The Best Restaurant Cities in the US

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Would you travel for food? Many of us are now on the look-out for so-called ‘restaurant cities’ when choosing our next holiday destination. According to recent research published by World Travel Market, over 80% of us mention food and drink as among the most memorable aspects of our holiday and 60% of us take photos of what we eat while travelling.

Don’t forget that you’ll need a visa in order to enter the United States. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an automated platform that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

While you can apply for ESTA direct via the official website, if you’re in any doubt about the application process or you have extremely limited time in which to process your application, you might wish to consider applying for your ESTA Visa via E-Visa.co.uk, as you can pay a fee to have your application double-checked in order to ensure accuracy and avoid any unnecessary delays.

Nowhere has this been more pronounced than in the United States. From deep-dish pizzas and super-sized burgers, to fully-loaded freak shakes and vibrant rainbow bagels, America has always led the world when it comes to calorific comfort food. In recent years, however, changing global attitudes towards diet and the wider environment have fuelled the emergence of new US food trends, transforming the landscape of America’s food and drink scene. With this in mind, which US cities should we add to our 2019/20 travel agenda if we want to experience the very best of America’s restaurant cities on a culinary journey across the US?

5 of the best US restaurant cities

New York City, New York

The largest city in New York, New York City is the epicentre of typical American fast food and one of the country’s most well-known restaurant cities. You know what I’m talking about. The kind of food that has you piling on the pounds with just one glance. You can practically feel the cholesterol clogging up your arteries as you eat, yet it just tastes so damn good!

For inspiration on what to eat and drink while visiting New York City, check out Thrillist’s essential NYC food bucket list – no doubt you’ll come away with plenty of ideas to add to your culinary itinerary!

Start the day with an infamous cronut from Dominique Ansel Bakery. This highly-acclaimed bakery also has several other branches in New York and California, as well as in London Victoria. I can personally vouch for the Welsh rarebit croissant!

For lunch, grab a Maine lobster roll from the Red Hook Lobster Pound or some hearty soup dumplings from Joe’s Shanghai. When it comes to dinner, treat yourself to a slap-up meal at a fancy restaurant – the $325 tasting menu at Per Se is rumoured to be quite the experience, if your budget can stretch to it!

Portland, Oregon

Earlier this year, Veganuary saw more of us sign up for a meat-free month than ever before. Even the most committed of carnivores began ditching beef burgers for beet burgers and shunning sirloin in favour of cauliflower ‘steaks’.

This rise in veganism has continued far beyond Veganuary, however. Our increased level of awareness around animal welfare and sustainability, in addition to a desire to improve our health, have driven many of us to stick to the vegan diet.

Surprisingly, the United States – once synonymous with meat-laden junk food – is actually now one of the top destinations for veganism in the world. According to a recent article published in The Guardian, six of the world’s top cities for vegan food can be found in the United States.

If you’re going to travel to just one US city in search of food in 2019/20, make it Portland, Oregon. Previously named the most vegan-friendly city by PETA, Portland is not just home to a selection of highly acclaimed vegan restaurants – it also boasts its very own vegan summer camp, a vegan shopping mall and even a vegan strip club!

Los Angeles, California

In line with the rising popularity of veganism, current food trends are seeing a transformation in our attitudes towards food, driven by a desire to lead healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. From paleo and keto, to Atkins and the Mediterranean diet, there are so many weight loss plans out there these days, it’s often difficult to understand the benefits of one over the other.

In many US cities, this has given rise to an explosion in restaurants and food outlets serving wholesome, nutritious foods. This has been particularly pronounced in Los Angeles – home of Hollywood – where many high-earning stars and celebs can afford to splash out on everything and anything from hiring luxury car service Los Angeles-style, to professional dieticians who can help them to achieve the perfect body.

So, where’s best to go for your healthy food fix in LA? Check out Sqirl Kitchen’s metabolism-boosting lacto-fermented hot sauce, M Café’s sugar-free microbiotic cuisine, Han Bat Sul Lung Tang’s Korean bone broth and probiotic kimchi, and SunCafe Organic’s plant-based menu.

Austin, Texas

The capital of Texas, Austin has always been known for its no holds barred greasy BBQ and Tex Mex cuisine.

Widely regarded among the best BBQ spots in the US, Franklin BBQ is famous not only for its mouth-watering meat feasts, but for its killer queues. Expect to wait up to four hours to sink your teeth into the most succulent steak you’ve ever tasted.

While Tex Mex bears many similarities with authentic Mexican food, it tends to draw upon local ingredients like beef and wheat in place of the traditional chicken, pork and corn flour. Expect tacos, nachos, chilli con carne and fajitas. If you’re craving Tex Mex cuisine, head to one of the five Chuy’s restaurants in Austin, the most popular being Barton Springs. Discover more about the food and drink scene in Austin, Texas.

And, although Austin tends to steal the limelight, Texas certainly isn’t short of other great foodie destinations if you have some extra time to spare, too. Dallas is well-worth getting your teeth stick into as well, with restaurants in Addison constantly appearing on round-ups of the best places to eat in the area.

Burrito. Credit: Chuy’s

New Orleans, Louisiana

Part of the so-called ‘mojo triangle’ regarded as the home of jazz, blues, rock n’roll and country music (together with Memphis and Nashville), New Orleans has a sterling reputation for its rustic Creole and Cajun cuisine.

Perhaps best known for traditional Louisiana Po Boys and Muffaletta sandwiches, New Orleans has something to tempt even the fussiest of eaters – from gumbo stew and jambalaya, to deep fried beignet donuts and bananas foster.

As far as US restaurant cities go, New Orleans is home to a number of award-winning restaurants and top chefs. Highlights include the Commander’s Palace, Maypop, Killer PoBoys and Cochon, to name just a few. Be sure to check out the food trucks and farmer’s markets too! Read more in this brief guide to the New Orleans food and drink scene.

Orlando, Florida

While Orlando might be best known for its family holiday resorts, theme parks and huge attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, this central Florida city is actually building up quite an impressive track record for its food and drink scene.

When dining out with the whole family, you might like to visit a local steakhouse, burger joint or food truck to take advantage of affordable, whole-souled food.

If you’re looking to treat yourself to a meal to remember, however, you’ll find a spattering of prestigious fine dining restaurants including ramen bar, Domu, Chatham’s Place, Michelin-starred Kadence and Norman’s.

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Don’t forget to pin this post so you can re-visit it when you next visit the US!

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