
39	Vancouver, WA	46.41	116	29
40	Tempe, AZ	46.25	32	64
41	Albuquerque, NM	46.25	43	50
42	Indianapolis, IN	46.22	19	59
43	Dallas, TX	46.13	36	49
44	New Orleans, LA	45.96	139	27
45	Boston, MA	45.71	114	35
46	Raleigh, NC	45.52	42	61
47	Spokane, WA	45.19	31	58
48	Fresno, CA	45.16	65	46
49	San Jose, CA	45.10	131	32
50	Salt Lake City, UT	45.09	124	33
51	Mesa, AZ	44.73	20	76
52	Phoenix, AZ	44.62	33	69
53	Portland, ME	44.60	83	45
54	Lexington-Fayette, KY	44.48	4	80
55	Jersey City, NJ	44.36	143	36
56	Long Beach, CA	44.34	75	51
57	Nashville, TN	44.06	120	41
58	Omaha, NE	43.94	23	82
59	Baltimore, MD	43.93	67	54
60	Huntington Beach, CA	43.71	52	66
61	Amarillo, TX	43.71	16	105
62	Bakersfield, CA	43.65	54	57
63	Salem, OR	43.58	60	65
64	Jacksonville, FL	43.56	40	75
65	Newark, NJ	43.51	93	53
66	Fort Worth, TX	43.43	6	98
67	Aurora, CO	43.17	49	74
68	Anaheim, CA	43.02	100	47
69	Charlotte, NC	42.99	73	62
70	Billings, MT	42.97	26	94
71	Madison, WI	42.97	53	73
72	Colorado Springs, CO	42.76	18	96
73	Wilmington, DE	42.66	112	55
74	Oklahoma City, OK	42.39	29	85
75	Boise, ID	42.36	92	60
76	Plano, TX	42.15	24	87
77	Lincoln, NE	41.96	56	83
78	Detroit, MI	41.85	3	131
79	Reno, NV	41.58	119	56
80	Des Moines, IA	41.32	34	97
81	Knoxville, TN	41.15	64	78
82	Tulsa, OK	40.95	38	104
83	Santa Rosa, CA	40.82	176	37
84	St. Paul, MN	40.77	117	67
85	Henderson, NV	40.64	2	147
86	Chandler, AZ	40.63	39	99
87	Hialeah, FL	40.62	148	63
88	El Paso, TX	40.44	7	141
89	Virginia Beach, VA	40.30	136	68
90	St. Petersburg, FL	40.28	59	93
91	Irvine, CA	40.28	128	70
92	Sioux Falls, SD	40.22	50	101
93	Garden Grove, CA	40.16	140	71
94	Arlington, TX	40.15	35	138
95	Springfield, MO	39.90	63	100
96	Missoula, MT	39.82	37	114
97	Modesto, CA	39.64	109	86
98	Laredo, TX	39.45	22	170
99	Burlington, VT	39.41	110	92
100	Manchester, NH	39.36	79	118
101	Birmingham, AL	39.25	41	117
102	Providence, RI	39.21	134	81
103	Charleston, WV	39.19	44	167
104	Riverside, CA	39.18	145	72
105	Gilbert, AZ	39.15	10	161
106	Glendale, CA	39.10	118	88
107	Cedar Rapids, IA	39.07	66	110
108	Casper, WY	38.93	76	134
109	Irving, TX	38.87	69	119
110	Fargo, ND	38.82	115	103
111	Tacoma, WA	38.80	132	77
112	Tallahassee, FL	38.39	102	95
113	Corpus Christi, TX	38.36	11	173
114	Fort Wayne, IN	38.32	28	162
115	Huntington, WV	38.15	68	144
116	Little Rock, AR	38.06	142	90
117	Bismarck, ND	37.86	85	140
118	Columbia, SC	37.77	125	91
119	Baton Rouge, LA	37.70	158	79
120	Durham, NC	37.62	87	106
121	Oceanside, CA	37.56	94	112
122	Santa Clarita, CA	37.48	105	108
123	Cape Coral, FL	37.47	72	129
124	Kansas City, MO	37.41	91	124
125	Memphis, TN	37.12	82	137
126	Lubbock, TX	36.86	62	155
127	Garland, TX	36.78	89	146
128	Akron, OH	36.76	95	136
129	Wichita, KS	36.75	57	154
130	Glendale, AZ	36.69	58	111
131	Oxnard, CA	36.46	159	89
132	Greensboro, NC	36.46	55	152
133	Aurora, IL	36.16	99	128
134	Rapid City, SD	36.06	147	115
135	Toledo, OH	35.99	46	169
136	Norfolk, VA	35.78	111	125
137	Peoria, AZ	35.68	98	165
138	Brownsville, TX	35.67	51	181
139	Bridgeport, CT	35.66	151	122
140	Nashua, NH	35.64	104	157
141	North Las Vegas, NV	35.42	97	123
142	Chesapeake, VA	35.29	96	163
143	Pembroke Pines, FL	35.10	137	133
144	Anchorage, AK	35.07	153	102
145	Chula Vista, CA	35.03	150	127
146	Newport News, VA	34.94	130	151
147	Fort Smith, AR	34.79	141	149
148	New Haven, CT	34.69	167	113
149	Cheyenne, WY	34.65	126	175
150	Huntsville, AL	34.64	121	147
151	Las Cruces, NM	34.60	80	177
152	Overland Park, KS	34.59	162	116
153	Columbia, MD	34.39	156	130
154	Winston-Salem, NC	34.24	129	145
155	Worcester, MA	34.06	163	121
156	Dover, DE	34.00	127	164
157	Chattanooga, TN	33.98	133	142
158	Lewiston, ME	33.87	135	158
159	San Bernardino, CA	33.83	154	139
160	Gulfport, MS	33.64	160	153
161	Fayetteville, NC	33.57	144	150
162	Stockton, CA	33.51	174	107
163	Mobile, AL	33.51	108	168
164	Warwick, RI	33.05	165	132
165	Yonkers, NY	32.94	179	84
166	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	32.77	122	172
167	Grand Prairie, TX	32.52	113	171
168	South Burlington, VT	32.25	157	159
169	Port St. Lucie, FL	32.20	161	166
170	Ontario, CA	32.02	164	126
171	Fontana, CA	31.79	166	160
172	Shreveport, LA	31.72	149	174
173	Columbus, GA	31.34	152	176
174	Nampa, ID	30.79	169	156
175	Montgomery, AL	30.72	138	180
176	Fremont, CA	30.57	180	109
177	Moreno Valley, CA	30.36	173	143
178	West Valley City, UT	30.27	177	135
179	Augusta, GA	29.43	146	182
180	Jackson, MS	29.36	170	178
181	Juneau, AK	27.65	181	120
182	Pearl City, HI	22.48	182	179

Ask the Experts

Wallet-conscious foodies don’t always have to sacrifice quality for price. For money-saving advice and policy-related tips for improving the local food scene, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:

What tips can you provide to foodies on a tight budget?
In evaluating the best foodie cities for your wallet, what are the top five indicators?
What tips can you offer to health-conscious foodies who like to eat out?
What role, if any, can local authorities play in improving the food scene in their city?

Ask the Experts

: Louise Wicker
Department Head, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University
Read More

: Carola Grebitus
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Food Industry Management, Morrison School of Agribusiness, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University
Read More

: Doreen Liou
EdD, RDN – Associate Professor, Montclair State University, Department of Nutrition & Food Studies
Read More

: Alice Julier
Program Director and Associate Professor, Food Studies, Chatham University
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best and cheapest local foodie scenes, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Affordability” and “Diversity, Accessibility & Quality.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 30 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions and costs for foodies. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the cities in our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case and excluded surrounding cities in the metro area.

Affordability – Total Points: 30

Cost of Groceries: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
Accessibility & Affordability of High-Quality Restaurants: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures the prevalence of affordable restaurants with ratings of at least 4.5 stars.
Restaurant Meal Cost: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
Sales Tax: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Food Tax: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Restaurant Tax: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Average Beer & Wine Price: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: “Average Beer Price” refers to the average price, excluding any deposit, of a six-pack of 12-ounce Heineken containers, and “Average Wine Price” refers to the average price of a 1.5-liter bottle of Chablis or Chenin Blanc or any white table wine.

Diversity, Accessibility & Quality – Total Points: 70

Restaurants per Capita*: Triple Weight (~9.23 Points)
Ratio of Full-Service Restaurants to Fast-Food Establishments: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Growth in Number of Full Service Restaurants (2016 vs 2011): Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Restaurant Diversity: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Presence of Michelin-Starred Restaurants: Quarter Weight (~0.77 Points)
Average Ranking of Restaurants on Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” List: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Food Trucks per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Access to Healthy Food Options: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Farmers Markets & CSA Programs per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Note: “CSA” refers to community-supported agriculture.
Food Freshness: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Note: The share of workers involved in agricultural activities was used as a proxy for this metric.
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Craft Breweries & Wine Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Gourmet Specialty-Food Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Note: “Gourmet Specialty-Food Stores” includes, among others, candy stores, chocolatiers and cheese shops.
Grocery Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
International Grocery Stores per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.54 Points)
Butcher Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Herbs & Spices Stores per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.54 Points)
Kitchen Supplies Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Food Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Cooking Schools per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)
Food & Drink Meetups per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.54 Points)
Food & Wine Tours per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.08 Points)

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Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Federation of Tax Administrators, Tax Foundation, County Health Rankings, Sale-Tax.com, Numbeo, Wikipedia and Yelp.

Image: Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

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