Several cities in Florida, California, and Texas are among the best major hubs in the United States for food enthusiasts, new research has shown.
The study, done by the personal finance site WalletHub, compared 182 U.S. cities—including the 150 most populous and at least two of the most populous in each state—across a wide array of food-related metrics to determine the best places for foodies in 2025.
The analysis was based on two key dimensions, which include “affordability” and “diversity, accessibility and quality.” These were evaluated using 28 specific metrics that included everything from the cost of groceries and restaurant meals to the number of restaurants and gourmet food stores per capita, the prevalence of farmers’ markets, and access to healthy food options. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions for food enthusiasts.
The data was sourced from several reputable institutions, including the U.S. Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and the Tax Foundation, with data collected as of September 1, 2025.
Miami Takes the Top Spot
Miami, Florida, ranked as the number one city for food lovers, excelling in both affordability and food diversity. “Miami is the best city for foodies, leading the country when it comes to the availability of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars out of 5,” the WalletHub study noted. The city also boasts one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita in the country.
“In addition to having a lot of dining establishments, Miami also has high-quality choices,” the report added. “The city has the 12th-most diversity when it comes to the types of restaurants available, and the 11th-best ratio of full-service restaurants to fast-food chains.”
Miami also shines in the fine-dining scene, with 13 Michelin-starred restaurants, including L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, which has two Michelin stars. For those who prefer to cook at home, Miami offers one of the richest markets in terms of culinary shopping, ranking third in the number of farmers’ markets, third in butcher shops, ninth in gourmet specialty food stores, and second in kitchen supply stores per capita.
Portland Offers Flavor Without the Taxes
Portland, Oregon, ranks as the second-best foodie city in the U.S., distinguishing itself through its vast selection of craft breweries, wineries, herbs and spices shops, and a high concentration of food and wine tours and festivals.
Despite lacking any Michelin-starred restaurants, Portland provides impressive value. “The city doesn’t impose any tax on food, be it groceries or prepared meals,” the study found. “So, whether you’re planning a home cookout or treating yourself to a restaurant dinner, you won’t have to spend a dime on tax.”
Portland also features a high number of restaurants with top ratings—those scoring at least 4.5 stars out of 5—making it a haven for budget-conscious gourmands seeking high-quality meals.
San Francisco Brings Star Power and Diversity
San Francisco, California, took third place, backed by a renowned fine-dining scene. “San Francisco also currently has a staggering 26 restaurants with Michelin stars, including three establishments with three stars apiece: Atelier Crenn, Benu, and Quince,” the WalletHub report stated.
The city also performs well in affordability and variety. “San Francisco offers a very high number of restaurants per capita and one of the best selections of affordable restaurants that are rated at least 4.5 out of 5 stars,” according to the study.
Beyond dining, the city’s culinary ecosystem includes the sixth-best diversity of restaurant types nationwide and the fourth-best access to healthy food options. San Francisco is also among the top U.S. cities for food festivals, cooking schools, herb and spice stores, international grocery stores, and craft breweries per capita.
The Best of the Rest
Rounding out the top five best cities was Seattle in Washington state, with a score of 70.45 in fourth place, and Orlando in Florida in fifth place, scoring 70.08.
Tied in first place for offering the most number of restaurants per capita, were Las Vegas in Nevada, the Florida cities Miami and Orlando, San Francisco and Houston in Texas.
Santa Rosa and San Diego in California as well as Portland in Oregon, Seattle, and Portland in Maine were also tied for having the most craft breweries and wineries per capita.
The cities with the lowest cost of groceries and the lowest average price for beer and wine were Laredo in Texas and Reno in Nevada, respectively.
Top 25 Food Cities in America in 2025
- Miami, FL – Score: 73.58
- Portland, OR – Score: 72.73
- San Francisco, CA – Score: 70.58
- Seattle, WA – Score: 70.45
- Orlando, FL – Score: 70.08
- Austin, TX – Score: 69.77
- Tampa, FL – Score: 68.62
- Las Vegas, NV – Score: 67.89
- Sacramento, CA – Score: 67.52
- San Diego, CA – Score: 66.35
- Atlanta, GA – Score: 66.27
- Denver, CO – Score: 65.93
- Pittsburgh, PA – Score: 64.31
- St. Louis, MO – Score: 64.19
- Houston, TX – Score: 64.08
- Los Angeles, CA – Score: 64.04
- Milwaukee, WI – Score: 61.80
- Richmond, VA – Score: 61.46
- Cincinnati, OH – Score: 61.31
- Washington, DC – Score: 61.20
- Fort Lauderdale, FL – Score: 60.57
- San Antonio, TX – Score: 60.42
- Chicago, IL – Score: 60.08
- Grand Rapids, MI – Score: 59.83
- Dallas, TX – Score: 59.39
Source: Based on WalletHub’s study of 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state—across two key dimensions, which include “affordability” and “diversity, accessibility & quality,” which were evaluated using 28 relevant metrics. Each city was then given a score out of a 100, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions and costs for foodies.
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