Recently, the internet has been buzzing with debates about food superiority, particularly whether the United States can claim to have better food than France. While the answer is subjective and depends heavily on location and definition, let’s shift our focus from France to a city within the US that consistently ranks high in culinary discussions: New York City.
Forget Paris for a moment, and consider the unparalleled food scene in New York. This isn’t to diminish French cuisine, but to spotlight the incredible diversity and quality of food that New York City offers. Currently writing from Italy, where the food is undeniably exceptional, it prompts reflection on whether a similar, or even superior, culinary experience can be found in the bustling streets of NYC.
Delicious Tagliatelle al Ragù at Trattoria Ermes in Modena, Italy, highlighting authentic Italian cuisine. While not in New York, it sets the stage for discussing quality food.
While indulging in a fantastic and affordable menu completo in Italy, one might ponder if New York, despite its renowned Italian food, can offer the same value and authenticity. Perhaps you could find something comparable in NYC, but likely at a significantly higher price, maybe 80% as good for triple the cost.
In smaller Italian towns, culinary choices can be limited, and venturing beyond Italian cuisine in continental Europe can be unpredictable. However, comparing this to New York City reveals a stark contrast. Within a short walk from almost anywhere in Manhattan, you can encounter top-tier Thai, Japanese, Mexican, and countless other international cuisines. In fact, you might even discover Italian food from a different region of Italy in New York that rivals what you’d find in a medium-sized Italian town.
Cross-national food comparisons are inherently complex. To simplify the discussion, let’s narrow our focus to a less contentious question: Where can you find the best food in the U.S.? Numerous lists attempt to rank America’s best food cities, offering varying perspectives. Here are insights from eight different rankings of America’s top food cities:
Various rankings of best food cities in America from sources like food writers, algorithms, and reader surveys, showing New York City consistently near the top.
These rankings originate from diverse sources: food critics like Tom Sietsema of the Washington Post, travel bloggers Daryl and Mindi Hirsch of 2foodtrippers, and publications like Travel & Leisure. Their methodologies vary, from extensive city-to-city culinary travels to algorithmic analysis and reader surveys from sources like US News & World Report, WalletHub, Food & Wine, and Fifty Grande magazine. While some algorithms, like WalletHub’s, might controversially place cities like Orlando ahead of New York, the broader consensus highlights a distinction between large, diverse culinary hubs like New York and smaller “foodie” cities.
These comparisons reveal an “apples to oranges” dilemma. To better understand these debates about the best food cities, we need a framework. Here’s a breakdown of five different definitions people might have in mind when discussing the best food cities, each leading to potentially different conclusions.
Defining “Best Food”: 5 Perspectives on New York City’s Culinary Scene
To truly appreciate the “best food” in New York, we need to consider different angles. Is it about the overall dining experience, the variety, the quality of ingredients, or the accessibility for a visitor? Let’s explore these definitions and see how New York City measures up.
1. The Ultimate Restaurant Dining Destination
Definition: The best city for restaurant dining, assuming dedicated effort in seeking out top-tier establishments.
New York City undeniably excels in this category. Dining out is ingrained in the city’s culture, and NYC boasts an unparalleled density of restaurants showcasing cuisines from across the globe. The city’s culinary scene is remarkably adaptable, quickly embracing evolving tastes and demands. Cuisines that were less prominent in the past, like Mexican, Japanese, and Korean, have experienced significant growth and refinement in recent years. This dynamic evolution solidifies New York’s place as a leading destination for diverse and high-quality restaurant experiences.
Navigating New York’s vast culinary landscape requires effort, making it a better city for residents than short-term visitors. The sheer volume of options can be overwhelming, even for those focusing on specific categories like sushi in Manhattan, let alone the entire spectrum across the five boroughs.
While the baseline quality of food in New York is high, a truly exceptional meal often requires planning. NYC isn’t inherently exclusive, but New Yorkers are adept at discovering the best spots. Securing reservations or being prepared for waits is often necessary to experience the city’s peak culinary offerings.
First-time visitors might mistakenly focus on iconic, but sometimes overrated, New York foods like bagels and pizza. The real culinary lesson of NYC lies in appreciating its deep-rooted Jewish-American and Italian-American culinary traditions, and its long history as a global immigration hub, bringing flavors from every corner of the world.
Interestingly, a ranking of U.S. metro areas by foreign-born population closely mirrors lists of “best food cities.” This isn’t a perfect metric, but it highlights the strong correlation between immigration and culinary excellence. While some cities like Boston might be debatable in personal top tens, this data reinforces the link between cultural diversity and a vibrant food scene.
While “American food,” from burgers to barbecue and Southern cuisine, has its place, it’s crucial to acknowledge the global influences that have elevated American dining. Books like “The United States of Arugula” argue that America historically prioritized expediency over food quality compared to global standards. Even today, Americans spend less time eating than people in many other developed nations. The U.S. has been catching up, largely by embracing and integrating global food cultures. New York City stands as a prime example of this successful culinary integration.
2. Best City for Overall Food Quality: Beyond Restaurants
Definition: The best city for food overall, considering not just restaurants but also produce quality and quick-service options.
“Best food cities” often becomes shorthand for “best cities to dine out,” yet these are distinct concepts. Food consumed at home still constitutes the majority of calorie intake for most Americans, and quick-service restaurants (fast food) account for a significant portion of restaurant meals.
Cities with access to a wide range of high-quality, affordable produce and superior quick-service options deserve higher rankings under this broader definition. Within the U.S., this likely elevates California, the leading state for agricultural exports, above New York City. California’s access to fresh, local produce and innovative fast-casual dining experiences enhances its overall food landscape.
This definition becomes even more significant when comparing the U.S. to countries like France or Italy. France and Italy are substantial net exporters of foodstuffs, while the U.S. is a net importer. This trade balance reflects a deeper emphasis on food quality and local sourcing in European culinary traditions.
3. The Ideal City for a Food-Focused Short Visit
Definition: The best city for a curated, food-centric visit of a few days.
Imagine a perfect food-focused city break: a few days in a city, guided by local culinary experts, with access to the best restaurants, bustling food markets, and hidden culinary gems. This idealized experience might include market lunches, late-night local favorites, and even home-cooked meals with fresh, regional ingredients.
This dream scenario is more attainable for food industry professionals, experienced travelers, or those with strong local connections. Food critics and writers, who often create “best food city” lists, may be influenced by this curated, high-end perspective, which may not reflect the average visitor’s experience.
The best food city for a 3-day weekend differs from the best city to live in year-round. Short trips prioritize novelty and concentrated experiences over breadth, depth, and healthfulness. Seeking unique dishes and flavors unavailable at home becomes paramount. This definition favors cities and countries that specialize in and excel within specific culinary niches, offering intense, memorable food experiences in a short timeframe. New York, with its vast offerings, can still cater to this, but requires more focused planning to curate the “perfect” short food trip.
4 & 5. Median Quality of Meals: Daily Dining Standards
Definitions:
4. Highest median quality of all meals consumed in the city/country.
5. Highest median quality of restaurant meals consumed in the city/country.
These definitions focus on the everyday food experience: where do average people consistently eat well, day in and day out?
Within the U.S., the San Francisco Bay Area likely ranks highest in both categories. It boasts a high density of independent restaurants and exceptional access to quality produce, supported by a population that values and can afford good food. The Bay Area’s emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and diverse culinary influences creates a high baseline for daily meals.
However, when considering international comparisons, the U.S. likely falls short. The quality of produce in average American supermarkets and the prevalence of fast food impact the overall median food quality. Countries like France and Italy, even many developing nations, likely surpass the U.S. in these metrics. Italy, despite a much smaller economy, exports a significant amount of food, highlighting a national focus on food quality and production that differs from the U.S.
New York City’s Culinary Miracle: Diversity and Competition
So, in the broader debate of US vs. France for better food:
- France likely wins in terms of median quality of all meals and restaurant meals (Definitions 4 & 5).
- The U.S., particularly New York City, likely wins in best restaurant dining experiences for those who actively seek them out (Definition 1).
- France might edge out the US in overall food quality, considering produce and accessibility (Definition 2), though it’s closer for affluent Americans in major cities.
- Definition 3 (best for a short, curated food trip) remains subjective. Personal preferences heavily influence this, and while France, and Paris, can be perceived as less accessible to outsiders, Italy might offer a more universally appealing experience in this category.
Definition 1, highlighting exceptional restaurant dining, is arguably the strongest win for the U.S., and especially for New York City. This culinary strength shouldn’t be taken for granted. The incredible array of dining experiences in New York, and other major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Washington D.C., is remarkable, often underrated in online food debates.
This “culinary miracle” in New York City arises from a unique combination of factors. It requires both a high tolerance for immigration and multiculturalism, fostering openness to diverse culinary traditions, and intense, market-based competition within the restaurant industry. This dynamic, sometimes paired with “cultural appropriation,” drives innovation and quality.
Humorous image depicting resistance to multiculturalism and diverse food, contrasting with New York City’s open and inclusive food culture that contributes to its best food scene.
The restaurant business is notoriously challenging, yet thriving establishments in NYC excel at catering to diverse culinary desires, creating significant consumer and social value. They bring people together over exceptional food, even amidst challenging circumstances. Regardless of one’s political views, the restaurant scene in major American cities, particularly New York, stands as a testament to the vibrant, and delicious, outcomes of a dynamic, multicultural society and competitive market.
References
[1] Tom Sietsema, The 10 best food cities in America, ranked, The Washington Post, 2015.
[2] Daryl and Mindi Hirsch, Best Food Cities in the US, 2foodtrippers.
[3] Lauren Dana Ellman, Best Food Cities in the U.S., Travel & Leisure.
[4] Best Foodie Destinations in the USA, US News & World Report.
[5] 2023’s Best Foodie Cities in America, WalletHub.
[6] Best U.S. Cities for Food, According to Global Tastemakers, Food & Wine, 2023.
[7] Survey Results: Best Food Cities in America, Fifty Grande.
[8] U.S. Immigrant Population by Metropolitan Area, Migration Policy Institute, 2017-2021.
[9] Tyler Cowen, The United States of Arugala: How We Became a Gourmet Nation.
[10] Where People Spend the Most Time Eating & Drinking, Statista.
[11] Here Are the Most Restaurant- and Bar-Dense U.S. Cities, Eater, 2012.
[12] Foodstuffs, OEC World.
[13] Menu Study Says Dining Out Recipe for Unhealthy Eating for Most Americans, Tufts Now, 2020.
[14] Orlando Has More Fast Food Chains Per Capita Than Anywhere Else in the Country, Orlando Weekly.
[15] Julia Moskin, In Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, Restaurants Fight to Stay Open, The New York Times, 2021.
[16] Robert Sietsema, Korean Fine Dining Is Having a Moment in New York. Here’s Why., The New York Times, 2023.
