Many American cities have impressive food cultures. But which ones are the crème de la crème?
To help foodies pick their next destination, we've gathered up some of the top cities in the U.S. for a culinary adventure. Some may be expected, but others will surprise you. And we guarantee all these culinary hotspots have truly diverse food scenes that make them worth your time.
Bon appetit!
The Mile-High City is a great place to go if you're a foodie with a sense of adventure. It's home to an emerging craft spirits scene; cuisine from countries not often represented in the states, including Trinidad and Tobago; and, of course, plenty of cannabis-infused treats.
As local chef Carrie Baird put it in The Chicago Tribune, "Everyone's pushing the envelope" in Denver. And that makes it one of the most exciting cities to eat your way through.
Even Denver's signature dish has some edge. Rocky mountain oysters, for the uninitiated, are not seafood, but deep-fried bull testicles - and they're surprisingly delicious. The Buckhorn Exchange, a steakhouse dating back to 1893, serves a mean version and delicious steaks that earned the restaurant a spot on our list of America's best steakhouses.
The easiest way to sample the city's different cuisine styles is by heading to one of many large markets and food halls - like the Denver Central Market, the Source and the Stanley Marketplace, where old favorites and new dishes meet.
Denver also has a strong farm-to-table movement, represented at standout restaurants like Mercantile Dining & Provision, Beast & Bottle and Potager - the city's local-cuisine pioneer.
Philadelphia isn't one of those under-the-radar food cities: It wears its local cuisine and customs with pride.
The City of Brotherly Love gets heated when discussing which restaurant makes the best cheesesteaks (or if the roast pork sandwich is actually the superior option). It touts such nationally known icons as the historic Reading Terminal Market.
A cheesesteak is a must, obviously, and while everyone has their favorites, you can't go wrong at Tony Luke's or John's Roast Pork.
But there's so much more to Philly than its signature sammy. Seek out Abe Fisher, which puts imaginative international spins on traditional Jewish foods).
Tampa is easily one of the most surprising cities on the list, but Brian Connors, clinical instructor of food and beverage management at Florida International University, isn't surprised to see it included amongst the best. Unlike other parts of Florida, he says that "Tampa's got this young vibe happening, where a lot of young professionals and young families with a lot of disposable income and education are moving into that area."
Additionally, it's one of the craft-beer hubs of the East Coast. "They go hand-in-hand," Connors says. "Where that craft beer culture is, foodie culture is as well, and vice versa."
While overshadowed by Miami, Tampa also knows its way around Cuban food, including the beloved Cuban sandwich, which was invented here. The Ybor City neighborhood hosts some of the city's best restaurants hawking food from Florida's southern neighbor, with Columbia Restaurant and Carmine's Ybor among the best.
Wash your meal down with some of that famous craft beer; the city is home to both major producers like Yuengling and up-and-coming breweries like Cigar City Brewing.
Often overlooked in favor of trips to more famous cities in the state, Sacramento has come into its own as a major food destination.
Between the access to fresh, local ingredients and low rents that attract innovative chefs, the city not-by-the-bay is the ideal place to start a restaurant.
Sac-town has been touting its farm-to-table cred since before that was cool, so make sure to seek out spots utilizing ingredients sourced local. The aptly named Localis is one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in the city and features a rotating menu, depending on what's in season.
Brunch is also de rigueur here. For this, try Echo & Rig - a steakhouse that also happens to be one of the city's buzziest brunch locations.
For more amazing U.S. foodie cities, check out Far & Wide.