News Summary
Miami has been recognized as the top culinary city in the United States according to WalletHub’s latest rankings, scoring 73.58. The city excelled in criteria such as diversity, quality, and accountability of food, although it ranked lower in affordability. With notable dining establishments and a vast array of restaurant options, Miami outshines competitors like Portland and San Francisco. The city features a rich combination of cuisine types, enhanced by its high concentration of dining venues and specialty food stores, solidifying its reputation as a foodie haven.
Miami has been named America’s best city for foodies in a recent WalletHub ranking, achieving an impressive score of 73.58. This ranking positions Miami at the forefront of culinary destinations in the United States, significantly surpassing other major cities.
The WalletHub analysis evaluated a total of 182 cities based on various criteria, including affordability, diversity, accountability, and quality of food. Miami particularly excelled in diversity, accountability, and quality, placing second in those categories. However, the city ranked relatively low in affordability, coming in at 156th. This contrast highlights the city’s vibrant culinary scene, offering a rich variety of options despite higher associated costs.
Miami outperformed notable competitors, including cities from Texas, Illinois, Missouri, and New Jersey, securing its top spot. A significant factor in Miami’s ranking is its high concentration of dining establishments, which provides residents and visitors with abundant culinary choices. The city ranked 12th in restaurant diversity and holds the 13th-best ratio of full-service restaurants compared to fast-food chains, indicating a robust dining landscape.
For those who appreciate fine dining, Miami does not disappoint. The city is home to 14 Michelin-starred restaurants, with L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon earning a prestigious two Michelin stars. This selection allows food enthusiasts to explore a wide array of high-quality dining experiences. Furthermore, Miami ranks third for the number of farmers’ markets and second in butcher shops per capita, further showcasing its commitment to quality culinary ingredients.
Additionally, Miami boasts the most kitchen supply stores per capita in the nation and ranks ninth for gourmet specialty food stores. This plethora of resources contributes significantly to the vibrant food culture in the city. According to the WalletHub study, other culinary hotspots include Portland, which ranked second with a score of 72.73, and San Francisco, which came in third with a score of 70.58.
In Florida, Miami ties with Orlando for having the most restaurants per capita, indicating a competitive culinary market within the state. Notably, Miami leads the nation in the ratio of full-service restaurants to fast-food locations in the Cape Coral area. Another Florida city, Port St. Lucie, ranks fourth nationwide for the same ratio of dining establishments.
Miami and Orlando also dominate in the ice cream and frozen yogurt segment, drawing dessert lovers to both cities. Orlando additionally ranks first for gourmet specialty food stores, while Fort Lauderdale leads in the number of coffee shops per capita, showcasing the state’s diverse culinary offerings.
The culinary scene in Miami is characterized by its rich diversity, with flavors ranging from Ethiopian dishes to seafood, Brazilian steakhouses, Colombian cuisine, and ramen bars. The city’s dynamic restaurant culture is continuously evolving, with new eateries taking advantage of the growing foodie reputation. Noteworthy restaurants such as ViceVersa, Cafe La Trova, and Phuc Yea exemplify the city’s gastronomic excellence.
The WalletHub study employed a comprehensive evaluation of 28 metrics, including grocery costs and the affordability of restaurant meals, to determine the rankings. In this context, the worst foodie city in the United States is Pearl City, Hawaii, while grocery costs are reportedly the highest in Laredo, Texas. Conversely, Reno, Nevada, stands out for having the best average food and wine prices.
In the broader context of the country’s foodie landscape, Los Angeles and New York ranked 16th and 26th, respectively, in the foodie city rankings. These rankings indicate challenges related to affordability, despite their diversity and quality offerings. Other noteworthy cities in the analysis include Seattle, which ranked fourth, and Orlando at fifth place, both known for their robust food scenes.
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Additional Resources
- Patch: Miami Ranks 1st Nationally as Best Foodie City
- Wikipedia: Miami
- Travel + Leisure: Best Food City in America
- Google Search: Miami best foodie city
- Time Out: Miami Tops as the Foodie City
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Foodie City
- Forbes: Miami is No. 1 Foodie City
- Google News: Miami Countryside Food Scene
Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER
ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
