10 Best Food Cities in the USA for Culinary Delights (2024)

Last Updated on January 02, 2024 by Nikki Jain

Food is everywhere in the world, but every city, state, and country has its own idea of what food is the best.

In the United States, every city is known for at least one specific food and people are always told that if they want to eat that type of food, they need to travel to where it will taste the best.

Let's explore the 10 best food cities in America.

Best Food Cities in the US

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1: New York City

New York City
Flickr/joeymanley

New York City tops the list of best foodie cities in America. Hot dogs are one of New York City’s most famous foods, and they can be purchased from street carts, restaurants, and the infamous spot of Coney Island, where the hot dogs first arrived in the city.

Pizza is another choice for food lovers who are in New York City. The best pizza in the city is made in a coal oven, so the crust is crisper and tastier than other versions around the world.

Three of the original coal oven pizza parlors are still open, and they include Patsy’s, Johns, and Totonno Pizzeria Napolitano.

No one can leave New York City without eating a pastrami sandwich from Katz’s Deli. The deli was founded in 1888, and many people are drawn into the deli as soon as they smell the aroma of pastrami and rye from the streets.

Address: New York City, NY


2: Chicago

Chicago
Flickr/jeffreyw

Barbeque foods abound in the city of Chicago and many people find themselves craving St. Louis Style Ribs when they are there.

These ribs are dry-rubbed and then smoked for hours before being served. A hot dog in Chicago is a little different from those served in New York City, but they are absolutely delicious.

Visitors need to be aware that no one in Chicago puts ketchup on their Chicago Dogs, so they might want to think twice before they do it.

Accommodation: Where to stay in Chicago

Address: Chicago, IL


3: New Orleans

New Orleans
Flickr/HarshLight

New Orleans needs no introduction as one of the best food cities in the USA.

Gumbo, Po-Boys, Crawfish Etouffee, Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, and Beignets are all popular dishes in New Orleans.

Gumbo is made from seafood, chicken, sausage, or okra, and everyone agrees that there is no set combination to make it taste fabulous.

Red beans and rice became a popular dish back when the household women did their laundry on Mondays. They would simply set a pot of beans on to cook all day as they were too busy with the laundry to keep an eye on other types of meals.

This meal is still traditionally served on Monday nights in many homes. A beignet is a type of doughnut, but they are tastier than any other doughnut a person will ever eat.

Address: New Orleans, LA


4: Nashville

Nashville
Flickr/Prayitno

Chicken is eaten everywhere, but no one can get chicken anywhere else like they can in Nashville.

Nashville likes it's chicken hot and spicy, and they achieve this taste and flavor with cayenne paste before frying the chicken to make it crispy. Biscuits are included in every meal, and they are perfect for sopping up the gravy or other condiments that get left behind on a plate.

Everyone loves dessert, and Goo Goo Clusters were invented in the early 1900s. These clusters have caramel, marshmallow nougat, peanuts, and milk chocolate all mixed together into a piece of candy yumminess.

Address: Nashville, TN


5: San Francisco

San Francisco

People in San Francisco have invented everything from sourdough bread to fortune cookies, so everyone wants to travel to this city to see what else they have come up with.

Family members have owned Benkyodo since 1906, and they have consistently made the best Strawberry Manju since then. The Strawberry Manju is a white bean paste and a strawberry that is wrapped inside a rice dough.

In between meals, people will want to grab an Anchor Steam Beer, which dates back to the 1800s.

Address: San Francisco, CA


6: Portland

Portland
Flickr/Allagash Brewing

The people in Portland love their burgers and they love their grilled cheese, so they decided to combine them together.

At the Grilled Cheese Grill, everyone can get a burger placed between two grilled cheese sandwiches.

Deviled eggs are another local favorite, but they add marinated Spanish anchovies on top of their deviled eggs.

Address: Portland, Oregon


7: Austin

Austin
Flickr/Robb1e

Austin does not just serve Mexican food, they serve Mexican food with a twist.

Visitors should imagine indulging in tacos filled with smoked brisket and covered with guacamole, tomato, and serrano salsa.

Brisket is a popular menu item on its own, and it is smoked everywhere, whether it is a restaurant or a person’s home.

Address: Austin, TX


8: Seattle

Seattle
Flickr/Ming-yen Hsu

Seattle is a seaport city, so seafood is everywhere. Deep-fried oysters, clam chowder, and paella are three of the most popular dishes in the city, and they are filled with fresh seafood.

Anyone who doesn’t love seafood will want to try the chicken and waffles, which are gaining popularity in many cities around the world.

Accommodation: Where to stay in Seattle

Address: Seattle, WA


9: Philadelphia

Philadelphia
Flickr/Kimberly Vardeman

Philadelphia is known for its amazing Philly Cheesesteak, and Geno’s and Pat’s are the two places where all the tourists go for shaved steak piled high on a roll and smother in creamy cheese.

Fried cheese curds are another popular dish in Philadelphia, and these bites of deliciousness can be found in restaurants as well as the food trucks that line the streets.

Address: Philadelphia, PA

Also Read: Top 25 Attractions & Things To Do in Philadelphia


10: Los Angeles

Los Angeles
Flickr/Divya Thakur

Katz’s Deli on the East Coast has a rival on the West Coast. Langer’s Delicatessen serves pastrami sandwiches that are as amazing as L.A.

People seem to eat healthier in Los Angeles and that may be because there are street vendors everywhere that sell fresh fruits.

The Donut Man even squeezes fresh whole strawberries into their Strawberry Donuts so that everyone gets a little healthy with a little unhealthy at snack time or breakfast time.

Address: Los Angeles, CA


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