The Best Food Cities in the U.S.

From coast to coast, these are the best places to travel for foodies.

Calling all stateside gourmands: the United States is home to some truly incredible food cities. Fold a New York slice, pick up a pierogi, or bite into a Korean barbecue taco and it's clear that U.S. gastronomy has benefited enormously from migration. In other words, the diversity of food across the country is unparalleled. In big cities like New York and San Francisco and unexpected spots like Greenville, South Carolina, and Tucson, Arizona, are hidden gems, lauded hotspots, and everything in between.

TOP 5 CAN'T MISS

• If you only eat two things in New York, eschew Michelin-starred restaurants for dumplings and a slice of pizza.

• With its Native American and Mexican culinary roots, Tucson, Arizona, was the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

• Start your Maine road trip in Portland and tuck into buttery lobster rolls and briny oysters.

• Detroit is so multicultural, you'll find Burundian fare, crispy square pizza, tamales, and everything in between.

• In Houston, you'll find everything from Viet-Cajun fusion to Southeast Asian-Latin American cuisine.

If you're in the U.S. and you love to eat, here are 14 of the best foodie destinations across America.

New York City, New York

Some would argue New York City is the food capital of the U.S.; it's a melting pot of cultures with incredible food diversity, which means you can enjoy any type of cuisine here, from authentic dim sum at Joe’s Shanghai in Manhattan Chinatown to mouthwatering bagels with a schmear or meat-piled sandwiches at one of the city’s dozens of Jewish delis like Katz’s.

Don’t confine yourself to Manhattan, either: Feast your way through the five boroughs, including stops in Astoria and Jackson Heights (in Queens) for authentic Greek and Himalayan fare, respectively. Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood is home to a slew of Polish bakeries like Syrena, while Arthur Avenue (in the Bronx) and Staten Island offer some of the city’s best Italian food.

Additionally, the Big Apple boasts 67 Michelin-starred restaurants, ranging from fine-dining establishments like Le Bernardin to cool but low-key haunts like Jeju Noodle Bar. Don’t get caught up on all things Michelin, though; no trip to New York would be complete without a slice of pizza (try Williamsburg Pizza or L'Industrie).

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson was the first U.S. city to be deemed a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2015. Today, the destination continues to wow culinary connoisseurs with its distinct Native American and Mexican offerings dating back thousands of years. The best Tucson restaurants incorporate locally sourced ingredients into their drinks and dishes. With this in mind, prickly pear margaritas are a staple here, as are nopales (edible cacti). Tucson’s vibrant downtown district has 85-plus bars and restaurants, including Bata (which offers a largely veggie-focused menu — 90 percent of which is sourced within 400 miles of the restaurant) and taqueria Boca. Helmed by James Beard finalist Maria Mazon, Boca is famous for its flavorful tacos and salsa flights.

Portland, Maine

Portland packs an outsized punch when it comes to food, with crowd-drawing restaurants serving everything from Maine icon the lobster roll to pork belly yakitori. Its small size makes it easy to cover a lot of ground; even if you only have 24 hours in Portland before starting a road trip up the coast of Maine to visit Acadia National Park, you'll be able to get in multiple excellent meals and snack breaks. Start the day at Katie Made Bakery, a favorite for breakfast sandwiches, followed by lunch at perennial favorite Eventide Oyster Co., which boasts more than a dozen oyster varieties and a top-notch lobster roll. For dinner, reserve (way) in advance at seasonal New American restaurant Fore Street, whose menu changes daily, or chow down on yakitori and killer crispy fried tofu at Bar Futo.

Related: 18 Best Things to Do in Portland, According to a Maine Local

Detroit, Michigan

Wonderfully multicultural Detroit flexes its diversity, with the best restaurants in the city running from James Beard Award-nominated Baobab Fare (East African fare) to Tamaleria Nuevo Leon and El Parian taco truck. For sushi, head straight to James Beard Award-winning Sozai or, for more casual nigiri and rolls, the sushi bar at beloved Japanese supermarket Noble Fish (20 minutes away in Clawson). No trip would be complete without Detroit-style pizza: the square pies were originally baked in the steel pans used by auto workers and are still done the same way; the result is a tall but airy slice, with a very crispy crust. Try them at Grandma Bob's, Michigan & Trumbull, or nearby Pie Sci.

Houston, Texas

As one of America’s most diverse cities, it’s no surprise that Houston made our list of the best U.S. cities for foodies. The Bayou City offers something for every palate. As such, options abound, from Viet-Cajun fusion at Crawfish & Noodles to Southeast Asian-Latin American cuisine at Hawker Street Food Bar, which can be found at Post Market.

Speaking of Post, this bustling international food haul features fantastic eats from acclaimed chefs. A few of our favorites include ChópnBlok for its West African fare and East Side King, which serves up Japanese street food like pork buns and beet home fries.  We’d also be remiss not to highlight Houston’s food truck scene, including the award-winning Coreanos, where diners can feast on Korean-Mexican fusion like Korean barbecue tacos.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a foodie city, and Chicagoans are most passionate about their deep-dish pizzas and their unique ketchup-free hot dogs. The former and the latter are best enjoyed at Windy City staples Pequod's and Jimmy’s Red Hots, respectively. Chicago also boasts over 50 James Beard Award winners and 20 Michelin-star-awarded restaurants, including the world-famous Alinea, best known for its creative multicourse tasting menus. Recent additions to the food scene here include the 24,000-square-foot Chicago Winery (one part winery, one part restaurant, and one part bar and events space) and the 17,000-square-foot Kindling, a live fire show kitchen helmed by James Beard Award winner Jonathon Sawyer.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Dining in New Orleans is a direct reflection of the city's diverse cultural influences from Europe, the Caribbean, and West Africa. With this in mind, it’s fitting that The Big Easy is, well, big on flavor. Savory staples here include po’boys (Sammy's is a local fave), jambalaya (the one at Mother’s is *chef’s kiss*), gumbo (dig in at the aptly named Gumbo Shop), crawfish étouffée (check out Creole House), and muffulettas (grab yours at the Verti Marte, which is open 24/7) — all best paired with live jazz, of course. Be sure to save room for powdered sugar-covered beignets at Cafe Du Monde (yes, there will be a line, but yes, it’s worth it) and wash everything down with NOLA’s most iconic cocktail, the Sazerac, at The Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt Hotel.

San Francisco, California

In San Francisco, diners can indulge in 30-plus Michelin-starred meals at acclaimed eateries like Atelier Crenn (where haute French cuisine is served in a swanky space),  Mister Jiu's (which features contemporary Chinese-American fare), and Lazy Bear (which bills itself as a “modern American dinner party).

Alternatively, for something more casual, make your way to the Ferry Building Marketplace, which is teeming with locally loved food vendors like Acme Bread Company, Dandelion Chocolate, El Porte?o Empanadas, and Hog Island Oyster Company. Lastly, no trip to San Fran is complete without sampling some sourdough (both Josey Baker Bread and Boudin Bakery make some of the best in town) and namesake Mission burritos (locals and travelers alike love Taqueria Cancún).

Cleveland, Ohio

This diverse Midwestern city has a severely underrated albeit eclectic food scene fueled by nearby farms, local producers, and trailblazing chefs. For a taste of Cleveland’s best eats, head straight to West Side Market, an indoor-outdoor market that offers something for everyone. Local vendors include Orale! Contemporary Mexican Cuisine, Pierogi Palace, Frank’s Bratwurst, Theresa’s Bakery, and Crepes de Luxe.

Then, carve out an afternoon to embark on your very own food tour of the city, including dim sum in AsiaTown and more pierogies in Slavic Village. The Land also has an incredible selection of Black-owned and Black-led restaurants like Pearl’s Kitchen for top-notch comfort food, Yonder for delectable brunch, and Cleveland Cold Brew for coffee and pastries. Don’t miss some of the city’s more recent spots like Cordelia (which serves comfort food with a Midwestern, nostalgia-inducing twist) and The Judith, a cozy Parisian-inspired cafe.

Related: The Best Things to Do, See, and Eat in Cleveland, Ohio

Louisville, Kentucky

While Louisville is best known for its bourbon, you won’t want to sleep on its exciting food scene. Boasting 1,800 restaurants plus several award-winning chefs, Louisville is sure to delight food and drink enthusiasts alike. Hit the Urban Bourbon Trail, which highlights Louisvlle’s best bourbon bars and restaurants — over 40 of them, to be exact. While it may be tricky to hit the whole trail, must-visits include Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, and Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar. Finally, you can’t leave Louisville without trying the city’s signature dish, the Hot Brown. This delicious open-face sandwich — which features turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and Mornay sauce smothered on Texas toast – dates back to the 1920s when it was first invented at the Brown Hotel.

Greenville, South Carolina

The Greenville that was a quiet cotton mill town is long gone; the city today is vibrant and full of unique culinary offerings rivaling larger nearby locales like Charlotte and Asheville. Here, you’ll find nearly 200 locally owned restaurants, including Camp (which offers an eccentric menu featuring unique dishes like Thai-inspired calamari and lamb smothered in curry cream) and Coral. Feast on fresh seafood at Jones Oyster Co. before snagging an afternoon pick-me-up at Methodical Coffee. Other must-visit spots include Scoundrel, a fantastic French brassiere headlined by acclaimed chef and Greenville native Joe Cash;  farm-to-table fan-favorite Topsoil Kitchen & Market (helmed by 2020 James Beard Award semifinalist Adam Cooke) and Mexican eatery Comal 864 (owned and operated by Dayna Lee-Márquez, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist).

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philly gives New York a run for its money when it comes to East Coast foodie cities. The humble cheesesteak is a Philadelphia icon; try an oxtail version at Taste Cheesesteak Bar in Center City, Joe's Steaks + Soda Shop in Fishtown, or Sonny's Famous Steaks in Old City. Lots of James Beard Award winners call Philadelphia home: Fishtown Thai hotspot Kalaya (Nok Suntaranon won Best Chef); Friday Saturday Sunday, an ultra-popular New American restaurant in Rittenhouse Square, won Outstanding Restaurant; and Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown/University City earned a Best Restaurant & Chef award. For an exceptional plant-based meal, head to Pietramala in Northern Liberties, which is BYOB and serves grilled oyster mushrooms with sweet corn and smoked eggplant with harissa, dukkah, and red lentils.

Los Angeles, California

Eating in L.A. is almost synonymous with Mexican food; Pew Research Center found that 30 percent of California's Mexican restaurants are in L.A. In short, you could eat nothing but tacos and leave happily; sit down for barbacoa tacos at Gish Bac in Arlington Heights, run by barbacoa queen Maria Ramos; bite into crispy fish and shrimp tacos from Tacos Bajas' four outposts; or pull up a red plastic stool at El Ruso, known for their carne asada. Of course, California's largest city offers every type of cuisine — from Burmese (Bagan Burmese Kitchen in Silver Lake) to Italian (Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza in Hollywood), Indian bar food (Pijja Palace in Silver Lake) to Thai-Japan fusion (Budonoki in East Hollywood).

Honolulu, Hawaii

Whether you're after impossibly fresh poke and sushi, Korean barbecue, or oceanfront brunch, you'll find it in the Hawaiian capital. You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to poke; try Kyung’s Seafood — which also has delicious kimchi pancakes — beloved Maguro Brothers, or Kahiau. Inaba is as popular for soba and dizzying tempura options as it is for sushi and has an expansive lunch menu that's very reasonably priced compared to top-notch but pricy options like Sushi Gyoshin. If you want a break from seafood, go for the lunch set at Korean barbecue joint Hangang or an oceanfront brunch at Hau Tree. For a refreshing post-beach treat, go for Hawaiian shave ice; you'll find shops and kiosks selling them all over Honolulu, but Aloha Ice Labs is particularly popular.

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