Need help picking a US foodie travel destination!
Lately I have found myself dreading going into work more and more each day. I find myself swimming in TPS reports (anyone?) and other similarly pointless work. Thus, I have made a decision. I need a vacation. And being a serious eater, a trip locale that features lots of great food is what I am seeking. I am 24yo single male and plan on traveling solo. I live in Indiana, FYI. Chicago is a possibility, but I have been there multiple times. I am leaning towards something new and different. I would also like to keep costs down, but I am not really looking for a road trip. My first thought is New Orleans. Possibly New York. I am open to suggestions. What are some good options?
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48 Comments:
Kyle-my votes goes for New Orleans. You need a muffaletta, gumbo, poboys, creole and cajun dishes topped off with a beignet. The Quarter is a trip and people watching is great. Just sit at Jackson Square for ongoing entertainment. Right now is a beautiful time of the year to go and this weekend I think it is the Quarter Music Fest. Later on in May is Jazzfest. I hope that you are skinny because the food will take care of that! If you go there let us know what and where you eat. Try to steer clear of the tourist trap restaurants-there are plenty of smaller eateries that are just as fabulous as the bigger named places.
janaatwg at 12:28PM on 04/21/09
BTW-airfare to NO was really cheap (with one stop) last week from my area of the country (Philly.)
janaatwg at 12:30PM on 04/21/09
Would you consider Seattle, amazing seafood, or any West Coast cities? If it's between Chicago & NO, I would say New Orleans...the food is amazing and the hotels & most air fair are really affordable.
Have a great vacation!
cookinmama at 12:45PM on 04/21/09
Seattle for seafood, Santa Fe for great Tex/Mex stuff, Chicago for European influence, Miami for Carribean/Cuban food (not to mention gator meat)...
Traveller at 12:48PM on 04/21/09
You're supposed to put a cover sheet on those TPS reports. Didn't you get the memo? :) Anyway, I live in NY so you know what I'm going to say. Get your butt out here if you've never been. There have been multiple threads/chats on this site alone with NY suggestions. You can sightsee and eat your way around.
meem21 at 12:54PM on 04/21/09
I am open to any US city. Chicago and New Orleans were my first ideas. I have been to NYC, but it was a quite lame high school trip that was all pre-planned. One meal was at the Mcdonald's by Times Square. Amazingly, the food was the same as McD's in Indiana. Awesome. I guess I am looking for a unique place where I don't have to spend a ton on everything once I get there.
kyle25 at 1:10PM on 04/21/09
Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix!
http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2008/06/pizzeria-bianco-vs-mozza-phoenix-arizona-la-california.html
roc2101 at 1:19PM on 04/21/09
Seattle is a fantastic food lovers destination! Plus it's fun for young single types. Here there's amazing views and loads of good restaurants (Quinn's and any of Tom Douglas's places esp. Etta) plus excellent places to shop for food to take home (DeLaurenti and the Spanish Table in the Market etc). Forget Chi-town....Seattle's much nicer!
Pointy at 1:38PM on 04/21/09
That's funny, I was just going to say AZ!
It's freakin' hot there, but the economy is hitting it hard and things are cheap. You can stay in a great hotel for a song, and there are lot's of fabulous food posibilities.
Pizzaria Bianco, and Sea Saw in Phoenix. Cafe Poca Cosa, Jax Kitchen, and a slew of incredilble Mexican restaurants in Tucson, and head North to Sedona and hit Cafe Elote. As good as any Rick Bayless restaurant in Chicago!
Silvia at 1:46PM on 04/21/09
As a New Yorker, I don't think it's fair for you judge the food here based on your experience at McDonalds. It's MCDONALDS - it's supposed to impart the same exact flavor no matter where you are in the world (thank you globalization!). SE New York has a ton of amazing recommendations for all and any of your craziest cravings - African, Moroccan, Italian, Japanese/Nepalese fusion (?!), etc. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, I think it's safe to say that the desires of your stomach will be satisfied (especially if those cravings hit you at 2pm).
littlemissnom at 1:51PM on 04/21/09
Portland. At least Go to:
Le Pigeon -Gabe Rucker was just nominated for Best up and Coming Chef, he is hilarious to talk to and a phenomenal cook. Sit at the bar on the end, there is room for about 3. It's a great view of the kitchen. the food will inspire and satisfy you.
Pok Pok- Some of the best Thai food I've had. And there's plenty of other food to choose from nearby, carts and small places galore.
Toro Bravo- Fantastic Rustic Italian. Get the House "Pastrami", its amazing.
Beast- I didn't go, but I wish I had, not enough time.
Simpatica, for Brunch, because its cool and your cool for knowing about it.
Biwa-next door to Simpatica. Great little Korean place. I love the location and the dining room there as well. The lighting is cozy and so is the food.
There are tons more places, rent a bike and ride around. Eat 3-4-5 places new everyday.
Go to the Portland Farmers Market. It's the biggest I've seen in a while and has the best produce I've ever seen, and some of the best food too.
angrywayne at 1:52PM on 04/21/09
Re: Portland
Toro Bravo is a delicious tapas/Spanish place, one you should definitely eat at, but don't expect Italian. Biwa is Japanese (but you should still go there). Beast is fantastic, and I would also add Clyde Common and a trip to Helser's on Alberta St. for breakfast.
perfunctory at 2:01PM on 04/21/09
The McD's experience was not used as some barometer to measure my NYC food experience, it was meant to emphasize how lame food-wise my previous NYC trip was. I definitely want to go back some day. I started this post to find out about places I might be overlooking so that I have plenty of places to choose from when I decide. I am really liking the suggestions so far!
kyle25 at 2:10PM on 04/21/09
I would have to say New Orleans, my #1 food destination in the US.
flavacrisp at 2:29PM on 04/21/09
oops, i meant spanish (but it reminded me of great italian style meals at chez panisse and il bucco )and yea your right biwa = japanese...ahh memories are already fading..they were great places to eat :)
Clyde Common, sure for drinks, but the food, well it was ok, and the people are silly.
angrywayne at 2:34PM on 04/21/09
Speaking as a Canadian who has visited the U.S.A. multiple times and had a fantastic time AND great meals in each of these great cities, might I suggest:-
San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, Savannah, GA., Charleston, S.C., Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, Memphis, TN, Philadelphia, PA, San Antonio, TX, New Orleans, LA, New York, NY, Natchez, MS.
I would go back to any one of those destinations tomorrow - the U.S. interior is your oyster! Go and enjoy! Americans, on the whole, enjoy great airline prices and all of these places are easy to reach.
bareneed at 2:47PM on 04/21/09
New York is great, but I think New Orleans for sure. Also, Savannah (Elizabeth on 37th) or Charleston, SC (Poogan's Porch) = two of the best meals I've ever had in my life.
allyn at 3:00PM on 04/21/09
Philly! Wonderful food at all price points. Not a long flight and once you get here you can get around on foot. Go down to the Italian Market and get a Sarcone's hoagie, browse and graze at Reading Terminal Market (don't miss the pork w/aged provolone and broccoli rabe at DiNic's), enjoy a $45 tasting menu at Matyson, eat your own weight in Capogiro gelato, try everything from grilled bacon-wrapped quail eggs to soup dumplings to Belgian brews to kobe sliders to crostini with brie and beer-poached cherries ... it is a GREAT place to eat.
jm chen at 3:02PM on 04/21/09
come to Boston, I'll show you around.
single foodie male + single foodie female = ...
veggieout at 3:44PM on 04/21/09
Boston is great and to have someone show you around sounds like fun.....
But Miami and the Keys would be my choice. You get the food (Cuban Carib, Conch) and the fun and the sun too.
thegoch at 4:05PM on 04/21/09
San Francisco.
MeganCochran at 4:41PM on 04/21/09
I would say its between New Orleans and Chicago. I love NOLA but I'm from Chi so I might a little biased. If you do choose Chicago here is a little research help.
http://chibbqking.blogspot.com/
KingT at 4:41PM on 04/21/09
If I were you, I'd do a Southern road trip and hit Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham and all the little towns in between.
Also, Atlanta is a great, underrated food town and really young and inexpensive, too.
popcornfordinner at 4:51PM on 04/21/09
San Francisco/Napa/Sonoma if you are a wine and food type. I went last October and it was phenomenal.
I also went to New Orleans last year and didn't see as much as I would've liked and am jazzed to go back. The food is just so amazing.
katarina_santiago at 5:14PM on 04/21/09
Goodness. Now I just keep adding to my list of places I must go. I feel like I could pick any of these and have a great time. I will have to do some price analysis and mull this over for a little bit. Thanks for the help!
kyle25 at 8:27PM on 04/21/09
NYC, New Orleans, San Francisco, San Diego (the food here is a little under-rated, but maybe I'm just a little prejudiced), Savannah. You can find good, even great, food almost anywhere if you're open to going to the non-touristy places. The best food we got in San Francisco was at Molinari's deli in North Beach, and Fiddler's Green just behind Fisherman's Wharf. And walk everywhere if you can. You just miss too much if you ride everywhere.
beth1 at 8:42PM on 04/21/09
Charleston, South Carolina
Portland, Oregon
New Orleans
Asheville, North Carolina
Pinotnana at 8:58PM on 04/21/09
When are you going? Personally I'd think about the weather - New Orleans in the high summer would leave me without an appetite, but right now sounds great.
I second Seattle and San Francisco. You can eat really well in both cities without spending an enormous amount of money, Seattle especially.
atomic_violin at 10:18PM on 04/21/09
Atlanta is great, as is Austin, TX, but don't discount Pittsburgh! It's not that far from Indiana, and there is GREAT food all over the city. It's also not a super expensive place (though I would definitely recommend budgeting for a few high-dollar meals - so worth it).
Phoenix DOES have some fantastic food - but it's ragingly hot, over-polluted desert sprawl and can be pretty miserable for most moments not spent eating amazingly delicious yet often expensive food. If you are thinking of going that far, you might be better off going somewhere like San Francisco or other Pacific coast restaurant.
My bf is sitting beside me talking up Las Vegas and insisting that Emeril's New Orleans Fish House is worth dealing with the desert heat - but it will be hot and sprawl-ish, like Phoenix, which would be a *huge* turnoff for me, but some people like the heat, and you might be one of those people.
In fact, with so many cool places to go, you might want to pick out a place by what time of year you can travel and what kind of weather you feel like dealing with, and what's still pretty tolerable in the off and shoulder seasons to keep travel costs low. My personal favorite trick for cheap travel is to go somewhere you have a friend or relative who will let you crash at their place (or try couchsurfing) so that you drastically cut or even eliminate lodging costs.
Anyways, I'm rambling. Have fun, and let us know where you end up going!
joyyy at 10:51PM on 04/21/09
@Slivia & roc2101 - I am so making a stop there on my next work trip into the valley. Food is always the highlight of those days anyway, might as well go big!
joyyy at 11:36PM on 04/21/09
Seattle!
watchforbears at 11:39PM on 04/21/09
This is easy, as another young single male, I can easily recommend Las Vegas! Not only are their countless great celebrity restaurants and all the classic old Vegas digs, but theres also plenty of nightlife as well as young single ladies!!! Only one thing to remember, what happens in Vegas happens in Vegas...
twoojoe at 11:58PM on 04/21/09
I'm convinced every major and most minor cities have really great places. Many are hidden diamonds in the rough. After all if you watch Diners / Drive In and Dives - you could eat your way through the country like Guy F does.
Having spent many years traveling for work my all time favorite spots are: San Francisco and Toronto! But then again I've had really good food in Abilene, Texas - exquisite dinners in Denver, and as bizarre as this sounds - some really nice meals in Jackson, Mississippi.
My suggestion is go where you want and then ask around the locals where they head for good food.
Ribster at 5:28AM on 04/22/09
Do you want awesome regional (NOLA) cuisine, or a place that has great ethnic everything? in my opinion, food in Houston is amazing and pretty cheap, especially compared to nyc. The weather right now will also be great - not sweltering.
Houston eats:
Vietnamese food - Huynh
Amazing Dimsum - KimSon, Lucky Dragon III, etc.
Korean - Korea Garden Restaurant is amazing
Free appetizers at T'afia in midtown for happy hour
Churrasco's - the BEST Tres Leches
Breakfast Tacos - Taco Cabana, which is a chain, but has amazing flour tortillas
Taco trucks!
Robb Walsh (houston press) and allison Cook (houston chronicle) both have great blogs detailing all there is to eat.
I promise, if you make it to at least three of the above places, you won't be disappointed.
What to do in between eating? Bikeriding by the bayou, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston or the Menil Collection...and some tequila, guacamole, chips, and salsa at Mi Pueblito. It doesn't get much better in my opinion.
prunesaregood at 9:12AM on 04/22/09
PORTLAND, ME!!! I live in Portland, and I think last year or the year before Food Network rated it #3 in the US as a foodie destination... It's a gorgeous time of year, lobsters, seafood galore, great restaurants, the best brunch anywhere--we take brunch very VERY seriously. We have James Beard Nominees, and the Andrew Zimmern (sp?) from Bizarre Foods came, he liked it ;) We also have an international airport in Portland, so it's easy to get to. Check out Jet blue for great deals.
kmgagne at 10:24AM on 04/22/09
I second the Seattle recommendation! Lots to do there and it's gorgeous too. New York obviously has a ton of foodie offerings but I wouldn't call it cheap.
I'm actually looking for a 4th of July destination that is cheap too. I'm travelling with friends - what are Serious Eaters' thoughts on Portland or Atlanta?
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 4:01PM on 04/22/09
I were you, Amsterdam or in UK is the best place to take your vacation. There are great places there and great foods too. You can visit also Explorer Travel Blog for more travel destination you wanted for as a friend suggestion. Thanks for sharing this post!
tinjofs at 9:47PM on 04/22/09
You can't beat CA's Napa Valley for amazing food! And wine, of course.
gourmetgal at 10:41PM on 04/22/09
I think it has to be San Francisco/Napa/Sonoma, as others have noted. If not the West Coast, NY of course.
If you want something truly unexpected but delightful, come to Cleveland and I'll show you a town of hidden gems (starting with Michael Symon's "Lola" and then onto L'Albatros for some French fare, followed by Greenhouse Tavern...yum).
LizLemon at 10:42AM on 04/23/09
If you go to NOLA make sure to check out Juans Flying Burrito http://www.juansflyingburrito.com/ - and of course Cafe Du Monde http://www.cafedumonde.com/ all I can say about both is YUM YUM YUM!
beagle1 at 12:50PM on 04/23/09
Come to Miami! Seafood is fresh, and the latin flavor is unbeatable! Spicy! And there are so many neighborhoods where you can find fantastic culinary - unique restaurants, like Coconut Grove, or the Design District, and Downtown Miami... not just South Beach!
FoodOfMiami at 6:27PM on 04/23/09
Seattle! This city is just the dreamiest. Tons and tons of amazing restaurants in all different neighborhoods, just walking around downtown or Capitol Hill and you're going to find something that makes you happy.
thatlittlebroad at 8:25PM on 04/24/09
New York City is the way to go, esp if you've never been. I don't know about that Seattle recommendation, while it's a very pretty city, it's also very small and as a single guy traveling solo, I think you might find it a bit limited (though you could pop up to Vancouver too, which is an amazing place). New Orleans is a good call too.
Nehna at 7:28AM on 04/25/09
Oh, San Francisco would be a great call too, of course.
Nehna at 7:29AM on 04/25/09
No brainer - San Francisco!
Go to the Chronicle's Food Section (online), and look at articles from the last 1-2 years for restaurants, food markets, diners, ethnic restaurants (amazing chinese food), etc.
The weather is great, and airline and hotel prices are down because of the economy. Plus, in between your meal adventures - you're in San Francisco!
serious1 at 9:11AM on 04/25/09
Of course, no doubt, The city of Roses, Portland-Oregon.
We have everything from cheap to spendy, it depends on what you like. Here are my favorite:
- Biwa for Japanese ramen and tasty yakitori.
- Wong King's for dim sum.
- Saint cupcake for yummy cupcakes.
- Pok Pok for Thai food chiang mai style
- Junior Ambassadors home made ice cream food cart from asparagus ice cream, bacon maple ice cream to smoked salmon and cream cheese.
- Potato champion food cart for some poutine.
- Sawasdee Thai, the best Thai food cart in Portland.
- Nicholas Lebanese restaurant, cheap, affordable Lebanese food.
- Screen Door for southern food. Fried chicken and sweet potato waffles!
We have so many restaurants and food carts that are so affordable and most of them are organic and using local products. Good luck on finding your destination. There are so many awesome cities and food!
eviliciouz at 11:15PM on 04/25/09
another vote for new orleans.
andshewas at 12:04AM on 04/27/09
I have made a decision: New Orleans!
The offer from veggieout as well as great suggestions from other users made it tough. When it came down to it, NO provided everything I wanted in this trip and I got a great price. To me, it is such a unique place that also offers great food options.
I definately see myself taking an awesome west coat swing in the future (start in Seattle or Vancouver and eat my way south on the the Pacific Coast -Portland, San Fran, LA, San Diego, etc.). That will have to wait until time and money is a less of an issue. I also want to make my way to NYC, Boston, Miami, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Vegas, Charleston, Memphis, Philly, and many other places in the future.
Thank you to everyone that provided help. I defintately plan on seeking your help when I am planning this trip in the next week or so!
kyle25 at 10:38AM on 04/27/09