Best Foodie Destinations in America

Great food doesn't have to be pricey, fussy or served on white linen. Simple flavors combined in exciting ways and served with uncomplicated style please even the most sophisticated palates. The cuisine scenes in the following cities honor fresh, local ingredients, classic recipes and modern techniques to make your food experiences truly memorable.

San Francisco: Sourdough, Seafood and Soy Sauce

This coastal foodie mecca is all about local traditions.

The signature flavors of San Francisco come from tradition, the Pacific Ocean and city's large Asian population. Bread leavened with sourdough starter fed miners and merchants during the California Gold Rush. Today, you'll find fresh-baked loaves of the tangy bread almost everywhere. Sample sourdough at Bistro Boudin at Fisherman’s Wharf. Seafood platters, calamari with cocktails, sushi and fresh salmon steaks from the bountiful waters of the Pacific Ocean are foodie favorites throughout the city. Step out of your hotel in San Francisco and top off your culinary quest in Chinatown, where the delicious dishes are full of rich flavors and fresh produce from nearby farms.

Chicago: Windy City Favorites

Meat-eaters unite in the Windy City!

Its proximity to the farmland of the Midwest makes your next stay in Chicago a prime location for prime rib—and steak and pork chops and sausage and all the savory sides that go with them! The famous steakhouses will put a dent in your travel budget, but many smaller eateries in the city are wallet-friendly. The whole family can have fun at the Exchequer Restaurant & Pub, which features ribs and another Chicago favorite—pizza. Keep your eyes open for food trucks in the downtown area so you can enjoy a great meal without having to make reservations.

Boston: Beyond Baked Beans

Skip the beans in Beantown and try the chowder instead.

Despite its nickname of “Beantown,” you won't find baked beans on many menus when you stay in Boston. But you will find another Boston favorite—clam chowder—nearly everywhere. As a dedicated foodie, you'll want a cup here and a cup there—each restaurant, tavern and little cafe has its own secret proportions of potatoes, clams, clam juice, cream and seasonings. But perhaps one of the most famous places for “chowda” is at Boston’s oldest restaurant, the Union Oyster House. Fresh fish and shellfish from the cold Atlantic waters grace most menus in the city, including those of the dozen Legal Sea Foods restaurants in the greater Boston area. When you're in Boston's North End, savor some authentic Italian pasta, pizza, antipasto and pastries in the restaurants and bakeries of Little Italy.

Key West: Tasty Island Paradise

Key West isn't just about sun and fun—it's a foodie paradise.

Recovering from Hurricane Irma that barreled through in September 2017, Key West has pulled itself out of the wreckage and still remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Florida. The foodie scene is no exception, with dozens of charming, beach-side cafes and local seafood stops to fill even the biggest foodie appetite. If you go nowhere else, it must be Pepe’s Cafe; built in 1909, it's the oldest and one of the most popular restaurant in the Florida Keys. From bountiful breakfasts and fresh seafood for lunch or dinner (including Gulf oysters), Pepe's is a neccessary stop whenever you stay in Key West.