Arizona’s culinary scene continues to earn national attention, and a new ranking shows several cities across the state have plenty to offer people who consider eating more than a necessity — but a lifestyle. WalletHub ranked the Best Foodie Cities in America for 2026 — and the best foodie cities in Arizona — comparing more than 180 U.S. cities across 28 indicators of foodie-friendliness. The study considered factors ranging from grocery costs and restaurant affordability to access to high-quality restaurants and the number of food festivals per capita. Pasted text
Nine Arizona cities made the ranking, led by Phoenix at No. 35 nationally. Scottsdale and Tucson were close behind, ranking No. 44 and No. 45, respectively.
MORE NEWS: 10 Arizona restaurants make Yelp’s Top 100 Mexican food spots
Here’s how Arizona cities ranked among the 182 cities included in the study:
No. 35: Phoenix: Phoenix earned Arizona’s highest overall ranking with a total score of 58.10. The Valley’s largest city ranked No. 33 nationally for diversity, accessibility and quality and No. 94 for affordability. Pasted text
No. 44: Scottsdale: Known for its extensive restaurant and resort dining scene, Scottsdale scored 55.95 overall. It ranked No. 44 for diversity, accessibility and quality and No. 87 for affordability. Pasted text
No. 45: Tucson: Tucson finished immediately behind Scottsdale with a score of 55.29. The Southern Arizona city performed particularly well on affordability, ranking No. 55, while placing No. 49 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text
No. 73: Tempe
Tempe landed in the upper half of the national ranking with a score of 51.52. It ranked No. 54 for affordability and No. 79 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text
No. 97: Mesa: Mesa cracked the national Top 100 with a total score of 48.15. Its affordability ranking of No. 50 significantly outpaced its No. 102 showing for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text
No. 116: Glendale: Glendale scored 45.66 overall, ranking an impressive No. 33 nationally for affordability but No. 132 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text
No. 127: Chandler: Chandler’s total score of 44.83 placed it No. 127 overall. The East Valley city performed especially well in affordability, ranking No. 27 nationally, compared with No. 136 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text
No. 131: Gilbert: Gilbert finished at No. 131 with a score of 44.54. It ranked No. 50 for affordability and No. 143 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text
No. 169: Peoria: Peoria rounded out Arizona’s representation at No. 169 nationally. It earned a total score of 39.68 and ranked No. 130 for affordability and No. 168 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text
How Arizona compares nationally
Miami captured the No. 1 spot in WalletHub’s ranking, followed by Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; Seattle; and Austin. Las Vegas, another Southwestern dining destination, ranked No. 8, while Denver finished No. 10. Pasted text
For Arizona, the results show a notable concentration near the top: Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson all rank among the nation’s Top 45 foodie cities, while five Arizona cities place in the Top 100.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the strongest foodie cities combine unique culinary experiences with options for both dining out and cooking at home, while also making food experiences accessible to residents and visitors. Pasted text
With everything from celebrated restaurants and resort dining to taco shops, food trucks and neighborhood favorites, Arizona’s showing gives food lovers another reason to explore the state — one bite at a time.
Best Food Cities in America
Overall RankCityTotal ScoreAffordability RankDiversity, Accessibility & Quality Rank1Miami, FL74.6216612Portland, OR72.533943San Francisco, CA71.2117624Seattle, WA70.0516535Austin, TX69.7015116Orlando, FL69.216867Tampa, FL68.407888Las Vegas, NV68.307799Sacramento, CA67.54731310Denver, CO67.19931011Atlanta, GA67.00157512San Diego, CA66.95126713Houston, TX65.57241814Cincinnati, OH64.28122615St. Louis, MO64.261321516Pittsburgh, PA64.23232117Los Angeles, CA63.981401418San Antonio, TX63.4223019Grand Rapids, MI62.23143120Richmond, VA61.89962021Fort Lauderdale, FL61.031591722New York, NY60.581791223Oakland, CA60.451741624Milwaukee, WI60.3664025Chicago, IL60.261392426Washington, DC60.201432227Salt Lake City, UT60.17742928Philadelphia, PA59.311282829Portland, ME59.20663430Louisville, KY59.13134231Minneapolis, MN59.08563532Nashville, TN58.901612533Buffalo, NY58.43344134Charleston, SC58.201712335Phoenix, AZ58.10943336Dallas, TX57.38693937Charlotte, NC57.22644338Omaha, NE56.73185239Rochester, NY56.49254740Boston, MA56.281213741San Jose, CA56.091523242Santa Ana, CA56.001343643Baltimore, MD55.97305044Scottsdale, AZ55.95874445Tucson, AZ55.29554946Raleigh, NC55.13864647Cleveland, OH54.97225548New Orleans, LA54.741772749Albuquerque, NM54.71115750Indianapolis, IN54.4886251Wilmington, DE54.101034852Aurora, CO54.08176853Madison, WI53.61207054Vancouver, WA53.511484555Long Beach, CA53.501085156Honolulu, HI53.441821957Santa Rosa, CA53.351683858Columbia, SC53.3377759El Paso, TX53.18356460Fresno, CA52.94436161Bakersfield, CA52.54317162Anaheim, CA52.451165463Providence, RI52.40886064Reno, NV52.27456565Modesto, CA52.15497666Virginia Beach, VA52.09656767Tulsa, OK51.89627368Columbus, OH51.87586669Detroit, MI51.8658770Colorado Springs, CO51.67796371Oklahoma City, OK51.66995872St. Petersburg, FL51.61717273Tempe, AZ51.52547974Fort Worth, TX51.4998575Spokane, WA51.381155976Jersey City, NJ51.091465677Knoxville, TN50.871545378Jacksonville, FL50.87896979St. Paul, MN50.79488180Lexington-Fayette, KY50.6439681Stockton, CA50.57827882Nashua, NH50.48112183Greensboro, NC50.14219784Baton Rouge, LA50.071277585Manchester, NH49.423610786Des Moines, IA49.31679087Amarillo, TX49.041612388Cedar Rapids, IA48.94609389Dover, DE48.863811490Salem, OR48.82818891Springfield, MO48.801138992Garden Grove, CA48.581298393Glendale, CA48.521338094Plano, TX48.39419895Wichita, KS48.35412796Newark, NJ48.261607497Mesa, AZ48.155010298Missoula, MT48.044411199Kansas City, MO48.0211086100Billings, MT47.9153113101Norfolk, VA47.7352109102Birmingham, AL47.2670108103Oceanside, CA47.2583105104Durham, NC47.059094105Tacoma, WA46.9415082106Tallahassee, FL46.9095103107Riverside, CA46.5110492108Fargo, ND46.3828140109Burlington, VT46.2814299110Sioux Falls, SD46.2198115111Overland Park, KS46.1361125112Pembroke Pines, FL45.88125110113Corpus Christi, TX45.8363126114Charleston, WV45.7046157115New Haven, CT45.6897122116Glendale, AZ45.6633132117Henderson, NV45.6219139118Arlington, TX45.6210148119Boise, ID45.55119101120Garland, TX45.4126144121Huntington Beach, CA45.28116112122Hialeah, FL45.2717384123Newport News, VA45.1642149124Casper, WY45.0459145125Oxnard, CA44.97105118126Lubbock, TX44.9272130127Chandler, AZ44.8327136128Irving, TX44.83102128129Fremont, CA44.78141105130Aurora, IL44.71149116131Gilbert, AZ44.5450143132North Las Vegas, NV44.4540131133Bridgeport, CT44.4117291134Irvine, CA44.34116120135Chattanooga, TN44.1417095136Warwick, RI44.12162117137Brownsville, TX44.0329166138Memphis, TN43.95156104139Chula Vista, CA43.88138124140Chesapeake, VA43.5075147141Rapid City, SD43.40123133142Winston-Salem, NC43.36100138143Lincoln, NE43.35135129144Worcester, MA43.2776154145Fort Wayne, IN43.2632161146Toledo, OH43.0192146147Fayetteville, NC42.9147164148Anchorage, AK42.79153119149Bismarck, ND42.62109153150South Burlington, VT42.5485134151Columbia, MD42.48110156152Mobile, AL42.3984159153Akron, OH42.34114141154Ontario, CA42.2980158155Huntsville, AL42.28106150156Santa Clarita, CA42.06107155157Laredo, TX42.0657170158Fort Smith, AR41.84136152159Cape Coral, FL41.73147135160Grand Prairie, TX41.72124160161Port St. Lucie, FL41.67137142162Little Rock, AR41.44131151163Fontana, CA40.7991171164Las Cruces, NM40.4637176165Yonkers, NY40.14180100166Huntington, WV39.77122172167Cheyenne, WY39.71112173168Rancho Cucamonga, CA39.71100167169Peoria, AZ39.68130168170Columbus, GA38.87120174171San Bernardino, CA38.54144165172Nampa, ID38.20169162173West Valley City, UT37.24151169174Gulfport, MS37.15175163175Juneau, AK37.01178137176Augusta, GA36.44158177177Lewiston, ME36.23155178178Shreveport, LA35.57145181179Jackson, MS34.71167179180Moreno Valley, CA33.91163175181Montgomery, AL32.80164182182Pearl City, HI30.69181180
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
Dining and Cooking