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If you decide where to book a trip based on local restaurants and cafes, we applaud you—your priorities are astutely in order. A new report created by Yelp seeks to help travelers like you and make this process easier. The crowd-sourced review engine just released its findings for the top 10 foodie destinations in the U.S. and we’ll admit the results are quite unexpected.
The site’s research team looked at the number of new restaurants, ratings, and cuisine diversity in each city to determine the trending hot spots. While you might expect big cities to feature no the list, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago are nowhere to be found. Surprising entries include St. Louis, Missouri and Honolulu, Hawaii, which ranked second and third on the list, respectively.
The top foodie destination is one that we can get behind, though. San Francisco, California took out the number one spot, thanks to its diverse array of restaurants, cafes, and eateries. Planning a trip? Here are our tips to explore three top foodie destination like a true connoisseur.
If you’re in San Francisco, don’t miss:
Skip the ticket to Paris and enjoy a cozy dinner at Petit Marlowe,a charming re-creation of a French buvette. Pieces like the intricate iron barstools and the rustic antique farm table were actually sourced from Parisian flea markets, so there’s an admirable element of authenticity. Chef and partner Jennifer Puccirecommendds ordering a number of small plates to share along with a bottle (or three) of wine and live like the trendiest of the French, if only for the evening.
234 Townsend Street; petitmarlowesf.com
If you’re in Dallas, don’t miss:
If you think that a suburb of Dallas seems like a peculiar pick for one of the top five foodie cities in America, you’re not alone. But a closer look into the city’s culinary offerings paints a convincing picture as to why it deserves a top slot: the city is host to a surprising number of top-rated eateries, and the light-filled Sixty Vines is one of the best for design aficionados. In addition to an abundance of plants, industrial features, and a cool abstract art mural, this spot also has wine on tap and a pretty stellar pizza menu.
3701 Dallas Parkway; sixtyvines.com
If you’re in San Diego, don’t miss:
El Jardin is an upscale Mexican eatery helmed by chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins, a one-time competitor on Top Chef Mexico. The only thing more impressive than the menu, which includes a bevy of local dishes, is the design. Full of vibrant colors, gorgeous tile work, and even a plant wall, it’s a cheery spot to grab dinner with your friends and enjoy a custom cocktail.
2885 Perry Road; eljardinrestaurantbar.com
See more cities to visit: These Are the Most Family-Friendly Cities in America The 5 Most Affordable Places to Travel in the US May Surprise You Can You Guess What the Healthiest Country in the World Is?