The Rising Culinary Hubs of America

Discover amazing flavors in these up-and-coming locations.

One of the most thrilling aspects of traveling is savoring new cuisines and regional specialties. While the U.S. boasts renowned culinary destinations like New Orleans for its iconic crawfish and Po'Boys, Los Angeles for its delicious tacos, and let's not forget New York's pizza?

Yet, many other vibrant food scenes are emerging throughout the nation. These hidden gems may not be as well-known, but they are definitely worth exploring! Here are some lesser-known culinary hotspots to visit, along with must-try dishes:

While New Orleans often steals the spotlight as a Southern food destination, Charleston has its own delicious offerings. Speaking of pork, South Carolina's barbecue takes the limelight. The state even features a dedicated “BBQ trail” showcasing top restaurants—perfect for indulging in pulled pork, brisket, and all the traditional sides like collard greens and cornbread.

There’s even a spirited discussion about the various sauce bases: vinegar and pepper, mustard, or tomato. Sample them all and join the debate!

As beloved as BBQ is, shrimp and grits might just be more iconic. Being a coastal city, Charleston boasts access to sweet shrimp, allowing for fresh seafood dishes throughout the area. Many restaurants pair succulent shrimp with andouille sausage or country ham.

Also recognized for: sweet tea, boiled peanuts, pecans, and biscuits.

Seattle, known as the “Emerald City” due to its lush Pacific Northwest forests, also boasts a prime location along the Puget Sound of the Pacific Ocean. This ensures a steady supply of fresh seafood, particularly near the renowned Pike Place Market by the waterfront. Here, you can easily find fresh Alaskan prawns and the local sockeye salmon.  

With a vibrant Japanese community, Seattle offers some of the finest sushi in the nation! Authentic sushi restaurants are scattered throughout the city, and you can warm up from Seattle’s notorious drizzle with a comforting cup of sake.

Also famous for: exceptional coffee, west coast oysters, and ramen noodles.

Houston

When you think of Texas cuisine, tacos likely come to mind—and rightly so! But did you know that Houston is credited with creating the fajita? This Tex-Mex favorite is said to have originated at Ninfa’s restaurant in downtown Houston (or at least they helped popularize it), and it remains a beloved destination for delicious strips of steak and grilled vegetables wrapped in homemade tortillas.   

The Lone Star State is renowned for its delectable cuts of steak from Dallas to Galveston. However, Houston stands out with a plethora of excellent steakhouses serving filets, ribeyes, and porterhouses—often aged on-site.   

Also famous for: pho, kolache, chicken-fried steak, tamales.

The east coast city of Portland is primarily known for one thing: lobster. Whether it’s rolls, tails, or bisques—you name it, they have it. From seafood shacks to high-end restaurants, seafood is a must-try attraction in New England.

However, there’s a lot more to this port city! Breweries are plentiful here, many of which offer unique twists—Oxbow focuses on sour beers, while others craft kombucha as a lightly fermented bubbly drink.  

Got a sweet tooth? The Holy Donut usually offers 20 or more flavors to choose from. Alternatively, you can visit one of the many bakeries to hunt for a “cruffin,” a delightful croissant-muffin hybrid.  

 Also famous for: oysters, bahn mi, coffee.