A leading financial website, WalletHub, has recently unveiled the ranking of the best food cities in the United States for the year 2026. Topping the list is Miami, Florida, followed by Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, California.
In this latest comparison by WalletHub, a total of 182 cities were assessed, including the top 150 most populous cities in the U.S. as well as at least two populous cities from each state. The evaluation was based on 28 criteria categorized into “affordability” and “diversity, accessibility, and quality.” The former encompassed factors such as food grocery prices, restaurant dining costs, sales tax, average beer and wine prices, while the latter calculated the per capita availability of restaurants, food trucks, farmer’s markets, craft breweries, coffee shops, and specialty food stores.
According to Chip Lupo, an analyst at WalletHub, cities ranking high on the list are not only suitable for dining out enthusiasts but also for food connoisseurs who enjoy experimenting with new flavors in their own kitchens.
Miami stands out in the number of highly rated, affordable restaurants, with a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. The city also boasts a high per capita restaurant count.
Miami ranks 12th in the diversity of restaurant types nationwide, with a notable balance between formal restaurants and fast-food outlets at 9th place. It is home to 12 Michelin-starred restaurants, including one with two stars. For home cooks, Miami excels in per capita farmer’s markets (3rd place), butcher shops (3rd place), kitchenware stores (2nd place), and specialty food stores (10th place).
Portland shines in its per capita craft breweries and wineries, spice shops, culinary tours, and food festivals. The city also offers a wide array of highly rated restaurants with a rating of 4.5 stars and above.
The report highlights that Portland currently lacks Michelin-starred restaurants, but the absence of food taxes in the area makes grocery shopping and dining out tax-free.
San Francisco boasts a high per capita restaurant count, while offering a variety of highly rated affordable dining options. The city is home to 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three three-star establishments – Atelier Crenn, Benu, and Quince.
Furthermore, San Francisco ranks 6th in restaurant diversity nationwide and 4th in accessibility to healthy food. The city also has a relatively high per capita number of food festivals and cooking schools, as well as a leading number of spice shops, international food markets, and craft breweries.
According to the New York Post, three other California cities made it into the top 20: Sacramento at 9th place, San Diego at 12th, and Los Angeles at 17th.
Adam McCann, an analyst at WalletHub, clarified that the rankings solely consider data within the administrative boundaries of each city and do not include surrounding metropolitan areas.
Miami had secured the top spot in WalletHub’s 2025 ranking as well, affirming its status as a culinary hotspot.