Here are the best foodie cities in Arizona

Arizona’s culinary scene continues to earn national attention, and a new ranking shows several cities across the state have plenty to offer people who consider eating more than a necessity — but a lifestyle. WalletHub ranked the Best Foodie Cities in America for 2026 — and the best foodie cities in Arizona — comparing more than 180 U.S. cities across 28 indicators of foodie-friendliness. The study considered factors ranging from grocery costs and restaurant affordability to access to high-quality restaurants and the number of food festivals per capita. Pasted text

Nine Arizona cities made the ranking, led by Phoenix at No. 35 nationally. Scottsdale and Tucson were close behind, ranking No. 44 and No. 45, respectively.

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Here’s how Arizona cities ranked among the 182 cities included in the study:

No. 35: Phoenix: Phoenix earned Arizona’s highest overall ranking with a total score of 58.10. The Valley’s largest city ranked No. 33 nationally for diversity, accessibility and quality and No. 94 for affordability. Pasted text

No. 44: Scottsdale: Known for its extensive restaurant and resort dining scene, Scottsdale scored 55.95 overall. It ranked No. 44 for diversity, accessibility and quality and No. 87 for affordability. Pasted text

No. 45: Tucson: Tucson finished immediately behind Scottsdale with a score of 55.29. The Southern Arizona city performed particularly well on affordability, ranking No. 55, while placing No. 49 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text

No. 73: Tempe
Tempe landed in the upper half of the national ranking with a score of 51.52. It ranked No. 54 for affordability and No. 79 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text

No. 97: Mesa: Mesa cracked the national Top 100 with a total score of 48.15. Its affordability ranking of No. 50 significantly outpaced its No. 102 showing for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text

No. 116: Glendale: Glendale scored 45.66 overall, ranking an impressive No. 33 nationally for affordability but No. 132 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text

No. 127: Chandler: Chandler’s total score of 44.83 placed it No. 127 overall. The East Valley city performed especially well in affordability, ranking No. 27 nationally, compared with No. 136 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text

No. 131: Gilbert: Gilbert finished at No. 131 with a score of 44.54. It ranked No. 50 for affordability and No. 143 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text

No. 169: Peoria: Peoria rounded out Arizona’s representation at No. 169 nationally. It earned a total score of 39.68 and ranked No. 130 for affordability and No. 168 for diversity, accessibility and quality. Pasted text

How Arizona compares nationally

Miami captured the No. 1 spot in WalletHub’s ranking, followed by Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; Seattle; and Austin. Las Vegas, another Southwestern dining destination, ranked No. 8, while Denver finished No. 10. Pasted text

For Arizona, the results show a notable concentration near the top: Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson all rank among the nation’s Top 45 foodie cities, while five Arizona cities place in the Top 100.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the strongest foodie cities combine unique culinary experiences with options for both dining out and cooking at home, while also making food experiences accessible to residents and visitors. Pasted text

With everything from celebrated restaurants and resort dining to taco shops, food trucks and neighborhood favorites, Arizona’s showing gives food lovers another reason to explore the state — one bite at a time.

Best Food Cities in America

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Affordability Rank	Diversity, Accessibility & Quality Rank
1	Miami, FL	74.62	166	1
2	Portland, OR	72.53	39	4
3	San Francisco, CA	71.21	176	2
4	Seattle, WA	70.05	165	3
5	Austin, TX	69.70	15	11
6	Orlando, FL	69.21	68	6
7	Tampa, FL	68.40	78	8
8	Las Vegas, NV	68.30	77	9
9	Sacramento, CA	67.54	73	13
10	Denver, CO	67.19	93	10
11	Atlanta, GA	67.00	157	5
12	San Diego, CA	66.95	126	7
13	Houston, TX	65.57	24	18
14	Cincinnati, OH	64.28	12	26
15	St. Louis, MO	64.26	132	15
16	Pittsburgh, PA	64.23	23	21
17	Los Angeles, CA	63.98	140	14
18	San Antonio, TX	63.42	2	30
19	Grand Rapids, MI	62.23	14	31
20	Richmond, VA	61.89	96	20
21	Fort Lauderdale, FL	61.03	159	17
22	New York, NY	60.58	179	12
23	Oakland, CA	60.45	174	16
24	Milwaukee, WI	60.36	6	40
25	Chicago, IL	60.26	139	24
26	Washington, DC	60.20	143	22
27	Salt Lake City, UT	60.17	74	29
28	Philadelphia, PA	59.31	128	28
29	Portland, ME	59.20	66	34
30	Louisville, KY	59.13	13	42
31	Minneapolis, MN	59.08	56	35
32	Nashville, TN	58.90	161	25
33	Buffalo, NY	58.43	34	41
34	Charleston, SC	58.20	171	23
35	Phoenix, AZ	58.10	94	33
36	Dallas, TX	57.38	69	39
37	Charlotte, NC	57.22	64	43
38	Omaha, NE	56.73	18	52
39	Rochester, NY	56.49	25	47
40	Boston, MA	56.28	121	37
41	San Jose, CA	56.09	152	32
42	Santa Ana, CA	56.00	134	36
43	Baltimore, MD	55.97	30	50
44	Scottsdale, AZ	55.95	87	44
45	Tucson, AZ	55.29	55	49
46	Raleigh, NC	55.13	86	46
47	Cleveland, OH	54.97	22	55
48	New Orleans, LA	54.74	177	27
49	Albuquerque, NM	54.71	11	57
50	Indianapolis, IN	54.48	8	62
51	Wilmington, DE	54.10	103	48
52	Aurora, CO	54.08	17	68
53	Madison, WI	53.61	20	70
54	Vancouver, WA	53.51	148	45
55	Long Beach, CA	53.50	108	51
56	Honolulu, HI	53.44	182	19
57	Santa Rosa, CA	53.35	168	38
58	Columbia, SC	53.33	7	77
59	El Paso, TX	53.18	35	64
60	Fresno, CA	52.94	43	61
61	Bakersfield, CA	52.54	31	71
62	Anaheim, CA	52.45	116	54
63	Providence, RI	52.40	88	60
64	Reno, NV	52.27	45	65
65	Modesto, CA	52.15	49	76
66	Virginia Beach, VA	52.09	65	67
67	Tulsa, OK	51.89	62	73
68	Columbus, OH	51.87	58	66
69	Detroit, MI	51.86	5	87
70	Colorado Springs, CO	51.67	79	63
71	Oklahoma City, OK	51.66	99	58
72	St. Petersburg, FL	51.61	71	72
73	Tempe, AZ	51.52	54	79
74	Fort Worth, TX	51.49	9	85
75	Spokane, WA	51.38	115	59
76	Jersey City, NJ	51.09	146	56
77	Knoxville, TN	50.87	154	53
78	Jacksonville, FL	50.87	89	69
79	St. Paul, MN	50.79	48	81
80	Lexington-Fayette, KY	50.64	3	96
81	Stockton, CA	50.57	82	78
82	Nashua, NH	50.48	1	121
83	Greensboro, NC	50.14	21	97
84	Baton Rouge, LA	50.07	127	75
85	Manchester, NH	49.42	36	107
86	Des Moines, IA	49.31	67	90
87	Amarillo, TX	49.04	16	123
88	Cedar Rapids, IA	48.94	60	93
89	Dover, DE	48.86	38	114
90	Salem, OR	48.82	81	88
91	Springfield, MO	48.80	113	89
92	Garden Grove, CA	48.58	129	83
93	Glendale, CA	48.52	133	80
94	Plano, TX	48.39	41	98
95	Wichita, KS	48.35	4	127
96	Newark, NJ	48.26	160	74
97	Mesa, AZ	48.15	50	102
98	Missoula, MT	48.04	44	111
99	Kansas City, MO	48.02	110	86
100	Billings, MT	47.91	53	113
101	Norfolk, VA	47.73	52	109
102	Birmingham, AL	47.26	70	108
103	Oceanside, CA	47.25	83	105
104	Durham, NC	47.05	90	94
105	Tacoma, WA	46.94	150	82
106	Tallahassee, FL	46.90	95	103
107	Riverside, CA	46.51	104	92
108	Fargo, ND	46.38	28	140
109	Burlington, VT	46.28	142	99
110	Sioux Falls, SD	46.21	98	115
111	Overland Park, KS	46.13	61	125
112	Pembroke Pines, FL	45.88	125	110
113	Corpus Christi, TX	45.83	63	126
114	Charleston, WV	45.70	46	157
115	New Haven, CT	45.68	97	122
116	Glendale, AZ	45.66	33	132
117	Henderson, NV	45.62	19	139
118	Arlington, TX	45.62	10	148
119	Boise, ID	45.55	119	101
120	Garland, TX	45.41	26	144
121	Huntington Beach, CA	45.28	116	112
122	Hialeah, FL	45.27	173	84
123	Newport News, VA	45.16	42	149
124	Casper, WY	45.04	59	145
125	Oxnard, CA	44.97	105	118
126	Lubbock, TX	44.92	72	130
127	Chandler, AZ	44.83	27	136
128	Irving, TX	44.83	102	128
129	Fremont, CA	44.78	141	105
130	Aurora, IL	44.71	149	116
131	Gilbert, AZ	44.54	50	143
132	North Las Vegas, NV	44.45	40	131
133	Bridgeport, CT	44.41	172	91
134	Irvine, CA	44.34	116	120
135	Chattanooga, TN	44.14	170	95
136	Warwick, RI	44.12	162	117
137	Brownsville, TX	44.03	29	166
138	Memphis, TN	43.95	156	104
139	Chula Vista, CA	43.88	138	124
140	Chesapeake, VA	43.50	75	147
141	Rapid City, SD	43.40	123	133
142	Winston-Salem, NC	43.36	100	138
143	Lincoln, NE	43.35	135	129
144	Worcester, MA	43.27	76	154
145	Fort Wayne, IN	43.26	32	161
146	Toledo, OH	43.01	92	146
147	Fayetteville, NC	42.91	47	164
148	Anchorage, AK	42.79	153	119
149	Bismarck, ND	42.62	109	153
150	South Burlington, VT	42.54	85	134
151	Columbia, MD	42.48	110	156
152	Mobile, AL	42.39	84	159
153	Akron, OH	42.34	114	141
154	Ontario, CA	42.29	80	158
155	Huntsville, AL	42.28	106	150
156	Santa Clarita, CA	42.06	107	155
157	Laredo, TX	42.06	57	170
158	Fort Smith, AR	41.84	136	152
159	Cape Coral, FL	41.73	147	135
160	Grand Prairie, TX	41.72	124	160
161	Port St. Lucie, FL	41.67	137	142
162	Little Rock, AR	41.44	131	151
163	Fontana, CA	40.79	91	171
164	Las Cruces, NM	40.46	37	176
165	Yonkers, NY	40.14	180	100
166	Huntington, WV	39.77	122	172
167	Cheyenne, WY	39.71	112	173
168	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	39.71	100	167
169	Peoria, AZ	39.68	130	168
170	Columbus, GA	38.87	120	174
171	San Bernardino, CA	38.54	144	165
172	Nampa, ID	38.20	169	162
173	West Valley City, UT	37.24	151	169
174	Gulfport, MS	37.15	175	163
175	Juneau, AK	37.01	178	137
176	Augusta, GA	36.44	158	177
177	Lewiston, ME	36.23	155	178
178	Shreveport, LA	35.57	145	181
179	Jackson, MS	34.71	167	179
180	Moreno Valley, CA	33.91	163	175
181	Montgomery, AL	32.80	164	182
182	Pearl City, HI	30.69	181	180

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.