When it comes to visiting Miami, “come hungry” might be the best advice.
The city was just ranked the No. 1 city for foodies in the United States by WalletHub. In an analysis, the personal finance company gave Miami high marks for the availability of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars out of five, as well as an “extremely high” number of restaurants per capita.
Miami also ranked No. 12 when it comes to diversity of restaurant types and ninth for the ratio of full-service restaurants to fast-food chains. The city also boasts 12 Michelin star-rated restaurants — and even a two-start establishment, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon.
“In the best foodie cities, including Miami; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco, there are tons of unique culinary experiences to try, from food trucks to specialty-food stores to, in some cities, Michelin-starred restaurants,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “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.”
Miami also scored points for having the third-most farmers’ markets, 10th-most gourmet specialty food stores, third-most butcher shops and second-most kitchen supply stores per capita.
WalletHub analyzed 182 cities in its study, ranking them on two main criteria: affordability and diversity, accessibility and quality. These two factors were then broken down into 28 different metrics, such as restaurants per capita, restaurant diversity, the cost of groceries and restaurant meal costs, among others.
The top 10 cities were:
Miami
Portland, Oregon
San Francisco
Seattle
Austin, Texas
Orlando, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Las Vegas
Sacramento, California
Denver
Dining and Cooking