• America’s most diverse food city is San Francisco, with more restaurant variety relative to size and population than any other city.
  • Nearly two out of three restaurants in Detroit offer only American food and fewer choices from other cuisines, making it the least diverse food city.
  • California’s six cities ranked far higher on average regarding food diversity.
New findings show a steady rise in the demand for ethnic foods across the United States, reflecting an increasing interest in diverse culinary traditions. A recent study by the #1 ranked culinary school in the USA, Escoffier, ranked the most diverse food cities in the U.S. by analyzing restaurant data across major cities with populations over 500,000. The analysis included 46 different cuisines and used the Shannon Diversity Index to measure culinary variety. A density factor was also included to account for restaurant and population size. These scores were combined and normalized to create the final ranking, revealing how strongly Americans value a wide range of dining options.
Findings summed up
City Diversity Score
San Francisco 100.00
New York City 92.58
Seattle 91.69
Washington, DC 83.08
Los Angeles 82.62
San Jose 82.43
Portland 81.62
Chicago 77.99
Las Vegas 76.66
Boston 76.36
You can see the full research here.
San Francisco leads the list as the most diverse food city in the U.S. with a score of 100. With a population of just over 800K, the city offers 2.7K restaurants within 47 square miles. It offers the broadest range of cuisines among all cities in the study. Its restaurants are situated close to one another, making it one of the easiest cities in the country to explore a wide range of flavors on foot.
New York City comes in second with a score of 92.58. It has by far the most number of restaurants at about 7K and a high diversity, which reflects a wide range of global cuisines. While New York’s restaurants are more spread out than San Francisco’s, this offers the opportunity to discover hidden gems across its diverse neighborhoods.
Seattle ranks third with a score of 83.08. With 2K restaurants and a diversity index of 3.17 the city has a rich mix of international food options. Its high density factor means those restaurants are relatively close together, making it easier to enjoy the variety without having to travel far.
Washington, D.C., comes in fourth with a score of 82.62. The city has many restaurants and a relatively high diversity of culinary options. Its restaurant profile consists mainly of Italian and Mexican cuisines after American ones.
Los Angeles ranks fifth with a score of 82.62. The city is similar to Washington, D.C. with the number of restaurants and diversity. Regarding variety, LA scores slightly higher than D.C., but the greater distances between food options affect everyday access.
San Jose takes sixth with a score of 82.43. The city has 1K restaurants for nearly one million people. It offers a strong diversity, slightly higher than Los Angeles. While its density factor is on the lower end, this allows for a more relaxed and spacious dining experience spread across the city.
Portland ranks seventh with a score of 81.62. With 1,717 restaurants, it offers a good mix of global cuisines, just behind cities like San Jose in variety. When it comes to how easy it is to find restaurants nearby, Portland outperforms larger cities, making it simpler for residents to enjoy diverse dining without traveling far.
Chicago follows in eighth with a score of 77.99. Its food culture is deeply rooted, with 4K restaurants serving a wide range of tastes. But given the city’s large population and broad layout, dining options are more dispersed. Compared to smaller cities like Seattle or Portland, Chicago offers a good variety, though reaching it may require a bit more travel.
Las Vegas comes in ninth with a score of 76.66. With one of the highest concentrations of restaurants, second only to San Francisco, visitors and locals of Las Vegas can explore a variety of flavors without venturing far. After American cuisine, Italian and Chinese restaurants are the most prominent across the city.
Boston rounds out the top ten with a score of 76.36. What sets Boston apart is how easily the diverse restaurant options can be reached. Many are located within close proximity, making it simple to explore diverse cuisines without covering too much ground. While it may offer less variety than larger cities like Chicago or Los Angeles, Boston stands out for its convenience.