Between August 2021 and August 2022, restaurant prices rose by 8.3%. Despite the rise in prices, inflation can’t keep us down. Dining out is a big part of a foodie’s lifestyle. 

With World Food Day coming up on October 16th, it’s only right that we highlight the top foodie cities in the U.S. 

WalletHub, a personal-finance website, analyzed over 180 of the largest cities in the U.S. across 29 key metrics and two key dimensions: affordability and diversity, accessibility & quality. The list of top foodie cities may surprise you. 

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Related: A Foodie’s Paradise: 7 Of The Best Restaurants In Oaxaca, Mexico

What it means to be a “foodie”

A foodie is anyone who enjoys the art of food. In addition to dining out, foodies enjoy unique flavors and combinations. Eating is an experience and lifestyle for foodies.

Tips for foodies on a budget

If you’re a foodie on a tight budget, there are still ways to enjoy dining out. 

“When dining in a restaurant, consider ordering an appetizer as your meal and try going during happy hour or slower times when discounts are often offered,” suggests Andrea Graves, Business Planning and Marketing Specialist. 

“Go meatless once in a while and look for satisfying entrées that are less expensive than the same meal containing meat. Drink water instead of ordering a cocktail or iced tea and spend the bulk of your budget on the main course. Lastly, join loyalty clubs if the restaurant has one. You can often get freebies from doing what you already do anyway,” continues Graves.

Top 20 foodie cities in the U.S.

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  1. Portland, Oregon
  2. Orlando, Florida
  3. Miami, Florida
  4. San Francisco, California
  5. Austin, Texas
  6. Sacramento, California
  7. Seattle, Washington
  8. Tampa, Florida
  9. Las Vegas, Nevada
  10. San Diego, California
  11. Denver, Colorado
  12. Chicago, Illinois
  13. Washington, DC
  14. Atlanta, Georgia
  15. Los Angeles, California
  16. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  17. Portland, Maine
  18. New York, NY
  19. Charleston, South Carolina
  20. Oakland, California

Read the full report here.

Related: Traveler And Foodie Victoria Dorsey Lists Her Favorite Restaurants From Around The World