New Report Names Orlando the Best Affordable Place for Foodies in the U.S.
We often think of the biggest cities in the U.S. as the country's de facto food capitals, either due to the presence of top-tier chefs or countless hardworking immigrants bringing their home cuisines to the States. But eating good can cost you, making Michelin-star meals and the hottest new restaurants inaccessible to the average person.
A new report from WalletHub, however, seeks to close this gap. The list examines the best food options for diners who are looking to reach gastronomic nirvana, whether that be in a restaurant or in their own kitchen. The findings compare more than 180 U.S. cities using 28 key indicators of foodie-friendliness, including cost of groceries, restaurants per capita, ratio of full-service restaurants to fast food spots, and food festivals per capita.
In the end, Orlando came out on top as the best city in the country for the everyday foodie. The choice may come as a surprise to those who only think of the city in the context of Disney World and other amusement parks in the area. It's joined by two other growing Florida cities in the top 10: Miami at number four and Tampa at number six.
In California, Sacramento was chosen as the most foodie-friendly city in the Golden State, clocking in at number three on the list and trailed by San Francisco in fifth and San Diego in seventh. Las Vegas, meanwhile, also made the top 10, probably thanks to its many desert outposts of chef-owned restaurants.
The three most populous cities in the U.S., meanwhile, didn't even crack the top 10. Los Angeles sits at number 13 on the list, with Chicago at 14 and New York City at 20.
WalletHub's top 10 cities for foodies are:
Orlando, FL
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
Miami, FL
San Francisco, CA
Tampa, FL
San Diego, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Austin, TX
Seattle, WA
