A recent survey has revealed that San Francisco is one of the best foodie cities in the United States for 2024, according to the personal finance website WalletHub.
San Francisco Ranks Second in Foodie Cities
San Francisco took the second spot in the rankings, trailing only Miami, which ranked first, and followed by Orlando at third. The city scored 71.66 on WalletHub’s national list.
WalletHub analyzed 182 cities based on two main categories: affordability and diversity, and quality of restaurants. In affordability, San Francisco ranked 173rd, but it excelled in quality, securing the second position.
High-Quality Dining Options
“San Francisco is the second-best city for foodies, boasting a high number of restaurants per capita,” WalletHub noted. The city offers a variety of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 out of 5 stars. San Francisco is home to 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three with three stars each: Atelier Crenn, Benu, and Quince.
The city also ranks sixth in the diversity of restaurant types and fourth in access to healthy food options. Food festivals and cooking schools are plentiful, providing food enthusiasts with unique culinary experiences.
Other Notable California Cities
San Francisco was not the only California city to make the list. Here’s how other California cities ranked:
- Sacramento: 6th place, score of 66.79
- San Diego: 10th place, score of 63.74
- Los Angeles: 13th place, score of 61.70
- Oakland: 33rd place, score of 55.89
- San Jose: 39th place, score of 53.58
- Bakersfield: 54th place, score of 50.47
- Anaheim: 56th place, score of 50.21
- Modesto: 56th place, score of 50.21
- Fresno: 61st place, score of 49.93
- Stockton: 62nd place, score of 49.88
- Santa Ana: 72nd place, score of 49.17
- Long Beach: 73rd place, score of 49.12
- Santa Rosa: 90th place, score of 46.59
- Garden Grove: 94th place, score of 46.11
Miami: The Top Foodie City
Miami claimed the title of the best foodie city in the U.S. with an overall score of 74.37. WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo commented, “In the best foodie cities, including Miami, San Francisco, and Orlando, there are many unique culinary experiences to explore, from food trucks to Michelin-starred restaurants.”
He added that these cities cater to both dining enthusiasts and home cooks looking to experiment with new flavors. Additionally, they offer affordable dining options for residents and visitors.
Evaluation Methodology
WalletHub evaluated 28 metrics, focusing on factors like grocery costs and the accessibility of high-quality restaurants. Pearl City, Hawaii, was ranked as the worst foodie city in the country.
Santa Rosa had the highest grocery prices, followed closely by San Francisco and Fremont. Interestingly, Modesto featured the fourth-lowest average costs for beer and wine.
San Francisco tied for first place in the number of restaurants per capita, while Santa Rosa shared the top spot for craft breweries and wineries.
Top 10 Best Foodie Cities in the U.S.
- Miami, Florida
- San Francisco, California
- Orlando, Florida
- Portland, Oregon
- Tampa, Florida
- Sacramento, California
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Seattle, Washington
- Denver, Colorado
- San Diego, California
For more details, check WalletHub’s full methodology.
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