The Best Cities for Foodies

By Editor, Natural Blaze

Google Trends reports that the term “foodie” first started appearing online in 2004. Since then, with countless Yelp and TripAdvisor reviews combined with those endless Instagram pics of various dishes, foodies are now considered a mainstream consumer group.

If you’re one of them, there are some great cities around the nation and across the globe that are worth traveling to just for the food these days. In fact, one of the best parts of traveling is savoring delicious meals you may not be able to dine on back home, while appreciating the origins of the food and the skilled culinary techniques used to create it.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the hub for New England cuisine, from rich and creamy clam chowder to lobster rolls. But you’ll find a whole lot more than that, like Moona, Eater’s recent Restaurant of the Year Reader’s Choice Winner. This Inman Square restaurant has a menu focused on Eastern Mediterranean fare, with dishes geared for sharing. The small, intimate space seats only 30, but the atmosphere and flavors are to-die-for.

There are so many top-notch places to eat in Boston, more than a few foodies have found themselves moving to the city, accepting a challenge to sample it all. While it’s not an easy feat, if you’d like to try, you may want to search through Boston homes for sale.

San Francisco, California

On the opposite side of the country, San Francisco (and the entire Bay Area), is one of the best foodie destinations on the planet. While the fresh seafood like Dungeness crab, clam chowder and sourdough bread are all must-samples, do it at the more than century-old Swan Oyster Depot instead of the over-priced, touristy pier. You’ll also be able to dine on pasta perfection at Flour + Water, and across the bay, world-renowned Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Off the Grid’s food trucks can be found throughout San Fran’s neighborhoods, offering a wide range of unique delights at affordable prices.

Austin, Texas

While Austin has long-been known for its outstanding fare. It offers plenty of tasty Texas BBQ like juicy ribs and brisket, often served in unique places like the Old School Bar & Grill housed in an old school bus. Today you’ll also discover lots of creative, interesting twists to standard favorites. Bon Appetit named East Side King’s Thai Kun Trailer one of the hottest new restaurants in the nation when it opened its doors. The menu features Southwest staples like short ribs covered in Thai herbs.

San Sebastian, Spain

2016’s European Capital of Culture has also been called the Foodie Capital of Europe with more Michelin stars per square meter than just about any other place on Earth. Foodies can sample local specialties like salt cod and slow-cooked veal cheeks, and in autumn, there is plenty of game, mushrooms, sausage and black pudding found on the delectable menus here.

Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca is considered a bucket list destination for foodies, with many, diverse traditional Mexican dishes perfected or birthed here. The Mexican pizza, or Tlayuda, is a must-try, a large, crispy tortilla topped with meat, stringy cheese, salad and mole sauce. The “land of the seven moles,” as Oaxaca is sometimes referred to for its complex, legendary sauces consisting of dozens of ingredients, often including chocolate, are cooked over several days. Chocolate lovers will be in heaven – it’s around nearly every corner, in the form of candy, hot beverages, pastries and more.

Image credit: Pixabay