Trying new food is one of the best things about traveling and when the food is good the trip is just that much better. So, why not pick a destination solely on its cuisine? With that in mind here's a list of destinations for people who love food and an idea of the restaurants and dishes you can expect to enjoy while you're there.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a mecca for Creole and Cajun cuisine, blending French, Spanish, and African influences in iconic dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and po'boys.
Creole & Cajun
Commander’s Palace: Known for turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé.
Cochon: A standout for dishes like cochon de lait (suckling pig) and boudin.
Seafood
Acme Oyster House: Charbroiled oysters are a must.
GW Fins: Lobster dumplings and fresh Gulf fish dishes.
Desserts
Café du Monde: The famous beignets dusted with powdered sugar.
New York City, New York
NYC offers a vast spectrum of food, from classic New York pizza and bagels to fine dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, making it a foodie paradise.
Pizza
Di Fara Pizza: The classic margherita is a fan favorite.
Lucali: Known for their thin-crust pizzas with a simple but exquisite tomato sauce.
Bagels & Deli
Russ & Daughters: Try the bagel with lox and cream cheese.
Katz’s Delicatessen: Pastrami on rye is an iconic dish.
Fine Dining
Le Bernardin: Famous for seafood like poached lobster and tuna carpaccio.
Eleven Madison Park: Known for its ever-evolving tasting menu, highlighting seasonal ingredients.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco excels in fresh seafood and is the birthplace of sourdough bread, with a strong farm-to-table movement and access to Napa Valley wines.
Seafood
Swan Oyster Depot: Known for its fresh oysters and clam chowder.
Hog Island Oyster Co.: Signature oysters and mussels in wine sauce.
Farm-to-Table
Zuni Café: Roast chicken for two with bread salad is a standout dish.
Chez Panisse (Berkeley): Their ever-changing menu often highlights local, organic ingredients like wood-fired pizzas and fresh pasta.
Sourdough
Boudin Bakery: The classic sourdough bread bowl filled with clam chowder.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s food scene is iconic for deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, but also offers some of the most innovative fine dining in the U.S.
Deep-Dish Pizza
Lou Malnati’s: The Malnati Chicago Classic, with butter crust and sausage.
Giordano’s: Their famous stuffed deep-dish pizza.
Hot Dogs
Portillo’s: The Chicago-style hot dog with all the classic toppings (no ketchup!).
Superdawg: Known for its “Superdawg” hot dog.
Fine Dining
Alinea: A modernist cuisine destination, famous for dishes like edible helium balloons and the "hot potato, cold potato" dish.
Girl & the Goat: Known for its adventurous small plates, like roasted pig face and goat empanadas.
Austin, Texas
Austin is a BBQ lover’s paradise, with its smoked brisket, ribs, and an exploding food truck culture featuring Tex-Mex and fusion flavors.
BBQ
Franklin Barbecue: The brisket is legendary.
La Barbecue: Another spot famous for its melt-in-your-mouth brisket and ribs.
Tex-Mex
Matt’s El Rancho: Known for Bob Armstrong Dip and enchiladas.
Torchy’s Tacos: The “Trailer Park” taco (fried chicken) is a fan favorite.
Food Trucks
The Peached Tortilla: Asian-fusion tacos like the Banh Mi taco are a must-try.
Veracruz All Natural: Renowned for their migas breakfast tacos.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is celebrated for its sustainability-focused food scene, famous food trucks, craft beer, and artisanal coffee culture.
Food Trucks
Pok Pok Wing: Known for their famous Vietnamese-style fish sauce wings.
Lardo: A sandwich-focused food truck known for their pork belly sandwiches.
Sustainable & Organic
Farm Spirit: Known for its vegan, farm-to-table tasting menus.
Le Pigeon: Duck and foie gras dishes are a staple here.
Coffee & Craft Beer
Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Their cold brew is a favorite among locals.
Deschutes Brewery: Known for its Black Butte Porter and seasonal beer specials.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston showcases Southern hospitality and Lowcountry cuisine, with its classic shrimp and grits, seafood, and Southern comfort food.
Lowcountry Cuisine
Husk: Known for its shrimp and grits and smoked pork.
FIG: The ricotta gnocchi and local seafood dishes are standouts.
Seafood
The Ordinary: Renowned for its oysters and shellfish towers.
Fleet Landing: Shrimp and grits, as well as fried seafood platters.
Southern Classics
Poogan’s Porch: Famous for fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits.
Hominy Grill: Known for the "Big Nasty" fried chicken sandwich with gravy.
Los Angeles, California
LA’s diverse population contributes to a food scene filled with global cuisines like Mexican and Korean, along with some of the finest dining on the West Coast.
Mexican
Guelaguetza: Known for its mole dishes and tlayudas (Oaxacan-style pizza).
Leo’s Tacos Truck: Al pastor tacos are a street food favorite.
Korean
Kang Ho-Dong Baekjeong: Famous for Korean BBQ, particularly their beef short ribs.
Gwang Yang BBQ: Known for their marinated prime beef dishes.
Fine Dining
Providence: Specializing in seafood, known for dishes like spot prawns and uni.
n/naka: A modern take on kaiseki, offering a seasonal tasting menu.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is home to the famous hot chicken craze, but also offers great Southern comfort food and BBQ.
Hot Chicken
Hattie B’s: Known for their hot chicken in varying heat levels.
Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack: The original hot chicken spot, famous for its fiery flavors.
Southern Comfort Food
The Loveless Café: Famous for biscuits and country ham.
Arnold’s Country Kitchen: Known for meat-and-three plates, particularly fried chicken and turnip greens.
BBQ
Peg Leg Porker: Known for dry-rubbed ribs and smoked wings.
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint: Whole hog BBQ and brisket sandwiches are favorites.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas has become a major destination for food lovers, with celebrity chef restaurants, themed dining experiences, and gourmet buffets.
Fine Dining
é by José Andrés: A hidden gem offering a molecular gastronomy tasting menu.
Restaurant Guy Savoy: Known for its artichoke and black truffle soup.
Themed Restaurants
Hell’s Kitchen: Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, famous for his beef Wellington and sticky toffee pudding.
Carbone: Known for classic Italian dishes like spicy rigatoni vodka and veal parmesan.
Buffets
Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace: Famous for its massive selection, including seafood, prime rib, and international dishes.
Wicked Spoon: Known for creative small plates and high-quality offerings like bone marrow and sushi.
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Each of these cities offers a distinctive culinary adventure, with standout restaurants and iconic dishes that make them must-visits for any foodie!
