Portland ranked among the best foodie cities in the United States
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland is known for its food scene, but how does it stack up compared to other cities in the United States?
A new study from personal finance website WalletHub ranked the best foodie cities in the United States, naming Portland among the best.
WalletHub explained that Americans use the term “foodie” to describe gourmet dining enthusiasts – noting foodie culture isn’t limited to restaurants but also includes foodies who enjoy trying new and unique flavors in their own kitchens, and less prominent establishments such as food carts.
To determine the best, and cheapest, foodie scenes, WalletHub compared over 180 cities across several factors including cost of groceries, accessibility to high-quality restaurants, and the number of food festivals per capita.
Miami, Florida was ranked the number one best foodie city, receiving high marks for availability of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars out of five, and for having an extremely high number of restaurants per capita.
Meanwhile, Oregon snagged the fourth spot for best foodie cities -- ranking high for diversity, accessibility and food quality.
"Portland, Oregon, ranks as the fourth-best foodie city in America because of its diverse, high-quality culinary offerings and its accessibility to food lovers, from upscale dining to street food," said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo.
"The city ranks high in 'Diversity, Accessibility & Quality,' coming in 4th, thanks to its array of restaurants, food trucks, and vibrant food culture. However, Portland ranks very high in affordability at 101st, which suggests that while the food scene is rich and varied, it may come at a higher cost compared to other top cities. Nonetheless, the city provides foodies with a well-rounded experience, blending unique local flavors with an emphasis on culinary creativity, although there is ample room for improvement in making these experiences more affordable," he added.
San Francisco, California; Orlanda, Florida; and Tampa, Florida round out the top five best foodie cities in the U.S.