Best Foodie Cities in America

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 2.8% just between July 2017 and July 2018. And in 2015, Americans spent more money at food establishments than at grocery stores for the first time. In 2018, restaurants have been able to profit from relatively stable wholesale food prices, especially with beef and pork. 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 29 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.

Main Findings

 

 

Best Food Cities in America

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Affordability’ Rank	‘Diversity, Accessibility & Quality’ Rank
1	Portland, OR	70.27	17	5
2	San Francisco, CA	68.82	127	2
3	Miami, FL	68.27	100	3
4	New York, NY	67.90	175	1
5	Los Angeles, CA	67.51	80	4
6	Orlando, FL	64.48	22	7
7	Las Vegas, NV	63.16	20	8
8	Seattle, WA	61.93	162	6
9	San Diego, CA	60.03	60	9
10	Austin, TX	58.52	15	15
11	Atlanta, GA	58.34	71	11
12	Tampa, FL	57.78	56	13
13	Chicago, IL	57.68	98	10
14	Denver, CO	55.62	68	14
15	Washington, DC	55.23	146	12
16	Sacramento, CA	55.11	43	17
17	Philadelphia, PA	54.77	46	19
18	Houston, TX	52.18	8	25
19	Oakland, CA	52.10	121	18
20	Charleston, SC	51.08	74	20
21	San Antonio, TX	50.66	1	39
22	Cincinnati, OH	49.66	13	32
23	Richmond, VA	49.44	30	27
24	Milwaukee, WI	49.22	6	42
25	Fort Lauderdale, FL	48.99	65	24
26	Honolulu, HI	48.62	181	16
27	Pittsburgh, PA	48.60	85	22
28	Santa Ana, CA	48.22	131	21
29	Albuquerque, NM	48.07	3	52
30	St. Louis, MO	47.81	96	23
31	Dallas, TX	47.46	7	47
32	Rochester, NY	47.24	87	28
33	Louisville, KY	47.23	4	56
34	Minneapolis, MN	47.09	110	26
35	Tucson, AZ	46.48	18	46
36	Grand Rapids, MI	46.41	37	37
37	Cleveland, OH	46.28	39	41
38	Phoenix, AZ	46.27	10	58
39	Boston, MA	46.21	101	30
40	Columbus, OH	45.74	12	64
41	Tempe, AZ	45.33	44	55
42	San Jose, CA	45.12	119	33
43	Buffalo, NY	45.12	93	36
44	Long Beach, CA	44.97	72	40
45	Baltimore, MD	44.92	54	43
46	Salt Lake City, UT	44.82	103	35
47	Fresno, CA	44.71	34	54
48	Portland, ME	44.49	86	38
49	New Orleans, LA	44.42	144	29
50	Vancouver, WA	44.04	151	34
51	Garden Grove, CA	43.93	28	69
52	Newark, NJ	43.63	75	49
53	Indianapolis, IN	43.48	14	78
54	Spokane, WA	43.20	49	57
55	Salem, OR	43.17	41	68
56	Jacksonville, FL	43.02	38	75
57	Reno, NV	42.94	27	73
58	Raleigh, NC	42.72	82	60
59	Billings, MT	42.68	5	100
60	Oklahoma City, OK	42.43	19	81
61	Charlotte, NC	42.42	66	61
62	Jersey City, NJ	42.37	109	50
63	Boise, ID	42.23	51	66
64	Wilmington, DE	42.14	90	65
65	Santa Rosa, CA	42.03	178	31
66	St. Paul, MN	41.97	97	53
67	Bakersfield, CA	41.95	104	51
68	Anaheim, CA	41.90	116	45
69	Nashville, TN	41.78	114	48
70	Hialeah, FL	41.54	160	44
71	Detroit, MI	41.46	2	127
72	Lexington-Fayette, KY	41.35	9	93
72	Glendale, CA	41.35	64	79
74	Omaha, NE	41.34	29	85
75	Scottsdale, AZ	41.27	50	70
76	Lincoln, NE	41.20	70	77
77	Huntington Beach, CA	41.09	94	63
78	Madison, WI	40.99	55	74
79	Springfield, MO	40.93	40	92
80	Fort Worth, TX	40.83	21	101
81	Irvine, CA	40.59	139	59
82	Chandler, AZ	40.53	26	95
83	Missoula, MT	40.35	11	115
84	Irving, TX	40.08	83	84
85	Mesa, AZ	40.05	32	112
86	St. Petersburg, FL	40.02	57	86
87	Riverside, CA	39.98	133	62
88	Casper, WY	39.94	47	126
89	Colorado Springs, CO	39.82	33	109
90	Laredo, TX	39.81	16	166
90	Des Moines, IA	39.81	36	102
92	Providence, RI	39.66	138	72
93	Tulsa, OK	39.46	48	106
94	Tacoma, WA	39.40	120	71
95	Aurora, CO	39.39	112	76
96	Tallahassee, FL	39.27	76	94
97	Virginia Beach, VA	39.24	154	67
98	Cedar Rapids, IA	38.85	62	108
99	Columbia, SC	38.73	107	82
100	El Paso, TX	38.65	24	140
101	Manchester, NH	38.59	67	123
102	Arlington, TX	38.52	25	154
103	North Las Vegas, NV	38.48	102	80
104	Modesto, CA	38.33	117	91
105	Plano, TX	38.32	95	88
106	Charleston, WV	38.08	52	165
107	New Haven, CT	37.99	128	97
108	Kansas City, MO	37.90	77	114
109	Knoxville, TN	37.69	111	89
110	Fargo, ND	37.65	106	113
111	Amarillo, TX	37.56	61	142
112	Corpus Christi, TX	37.27	31	167
113	Birmingham, AL	37.17	63	119
114	Cape Coral, FL	37.11	53	125
115	Little Rock, AR	37.01	148	96
116	Bismarck, ND	36.82	92	139
117	Glendale, AZ	36.81	45	105
118	Garland, TX	36.77	91	138
119	Brownsville, TX	36.48	35	180
120	Henderson, NV	36.47	59	136
121	Akron, OH	36.46	78	147
122	Huntington, WV	36.43	69	157
123	Worcester, MA	36.43	140	110
124	Chula Vista, CA	36.37	122	116
125	Oceanside, CA	36.26	99	120
126	Sioux Falls, SD	36.20	89	132
127	Burlington, VT	36.20	145	117
128	Nashua, NH	36.18	136	131
129	Fort Wayne, IN	36.13	81	153
130	Baton Rouge, LA	36.11	176	83
131	Greensboro, NC	36.08	58	143
132	Anchorage, AK	35.95	132	98
133	Lubbock, TX	35.91	88	144
134	Peoria, AZ	35.84	73	164
135	Cheyenne, WY	35.77	84	171
136	Fremont, CA	35.75	170	90
137	Stockton, CA	35.70	159	99
138	Fort Smith, AR	35.61	149	133
139	Rapid City, SD	35.59	158	111
140	Memphis, TN	35.50	118	130
141	Wichita, KS	35.45	79	155
142	Durham, NC	35.31	156	103
143	Pembroke Pines, FL	35.09	150	122
144	Winston-Salem, NC	35.05	126	137
145	Chesapeake, VA	34.78	135	148
146	Gilbert, AZ	34.72	23	159
147	Newport News, VA	34.70	155	135
148	Shreveport, LA	34.45	105	170
149	Bridgeport, CT	34.43	166	128
150	Oxnard, CA	34.37	172	104
151	Huntsville, AL	34.30	124	141
152	Yonkers, NY	34.29	179	87
153	Toledo, OH	34.24	42	176
154	Port St. Lucie, FL	34.16	143	161
155	San Bernardino, CA	34.01	137	145
156	Norfolk, VA	33.97	165	118
157	Columbia, MD	33.91	168	129
158	Gulfport, MS	33.85	152	160
159	Santa Clarita, CA	33.67	129	150
160	Overland Park, KS	33.57	171	121
161	Ontario, CA	33.55	163	124
162	Nampa, ID	33.41	123	152
163	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	33.34	134	162
164	Lewiston, ME	33.31	130	163
165	South Burlington, VT	33.17	147	151
166	Aurora, IL	33.01	161	149
167	Juneau, AK	32.86	180	107
168	Mobile, AL	32.85	108	172
169	Grand Prairie, TX	32.69	113	169
170	Fontana, CA	32.61	167	156
171	Warwick, RI	32.43	169	134
172	Las Cruces, NM	32.30	115	178
173	Chattanooga, TN	31.97	157	158
174	Fayetteville, NC	31.79	141	174
175	Moreno Valley, CA	31.58	164	146
176	Columbus, GA	31.54	142	177
177	Dover, DE	31.44	173	168
178	Jackson, MS	29.93	177	175
179	Augusta, GA	29.82	125	182
180	Montgomery, AL	29.29	153	181
181	West Valley City, UT	28.08	174	179
182	Pearl City, HI	23.83	182	173

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:

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

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 29 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 (~9.44 Points)
• Ratio of Full-Service Restaurants to Fast-Food Establishments: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Growth in Number of Full Service Restaurants (2016 vs 2011): Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Restaurant Diversity: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Presence of Michelin-Starred Restaurants: Quarter Weight (~0.79 Points)
• Average Ranking of Restaurants on Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” List: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Food Trucks per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Access to Healthy Food Options: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Farmers Markets & CSA Programs per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
  Note: “CSA” refers to community-supported agriculture.
• Food Freshness: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
  Note: The percentage of workers involved in agricultural activities was used as a proxy for this metric.
• Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Craft Breweries & Wine Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Gourmet Specialty-Food Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
  Note: “Gourmet Specialty-Food Stores” includes, among others, candy stores, chocolatiers and cheese shops.
• Grocery Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Butcher Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Herbs & Spices Stores per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.57 Points)
• Kitchen Supplies Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Food Festivals per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Cooking Schools per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)
• Food & Drink Meetups per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.57 Points)
• Food & Wine Tours per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.15 Points)

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• YouTube (for web embedding Portland, OR)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 
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.

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