All over the United States, chefs are pushing the envelope in new and thrilling ways. Whether you’re seeking time-tested institutions or inventive new eateries, there’s never been a better time to dine across the 50 states. Here are some of the most exciting food cities in the U.S. to visit right now — and yes, these culinary hot spots are absolutely worth traveling for.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Austin
An influx of new arrivals to Austin in recent years has given the restaurant scene a burst of energy. Nowadays, Tex-Mex stalwarts like De Nada Cantina sit alongside natural wine bars serving small plates.
For farm-to-table Mediterranean cuisine overlooking Shoal Creek, check out The Peacock at Austin Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels. The way to go here is a carnivorous feast, preferably including lamb kofta, shrimp with garlic and Aleppo pepper, and lamb-neck shawarma with za’atar and herb salad.
The craft beer scene is also particularly influential, thanks in no small part to Jester King Brewery, which focuses on wild-fermentation methods on their own farm. Check out the adorable resident herd of goats, order a wood-fired pizza and sip on a barrel-aged farmhouse ale.
Grab drinks, tacos and other delights at De Nada Cantina in Austin, Texas. (Photos: Allie + Jessie)
Charleston
Old Southern charm dominates in this exceedingly pleasant South Carolina city. Traditionalists will want to seek out an old-school Lowcountry boil, made with shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes and just the right blend of seasonings. Bowens Island is the place to go if you’re looking to keep it classic. For contemporary riffs on Southern staples, check out FIG.
Gullah-Geechee cuisine, which marries elements of West and Central African cooking with Lowcountry ingredients, is an essential part of Charleston’s gastronomic heritage. Visit Bertha’s Kitchen for sensational red rice along with heaping portions of slow-braised oxtails.
Chicago
It should come as no surprise that the home of the James Beard Awards is a dining powerhouse. With lower startup costs than New York or Los Angeles, Chicago is a particularly attractive place for up-and-coming chefs willing to take risks.
That’s paid off in boundary-pushing eateries like the Michelin-starred Esmé, where chef Jenner Tomaka’s rotating menus correspond to the work of an up-and-coming artist installed on the walls.
You’ll also find more comforting fare executed with aplomb at Lula Cafe, a dreamy neighborhood restaurant. Order the pasta “yiayia,” a tangle of bucatini slicked with emulsified feta, browned butter, garlic and cinnamon.
Honolulu
The Hawaiian island of Oahu has long been shaped by outside influences, meaning these days Honolulu’s dining scene is a hodgepodge of cultural influences. The city’s sizable Japanese diaspora means diners can expect world-class sushi here. Of the many places to splash out on omakase, the reservation-only Sushi Gyoshin and Sushi Sho are some of the most sought after.
Native-Hawaiian owned restaurants are somewhat unusual in the capital, which is why it’s well-worth seeking out Waiahole Poi Factory. In 1971, Calvin and Charlene Hoe transformed an actual poi factory into an art gallery and, later, a restaurant.
Fresh seafood is the name of the game at Mother of Pearl at Level 8. (Photo: Amanda Villarosa)
Los Angeles
Los Angelenos are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining, from hipster plant-based eateries in Echo Park to incredible tacos and tlayudas (large crispy tortillas with toppings like beans, meat and cheese) served streetside.
You can taste a range of cuisines at Level 8, which comprises eight different food and drink venues on the eighth floor of Moxy Downtown Los Angeles. For exemplary steaks with South American flair, check out Qué Bárbaro — Chef Ray Garcia’s lomo saltado, made with beef tenderloin, is not to be missed.
Love seafood? Order oysters or other goodies from the raw bar, along with a glass of bubbly, at Level 8’s alfresco Mother of Pearl. Build in time for an aperitif with a view at the hotel’s rooftop bar, Golden Hour, a whimsical oasis featuring capoeira dancers, tropical elixirs and a carnival vibe year-round.
Alternatively, indulge in the chic, beachy Santa Monica vibes of Marelle, located at Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection. It’s a stunningly designed plant-filled eatery bursting with the fresh flavors of coastal California cuisine.
You’ll also find Qué Bárbaro and Golden Hour bar on the eighth floor of Moxy Downtown Los Angeles. (Photos: Amanda Villarosa)
Las Vegas
Sin City has a knack for attracting star power of all stripes, whether that’s Celine Dion and Lady Gaga or David Chang and Nobu Matsuhisa. Just about any celeb chef worth their salt eventually winds up with a splashy outlet in Las Vegas. And in the unabashedly maximalist spirit of this town, these restaurants tend to be bigger, shinier, more outrageous and often very, very fun.
A perfect example is é by José Andrés, by the James Beard Award–winning chef and philanthropist himself, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Autograph Collection. Expect a showstopping tasting menu blending elements of classic Spanish tapas with avant-garde techniques and presentations.
Orlando
Orlando may be the theme park capital of the world, but these days it’s also very much a dining destination in its own right. Part of that has to do with the fact that there are increasingly great restaurants located within the parks themselves. A growing portion of the clientele at the city’s famous theme parks are adults no longer content to settle for novelty fare.
Within the city itself, you’ll find everything from inventive restaurants like The Ravenous Pig to comfort classics.
New York City
Dining in New York City remains a thrill thanks to an ever-morphing restaurant landscape helmed by one of the most diverse, ambitious crops of chefs anywhere. Start your journey around Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where you’ll find Basque small plates at the achingly hip Eel Bar. For the classic New York steakhouse experience, check out Bourbon Steak New York (located at JW Marriott Essex House New York), which features premium steaks cooked on a wood-fired grill.
Since much of the city’s most exciting food is found in Brooklyn, ride the East River Ferry to DUMBO, where you’ll find incredible omakase in a former torpedo factory at Kinjo. Over among the leafy, brownstone-lined streets of Fort Greene, Theodora is all about dry-aged seafood, wood-fire cooking and exceptional breads and pastries, all from its adjacent bakery.
Meanwhile, in Williamsburg, Gus and Marty’s is a labor of love by Demetri Makoulis, who whips up crispy fried anchovies, braised lamb shoulder and pillow-soft pitas alongside Greek natural wines. Or head to Kellogg’s Diner, a chrome-sided relic dating back to 1928. The old-school vibes are immaculate and the pies — and everything else — are homemade.
New Orleans
Few American cities balance a sense of history with an acute appreciation for the need to innovate and reinvent like New Orleans. Dynastic dining institutions like Antoine’s and Commander’s Palace all go hard on Cajun classics, and the beignets at Café du Monde are still light enough to levitate.
But ask New Orleanians about their favorite restaurant these days, and they’re more likely to cite an incredible Vietnamese bakery, a Haitian hot spot or a Colombian arepa joint. One of the most coveted tables to land is Dakar NOLA, chef Serigne Mbaye’s James Beard Award–winning Senegalese restaurant.
Seafood dishes shine at Dua Miami, Autograph Collection’s Ahu | Mar. (Photo: Alfonso Duran)
Miami
Miami is a city unafraid to flaunt it, where wealth and glamour are conspicuously, unabashedly on display. Every year, the international glitterati descend in droves for Art Basel, and even after some leave, the vibe never really dissipates. But there’s plenty of substance under the style, which extends to the bold restaurant scene.
One of the hottest places in the city is Ahu | Mar, where chef Victor Rosado uses wood-fire cooking to accentuate the flavors of fresh seafood. Start your evening off at this Dua Miami, Autograph Collection restaurant with oysters topped with leche de tigre (a spicy, citrusy marinade) or zabaglione with bacon. Then try the whole grilled branzino with caper aioli and chayote mojo. The seafood asapao, a nod to Miami’s Puerto Rican community, packs in tons of flavor thanks to a concentrated lobster stock.
Cheers to a great meal at Ahu | Mar and Dua Miami. (Photos: Alfonso Duran)
Nashville
In recent years, Nashville has developed a reputation as a capital of bachelorette-themed debauchery. While it’s true that the bars on Broadway are booming, there’s so much more to this vibrant city than this narrow slice of “Nashvegas.” Look beyond the thunderous country music and you’ll find sensational, modern Southern cuisine.
Head to Henrietta Red in Germantown for Alabama oysters on the half shell or Tennessee-raised paddlefish caviar with creme fraiche. Dining at Tailor feels more like crashing a fabulous dinner party, with chef-owner Vivek Surti as your host. The menu is a mixture of South Asian and Southern influences, in a nod to Surti’s own heritage. Finally, chef Sean Brock’s Audrey, with its emphasis on heirloom ingredients, remains one of the toughest tables in town.
San Francisco
Many of San Francisco’s top chefs still adhere to the gospel of Alice Waters, which means that you can expect an abundance of seasonal produce sourced from California farms on most tables. These days, much of that bounty winds up in spectacular Neapolitan-style pizzerias like Golden Boy.
San Francisco’s Chinatown remains one of the largest and most storied in the nation. While many of the most iconic stalwarts are still going strong, some relative newcomers have added their own style to the neighborhood. At Mister Jiu’s, James Beard Award–winning chef Brandon Jew roasts superb ducks.
Washington, D.C.
Given that the nation’s capital has long been an international hub, it scans that it has one of the most cosmopolitan dining scenes. Play spin the globe and you’re likely to come up with a restaurant in D.C. that excels at that cuisine.
Perfectly seasoned Ethiopian stews with spongy, slightly sour injera? Check out Chercher Restaurant. Fiery Laotian curries with sticky rice? Head to Thip Khao. Peruvian ceviches and tiraditos? You’ll want to fight for a reservation at Causa. Latin American flavors in a stylish rooftop setting? Yara (at Washington Marriott Capitol Hill) has dishes and drinks you won’t want to miss.
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