- 2025 Best Foodie Cities Report: WalletHub released its report on the Best Foodie Cities in America for 2025, ranking over 180 large US cities based on 28 metrics, with Miami, Portland, and San Francisco leading the list.
- Key Metrics and City Highlights: The rankings consider factors like restaurant affordability, accessibility, food festivals, and specialty food stores. St. Louis has the most gourmet stores, Las Vegas the most restaurants, and Orlando the most ice cream shops per capita.
- Expert Dining Advice: Experts provided tips for health-conscious foodies (e.g., healthy cooking methods, diverse cuisines) and budget-conscious diners (e.g., food trucks, lunch menus, cooking at home, splitting portions).
- Dining Out Trends for 2025: Trends include cost as a top consumer priority, rising demand for healthy yet affordable options, increased use of technology (AI menus), and a balance between tech efficiency and human interaction.
WalletHub has released its 2025 report on the Best Foodie Cities in America, coinciding with World Food Day on October 16 and a reported 3.9% rise in restaurant prices between August 2024 and August 2025. This report evaluated over 180 of the largest US cities across 28 metrics to identify top local foodie scenes. Metrics included affordability and accessibility of high-quality restaurants, food festivals per capita, and craft breweries and wineries per capita.
The top 20 cities identified in the report include Miami, FL; Portland, OR; and San Francisco, CA, leading the list. Other cities in the top ranks include Seattle, WA; Orlando, FL; and Austin, TX. The report also highlighted specific city statistics, such as St. Louis having the most gourmet specialty-food stores per capita and Las Vegas having the most restaurants per capita. Cape Coral, FL, showed the highest ratio of full-service to fast-food establishments, and Orlando, FL, was noted for having the most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per capita.
According to a WalletHub analyst, the top cities provide a variety of culinary experiences, from food trucks to specialty food stores and Michelin-starred restaurants. These cities are described as catering to both those who dine out and those who cook at home, while also maintaining affordability. Miami, specifically, was highlighted for its high number of affordable, highly-rated restaurants, numerous restaurants per capita, and 13 Michelin-starred establishments, including one with two stars. It also ranked highly for farmers’ markets, gourmet specialty food stores, butcher shops, and kitchen supply stores per capita.
Expert commentary within the report offered advice for health-conscious foodies and those on a tight budget. Tips for health-conscious diners included opting for healthier cooking methods and exploring diverse cuisines. For budget-conscious foodies, suggestions included trying food trucks and local markets, utilizing weekday specials, and considering lunch or brunch menus. Cooking more at home and ordering takeaway instead of delivery were also recommended to manage costs. Discussions on dining trends for 2025 indicated that cost remains a priority for consumers, with a continued demand for healthy and affordable options. Technology, such as QR code menus and AI recommendations, is becoming more prevalent, alongside a desire for genuine human interaction.
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-foodie-cities/7522
Key takeaways and WalletHub commentary are included below in text and video format
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