California is home to three of the nation’s best cities for food, new rankings show

California is filled with diverse cuisines, making it a top spot for foodies, according to a new ranking.

San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego were among the top 10 destinations included in Food & Wine magazine’s survey of the best cities for food in the U.S. The list was published April 19.

Food & Wine readers voted on multiple categories, including restaurants, bars, cities, hotels, airports, airlines and cruises to find the “best culinary destinations in the U.S. and abroad.”

To qualify for a vote, a reader had to have visited a city in the past three years.

The Golden City — San Francisco — earned the No. 3 spot on the list and was recognized for its “deep culinary roots,” nearby wineries and Chinatown.

It’s also home to over 50 Michelin-star restaurants. Michelin stars are the most respected award in the culinary industry.

San Francisco was also recognized on Food & Wine’s “10 Best Cities for Neighborhood Restaurants in the U.S.”

Los Angeles was recognized for its culinary scene, too. The city ranked No. 4. and was highlighted for its barbecue, taquerias such as Mariscos Jalisco, and “unexpected and magical energy.”

“You never know when you’re going to run into a pop-up led by a famous chef,” the magazine said.

Readers also recognized Los Angeles on a few other lists, including the best neighborhood restaurants and the best hotel bars.

And four Los Angeles restaurants were regarded on “11 Best Restaurants for Ambiance in the U.S.”

Lastly, San Diego ranked No. 9 among the best cities for food in the country.

“San Diego hasn’t always been known for its food scene, and that’s why we’re so excited to see it chosen in this year’s awards,” the magazine wrote.

The ocean-side destination was recognized for Matsu, a modern Japanese restaurant that first started as a pop-up. Food & Wine also said the city has become a “hub” of international chains like Jomaru Korean Hot Pot.

Here’s the full list of the 10 best cities in the U.S. for food:

1. New York
2. New Orleans
3. San Francisco
4. Los Angeles
5. Portland, Oregon
6. Chicago
7. Charleston, South Carolina
8. Miami
9. San Diego
10. Austin, Texas

This story was originally published April 28, 2023 at 1:01 PM with the headline "California is home to three of the nation’s best cities for food, new rankings show."

Helena Wegner

McClatchy DC

Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.