Katherine Parker-Magyar is a travel writer and regional foodie who has been to all 50 states in search of the best food. She shared her insights, revealing which states rank in the top ten for America’s best cuisine. Of course, taste is completely subjective. What ranks as the best food for Parker-Magyar may not even be something you’re willing to try.
Using a mix of objective research and totally subjective opinion, we’ve assessed each U.S. state’s signature foods and diversity of offerings to address exactly which state has the best food. Here’s a worst-to-best ranking of America’s food scenes by state.
Top States for Food Variety
- The big winner is Hawaii, which is a top-five state for Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, sushi, and Thai.
- California shows up in the top five for four different categories of food.
- Numerous states each fare well in three.
The food in Texas is in a category of its own. Every time I go to Texas, I stop for authentic barbecue.
Signature Food by City and State
What city is famous for which food?
- New Orleans is one of the ultimate southern food cities in America. From seafood to soul food to barbecue and beyond, nearly every style of food is represented in the Gulf of Mexico city.
What US state grows the most food?
- California ranks first in the U.S. for agricultural cash receipts followed by Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, and Illinois.
What city has the best food in the world?
- Paris stands out for drawing in tourists to sample fine French cuisine, but it is Lyon that has been internationally recognized as one of the best food cities.
Health and Lifestyle Considerations
What is the least healthiest state?
- Mississippi also had the highest proportion of self-reported obese citizens at 39.7 percent.
What is a good state to move to?
- Colorado (6.86)…