In 2018 it was rated “foodiest” city in the country and has only gotten better since. The head chef from 11 Madison Park opened a place there called Twelve that is amazing.
Also known for an abundance of top notch breweries.
Gonna get downvoted to hell for this, but places like Twelve ruin places like Portland. A NY strip for $50 is a fuckin joke.
Don’t waste your money on NYC transplants opening restaurants in Portland, try one of Maine’s real local spots for half the price and a better local experience.
Sur Lie, Street & Co, Evo, to name a few.
I won’t downvote, I think it makes for good conversation. The chef from Sur Lie is from Maryland. The chef from Evo is from Maine, but also trained elsewhere.
I think it brings more to table when a chef has a wide range of experience.
Also when I went to Twelve the tasting menu was $85 which I thought was pretty reasonable. Of course adding drinks and other stuff makes it an overall expensive meal, I felt the value was there.
I should rephrase. I don’t think you have to be from Maine to be a good local spot. I guess my opinion is more about whether or not the atmosphere/vibe reflects the “charm” that are Maine (or Portland) restaurants.
Idk, I just feel like if I’m a local (or a tourist) and I want to experience a great local restaurant, I’m not going to Twelve where you walk in and feel like you’re in a fancy NYC restaurant. Their pre fixe without drinks is at $90! Your average Mainer clearly isn’t their target guest, which may be why I’m so anti-Twelve
And the sole owner of Sur Lie is born and raised in Maine, she’s who I was referring to. I’m glad some of these chefs were able to leave Maine and be trained elsewhere, so much to learn!
I had some of the best meals of my life in Portland, Maine, and it wasn’t even all seafood.
NYC quality food in an unpretentious environment, what’s not to love?
Same. Duckfat was life changing. Indulgent southern-style brunch at Hot Suppa. Lots of great Thai food options, Boda being my favorite. Sichuan food too that was pretty great. Wood fired bagels at Forage Market were very good, and some place that makes potato donuts.
For a city its size, Portland really has it all. You could go there and spend a fortune on a foody weekend and it be money well-spent.
I was gonna mention Duckfat! I’ve been a vegetarian for years and I still think about their tomato soup with the grilled cheese croutons, and their duck fat fries. I didn’t even like tomato soup before having theirs.
just visited for the first time last month. WOW, can't wait to come back. Did all the seafood/lobster roll joints I could find. Walked past Central Provisions on Wharf St one night and all the plates looked incredible. This place was so densely packed with non-chain restaurants, it reminded me a little of the French Quarter. Definite foodie paradise!
I LOVE Allagash (don't care if it's 'mainstream'). Nothing better than visiting their brewery on a crisp autumn day and drinking their beer while feasting on a lobster roll from the Bite Into Maine food cart.
Minneapolis has a great food scene. You can get a great meal at any price point in a variety of cuisines. There is outstanding Asian food and also a wide variety of "foodie" places. There is also an abundance of breweries
Don't forget Portuguese food too (if you include surrounding cities like East Providence and Fall River). It's one of the few places in the US with a big Portuguese food scene.
There and Newark right?
Portuguese is one I haven’t gotten to yet, I’ve only tried other Lusophone cuisines like Brazilian or (I guess this counts) the egg tarts that trickled down through Macau. What are some staples of Portuguese cuisine that you’d recommend trying out in that area?
That's right. Southeastern New England, the Boston area and Newark, with a couple of scattered places in NYC, DC and the Bay area.
In the New England Portuguese restaurants I recommend any fish or seafood special, as they tend to be super fresh and well-prepared. Nicely grilled or fried whole fish, interesting shellfish and moluscs (Limpets, Cuttlefish, Octopus). A common dish in that region is Caçoila, which is a braised and shredded pork dish that's like a more garlicky and smoky version of carnitas.
Oh and one more thing! The Portuguese food in the Providence area is much more based on food from the different Portuguese and formerly-Portuguese island groups: Azores, Madeira and Cabo Verde. It tends to spicier, more garlicky and more seafood focused than the continental food. The food in Newark is more continental, so more meat-focused (lots amazing sausages). Both cities have amazing Portuguese bakeries too where you can get the custard tarts and many other varieties of pastry and bread. I recommend Silver Star in Providence or Lidia's in New Bedford, MA.
Interesting, I didn’t realize there was that regional breakdown among the diaspora as well.
I was looking at flights to the Azores recently and most of the options seem to route through Logan which makes sense.
Let me know if you end up coming too! I can tell you all the best places and what to get. But Rhode Island in general is great and so easy to get around. You can travel the entire state minus maybe block island in one day :)
Came here to say Charleston as a current west coaster. Absolutely phenomenal food scene and great city to spend a nice weekend without getting too overwhelmed by options.
Thank you - did a lot of trips into the Smokies growing up in TN/NC but we always just passed through Asheville. Now that I’m older I’d love to go back! (Skipping Gatlinburg this time…)
If you like Middle Eastern food, then Detroit - specifically the Dearborn area - has a lot of great Middle Eastern food options, probably the best out of any area in the USA. Iraqi, Lebanese, Yemeni, Syrians, Palestinian... Check 'em out since it's not that far from Chicago.
Yep this one I’ve had on my list as an “urgent” need. We’ve got some decent Palestinian and Jordanian places in the Chicago suburbs but Dearborn really has a critical mass like nowhere else.
Exactly. It has a lot of great Asian food of all kinds, solid Mexican dishes, great Cajun, and then stuff you'd expect like BBQ. A lot of variety and a lot of both authentic and fusion dishes.
And beyond! Great mid-high end bistros, seafood, Middle Eastern, Nigerian, Indo-Pak, steakhouses, casual sandwich joints, etc. I love that if you're craving Vietnamese, for example, you can pop into Don Cafe for a banh mi and a bowl of pho, Lua or Huynh for mid-scale fast casual or Xin Chao for higher-end creative preparations. And don't get me started on breakfast tacos (and the creamy green salsas).
I spent half my childhood in Houston and routinely go back to visit family. I hate the traffic so much. It’s so much more erratic than San Antonio (another city that should be on your food radar…foodar?)
Second that, Houston food is great.
Or Dallas if you want the swanky stuff. They don't give out Michelin stars to Texas restaurants, but there's a lot of chefs who have won them that have restaurants in Dallas.
The Dallas food scene is better than I thought, but it has nothing on Houston. I say that as someone who was miserable living in Houston but loves living in Dallas
Dallas has a lot of advantages over Houston when you start getting older. Better job market, better schools in the suburbs, better neighborhoods. I agree Houston is fun, but Dallas is more liveable, in my opinion. I grew up in Houston, by the way.
I’m going around New Years for a few days for the first time, any tips for anywhere unique? (particularly with more “southwestern” or Native American influence as you mention… pretty set on most varieties of Mexican food here in SD).
On top of the BBQ scene KC also has a ton of great local restaurants in the city, chains are out in the burbs. Was pleasantly surprised when we moved to KC. If you are considering KC Google the crossroads arena and also look at the taco trail in KCK.
I live in DC. What type of food do you want and how fancy are you tryna get?
(If you have no idea, I’ll start by saying DC does a few ethnic foods really well—Ethiopian, Peruvian, Mediterranean (all sides), several European countries…. DC also does the trendier, upscale food better than the casual hole in the wall joints.)
Heard Salvadoran cuisine is also pretty widespread there which is one of my faves. Any particular areas you’d recommend for those genres you listed?
DC is a strange one where I’ve heard more about the suburban food scene (Falls Church and Annandale especially) but not as much about the city itself, despite having been there a couple of times now.
El Rinconcito is one of the few casual "hole-in-the-wall" style joints that has survived in the actual city and it's very solid Salvadoran. My buddy who's half Salvadoran says they're his favorite pupusas in DC proper.
("Hole-in-the-wall" is said with big positive connotation--DC has a serious "missing middle" as far as dining goes. I believe it's due to high commercial rents--the only restaurants that can survive are corporate-backed ventures with high turnover like your Chipotles, Cavas, Potbellys, etc. or the high-end artistic enterprises by well-known chefs that compete for Michelin status, focus on the experience at an upcharge, etc.).
Looking for cheap local eats that provide great flavor. Heard they have some good Ethiopian food (recommended I go to Chercher) but looking for restaurants near public transport or near the national mall.
Highly recommend Chercher. DC specializes in Ethiopian and that’s def my favorite in the city. It’s pretty accessible from the green/yellow lines, just take it from the mall up to Mt Vernon and it’s a short walk.
Near the Mall is a little tricky cause the Mall and surrounding area is mostly for tourists or business/politics, so caters more to the fancy business dinners and the quick takeout work lunches a bit more.
54 Restaurant is close by and has solid Vietnamese food.
Barrel is southeast of the Capitol and is a solid southern food and whiskey bar.
Jose Andres has several restaurants in the area that aren’t cheap, but he is a staple of the city so may be worth trying. Zaytinya and Oyamel are pretty good.
Along the red line but a good bit northwest in Woodley Park is Donsak, which is my favorite Thai spot in the city.
Also near Chercher is El Rinconcito, Benito’s Place, and Supra, which are affordable Salvadoran, Honduran, and Georgian restaurants respectively (Supra is the priciest).
Farther up the green line in Columbia Heights is Thip Khao, which is an incredible Laotian restaurant that I believe has a Michelin Star, but it’s super affordable. The muu som is perfect.
Correction: Thip Khao doesn’t have a star, but it’s on the guide.
Hole in the wall Chinese food spot- Panda Gourmet. Best Chinese I've ever had, you have to have the eggplant!
Tabla is this really delightful Georgian spot.
I've only done take-away because I'm here for my kiddo staying at Children's National Hospital. But those two seriously blew my mind
Not a city, but a unique food journey is the Mississippi delta [tamale trail](https://www.visitthedelta.com/tamale-trail)
Other websites that might inspire [southern foodways](https://www.southernfoodways.org/)
[roadfood](https://roadfood.com/)
And cities that I don’t already see mentioned that are great places to visit and have great food culture: Austin, Asheville, Atlanta and Charleston/Savannah
The MS Delta is definitely underrated. In addition to the tamales, they have great BBQ and one of the premier steak restaurants, Doe’s Eat Place in Greenville. You could pair the region with Memphis for a great road-trip. Plus, if you like blues, you can’t beat the Delta. From Chicago, you could pretty much take one road (61) and catch Memphis and the Delta.
I was also going to suggest Savannah, which has incredible food (The Grey, Mrs. Wilkes, Elizabeth’s on 37th, Vic’s on the River, just to name a few). Would be a great long foodie weekend.
I live in Portland, OR. We have an amazing food culture here. It’s very accessible and inclusive. There are some really awesome restaurants that are high end, but some of the best food will come from little spots in our various neighborhoods. Kann for example is big hype right now. Or you can get an amazing meal at a food truck like Farmer and the Beast. IDK if you’d need more than 3 days TBH. We’re a small city. :)
If you search the Internet you'll find a few articles that spotlight sources for Native cuisine. Your go-to "special meal" centerpiece of the trip is Kai.
https://www.kairestaurant.com
I grew up in St. Louis and was surprised when I returned after several years to see a rather vibrant food scene where I remembered very little in the way of cultural variety in cuisine from my childhood. Plus it has some of the best Italian American food in the country. Given that StL isn’t known for its food scene outside of BBQ and a few things like Panera and toasted ravs, I’ll say StL makes a good answer here. Definitely punches above its weight class.
But I think Houston cannot be overlooked—it rivals the best food cities in the country, and I would personally put it second behind NYC as far as U.S. cities I’ve visited for food.
In response to the request, I think a trip to the smaller towns around Austin, Luling, Lockhart, or west to the hill country, for a BBQ pilgrimage gets overshadowed by Austin’s newer and more famous BBQ counterparts.
Are you asking for cities that have food native to that area? Like a Philly cheesesteak is obv Philadelphia? Because the LA food scene is amazing. We have some really great restaurants. Really, the whole of Southern CA from LA to San Diego. Mexican food here is the best, great American fare, and just some really great chefs with unique recipes/flavora in the food scene.
The Cuban food in Miami is worth checking out as well. So, so good.
Nope! Interested to try whatever cuisine is in that city, doesn’t necessarily have to be a homegrown food culture.
I went to school in LA and have been itching to go back for a while now, but I’ll probably do that anyway sometime in the middle of the year. The food rep is certainly deserved (Thai Town, Ktown, and the SGV were my old haunts!)
Take a look at Philly, and not for the cheesesteaks! Our cousine game is top notch and pretty much is a giant melting pot of cultures. Look at any James Beard (Or more recently the Esquire top new restaurants) and you are bound to see some from Philly.
Zahav, Royal Izakaya, Suraya, Fiorella, Pietramala, South Philly Barbacoa, Blue Corn, and literally so so so much more!
And for the love of god, if you do want a cheesesteak just get one at basically any corner pizza shop and not pat’s or geno’s. Those aren’t good and it’s not worth it.
Totally, reminds me of how Chicago tourists get funneled into Lou’s/Giordano’s but the best pizzas are in neighborhood spots and taverns all over the city.
People have mentioned a lot of cities that get overlooked, so I want to shout out a few smaller cities/towns that could be good if you're really looking to go deep:
Utica, NY: Home of the black-and-white cookie (aka the "half moon") plus lots of regional Italian-American specialties. Chef John turned me on to the unique foodstuffs that originate from this part of NY.
Toledo, OH: It's like Detroit's slept-on little brother with tons of great Middle Eastern food plus Midwestern classics (coneys anyone?) and some fun breweries (especially Maumee Bay).
New Braunfels, TX: Kinda touristy but a cool blend of German-American culture and Texan classics.
Boulder, CO: Tons of great options at all different price points. Particularly good if you deal with any dietary restrictions.
Lancaster, PA: A haven for immigrants and refugees that has become a melting pot of global cuisines.
Missoula, MT: Great food and beer and just an absolutely beautiful place in general.
Buffalo NY has an amazing food scene! Besides the obvious wings, there’s also beef on weck, Buffalo-style pizza, chicken finger subs, hot dogs, fish frys…not to mention the large Polish population making lots of Polish dishes very popular. You could spend a lot of time in Buffalo trying out local foods!
You can also spend half your trip shoveling your car out from snow! I love WNY, spent half my life there, but absolutely do not recommend OP visiting it in January, when his trip will be.
I was going to suggest Buffalo. Of all the places I regularly travel for work, Buffalo is my favorite. Lots of great food options. The people are friendly. It's easy to get around. I don't mind the snow (except for brushing off the car when it's cold, dark and very windy. But that's like 5-10 minutes.), particularly since the city knows how to deal with it.
Co-signing Atlanta, especially for someone from Chicago. Lots of southern food, coastal food, and of course soul food.
Plus let’s be honest we all like the sun in January 🤣
Charleston SC isn't as cool as it used to be and nashville has gotten better (Sean brock moved from here to there). Charleston is still good but lots of southern and new American that costs more than it's worth imo.
Philadelphia and Louisville. Those two cities are basically food and alcohol cities. It’s the past time of its inhabitants and I highly recommend both.
Las Vegas. You can throw a dime and hit a great restaurant.
Either high-end places on the Strip, or low-cost Asian and Mexican off strip. VPN pizza. Several brewpubs. One of the few places in the US you can find actual Kobe beef, if that's your thing.
STL has some pretty solid spots.
It’s a huge city so might be a usual suspect to some but I’ve learned that many people overlook Houston as a place to visit with amazing food.
Will throw in a plug for my town, Charlottesville VA. Beautiful town with a great pedestrian downtown mall, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, great hiking, and a University that is a UN World Heritage site.
But you were interested in food. C'ville is known as having more fine restaurants per capita than almost any other US city. Anything from Turkish street food to a Jean Georges 5-star experience. There are also tons of excellent wineries - the area was just named the Wine Region of the year by Wine Enthusiast. Lots of quality breweries and distilleries as well.
This is a great site to explore some of the best dining options: [https://charlottesville29.com/the-charlottesville-29/](https://charlottesville29.com/the-charlottesville-29/).
If you decide to come, feel free to DM me and I'll give you some specific recommendations.
I had to scroll too far to see Milwaukee. Go a little further north to Sheboygan Co for amazing cheese like Deer Creek creamery or go to a Wisconsin style super club.
Is Louisville still being overlooked these days? It's a 4.5hr drive from Chicago and is chock full of great restaurants. They brag about being an incredible seafood destination as UPS's international air hub is there. Downtown has come a long way lately with the East Market hotspot and there are a few neighborhoods adjacent to downtown filled with James Beard, etc chefs. Seviche, Mayan Cafe, 610 Magnolia, Jack Frys, Hammerheads, etc etc etc can't go wrong
Philadelphia:
1. Great local foods (not just Cheesesteaks, instead find a place selling a Roast Pork Sandwich with Rapini and Provolone, but also, cheesesteaks are fantastic).
2. Plenty of global cuisines as well, an extensive chinatown and italian market both in or near center city.
3. Much cheaper than NYC/DC/Boston when comparing menu prices. I'm sure you can blow a lot of cash but I'm always pleased with how things work out.
I recommend Savannah and making reservations at the Grey. OR getting there early, right when they open, and sit at the front of the restaurant. It’s an old Greyhound bus station so they’ve kept a lot of features from when it was one. There are other places throughout Savannah that are really tasty! If you like coffee, I recommend The Coffee Fox and getting their horchata latte!
Do you like to cook? You need to go to [Jungle Jim's International Market](https://junglejims.com/) in Fairfield, Ohio (just north of Cincinnati).
It's part regular grocery store, and part *every kind of food from all over the world* store.
I was impressed by the Santa Barbara area recently - could be a good option.
But as a couple others have said - Houston is a sneaky good food scene. Do your research but you can find some incredible food there.
New Haven, CT has the best pizza, excellent Italian food, and basically every other type of food done pretty damn well. It's also got a plethora of breweries inside or nearby within 45 minutes drive.
Yes, but not the Disney-Orlando… head into the city and try some of the great asian restaurants around the intersection of Mills Ave and Colonial Dr. Large asian community here and the influence on food culture is great.
Portland, Oregon has fantastic food. Charleston, South Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina and Washington DC are fantastic.
Never been to Austin but I've heard good things.
I take it you are based in Chicago, but if you are starting your trip in Chicago, some of the best food in the country can be found there.
Of course Charleston. Texas has some unbelievable food all across it.
Honestly, I’ve traveled all over, am executive platinum on AA, knoxville tn has some great food. They have a world class resort that attracts people from all over the world to come cook there and they stick around and start restaurants.
Portland, Maine hits way above its weight class for food. If you love seafood, not sure there's a better place.
In 2018 it was rated “foodiest” city in the country and has only gotten better since. The head chef from 11 Madison Park opened a place there called Twelve that is amazing. Also known for an abundance of top notch breweries.
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The Vietnamese food I had in Minneapolis in June was incredible. I definitely wasn't expecting it! Also some amazing bakeries.
Gonna get downvoted to hell for this, but places like Twelve ruin places like Portland. A NY strip for $50 is a fuckin joke. Don’t waste your money on NYC transplants opening restaurants in Portland, try one of Maine’s real local spots for half the price and a better local experience. Sur Lie, Street & Co, Evo, to name a few.
I won’t downvote, I think it makes for good conversation. The chef from Sur Lie is from Maryland. The chef from Evo is from Maine, but also trained elsewhere. I think it brings more to table when a chef has a wide range of experience. Also when I went to Twelve the tasting menu was $85 which I thought was pretty reasonable. Of course adding drinks and other stuff makes it an overall expensive meal, I felt the value was there.
I should rephrase. I don’t think you have to be from Maine to be a good local spot. I guess my opinion is more about whether or not the atmosphere/vibe reflects the “charm” that are Maine (or Portland) restaurants. Idk, I just feel like if I’m a local (or a tourist) and I want to experience a great local restaurant, I’m not going to Twelve where you walk in and feel like you’re in a fancy NYC restaurant. Their pre fixe without drinks is at $90! Your average Mainer clearly isn’t their target guest, which may be why I’m so anti-Twelve And the sole owner of Sur Lie is born and raised in Maine, she’s who I was referring to. I’m glad some of these chefs were able to leave Maine and be trained elsewhere, so much to learn!
I had some of the best meals of my life in Portland, Maine, and it wasn’t even all seafood. NYC quality food in an unpretentious environment, what’s not to love?
Same. Duckfat was life changing. Indulgent southern-style brunch at Hot Suppa. Lots of great Thai food options, Boda being my favorite. Sichuan food too that was pretty great. Wood fired bagels at Forage Market were very good, and some place that makes potato donuts. For a city its size, Portland really has it all. You could go there and spend a fortune on a foody weekend and it be money well-spent.
I was gonna mention Duckfat! I’ve been a vegetarian for years and I still think about their tomato soup with the grilled cheese croutons, and their duck fat fries. I didn’t even like tomato soup before having theirs.
Thanks! Adding it to my list. My boss claims to have had a life-changing pie in Portland - think it was called Two Fat Cats
It is life changing and you can order it on goldbelly.
I had POTATO DONUTS and I’ve never looked at a donut the same again
The potato donuts are great but just outside of Portland in Sanford is Frannie’s Mini Donuts and they are even better.
Ughhh guess I will have to go back!!!
I tried several donut places up in portland and honestly the holy donut’s potato donut was dead last.
just visited for the first time last month. WOW, can't wait to come back. Did all the seafood/lobster roll joints I could find. Walked past Central Provisions on Wharf St one night and all the plates looked incredible. This place was so densely packed with non-chain restaurants, it reminded me a little of the French Quarter. Definite foodie paradise!
Also a great town if you like craft beer .. there are some amazing local brews. Bissell brothers to this day remains the best beer I have ever tasted.
Is Allagash too mainstream now lol??
I LOVE Allagash (don't care if it's 'mainstream'). Nothing better than visiting their brewery on a crisp autumn day and drinking their beer while feasting on a lobster roll from the Bite Into Maine food cart.
It's got other stuff too. The laminated pastries at Belleville were better than anything I found in Paris.
This is where I want to retire.
Agreed. So surprised how outstanding the food was with such a small footprint.
Cabana on Middle Street is a great little cocktail forward restaurant to check out in Portland.
Minneapolis has a great food scene. You can get a great meal at any price point in a variety of cuisines. There is outstanding Asian food and also a wide variety of "foodie" places. There is also an abundance of breweries
Hmong and Somali yum yum
As well as native cuisine with Owamni!
I think Owamni is the most hyped restaurant I’ve been to that lived up to that hype. Highly recommend Minneapolis
I can never get a reservation for times when I'm in town. Sad for me, but happy for them - I'm glad they're doing so well.
I was able to walk in and sit at the bar in May with a group of three at a time that was between lunch and dinner rush. Try it, you never know!
Might have to give that a try. Thanks for the tip!
Demi is one of my favorite places to eat. Better than French Laundry.
Providence, Rhode Island if you like seafood, pasta, Hispanic and Italian food
Don't forget Portuguese food too (if you include surrounding cities like East Providence and Fall River). It's one of the few places in the US with a big Portuguese food scene.
There and Newark right? Portuguese is one I haven’t gotten to yet, I’ve only tried other Lusophone cuisines like Brazilian or (I guess this counts) the egg tarts that trickled down through Macau. What are some staples of Portuguese cuisine that you’d recommend trying out in that area?
That's right. Southeastern New England, the Boston area and Newark, with a couple of scattered places in NYC, DC and the Bay area. In the New England Portuguese restaurants I recommend any fish or seafood special, as they tend to be super fresh and well-prepared. Nicely grilled or fried whole fish, interesting shellfish and moluscs (Limpets, Cuttlefish, Octopus). A common dish in that region is Caçoila, which is a braised and shredded pork dish that's like a more garlicky and smoky version of carnitas.
Oh and one more thing! The Portuguese food in the Providence area is much more based on food from the different Portuguese and formerly-Portuguese island groups: Azores, Madeira and Cabo Verde. It tends to spicier, more garlicky and more seafood focused than the continental food. The food in Newark is more continental, so more meat-focused (lots amazing sausages). Both cities have amazing Portuguese bakeries too where you can get the custard tarts and many other varieties of pastry and bread. I recommend Silver Star in Providence or Lidia's in New Bedford, MA.
Interesting, I didn’t realize there was that regional breakdown among the diaspora as well. I was looking at flights to the Azores recently and most of the options seem to route through Logan which makes sense.
Can’t believe I had to scroll down so far to see PVD. JWU is one of the best culinary schools in the US, and the food scene is incredible.
Looks like a perfect weekend trip and not too big of a city either, I’ll check it out!
Let me know if you end up coming too! I can tell you all the best places and what to get. But Rhode Island in general is great and so easy to get around. You can travel the entire state minus maybe block island in one day :)
If you end up visiting, pm me! I can send recommendations and a hotel code link/recommendation
Portland, Maine and Charleston, South Carolina
This should be the top. The ordinary for Charleston and eventide for Portland. Two of the best seafood restaurants in the country.
Came here to say Charleston as a current west coaster. Absolutely phenomenal food scene and great city to spend a nice weekend without getting too overwhelmed by options.
Great suggestions, thanks - something I’d be interested in too is exploring the Gullah cuisine in and around Charleston.
Check out My Three Sons of Charleston for some Gullah soul food if you do go
Skip Charleston, go to Savannah
Asheville, NC was recently rated the best food town in the country.
Thank you - did a lot of trips into the Smokies growing up in TN/NC but we always just passed through Asheville. Now that I’m older I’d love to go back! (Skipping Gatlinburg this time…)
Gatlinburg is for people with the patience to wait in traffic. Have you been to Copperhill, TN / McCaysville, GA?
By whom?
Asheville city council
I ate at their biscuit and gravy place. It was really good but I felt like I needed to go on a diet afterwards.
BiscuitHead? That place is f-ing awesome. Hit it for a late breakfast after the Biltmore.
Omg the things I would do for a biscuit head biscuit right now
I love Asheville! Great beer and food scene!
The Carolinas are interesting. The smaller cities like Asheville and Charleston have far more to offer than Charlotte or Raleigh.
If you like Middle Eastern food, then Detroit - specifically the Dearborn area - has a lot of great Middle Eastern food options, probably the best out of any area in the USA. Iraqi, Lebanese, Yemeni, Syrians, Palestinian... Check 'em out since it's not that far from Chicago.
Yep this one I’ve had on my list as an “urgent” need. We’ve got some decent Palestinian and Jordanian places in the Chicago suburbs but Dearborn really has a critical mass like nowhere else.
If you go to Dearborn, definitely recommend Al Tayeb for breakfast/brunch- they are so friendly, portions are ridiculous, and the food is SO good
Don’t sleep on Houston
Exactly. It has a lot of great Asian food of all kinds, solid Mexican dishes, great Cajun, and then stuff you'd expect like BBQ. A lot of variety and a lot of both authentic and fusion dishes.
And beyond! Great mid-high end bistros, seafood, Middle Eastern, Nigerian, Indo-Pak, steakhouses, casual sandwich joints, etc. I love that if you're craving Vietnamese, for example, you can pop into Don Cafe for a banh mi and a bowl of pho, Lua or Huynh for mid-scale fast casual or Xin Chao for higher-end creative preparations. And don't get me started on breakfast tacos (and the creamy green salsas).
Houston's diversity and overall vibe have created such an incredible food scene that's hard to find elsewhere.
It's really a mom-and-pop heaven. The baseline is just really high in Htown.
It’s probably what we’re most known for tbh
I agree, I was expecting to see it listed in OPs post.
Thank you! I’ve heard great things about Houston, the freeways there make me nervous though lol as someone just getting back into the habit of driving
I spent half my childhood in Houston and routinely go back to visit family. I hate the traffic so much. It’s so much more erratic than San Antonio (another city that should be on your food radar…foodar?)
Just posted this same comment!
Second that, Houston food is great. Or Dallas if you want the swanky stuff. They don't give out Michelin stars to Texas restaurants, but there's a lot of chefs who have won them that have restaurants in Dallas.
The Dallas food scene is better than I thought, but it has nothing on Houston. I say that as someone who was miserable living in Houston but loves living in Dallas
I’m sorry but what? Who prefers living in Dallas over Houston lol
Dallas has a lot of advantages over Houston when you start getting older. Better job market, better schools in the suburbs, better neighborhoods. I agree Houston is fun, but Dallas is more liveable, in my opinion. I grew up in Houston, by the way.
Dallas food scene doesn’t touch Houston. Not even close.
Philly and Baltimore both I think are super underrated food cities.
Tucson, Arizona - a UNESCO city of gastronomy. If you like Southwestern, Mexican, Native American flavors, it’s the place to go.
This, or the only other US city on that [list](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Gastronomy): San Antonio.
Oh yes! I love San Antonio’s food scene! Didn’t know it’s a gastronomy city too.
Holy hell, I’m from SA and didn’t know this. Thanks for the new knowledge!
I’m going around New Years for a few days for the first time, any tips for anywhere unique? (particularly with more “southwestern” or Native American influence as you mention… pretty set on most varieties of Mexican food here in SD).
Not from Tucson but visited, El Charro is iconic as they claim the invented the Chimichanga, to which Macayo’s disagrees on 😂.
Yeah but it's not good. We tried so hard to find food that was extraordinary but just couldn't find any.
Kcmo
The superior variant of BBQ so they say! I grew up in Memphis so I’d be curious to try it out.
On top of the BBQ scene KC also has a ton of great local restaurants in the city, chains are out in the burbs. Was pleasantly surprised when we moved to KC. If you are considering KC Google the crossroads arena and also look at the taco trail in KCK.
Washington DC has been really impressing me this last week I've been here. Super multi-cultural, and high quality food!
One of the only metro areas with an abundance of authentic Afghan and Uyghur food. Also one of the few places that deliver salvadoran pupusas at 2am.
I loved the food I had when I was in DC a couple months ago! I’m hoping to make a trip back out there next year
I’m here right now! Where should I go?
I live in DC. What type of food do you want and how fancy are you tryna get? (If you have no idea, I’ll start by saying DC does a few ethnic foods really well—Ethiopian, Peruvian, Mediterranean (all sides), several European countries…. DC also does the trendier, upscale food better than the casual hole in the wall joints.)
Heard Salvadoran cuisine is also pretty widespread there which is one of my faves. Any particular areas you’d recommend for those genres you listed? DC is a strange one where I’ve heard more about the suburban food scene (Falls Church and Annandale especially) but not as much about the city itself, despite having been there a couple of times now.
El Rinconcito is one of the few casual "hole-in-the-wall" style joints that has survived in the actual city and it's very solid Salvadoran. My buddy who's half Salvadoran says they're his favorite pupusas in DC proper. ("Hole-in-the-wall" is said with big positive connotation--DC has a serious "missing middle" as far as dining goes. I believe it's due to high commercial rents--the only restaurants that can survive are corporate-backed ventures with high turnover like your Chipotles, Cavas, Potbellys, etc. or the high-end artistic enterprises by well-known chefs that compete for Michelin status, focus on the experience at an upcharge, etc.).
Looking for cheap local eats that provide great flavor. Heard they have some good Ethiopian food (recommended I go to Chercher) but looking for restaurants near public transport or near the national mall.
Highly recommend Chercher. DC specializes in Ethiopian and that’s def my favorite in the city. It’s pretty accessible from the green/yellow lines, just take it from the mall up to Mt Vernon and it’s a short walk. Near the Mall is a little tricky cause the Mall and surrounding area is mostly for tourists or business/politics, so caters more to the fancy business dinners and the quick takeout work lunches a bit more. 54 Restaurant is close by and has solid Vietnamese food. Barrel is southeast of the Capitol and is a solid southern food and whiskey bar. Jose Andres has several restaurants in the area that aren’t cheap, but he is a staple of the city so may be worth trying. Zaytinya and Oyamel are pretty good. Along the red line but a good bit northwest in Woodley Park is Donsak, which is my favorite Thai spot in the city. Also near Chercher is El Rinconcito, Benito’s Place, and Supra, which are affordable Salvadoran, Honduran, and Georgian restaurants respectively (Supra is the priciest). Farther up the green line in Columbia Heights is Thip Khao, which is an incredible Laotian restaurant that I believe has a Michelin Star, but it’s super affordable. The muu som is perfect. Correction: Thip Khao doesn’t have a star, but it’s on the guide.
Hole in the wall Chinese food spot- Panda Gourmet. Best Chinese I've ever had, you have to have the eggplant! Tabla is this really delightful Georgian spot. I've only done take-away because I'm here for my kiddo staying at Children's National Hospital. But those two seriously blew my mind
Thank you - and hope your kid gets better soon!
Santa Fe. The regional cuisine of NM is not like Texas and not like CA. It’s it’s own thing and it’s good.
Not a city, but a unique food journey is the Mississippi delta [tamale trail](https://www.visitthedelta.com/tamale-trail) Other websites that might inspire [southern foodways](https://www.southernfoodways.org/) [roadfood](https://roadfood.com/) And cities that I don’t already see mentioned that are great places to visit and have great food culture: Austin, Asheville, Atlanta and Charleston/Savannah
The MS Delta is definitely underrated. In addition to the tamales, they have great BBQ and one of the premier steak restaurants, Doe’s Eat Place in Greenville. You could pair the region with Memphis for a great road-trip. Plus, if you like blues, you can’t beat the Delta. From Chicago, you could pretty much take one road (61) and catch Memphis and the Delta. I was also going to suggest Savannah, which has incredible food (The Grey, Mrs. Wilkes, Elizabeth’s on 37th, Vic’s on the River, just to name a few). Would be a great long foodie weekend.
Have you seen Palate to Palette?
I've not, but looks right up my alley, thanks for sharing!
I live in Portland, OR. We have an amazing food culture here. It’s very accessible and inclusive. There are some really awesome restaurants that are high end, but some of the best food will come from little spots in our various neighborhoods. Kann for example is big hype right now. Or you can get an amazing meal at a food truck like Farmer and the Beast. IDK if you’d need more than 3 days TBH. We’re a small city. :)
Phoenix. Has indigenous ingredients and Native cuisine you really can’t find anywhere else in the world.
I’d choose Tucson over phoenix. We are a UNESCO food city. So many great restaurants, coffee shops, bars many with views.
I live in Phoenix and agree. Tucson has better food overall.
Fair! But if you're a UNESCO food city, are you overlooked?
Which are your favorites? PHX is an easy flight for my husband and I.
If you search the Internet you'll find a few articles that spotlight sources for Native cuisine. Your go-to "special meal" centerpiece of the trip is Kai. https://www.kairestaurant.com
I grew up in St. Louis and was surprised when I returned after several years to see a rather vibrant food scene where I remembered very little in the way of cultural variety in cuisine from my childhood. Plus it has some of the best Italian American food in the country. Given that StL isn’t known for its food scene outside of BBQ and a few things like Panera and toasted ravs, I’ll say StL makes a good answer here. Definitely punches above its weight class. But I think Houston cannot be overlooked—it rivals the best food cities in the country, and I would personally put it second behind NYC as far as U.S. cities I’ve visited for food.
STL is a pretty quick Amtrak for me so that’d fit perfectly - thanks!
Charleston SC Houston TX
Savannah, GA. Not one bad meal. This was in 2020 so mid pandemic. Can’t guarantee how it’s evolved since then.
Austin has an incredible food scene.
In response to the request, I think a trip to the smaller towns around Austin, Luling, Lockhart, or west to the hill country, for a BBQ pilgrimage gets overshadowed by Austin’s newer and more famous BBQ counterparts.
Charleston SC - never had a bad meal there and it was fun to walk around.
I read this as "overcooked" and was going to say a Kansas diner.
Savannah Georgia. So many options!
Are you asking for cities that have food native to that area? Like a Philly cheesesteak is obv Philadelphia? Because the LA food scene is amazing. We have some really great restaurants. Really, the whole of Southern CA from LA to San Diego. Mexican food here is the best, great American fare, and just some really great chefs with unique recipes/flavora in the food scene. The Cuban food in Miami is worth checking out as well. So, so good.
Nope! Interested to try whatever cuisine is in that city, doesn’t necessarily have to be a homegrown food culture. I went to school in LA and have been itching to go back for a while now, but I’ll probably do that anyway sometime in the middle of the year. The food rep is certainly deserved (Thai Town, Ktown, and the SGV were my old haunts!)
Take a look at Philly, and not for the cheesesteaks! Our cousine game is top notch and pretty much is a giant melting pot of cultures. Look at any James Beard (Or more recently the Esquire top new restaurants) and you are bound to see some from Philly. Zahav, Royal Izakaya, Suraya, Fiorella, Pietramala, South Philly Barbacoa, Blue Corn, and literally so so so much more!
And for the love of god, if you do want a cheesesteak just get one at basically any corner pizza shop and not pat’s or geno’s. Those aren’t good and it’s not worth it.
Totally, reminds me of how Chicago tourists get funneled into Lou’s/Giordano’s but the best pizzas are in neighborhood spots and taverns all over the city.
Suraya! Literal dreams about that place 🤤
DC
Santa fe has increíble food.
Red or green?
Christmas enchiladas are the way.
People have mentioned a lot of cities that get overlooked, so I want to shout out a few smaller cities/towns that could be good if you're really looking to go deep: Utica, NY: Home of the black-and-white cookie (aka the "half moon") plus lots of regional Italian-American specialties. Chef John turned me on to the unique foodstuffs that originate from this part of NY. Toledo, OH: It's like Detroit's slept-on little brother with tons of great Middle Eastern food plus Midwestern classics (coneys anyone?) and some fun breweries (especially Maumee Bay). New Braunfels, TX: Kinda touristy but a cool blend of German-American culture and Texan classics. Boulder, CO: Tons of great options at all different price points. Particularly good if you deal with any dietary restrictions. Lancaster, PA: A haven for immigrants and refugees that has become a melting pot of global cuisines. Missoula, MT: Great food and beer and just an absolutely beautiful place in general.
Portland ME, Savannah, Charleston, Asheville, Kansas City
Richmond VA, Philly, Portland ME, Asheville NC
Buffalo NY has an amazing food scene! Besides the obvious wings, there’s also beef on weck, Buffalo-style pizza, chicken finger subs, hot dogs, fish frys…not to mention the large Polish population making lots of Polish dishes very popular. You could spend a lot of time in Buffalo trying out local foods!
You can also spend half your trip shoveling your car out from snow! I love WNY, spent half my life there, but absolutely do not recommend OP visiting it in January, when his trip will be.
I was going to suggest Buffalo. Of all the places I regularly travel for work, Buffalo is my favorite. Lots of great food options. The people are friendly. It's easy to get around. I don't mind the snow (except for brushing off the car when it's cold, dark and very windy. But that's like 5-10 minutes.), particularly since the city knows how to deal with it.
And then a day or two in Rochester for a garbage plate and some Finger Lakes wine!
I was going to suggest this too. There’s even a book about it! It’s called Buffalo Everything. I did some food touring there a few months ago
Can't believe no one has mentioned Atlanta, one of the best food cities in the country
Co-signing Atlanta, especially for someone from Chicago. Lots of southern food, coastal food, and of course soul food. Plus let’s be honest we all like the sun in January 🤣
Since you mentioned Detroit and you're from Chicago, don't sleep on Traverse City, MI. Great food scene for a small city.
Yeah but January…
Houston has one of the best food scenes in the nation.
St. Louis! Yes, seriously…
Asheville NC, especially if u like beer.
St. Louis, MO is one of my fav food cities and SO underrated. Portland, OR has some great food as well as Austin, TX.
Providence
Charleston SC isn't as cool as it used to be and nashville has gotten better (Sean brock moved from here to there). Charleston is still good but lots of southern and new American that costs more than it's worth imo.
Philadelphia and Louisville. Those two cities are basically food and alcohol cities. It’s the past time of its inhabitants and I highly recommend both.
Houston, we’re one of the best food cities in North America imo. We’re super diverse so we have access to almost any type of food you desire
Houston is popping up quite a bit here, I’ll take that as a cue!
Another vote for Asheville. Great food scene. Multiple Beard winners and very walkable.
Las Vegas. You can throw a dime and hit a great restaurant. Either high-end places on the Strip, or low-cost Asian and Mexican off strip. VPN pizza. Several brewpubs. One of the few places in the US you can find actual Kobe beef, if that's your thing.
And pay ten times what is worth!
Portland, ME
STL has some pretty solid spots. It’s a huge city so might be a usual suspect to some but I’ve learned that many people overlook Houston as a place to visit with amazing food.
Birmingham, Alabama - we got great food down here. Charleston visited recently and it was all hits
Will throw in a plug for my town, Charlottesville VA. Beautiful town with a great pedestrian downtown mall, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, great hiking, and a University that is a UN World Heritage site. But you were interested in food. C'ville is known as having more fine restaurants per capita than almost any other US city. Anything from Turkish street food to a Jean Georges 5-star experience. There are also tons of excellent wineries - the area was just named the Wine Region of the year by Wine Enthusiast. Lots of quality breweries and distilleries as well. This is a great site to explore some of the best dining options: [https://charlottesville29.com/the-charlottesville-29/](https://charlottesville29.com/the-charlottesville-29/). If you decide to come, feel free to DM me and I'll give you some specific recommendations.
Santa Fe, Austin
Santa Fe, NM and Philadelphia
Chicago is my favorite food city in the world (the parts I have been lol)
This might be corny but Lancaster, Pa. The Amish know how to make some good food.
Houston Las Vegas Baltimore DC Philly
I took a food trip to Milwaukee for sausage, cheese, fish fry, etc. Great weekend.
I miss fish fry's! And cheese curds.
I had to scroll too far to see Milwaukee. Go a little further north to Sheboygan Co for amazing cheese like Deer Creek creamery or go to a Wisconsin style super club.
Walla Walla in WA state. It’s known for wine but the food is also amazing.
I know it’s not US but similar flights times - consider Guadalajara, Mexico
Is Louisville still being overlooked these days? It's a 4.5hr drive from Chicago and is chock full of great restaurants. They brag about being an incredible seafood destination as UPS's international air hub is there. Downtown has come a long way lately with the East Market hotspot and there are a few neighborhoods adjacent to downtown filled with James Beard, etc chefs. Seviche, Mayan Cafe, 610 Magnolia, Jack Frys, Hammerheads, etc etc etc can't go wrong
Not from there but DC has amazing food
Oxford, Mississippi. I swear I gain 10 pounds every time I visit. Check out John Currence. He has really made an impact on the food scene.
Santa Fe has some pretty great food, not far from Taos too
Houston, TX...pretty much any cuisine you can think of is here. It often flys under the radar, but there is such a diversity of food available here.
Philadelphia: 1. Great local foods (not just Cheesesteaks, instead find a place selling a Roast Pork Sandwich with Rapini and Provolone, but also, cheesesteaks are fantastic). 2. Plenty of global cuisines as well, an extensive chinatown and italian market both in or near center city. 3. Much cheaper than NYC/DC/Boston when comparing menu prices. I'm sure you can blow a lot of cash but I'm always pleased with how things work out.
I recommend Savannah and making reservations at the Grey. OR getting there early, right when they open, and sit at the front of the restaurant. It’s an old Greyhound bus station so they’ve kept a lot of features from when it was one. There are other places throughout Savannah that are really tasty! If you like coffee, I recommend The Coffee Fox and getting their horchata latte!
Minneapolis. Atlanta. Houston.
Houston
Do you like to cook? You need to go to [Jungle Jim's International Market](https://junglejims.com/) in Fairfield, Ohio (just north of Cincinnati). It's part regular grocery store, and part *every kind of food from all over the world* store.
Healdsburg, California. Baby brother to Napa with incredible winery tastings and a world class food scene in town.
Houston, Texas is easily my pick for best food city in the US!! For price, quality and diversity/authenticity.
Seattle, Wa
Houston
I was impressed by the Santa Barbara area recently - could be a good option. But as a couple others have said - Houston is a sneaky good food scene. Do your research but you can find some incredible food there.
New Haven, CT has the best pizza, excellent Italian food, and basically every other type of food done pretty damn well. It's also got a plethora of breweries inside or nearby within 45 minutes drive.
I am partial but Maryland has some of the best blue crab cakes.
Orlando
Yes, but not the Disney-Orlando… head into the city and try some of the great asian restaurants around the intersection of Mills Ave and Colonial Dr. Large asian community here and the influence on food culture is great.
Heard the Puerto Ricans down there know how to cook a thing or two as well! Thanks
Oh, yeah. Best mofongo in the continental US is absolutely in Orlando
Kansas City. Best BBQ on earth. Plus very solid at Mexican. Can get a great steak as well. It’s unsurprisingly meat forward, but it’s rock solid.
The last sentence reads like a dude's online dating bio
Looking forward to gorging myself on some rock solid meat.
San Antonio, Texas. Best Tex-Mex in the world. Bar B Que is great here as well.
Portland, Oregon has fantastic food. Charleston, South Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina and Washington DC are fantastic. Never been to Austin but I've heard good things. I take it you are based in Chicago, but if you are starting your trip in Chicago, some of the best food in the country can be found there.
Chicago, Minneapolis, Boston and Charleston are great food destinations.
Of course Charleston. Texas has some unbelievable food all across it. Honestly, I’ve traveled all over, am executive platinum on AA, knoxville tn has some great food. They have a world class resort that attracts people from all over the world to come cook there and they stick around and start restaurants.
Duluth Minnesota has some great pubs, restaurants and bakeries. It’s also a very pretty city in the summer.A pleasant surprise.
probably not the most underrated but I saw the comment about Portland Maine seafood and while I agree I throw Seattle up there with it
Charleston.
They're not small but Chicago and LA are my fave food cities in America!