America’s big cities are famous for their signature restaurants and celebrity chefs, but there are plenty of culinary delights to be found far from the bustle of Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. These US towns and smaller cities are bursting with choices fit for even the most ardent foodie. From legendary BBQ communities to playgrounds for the rich and famous, here's where to head for some of the best food around.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
The sandy beaches of Gulf Shores and the adjacent town of Orange Beach draw in enough hungry tourists to make it a true foodie destination. Think Seafood and beach vibes – old-school seafood shacks like King Neptune’s serve up platters of local Royal Red shrimp, while beachside places like The Gulf specialize in above-average casual fare like fish tacos and lobster rolls. Opened at the end of 2022, sprawling beachside bar Coastal has live music every day and serves burgers, sandwiches, salads, and tacos with beautiful sea views. A more formal restaurant is due to open in 2023.
With a population of around 30,000, the city of Juneau is small for a state capital, but it’s big on great restaurants, thanks to the bounty of the Alaskan wilderness. Visitors can find real deal Alaskan king crab at Tracy’s King Crab Shack, which claims to be the most popular restaurant in town. Seafood and taco place Deckhand Dave's, run by a former fisherman, comes highly recommended. But it’s not all about the seafood – Juneau is full of craft breweries and distilleries, bars and saloons, casual hamburger joints, and fine dining restaurants like Salt that highlight fresh local produce.
Surrounded by dramatic red rock formations, Sedona’s restaurants are as eclectic as the desert dwellers that populate the small city. Those looking for quintessential cowboy cuisine will find it at the Cowboy Club, while Tii Gavo offers a taste of the Southwest with its casual tacos and fajita bowls. Sedona’s local celebrity chef is Lisa Dahl, who runs five renowned restaurants in the area including the Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill.
Texarkana is two cities in one, straddling the Arkansas/Texas border. Over on the Arkansas side there is plenty to eat, reflecting the Southern charm and meat-centric cuisines of both states. Hopkins Icehouse, located in a refurbished feed store, is a must-try for its burgers and other no-nonsense, down-home cuisine, as is Pop’s Place, a laid-back restaurant serving Southern specialties. Elsewhere, Fat Jacks Oyster and Sports Bar has been serving up live music and tasty seafood since 1985.
Pretty much the entire state of California is a foodie wonderland, but Sonoma County’s Healdsburg has an exceptional food scene. In the heart of wine country, there are fresh and fancy restaurants around every corner. Check out Bravas Bar de Tapas for tasty dishes such as creamy chciken croquetas and cider braised chorizo, and Dry Creek Kitchen for an outstanding five-course tasting menu, served with delicious local wines. New restaurants open regularly with the recent offering from chef Tony Ounpamornchai, Mandarin Kitchen, already exciting foodies with its menu packed with Thai and Chinese flavors.
Telluride is well-known for skiing and as a celebrity hangout, which is why it’s chockful of world-class restaurants, despite having a population of only about 2,500. Places like 221 South Oak (whose chef Eliza Gavin won fame as a contestant on Top Chef) and the New Sheridan Chop House would be standouts in even much larger cities and there is also a selection of great restaurants at the ski resorts and in Mountain Village, which is accessible by gondola.
Rich in history and not far from New York City, one of Litchfield’s key foodie attractions is Arethusa Farm, a picturesque dairy farm. The farm features an excellent fine dining restaurant, Al Tavolo, a café and bakery, and, of course, ice cream and cheese. Food lovers can also check out places like the Haight-Brown Vineyard, where you can pair your wine with delights such as pan-seared crab cakes and bacon-wrapped dates or, for something more casual, brick-oven pizzeria DaCapo.
Vacation towns tend to breed good restaurants and Rehoboth Beach, with its sandy shores and classic boardwalk, is no exception. Beachgoers can dust themselves off and go for a fancy French meal at fine dining restaurant La Fable, try the 'bold American' fare at Eden, or just grab some very good tacos or pizza near the boardwalk. There’s also a vibrant farmers’ market for locals and vacation renters who want to cook for themselves.
Located near Orlando, Winter Park has made its mark with a wide selection of restaurants that outshine the big chains found near the theme parks. The biggest draw is the expansive Plant St. Market, featuring 20 vendors specializing in natural organic food and handmade goods, with a brewery and food stalls selling empanadas, ceviche, and more. As for restaurants, the city has a wide variety with highlights like Umi for Japanese, Bosphorous for Turkish cuisine, and the newly opened Bar Italia for house-made pasta and sauces.
Dillard is a tiny town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a population of less than 500 people, it’s not where one would expect to find a destination restaurant and luxurious hotel, but the town’s Dillard House is just that. A farm-to-table restaurant before the concept was cool, the house, which dates back to 1917, offers Southern meals served family-style. Beyond that, Dillard has several nearby wineries and places to get barbecue, or check out brick-oven pizza place Fortify Pi in nearby Clayton.
The island of Maui has many good restaurants but one of the longest-running and most beloved is Mama’s Fish House, located near the surfing town of Paia on the island’s north shore. The classic Hawaiian restaurant is so popular, it takes bookings up to 18 months in advance, but it’s not the only great food option Paia has to offer. Visitors also shouldn’t miss the fish burgers at the Paia Fish Market or the kalua pork pizza at the Flatbread Company. A recent addition to the Paia dining scene, Lima Cocina + Catina is Maui's first Peruvian restaurant and has rave reviews for its flavorful food and killer cocktails.
Moscow sits near the state border with Washington, which may influence the town’s robust food culture. There are a range of eateries in town, including great pizza at Maialina and Greek food at Mikey's Gyros. Nectar is one of the town’s top restaurants, serving modern American food like upscale mac 'n' cheese, burgers, and a popular meatloaf special.
Food and Wine magazine named this town in Illinois as one of the top barbecue cities in the US, based on the strength of the extraordinary 17th Street Barbecue, founded by late award-winning pit master Mike Mills, who was so renowned that he was simply known as 'The Legend'. Pat’s BBQ and Catering is another local favorite or, if you fancy something different, check out Cummare’s Italian Restaurant or Sergio’s for Mexican.
Roanoke is known for its surrounding farmlands, so it makes sense that this small town’s premier restaurant, Joseph Decuis, is a farm-to-fork affair. Joseph Decuis is by far Roanoke’s top-rated place to eat, thanks to its charming historical setting and dedication to raising its own Wagyu cattle. For a more relaxed setting, Roanoke is also home to the long-running Roanoke Village Inn and, for lunch, pastries, and ice cream, Moose and Mollie’s Café and Gelato is a real treat.
The big business in the town of Le Mars is undoubtedly Blue Bunny Ice Cream, a beloved brand that has existed since the 1930s. The ice cream is made by the Wells company and visitors to Le Mars can tour its visitor center and ice cream parlor. For something meatier, Le Mars is also home to Archie’s Waeside, a James Beard Award–winning restaurant that specializes in hand-cut dry aged steaks.
Pittsburg, Kansas, is home to two rival fried chicken restaurants, Chicken Mary’s and Chicken Annie’s, which have been competing for local hearts for over 80 years. The two restaurants are on the same block and there’s a hot debate over which of the two is better – we'll let you decide! Once you've dined out on crispy chicken, Mexican El Caballo de Oro comes highly recommeded, as does Toast, a small but trendy restaurant serving deleicious breakfasts, brunches, sandwiches, and salads.
With a population of less than 2,000, Midway has more than its fair share of very good restaurants, largely thanks to renowned chef Ouita Michel who is behind the local ingredient-focused Holly Hill Inn, The Midway Bakery and Café and Wallace Station, which is located just outside town. Midway continues to punch above its weight with its impressive dining scene, whose highlights include Heirloom, an elegant modern French restaurant, and the eclectic Brown Barrel. Formerly Mezzo, Gibson's Italian menu has also received rave reviews since opening.
Part of the Cajun Bayou Food Trail, Thibodaux is the epicenter of real deal Cajun food, one of America’s most coveted cuisines. Trail stops in Thibodaux include gems like Spahr’s Seafood, the Bourgeois Meat Market and the old-school Politz’s Restaurant, all of which offer a true taste of rural Louisiana. This isn’t necessarily hip or fashionable food, but an important (and delicious) area for serious foodies to experience.
Maine is all about fresh seafood, and the coastal town of Rockland is an ideal place to experience the best the Atlantic has to offer. James Beard Award–winning chef Melissa Kelly’s farm-to-table Primo restaurant, set on a four-acre working farm, makes for a special dining experience. There are plenty of other seafood restaurants worth checking out like 18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill and Archer’s on the Pier, with its amazing views. For tapas and wine pairings, head to In Good Company, with its ever-changing seasonal menu.
This quaint town in Maryland has a historical downtown lined with interesting restaurants like the farm-fresh Blacksmith, the Atlantic Hotel’s Bistro Bar and, for something nostalgic, the very retro Rayne’s Reef Soda Fountain and Grill. The town has gone out of its way to revitalize its Main Street, making the town more appealing to visitors and better able to support independent small businesses.
The late, great Anthony Bourdain famously paid his dues with an early cooking job in this town on Cape Cod, and that in itself makes it a destination for foodies. But while Bourdain’s presence looms large, there are also plenty of current restaurants to explore. The Canteen is a top spot to grab an all-important lobster roll, John’s Footlong is a fun stop for a hot dog, and Pepe’s Wharf is a magical location for a Cape Cod seafood feast.
Straddling rural farmland and Michigan wine country on the shores of Lake Michigan, Traverse City is in a prime position to be unusually rich in good things to eat. In addition to the wineries, the area is saturated with great breweries. The Grand Traverse Pie Company takes advantage of the region’s bounty of tart cherries, while restaurants like Farm Club make the most of other local ingredients. Modern Bird, run by a husband and wife team who both previosuly cooked at Michelin-starred restaurants, has a small but perfectly fomed menu, and is one of the newest additions to the food scene.
Known as 'the birthplace of Minnesota', Stillwater has a deep history and its place in America’s Heartland also makes it a good setting for chef-driven restaurants. The range of cuisine is impressive for a small town, with options like the Mexican dishes at Lolito, the hipster vibe at Brick and Bourbon, and the rustic elegance of Phil’s Tara Hideaway, which is tucked away in an unassuming-looking log cabin that used to be a chicken shack.
A friendly town with an artistic soul, Ocean Springs is known as the 'city of discovery' and that spirit extends to its food scene. The daily changing, five-course tasting menu at Vestige, a much-celebrated fine dining restaurant, is a must-visit. For blues and barbecue you can't beat The Shed, plus there's a host of eclectic cafés and restaurants that reflect the local arts community.
Much of Weston’s draw is centered around the beverage industry, with a nice selection of wineries, distilleries, and pubs in and around the town’s historical sites and museums. The town is home to the Farmers’ House Market, a year-round market full of freshly grown goods. Weston’s restaurant game is also strong, with bistro-style Avalon Café, located in an antebellum-era home, Tin Kitchen with its meaty menu, and the café at the Green Dirt Farm, which also features a cheese shop.
Located just south of the Canadian border, Whitefish is a popular destination for sporty types, but it also has a significant number of restaurants to fuel visitors after a day of outdoor fun. This is a town that takes its breakfast seriously, with places like Loula’s Café that make wholesome from-scratch egg dishes and irresistible pies. Unsurprisingly, there’s also a good brewery scene and lots of tasty casual restaurants like Piggyback BBQ.
A bierock is a yeast dough pastry of Russian origin that is filled with a savory filling, usually something like beef and onion with cabbage. They’re particularly popular in Nebraska, and the best place to get them is in the town of McCook at Sehnert’s Bakery, which won a James Beard Award in 2019 and also serves unmissable donuts. There are plenty of other places to satisfy foodies, like Citta' Deli Italian restaurant and El Puerto for Mexican food.
The rest of Nevada gets overshadowed by Las Vegas, but the state is full of quirky little towns, including this one just south of Reno. Genoa is home to what is billed as Nevada’s oldest bar and saloon, which is worth a visit if only for the novelty and the photo op. You’ll also find some good restaurants like The Pink House, which specializes in homemade pizzas, cheese plates, and charcuterie, and the rustic Mexican Genoa Station Bar and Grill.
New England is packed with lovely little foodie towns and Littleton is among the best of the bunch. Built in 1940, the undeniably adorable Littleton Diner is the icon of the town’s food landscape and is a must-see. These day's more modern spots like the Shilling Beer Co. (with a tasting room located in a picturesque Scandinavian-inspired farmhouse) and the chef-owned restaurant Tim-Bir Alley are also attracting attention. Just outside of town, the Adair Country Inn is well worth a visit for New England cuisine, set in a historic house dating back to 1927.
Located just east of Philadelphia, Collingswood was founded by Quakers and, as a result, has specific laws around alcohol. Customers can bring their own beer or wine to drink in restaurants, where staff often make wine recommendations and direct patrons to local liquor stores. The local restaurant scene is still buzzing, with standouts like the Sagami Japanese restaurant, Hearthside for wood fire cooking and fine dining, and modern Indian cuisine from Indiya.
This charming little village near the slightly larger town showcases quirky architecture throughout the community, as well as a surprising array of good places to eat. ACEQ is a favorite of both locals and visitors because of its well-prepared comfort food, and the Sol Market and Café is a great place to stock up on fresh ingredients or stay for a delicious brunch. Sabrosa Restaurant and Bar serves classic dishes such as surf 'n' turf (pictured), chicken pot pie, and crab cakes, in a space surrounded by picturesque countryside.
Lake Placid became well-known thanks to the 1980 Winter Olympics, and now this village in the Adirondack Mountains boasts a fantastic community of restaurants. The relatively rural setting has lead to interesting farm-to-table restaurants like Salt of the Earth Bistro and the Big Slide Brewery leading the pack. For special occasion fine-dining, head to The View at the Mirror Lake Inn.
Only about a half hour drive from Charlotte, Davidson is a pretty lakeside town that draws in day-trippers looking for some lake time and a nice meal. Foodies in the know flock to Kindred, a stylish chef-driven place prized for its diverse seasonal cuisine. Davidson is a college town, so there’s plenty of good coffee and casual fare at restaurants like the Pickled Peach, which also features an artisanal food market.
Grand Forks is a bit larger than most of the cities on this list, but it’s still small enough to feel town-like and is home to some of the best food in North Dakota. As an active and arts-friendly city, Grand Forks has a thriving restaurant community, with highlights like the casual but delicious Toasted Frog (don’t skip the fried pickles!) and the more rugged Texas Roadhouse. Plus, the Grape Mill Winery is well worth a visit for some wine tasting and beautiful vineyeard views.
Any town that claims to have the world’s best fried bologna sandwich deserves some serious foodie attention. Waldo’s population hovers around the 300 mark, and its G&R Tavern is worth a visit just for the thick and crispy bologna slices on a hamburger bun with pickles and Monterey Jack cheese. You can also grab a decent meal at Pettibone’s Bar and Grill and Belly Busters Pizzeria.
El Reno is another small town with a very singular foodie draw: the famous Oklahoma fried onion burger. While the burgers can be found throughout the state, El Reno is the onion burger capital, with three very unassuming restaurants vying to be the best. Hardcore food lovers will stop into Robert’s Grill, Johnnie’s Hamburgers & Coneys, and Sid’s Diner, often in a single day, to sample the burgers and decide which is the tastiest.
Sitting in the heart of Oregon’s famed Willamette Valley wine region, McMinnville is a welcoming town with a delightful main drag full of cool restaurants. For brunch head to Crescent Café which makes hearty from-scratch dishes. Thistle showcases the region's best ingredients, La Rambla serves delicious tapas and Bistro Maison is a cozy French restaurant with a beautiful garden. Of course, there are also plenty of wine bars.
When people think of Hershey, one thing comes to mind: America’s most famous chocolate brand. Chocolate lovers can visit Hershey’s Chocolate World to take a tour, learn how chocolate is made, and sample sweet treats. The town also has a good collection of restaurants including the ritzy Circular in the Hotel Hershey, and a number of independent restaurants outside of Hersheypark, such as the highly rated Italian, Piazza Sorrento.
Newport is known for its luxe vacation homes and yacht port, both of which attract crowds of well-heeled visitors looking for premium places to eat. New England seafood is the main theme in town and it’s easy to find both classy seafood restaurants like Midtown Oyster Bar and quirky paper plate joints like Flo’s Clam Shack, which is more relaxed but just as good. The town also hosts an annual wine and food festival for visitors who want a taste of everything.
Greenville sits about halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte and has a strong craft brewery industry and a number of fresh and fun casual spots to grab a bite, as well as several James Beard Award-nominated restaurants. The Anchorage is a top spot for wine and shareable plates, the stylish fine-dining Scoundrel is a must-visit, and the riverside Mediterranean restaurant and bar The Lazy Goat boasts amazing views of the city.
Freeman’s signature dish is chislic, skewered cubes of meat (usually mutton) that are considered a must-try in South Dakota. The town hosts the annual South Dakota Chislic Festival, featuring craft beer and various local takes on chislic. Visitors can also try the delicacy year-round at local restaurants like Meridian Corner.
Franklin is located just south of Nashville and the perfect place to get a taste of Southern-style cooking, with great examples of fried chicken, pimento cheese, shrimp and grits, and other traditional delicacies on menus all over town. Bishop’s Meat & Three is owned by the same family behind Nashville’s Hattie B’s and specializes in the ultimate Southern lunch: your choice of meat with three succulent side dishes. The Factory at Franklin, a former stove factory, houses shops selling artisan goods, eateries serving everything from tacos and pizzas to sweet treats and hosts regular live music.
Texas’s foodie small town has to be all about the barbecue and, since Lockhart is the official BBQ Capital of Texas, it’s the one to visit. Even though the city only has around 13,000 residents, it’s estimated around 5,000 plates of barbecue are served in town each week. Obviously Lockhard has all kinds of restaurants, but foodies will want to hit the great barbecue houses like Kreuz Market and Black’s BBQ.
A winter resort town that’s internationally known thanks to the Olympics and the Sundance Film Festival, Park City has an abnormally abundant restaurant industry for a city of less than 10,000 people. The town’s best bets include places like the award-winning Riverhorse on Main and Handle restaurants, as well as more homely fare at a host of Japanese, Mexican, and Italian restaurants, or any one of the excellent local coffee shops.
Waterbury is quite famously the site of the original Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory, which usually offers tours to visitors. The town isn’t all ice cream, though – it’s also got an enviable group of restaurants that showcase the best of local Vermont food producers. Foodies shouldn’t miss places like the rustically elegant Hen of the Wood and the highly rated Michael’s on the Hill, among many others.
Located in Appalachia, Abingdon has more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, New York or New Orleans. In fact, there are more than 30 independent restaurants to choose from, ranging from fine dining at The Tavern and slightly more casual fare at The Peppermill. A recent addition to the scene, Summers boasts a roof terrace with stunning views, and serves regionally sourced dishes. There are also plenty of nearby wineries, farmers’ markets, a local olive oil company, and a cornmeal mill that supplies restaurants in the area.
With a population in the three-digits Edison is tiny, but in 2017 Food and Wine magazine accurately predicted that its growing food community would quickly become one to watch. Located in a fertile agricultural zone, Edison’s restaurants aren’t just good, they’re also fun; places like the Breadfarm artisan bakery and Tweets Café are both whimsical and appetizing, while The Old Edison is the place to go for seafood, burgers, and live music.
Historic Lewisburg is a lively town with a dining scene to match, full of independent restaurants that serve a diversity of fresh food. The French Goat is a local favorite for fine dining and the sustainably minded Stardust Café is perfect for a light but delicious meal. Lewisburg also hosts the popular West Virginia Craft Beer Festival, although this year's is currently postponed.
This little lake town in Wisconsin not only has the benefit of lakeside resorts that draw people in, but it is also a stone’s throw from Road America, a permanent professional car racing track. This means that you’ll often see expensive sports cars parked in front of restaurants around town, while their wealthy drivers dine at great restaurants like the Lake Street Café or Otto’s at the Osthoff Resort. Henning’s Cheese factory is also nearby for a hit of Wisconsin cheese curds.
Foodies visiting Wyoming will want a proper cowboy meal and the town of Buffalo is sure to deliver. This is steak country, and the best place to get a nice slab of beef is the Cattleguard Steakhouse. The Virginian is also worth a visit for bison or elk steak, and no trip to Buffalo is complete without experiencing the ambiance of the rootin’ tootin’ Occidental Saloon.
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