3 California cities ranked among best spots for foodies. Do you live near one?
Hungry? Three California cities are among the top 10 spots for foodies in the nation.
That’s according to personal finance website WalletHub, which recently ranked the best foodie cities in America in 2025.
“There are tons of unique culinary experiences to try, from food trucks to specialty-food stores to ... Michelin-starred restaurants,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a Sept. 29 article.
“These cities make delicious dining affordable for residents and visitors alike,” Lupo added.
Here’s what to know:
What makes San Francisco one of America’s top foodie cities?
San Francisco was the third-best city for foodies in the United States in 2025, according to WalletHub.
The Bay Area city has a “very high number of restaurants per capita,” the personal finance site said, as well as and one of the best selections of top-rated affordable restaurants.
San Francisco is home to 26 restaurants with Michelin Guide stars, awarded to eateries that offer “outstanding cooking.”
Three San Francisco restaurants have three Michelin stars apiece: Atelier Crenn, Benu and Quince.
Residents in the Bay Area city have access to craft breweries, international grocery stores and healthy food options, WalletHub said.
“San Francisco also has a large number of food festivals and cooking schools per capita, allowing foodies to enjoy new culinary experiences,” WalletHub said.
However, San Francisco has the most expensive groceries in the nation, according to the personal finance site.
San Diego, Sacramento among best destinations for food lovers
Two other California cities made WalletHub’s 2025 list of the top 10 destinations for food lovers in 2025.
Sacramento was No. 9 on WalletHub’s list, thanks to its top-rated restaurants and popular events including Terra Madre Americas, FoodieLand and the Tower Bridge Dinner.
Although California’s farm-to-fork capital was ninth in the nation in terms of diversity, accessibility and quality, the city scored considerably lower for affordability, WalletHub said.
Michelin Guide California lists a total of 17 restaurants in the Sacramento area — including one-star recipients Localis and The Kitchen.
San Diego took the No. 10 spot on WalletHub’s list, due to its diverse and high-quality dining options.
In 2025, a total of 37 San Diego restaurants were recognized by Michelin Guide California for excellence in food — including Addison, which boasts three Michelin stars.
A number of California cities landed lower in WalletHub’s rankings, including Los Angeles at No. 16.
Oakland was No. 28 on the list, and Fresno was No. 51.
Where are top 10 foodie cities in the US?
According to WalletHub, the top 10 cities for foodies can be found from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Here’s which ones made the list:
- 1. Miami
- 2. Portland, Oregon
- 3. San Francisco
- 4. Seattle
- 5. Orlando
- 6. Austin, Texas
- 7. Tampa, Florida
- 8. Las Vegas
- 9. Sacramento
- 10. San Diego
How did WalletHub rank the best cities for food lovers?
To choose the cities with the best and most affordable foodie scenes, WalletHub said it compared a total of 182 U.S. cities based on two categories: affordability and diversity, accessibility and quality.
To determine what qualified as “affordable,” WalletHub looked at factors including the cost of groceries, restaurant meal costs and the accessibility and affordability of high-quality restaurants.
For the diversity, accessibility and quality category, WalletHub checked for the presence of Michelin-starred restaurants, the number of food trucks per capita and the ratio of full-service restaurants to fast-food establishments, among other factors.
Data came from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Yelp and the Council for Community and Economic Research.
