Best Foodie Cities in America? Grand Rapids Makes Top 20

As someone who likes to keep up with Grand Rapids' ever-evolving food scene, I'm proud of this honor, but not surprised by it. GR is the only Michigan city to make the top twenty of the best foodie places in the nation in a new study. It even beat out larger spots like Chicago, Detroit, and New York City!

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New Study on Top Foodie Friendly Cities

Now, when you hear the word "foodie," you might automatically picture over-the-top, expensive restaurants with white tablecloths and tiny portions. But that is not what this new WalletHub study is measuring. It looks at the big picture: balancing exceptional quality and variety with real, everyday affordability.

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It's not just about restaurants, though if you live in Grand Rapids, you know there's a wealth of incredible ones. We have longtime local favorites alongside new spots popping up all the time, like the recently opened Taste of Chicago and Azul Agave.

Grand Rapids Crowned Among Top 20 Foodie Cities in Nation

WalletHub graded 182 cities nationwide across 28 key metrics. When you tally all of those factors up, Grand Rapids landed at No. 19 overall, really nailing it in terms of affordability.

Here is Grand Rapids' breakdown of scores:

• Overall Score: 62.23
• Affordability Rank: 14
• Diversity, Accessibility & Quality Rank: 31

To see how that compares to the very top of the list, Miami took the No. 1 overall spot with a total score of 74.62. But while Miami crushed it on diversity and quality, it ranked way down at No. 166 in affordability.

READ MORE: This Former Grand Rapids Bank is Now a New Cigar Bar

As for the rest of our state? The only other Michigan city to make the list was Detroit, coming in at No. 69 with a total score of 51.86. Detroit ranked No. 5 in affordability, but landed at No. 87 in diversity, accessibility, and quality.

Along with Grand Rapids' great restaurants, I think our city scored so high because of our access to fresh, local food. We have a ton of farmers markets in the area, including the iconic, 100-plus-year-old Fulton Street Farmers Market. We also have the Grand Rapids Downtown Market packed with 20 indoor food vendors, awesome craft beer scene, neighborhood food trucks, multiple food festivals, and local butcher shops.

UP NEXT: Michigan Spot Crowned No. 6 Small Town Foodie Scene in America

It is also about the passion of the people who live here! Want to hear a spirited debate? Ask folks about the best burger in West Michigan. We recently held a poll, and after nearly 10,000 entries, the winner has officially been crowned.