10 Best Foodie Destinations in the US

San Francisco is renowned for its chocolate, with the chocolatier Domingo Ghirardelli establishing his presence in the city in 1893. The city is also known for its sourdough bread and seafood. Even so, San Francisco's dining scene offers much more than these popular highlights. It boasts a vibrant and diverse culinary landscape, catering to various price points.

During your visit to the Bay Area, there are several noteworthy culinary destinations to explore. Chinatown provides a wide variety of Asian cuisine, along with a bustling marketplace where you can grab ingredients on the go. The northeast coast of the peninsula is home to romantic eateries that serve seasonal, locally sourced dishes. Alternatively, you can savour the Latin-inspired flavours in the historic Mission District. To experience a wide range of tastes, consider planning your visit in August to coincide with the Eat Drink SF food festival. This event offers a fantastic opportunity to sample a diverse selection of culinary delights.

Austin, Texas is more than just tacos and barbecue. The food scene in the state's capital can best be described as down-to-earth with a creative twist. Austin boasts a thriving food truck culture and walkable markets, making eating on the go a culinary treat.

When dining your way through Austin's restaurants, expect a global experience. Each day brings a medley of flavours, from mole-dipped breakfast tacos to black garlic ramen for lunch and tangy Bolognese for a romantic date night. Whatever may be on your foodie bucket list, it is recommended to book your table in advance, as Austin's restaurants are as hot as its climate.

Nashville, Tennessee may be Music City, but it's the food that will make you sing. It's home to some of the finest Southern cooking on the map and the birthplace of hot chicken, which is fried and coated in a cayenne pepper sauce. Many Nashville haunts offer a "meat and 3" menu: an entrée meat, plus 3 side dishes like potatoes, corn, or vegetables, sometimes served cafeteria-style.

While Nashville is known for its fried chicken and barbecue meats, vegetarians and vegans will be delighted and welcomed by highly rated meat-free eateries. Places like Graze Nashville, Succulent Tacos, Sunflower Bakehouse, or the Wild Cow make Nashville a welcoming host for plant-based eaters.

Portland, Oregon's food scene is characterized by diversity. Like the unique, artsy spirit of Portland's residents, its restaurants bring their own character to the city's tapestry. Some of the best joints are scattered along the downtown stretch. Food trucks, locally known as food carts, are popular dining options in the Pacific Northwest. They can be found in permanent "pods" like the Prost Marketplace or the Portland Farmer's Market (March to December).

Expect to find hyper-focused eateries you didn't know existed, such as a salumeria (cured-meat shop), cinnamon roll bakery, chickpea ice cream shop, or s'mores store. Among all the colourful cuisine, Portland also boasts its fair share of upscale, award-winning restaurants for fine food aficionados.

New York City's restaurant scene is world-famous, with more than 70 Michelin-starred restaurants throughout. Beyond fine dining, the Big Apple is known for its pizza, bagels, cheesecake, Coney Island hot dogs, and pastrami on rye.

Though it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the variety that New York has to offer, there are select neighborhoods that foodies should add to their culinary road map. Head to Harlem for the best African and Caribbean cuisine, the West Village for a coffee shop or bakery reminiscent of sitcom legends, Midtown for upscale dining, or Chinatown for steamed dumplings and fried wontons from restaurants that have held space in Manhattan for as long as 80 years.

Denver, Colorado has experienced an influx of trendy eateries over the past decade, making it a must-visit destination for hungry travellers. What do locals recommend when visiting the Mile High City? Enjoying a cold draft beer from one of the more than 70 breweries in the city (contributing to the nearly 500 in the entire state), savouring a burrito smothered in green chilli, and indulging in a bison burger. For those seeking the trendiest restaurants, head over to the Highlands, RiNo, or Cherry Creek neighbourhoods.

Are you in search of an Instagram-worthy dive? Look no further than the renowned Casa Bonita Mexican restaurant, which was once infamous for its subpar food among locals. However, it is now the talk of the town under new ownership and with an acclaimed chef at the helm. Don't forget to order the sopapillas for a delicious treat.

The food scene in Washington D.C. is as culturally diverse as its people. In a city where life is busy, fast food dominates the mid-day dining scene. Locals approve of classic on-the-go options such as half-smokes (regional hot dogs made from a mix of pork and beef, topped with herbs, onions, and chilli sauce), chicken subs, chicken wings with mumbo sauce (a flavorful barbecue-like sauce), and Neapolitan pizza.

For a more relaxed dining experience, the evenings are the perfect time to unwind at one of the many restaurants in the D.C. area. Experiential dining with coursed meals is particularly popular, and advanced reservations are usually required in most establishments. To discover top-choice eateries, consider visiting the Penn Quarter, West End, Georgetown, and the Navy Yard neighbourhoods.

Seattle, Washington, also known as the Emerald City, is full of eclectic dining options. Known for its Asian cuisine (sushi, teriyaki, dumplings, ramen), foodies would be remiss not to visit the International District, east of the sports stadiums and historic Pioneer Square. From there, head north to visit the always bustling Pike Place Market, where fresh produce, fish, and curiosities abound. If you ask nicely, the fishmongers will show off their fish-flinging skills. Don’t miss the first-ever Starbucks location and the Athenian, the restaurant that hosted Tom Hanks in the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle.

Beyond the downtown area, Seattle’s peripheral neighbourhoods offer their own culinary personality. In a highly caffeinated city, Ballard offers the best options for cosy cafes. Capitol Hill has a lively bar scene. West Seattle, a bridge away from the rest of the city, has desirable waterfront restaurants at multiple price points. Georgetown is home to dive bars and the Trailer Park Mall, where artisan goodies live among the flea market finds.

New Orleans, Louisiana offers a plethora of iconic foods such as gumbo, red beans and rice, po boys, crawfish, beignets, bananas Foster, and oysters Rockefeller that travellers should check off their wish lists.

Visitors won’t want to miss a stop at the classic French-style Café Du Monde for the only items on the menu: beignets with a mountain of powdered sugar and the uniquely bitter chicory coffee. For a more filling meal, brunch options are prevalent in NOLA. Make it a jazz brunch for even more local flair. For some of the city’s most influential, taste-defining cooking, head to the Tremé neighbourhood. As for nightlife, Bourbon Street has more than its fair share of bars and taverns, but don’t count out other areas (like the Marigny or Uptown) for great cocktails.

Los Angeles, California offers diners looking for the latest and greatest a smorgasbord of options. Don't discount street grub for some of the tastiest meals on your trip to LA. Spread throughout the large metropolitan area, foodies will find delight from Santa Monica and Beverly Hills all the way to Monterey Park and East LA.

While in the City of Angels, make sure to dine at an Oaxacan restaurant. Oaxaca is a specific culinary region of Mexico known for its diverse varieties of mole (a thick sauce served with meat). Tacos, breakfast burritos, sushi, and sandwiches are also favourite foods among locals. And with famously lovely weather, this Southern California city is made for dreamy, romantic patio settings.