The Best Food Cities in the US: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards
It isn’t possible for the Condé Nast Traveler team to see and do everything, everywhere, all at once—though we try our best! Fortunately, we also have you, our readers. This year you cast an astonishing 757,109 votes in the 38th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, sharing your opinions on the very best in travel. You told us you were enchanted by Italian hotels, went on safari in Botswana, took to semiprivate aviation, and advocated for newcomers to the top American cities. We loved poring over the results to find out what’s sticking with readers and editors and spinning the data into a snapshot of the current moment in travel. Ahead: your manual for planning that next adventure, whether it's to a top-rated hotel or resort, or centered around a worthy cruise, spa, or island. These are the friendliest cities in the United States, as voted by our readers.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Mike Ledford15. Charleston
Pastel-hued architecture, jasmine-scented streets and cobblestone walkways set the tone for Charleston, but its food is what keeps people coming back. Thanks to its Atlantic perch, the city overflows with fresh seafood: oyster roasts, shrimp and grits, and she-crab bisque are staples. This is the birthplace of Lowcountry cuisine, where coastal ingredients meet African, Caribbean, and European influences on every plate. Locals queue at 167 Raw for scallop po'boys, while Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit fuels late nights with flaky buttermilk biscuits. Places like Palmira BBQ and Jackrabbit Filly prove Charleston’s chefs are always looking to put a global spin on Southern comfort cooking.
Getty14. Las Vegas
Las Vegas packs more culinary star power per square mile than almost anywhere on earth. In fact, the Strip is one of the most Michelin-dense stretches in America. Here, more than 40 celebrity chefs have outposts along its three-and-a-half-miles, where you can splurge on Nobu Matsuhisa's sushi, José Andrés’ wagyu, or the beloved, Tacos El Gordo. Because the city runs 24/7, there are all-night steakhouses, 24-hour dim sum spots, and round-the-clock French bakeries that serve brunch at 3 a.m. Yet some of Vegas’ most exciting meals are off the Strip, especially in Chinatown, where the scene keeps locals coming back.
Bar Leather Apron13. Honolulu
While the capital of Hawaii still has a fair number of pricier restaurants that mainly cater to tourists, you’ll also find an embarrassment of riches when it comes to ultra-fresh poke, adobo, and Japanese izakaya-style bites. Some of the best food on the island of Oahu (where the city is located) is also the most unpretentious and accessible; they can be found in mom-and-pop shops, lunch counters, and grab-and-go bakeries. While there are plenty of beachside and rooftop tiki bars for enjoying an expertly made Mai Tai or three, don’t skip some of the sleeker, more understated options Honolulu has to offer, like Bar Leather Apron, which many believe makes the best Old Fashioned on the island.
J-M Leach12. Boston
Boston is the birthplace of the modern American oyster bar and one of the biggest consumers of lobster per capita, so it’s no surprise that seafood is the city’s heartbeat. Its clam chowder—thick, creamy, and packed with potatoes—became the national gold standard. But the city’s palate reaches far beyond the harbor. Boston has one of the strongest omakase scenes on the East Coast, with intimate counters at No Relation and Wa Shin. In the North End, institutions such as Carmelina’s and Neptune Oyster turn out wood-fired pizzas and Johnnycakes topped with caviar, all beneath the shadow of a citywide cannoli rivalry.
Getty11. Seattle
Rain-soaked streets and misty waterfronts aside, Seattle delivers the epitome of Pacific Northwest brilliance. Slurp fresh-shucked oysters at The Walrus & the Carpenter, then wander to Pike Place—one of the oldest farmers’ markets in the country, dating to 1907—for buttery lobster rolls or warm Russian piroshkies. This is a city where indie roasters helped shape modern coffee culture and where mash-up kitchens like Japonessa blend Japanese and Latin flavors. And whether you’re craving flaky pastries, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), or the late-night “Seattle Dog” (a hotdog lathered in cream cheese and grilled onions), Seattle keeps eaters exploring.
Getty10. San Diego
You might come to San Diego for its sunshine, but you’ll stay for its coastal cooking. The city thrives on diversity: Baja-style fish tacos from Oscar’s, Filipino dishes from Tita’s Kitchenette, and carne asada fries from El Indio. Its proximity to the Mexican border also makes San Diego one of the best places in the country for birria, ceviche, and mariscos. Local chefs lean into the region’s year-round produce and ocean bounty, while more than 150 craft breweries cement its reputation as the “Capital of Craft.” It’s one of the rare US cities where world-class fine dining sits comfortably beside hole-in-the-wall taco joints and beachside shacks.
Semma9. New York City
With more than eight million people living in NYC and some 25,000 restaurants keeping them fed, every block feels like its own culinary universe. You can slurp soup dumplings in Flushing, chase jerk chicken in Flatbush, or savor hand-pulled noodles in the East Village—all in a single afternoon. What makes these meals distinctly New York is how authentically they reflect the communities behind them. Michelin-starred temples like Le Bernardin and Semma sit just steps from dollar-slice pizzerias, while Halal carts outnumber McDonald’s locations by wide margins. In New York, some of the world’s best food is always just around the corner.
Dolina8. Santa Fe
Few cities embody their culinary identity as fully as Santa Fe, where Spanish, Indigenous, and Mexican traditions meld into a singular New Mexican cuisine. At Tia Sophia’s, red and green chile-smothered enchiladas and breakfast burritos have fueled locals since 1975. For a refined take, Sazón offers several types of mole poblano and a signature Sopa de Amor you’ll think about long after you leave. Over at Dolina Bakery & Café, Slovak comfort meets Southwestern decadence in walnut-cinnamon French toast, lamb bone broth soups, and Hungarian-inspired street foods. Santa Fe’s dining culture thrives on the many communities that call the city home—and the flavors they’ve carried with them.
Getty7. Columbus, Ohio
Home to headline-making spots like James Beard Award-nominated chef Avishar Barua’s Agni, which was also one of Bon Appétit’s 20 Best Restaurants of 2024, as well as understated, locally beloved restaurants like Ray Ray’s Hog Pit, Columbus, Ohio has something for every palate. The hospitality scene proudly honors the city’s roots with social supper clubs and (of course) Buckeye Donuts, which has been in business since 1969. It simultaneously supports a robust migrant community that has brought show-stopping Vietnamese and Kenyan food to a new, enthusiastic audience of diners.
Getty6. Lexington, Kentucky
Even if you don’t make it to one of the fourteen bourbon distilleries in Lexington, many of the city’s best restaurants have deep, archival spirit libraries that you won’t find elsewhere. From iconic local chef Ouita Michel’s restaurant family (which includes Holly Hill Inn and Smithtown Seafood, both of which are must-visits) to James Beard-finalist chef Sam Fore’s Tuk Tuk Snack Shop, which celebrates Sri Lankan flavors), Lexington’s hospitality scene continues to fuse Southern tradition and innovation.
Getty5. San Francisco
With one of the highest ratios of mom-and-pop spots to chain restaurants, San Francisco is fueled by Pacific seafood, California farmland, and nearby Napa and Sonoma wine regions. It’s a place where you can dig into fresh Dungeness crab at Thanh Long, rich cioppino (seafood stew) at Sotto Mare, or clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Boudin Bakery. Home to one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in the US, San Francisco helped introduce dim sum, chow mein, and even fortune cookies to America. And in the Mission, taquerias serve the city’s famous Mission-style burritos, an SF icon in their own right.
Neal Kharawala/Unsplash4. Chicago
Don’t call it The Bear effect—Chicago has been one of the country’s most impressive food cities since long before the chef-favorite Hulu series. From prix fixe standouts like Oriole and Alinea to Italian food worth writing home about at Monteverde, experiencing the full range of this city’s culinary scene is no easy feat. If you’re lucky, you can snag a table to enjoy a bright, acidic bowl of kinilaw at Kasama, the world’s only Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant. If you’re not so fortunate, the alternatives—from a serious beer bar scene to hot dogs worth arguing with New Yorkers over—are still pretty great.
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Odd Duck3. Milwaukee
No longer Chicago’s less-popular cousin, Milwaukee has a buzzy restaurant scene that has turned the city into a dining destination in its own right. It turns out that Midwestern hospitality is the perfect match for Serbian, Indian, and Persian cuisines, as evidenced by scores of new restaurants that showcase the city’s diverse dining options. While fewer cities have strong mid-price restaurant options nowadays, Milwaukee continues to champion the casual, accessible night out with beloved spots like Goodkind, a neighborhood restaurant with a cozy pub vibe; and Odd Duck, an eccentric small plates joint that draws inspiration from Korean, Vietnamese, and various Middle Eastern cuisines.
Emily Suzanne McDonald/Getty2. New Orleans
Find another city that fuses Cajun, Creole, Italian, and French cuisines as seamlessly as New Orleans, and has a world-class cocktail bar scene—we’ll wait. Even though it plays host to iconic, enduring restaurants like Galatoire’s and the Commander’s Palace, where three-martini lunches are alive and well, New Orleans never rests on its laurels. Known for classic cocktails like the French 75 and Sazerac (which happens to be the official cocktail of the city) there’s an unmistakable current of fresh energy behind the dining scene. You can experience the full spectrum in the form of a ten-course, wine-fueled tasting menu at St. Germain, or as a perfect fried bologna and potato chip sandwich at Turkey and the Wolf.
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The Morrisons/Pizzaiolo1. Oakland
There’s no wrong neighborhood from which to start exploring Oakland’s staggeringly diverse food scene. In Temescal, located in the north of the city, you’ll find buzzy soul food spot Burdell, as well as out-of-the-box pizzas (think toppings like Monterey Bay squid and chanterelles) at fan-favorite Pizzaiolo; Fruitvale, named after the fruit orchards that dominated this part of town in the mid-19th century, is packed with taco trucks that serve some of the best birria in the country. The city also has a strong taproom and winery tasting room scene, making it easy to plan your entire visit around eating, drinking, or some combination of the two.
