Florida is serving up more than sunshine.
In WalletHub's latest ranking of the nation's best foodie cities, Florida's cities rank among the best, with one taking the number one spot.
WalletHub experts compared more than 180 U.S. cities across two key dimensions, “Affordability” and “Diversity, Accessibility & Quality.” From there, they evaluated those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, such as grocery prices, the presence of Michelin-starred restaurants, and restaurant diversity.
“In the best foodie cities, including Miami, FL, Portland, OR, and San Francisco, CA, 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 named top 'foodie city' by WalletHub. Here's why
South Florida's Miami was declared the top "foodie city" by WalletHub, earning a score of 75 out of 100. It beat out other major cities, like New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.
“Miami is the best city for foodies, leading the country when it comes to the availability of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars out of 5. It also has an extremely high number of restaurants per capita," Lupo says. "On top of that, foodies who want to partake in Miami’s fine dining can choose from 12 Michelin-starred restaurants."
He added that Miami is a "great place for foodies who enjoy cooking at home, with the third-most farmers’ markets, 10th-most gourmet specialty food stores, third-most butcher shops, and the second-most kitchen supply stores per capita.”
Two other Florida places within the top 10. Here's where
Just a few spots below Miami, two other Florida cities placed within the top 10 — Orlando and Tampa.
Orlando ranked sixth with a score of 69.2 and high scores for “Diversity, Accessibility & Quality.” Tampa ranked seventh with a score of 68.4 and also earned high scores for “Diversity, Accessibility & Quality.”
Which other cities made WalletHub's ranking? See top 20
- Miami, FL
- Portland, OR
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Austin, TX
- Orlando, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Denver, CO
- Atlanta, GA
- San Diego, CA
- Houston, TX
- Cincinnati, OH
- St. Louis, MO
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Richmond, VA
What is the 'worst' foodie city in America?
According to WalletHub, the city at the bottom of the ranking was Pearly City, Hawaii. It scored 31 out of 100 and ranked last for affordability.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida dominates foodie rankings with 3 cities in America's top 10
