World’s Most Overlooked Cities for Foodies

When people think of culinary hot spots, they usually look to major cities like San Francisco, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas and New Orleans, but don’t forget about those fly-over cities, the ones you couldn’t possibly imagine having delicious food. Well the underdogs of food cities are here. Expand your horizons and find city food scenes that have exploded in recent years, aiming to provide you the best of the best.

Check out these gastronomically obsessed towns and maybe you’ll even find one you want to add to the top of your life.

Baltimore, Md., is a hidden gem of the East Coast. In between NYC and Washington D.C., B-more is more well-known for its Natty Boh beer, but when you consider the relatively cheap cost of living and the cornucopia of food surrounding the city, you realize it has much more to offer. From the many farms to the endless Chesapeake Bay area, there is something for everyone. Many of the best restaurants weren’t around five years ago and have opened within the last few years.

Minneapolis, Minn., is a food oasis awaiting your arrival. This may be America’s single most underrated food town, and that’s coming from Anthony Bourdain. The town boasts the classic American comfort food expected from an upper-Midwestern food sanctuary. From top-notch dinner fare at Mickey’s Diner in St. Paul — if you haven’t heard of this diner, catch up on your classic movies Mighty Ducks 1, 2 and 3 — to the debate over the best Minneapolis signature sandwich, the Juicy Lucy. The signature dish is a gloriously cheese-stuffed burger. Forget about the typical cheeseburger, this a whole other level. You’ll find an outstanding amount of Vietnamese, Polish and Mediterranean restaurants and chefs who call this affordable city home.

Birmingham, Ala., boasts a trifecta of service, ambiance and food. From high-end to low-end, there is a great expectation of freshness and high-quality in the city because of the close proximity to the food produced. Birmingham is about fresh and local quality, as many of Southerners love the outdoors, farming and hunting, which plays a major role in the food scene.

While Providence, R.I., is in the smallest state in the nation, it earns great praise in the food and drink industry. From innovative chefs and easy access to the freshest seafood like calamari, clams, lobster, oysters and sustainable local fish species. The city cultivates renowned chefs, as Johnson and Wales University is the epicenter of culinary talent. Many of the school’s trained chefs remain in the city and run some of the city’s best restaurants. Providence embraces the vibrant ethic food scene thanks to its diverse population, from Peruvian to Japanese and even Mexican.