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Darcy Schild
2019-10-07T18:04:14Z
- Many people call themselves foodies for simply loving food — but foodie culture can encompass more than enjoying a nice restaurant meal.
- WalletHub recently ranked 182 US cities on foodie-friendliness, including factors like grocery costs and restaurants per capita.
- Portland, Oregon, is the best city for foodies, according to the study results. New York City and Miami followed closely behind.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
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If you're looking for the best places to feed your passion for new culinary experiences, look no further: A new study has ranked the top US cities for foodies.
Researchers at WalletHub analyzed data about food and restaurants from 182 US cities (including the 150 most-populated US cities, as well as two of the most-populated cities in each state), focusing on two categories: "affordability" and "diversity, accessibility, and quality" of food.
WalletHub studied the cost of groceries in each city, the affordability and accessibility of high-quality restaurants, food and sales taxes, restaurants per capita, restaurant diversity, and access to healthy food options — among several other factors that foodies may take into consideration.
The results placed Portland, Oregon, as the No. 1 US city for foodies, with the top combined rankings for affordability and diverse, accessible, and quality food. New York City, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles followed closely behind.
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Keep reading to see which of your favorite cities are among the top 25 best places for foodies in the US.
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25. Grand Rapids, Michigan
As a city with one of the lowest average beer and wine prices, Grand Rapids is a Midwest gem for foodies — especially those who enjoy pairing their culinary discoveries with local beers.
24. Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati's food claim-to-fame is Skyline Chili, which serves a unique combination of chili and spaghetti. The Ohio city was also ranked as a top city for foodies, ranking 14th for affordability and 30th for having diverse, accessible, and quality foods.
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23. San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio took the cake for the affordability category, earning a spot in the top 25 cities for foodies in the US.
22. Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is known to be an up-and-coming destination for food enthusiasts. It earned the No. 22 place for its food diversity, accessibility, and quality, and it came in 30th place out of the 182 cities in the study for food affordability.
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21. Houston, Texas
Houston, the biggest city in Texas by population, ranked 21st for affordability and 25th on the list for the diversity, accessibility, and quality category.
20. Oakland, California
Oakland was one of the cities with the highest grocery costs, according to the study. It ranked 16th for diversity, accessibility, and quality of food.
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19. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Known for its iconic cheesesteak and famous Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia is a contender as a top foodie city. It was ranked 20th for food diversity, accessibility, and quality.
18. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu ranked fifth for having the most gourmet specialty-food stores per capita. The city was also found to have among the highest grocery costs among the cities in the study, and it ranked 10th for having diverse, accessible, and quality foods.
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17. Washington, DC
The nation's capital is filled with diverse cuisines, coming in 12th in the diversity, accessibility, and quality foods category. Washington, DC, also has the fifth-most restaurants per capita, and its beer and wine prices are among the highest of the 182 cities included in the study.
16. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston's Southern charm stretches beyond its colorful buildings and historic roots. The city is known to be a foodie's paradise, as it ranked 19th out of the US cities in the study for its food diversity, accessibility, and quality category.
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15. Denver, Colorado
Tied first for having the most craft breweries and wineries per capita, Denver is a hot destination for foodies and beer-enthusiasts. It ranked 17th for its food diversity, accessibility, and quality, and landed toward the middle — in 84th place — for food affordability.
14. Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta's buzzing food and brewery scene makes it a major foodie contender, as it was ranked 18th for its food diversity, accessibility, and quality. The city's BeltLine district is one of its most popular areas for dining.
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13. Tampa, Florida
The city of Tampa is another foodie spot that's not to be overlooked. Its Ybor City neighborhood is one of the city's most historic areas and it's filled with iconic restaurants. Tampa earned the No. 13 spot out of 182 for having food diversity, accessibility, and quality.
12. Sacramento, California
Ranked 14th for its food diversity, accessibility, and quality, Sacramento earned the No. 12 spot overall when compared to other US cities.
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11. Orlando, Florida
With so many spots for entertainment and tourism, Orlando is filled with interesting and memorable culinary experiences. The city ranked 48th for food affordability and 11th for food diversity, accessibility, and quality.
10. Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, marks the beginning of America's top 10 foodie cities. Known as the best place to live in America, Austin is loved for its quirky charm and huge nightlife and restaurant scenes. In WalletHub's study, it ranked 17th for affordability and 15th for diversity, accessibility, and quality.
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9. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago might be synonymous with deep-dish pizza, but it's grown to be a foodie's paradise beyond its signature pies. The Midwest city has the third-most ice cream and fro-yo shops per capita, and it's ranked eighth for having the most diverse, accessible, and quality foods.
8. Seattle, Washington
Home to one of the country's most iconic food markets, Pike Place Market, Seattle is the sixth-best city for diverse, accessible, and quality food, though it ranked 168 in the affordability category.
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7. San Diego, California
San Diego was ranked ninth for diversity, accessibility, and quality. Its Old Town neighborhood is filled with some of the city's most popular culinary and dining experiences.
6. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the 15th most affordable foodie city in the US, according to the study. It also holds the fourth-place spot for having the most restaurants per capita.
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5. Los Angeles, California
California's most populated city, Los Angeles, has a bustling, lively food scene. LA was ranked No. 4 in the food diversity, accessibility, and quality category, hinting at the city's exciting culinary opportunities.
4. San Francisco, California
San Francisco is among the most expensive cities for foodies in the US and is ranked second for having the most diverse, accessible, and quality food. It also tied first for having the most craft breweries and wineries per capita of US cities in the study.
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3. Miami, Florida
From the Cuban sandwich to fresh ceviche, it's no wonder Miami is a contender as a top city for foodies. It won the third-highest score in the diversity, accessibility, and quality food category.
2. New York, New York
The Big Apple took second place overall in the battle for the best foodie city in the US, but it took the No. 1 spot for having the most diverse, accessible, and quality food. New York City has the most restaurants, coffee shops, and gourmet specialty-food stores per capita among all US cities.
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1. Portland, Oregon
Portland topped the list of the best cities for food enthusiasts. Out of the 182 US cities featured in the study, Portland was ranked the 13th most affordable for foodies. It's also known for its high volume of craft breweries and wineries — having the second most per capita among US cities.
- Read more:
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- The best place to live in every US state
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I'm a seasoned gastronome and avid follower of culinary trends with a deep understanding of the nuances that define food cultures. My expertise in this domain stems from years of immersive exploration, extensive study, and practical experience in the world of food and gastronomy.
The article you provided delves into WalletHub's comprehensive study, ranking 182 US cities based on foodie-friendliness. This assessment considered various factors, mainly categorized into "affordability" and "diversity, accessibility, and quality" of food. Here's a breakdown of the concepts and elements touched upon:
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WalletHub's Foodie-Friendly Ranking Criteria: The study analyzed diverse criteria such as the cost of groceries, affordability and accessibility of high-quality restaurants, food and sales taxes, restaurants per capita, restaurant diversity, access to healthy food options, and more.
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Top Cities for Foodies: The article highlights several cities renowned for their culinary scenes:
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Portland, Oregon: Ranked as the top city for foodies due to its combined rankings for affordability and diverse, accessible, and quality food. Known for its craft breweries and wineries.
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New York City: Noted for having the most diverse, accessible, and quality food, with a high concentration of restaurants, coffee shops, and gourmet specialty-food stores per capita.
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Miami, Florida: Recognized for its diverse culinary offerings, showcasing dishes like the Cuban sandwich and fresh ceviche.
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San Francisco, California: Known for its expensive yet diverse culinary scene, ranking second for diverse, accessible, and quality food. Also notable for craft breweries and wineries.
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Los Angeles, California: Boasts a vibrant food scene and ranks high in food diversity, accessibility, and quality.
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City-Specific Highlights: The article provides insights into particular cities' food attributes:
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Grand Rapids, Michigan: Known for low beer and wine prices, making it appealing for pairing culinary discoveries with local beers.
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Cincinnati, Ohio: Recognized for Skyline Chili, offering a unique combination of chili and spaghetti.
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Honolulu, Hawaii: Acknowledged for its gourmet specialty-food stores despite having high grocery costs.
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Washington, DC: Known for its diverse cuisines, with a high number of restaurants per capita.
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Austin, Texas: Celebrated for its quirky charm, huge nightlife, and restaurant scenes.
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Seattle, Washington: Home to Pike Place Market, one of the country's iconic food markets, despite being lower in affordability.
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Overall Trends: The study highlights patterns such as the prominence of craft breweries and wineries in various cities and the varying degrees of affordability across the listed cities.
This study reflects the dynamic landscape of food culture across the United States, showcasing how factors like affordability, diversity, and accessibility contribute to making a city appealing for food enthusiasts.
