2nd Best Foodie City Crafts Cuisine In NorCal

CALIFORNIA — The Golden State recently got some egg-citing news: one of the best foodie cities in the U.S. in 2024 is found in California, a new survey says.

The personal finance website WalletHub said San Francisco ranks second among competitors in Georgia, California, Pennsylvania and New York.

Sandwiched between No. 1 Miami and No. 3 Orlando, San Francisco churned an overall score of 71.66 on WalletHub's national list.

Experts analyzed two categories, affordability and diversity, accountability and quality, in 182 cities. San Francisco ranked No. 173 in the former and second in the latter category.

"San Francisco is the second-best city for foodies, offering a very high number of restaurants per capita and one of the best selections of affordable restaurants that are rated at least 4.5 out of 5 stars. San Francisco also currently has a staggering 25 restaurants with Michelin stars, including three establishments with three stars apiece: Atelier Crenn, Benu and Quince," WalletHub said.

"In addition, the Golden Gate city has the sixth-best diversity of restaurant types in the country, along with the fourth-best access to healthy food options. San Francisco also has a large number of food festivals and cooking schools per capita, allowing foodies to enjoy new culinary experiences."

The North California town was joined by several other California cities. Here's how California towns ranked on the list:

• Sacramento: No. 6, overall score of 66.79
• San Diego: No. 10, overall score of 63.74
• Los Angeles: No. 13, overall score of 61.70
• Oakland: No. 33, overall score of 55.89
• San Jose: No. 39, overall score of 53.58
• Bakersfield: No. 54, overall score of 50.47
• Anaheim: No. 56, overall score of 50.21
• Modesto: No. 56, overall score of 50.21
• Fresno: No. 61, overall score of 49.93
• Stockton: No. 62, overall score of 49.88
• Santa Ana: No. 72, overall score of 49.17
• Long Beach: No. 73, overall score of 49.12
• Santa Rosa: No. 90, overall score of 46.59
• Garden Grove: No. 94, overall score of 46.11

At No. 1, there is no yolk about Miami being the best foodie city in the U.S., per WalletHub's ranking. The South Florida town's overall score was 74.37.

“In the best foodie cities, including Miami, Fl, San Francisco, Ca, and Orlando, Fl, there are tons of unique culinary experiences to try, from food trucks to specialty-food stores to Michelin-starred restaurants," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report.

"The top cities cater not just to people who enjoy dining out, but also to foodies who enjoy putting their own skills to the test by exploring new flavors in their own kitchens. In addition, these cities make delicious dining affordable for residents and visitors alike.”

In evaluating 28 metrics, analysts reviewed factors such as grocery costs and the affordability and accessibility of high-quality restaurants.

The worst foodie city in the U.S. is Pearl City, Hawaii, according to WalletHub.

The cost of groceries is highest in Santa Rosa, but grocery prices were also deemed high in San Francisco and Fremont. Modesto has the fourth-lowest average beer and wine cost.

San Francisco tied for first among the number of restaurants per capita, while Santa Rose tied in the top spot for craft breweries and wineries per capita.

Here are the top 10 best foodie cities in the U.S.

1. Miami, Florida
2. San Francisco, California
3. Orlando, Florida
4. Portland, Oregon
5. Tampa, Florida
6. Sacramento, California
7. Las Vegas, Nevada
8. Seattle, Washington
9. Denver, Colorado
10. San Diego, California

See WalletHub's full methodology.