California has some of the best foodie cities in the US, study shows. Where are they?
California is home to some of the best cities for food lovers in the nation, according to a recent WalletHub study.
The personal finance website recently ranked the Best Foodie Cities in America in 2024, highlighting the top spots for both quality and affordability in dining scenes across the United States.
“While being a foodie can be quite expensive, culinary hotspots across the U.S. offer plenty of affordable and delicious options,” WalletHub said in the report, published Sept. 30. “These wallet-friendly cities cater to diners who prefer to cook at home, explore the local flavors or both.”
According to WalletHub, the No. 1 best foodie city in the country is Miami, thanks to its abundance of high-quality, affordable restaurants.
The site gave the Florida city an overall score of 74.37 out of 100.
Three California cities also secured spots in the top 10.
Here’s where to find them:
Where are the best foodie cities in California?
San Francisco was the second-best city for foodies, earning a total score of 71.66 out of 100, WalletHub said.
The Bay Area city landed at No. 173 for food affordability and No. 2 for diversity, accessibility and quality.
Sacramento also made the top 10 for best foodie cities in the country.
The capital city landed at No. 6, with a total score of 66.79. It ranked at No. 68 for food affordability and No. 8 for diversity, accessibility and quality.
San Diego was No. 10 on WalletHub’s list, scoring an overal 63.74 out of 100.
The Southern California city ranked at No. 147 for food affordability and No. 10 for diversity, accessibility and quality.
Where are the best foodie cities in the US?
These are the top 10 foodie cities in the country, according to WalletHub:
- Miami
- San Francisco
- Orlando, Florida
- Portland, Oregon
- Tampa, Florida
- Sacramento
- Las Vegas
- Seattle
- Denver
- San Diego
How did WalletHub come up with its findings?
To find the top foodie destinations that offer both quality and affordability, WalletHub analyzed more than 180 cities in the country using key indicators.
WalletHub looked at affordability — including groceries, high-end restaurants and meal costs — and the diversity, accessibility and quality of food options. This includes restaurants per capita, access to healthy foods and grocery stores per capita.
