New York, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo—these are a few of the world’s most famous and highly celebrated cities for haute cuisine. While each is full of delectable restaurants, they aren’t the only ones. In fact, you can find everything from fine dining to adventurous street food in many cities throughout the world.
Check out these underrated foodie cities full of hidden edible gems, and get ready to explore cities that may become the next generation of culinary destinations.
1. Singapore
If you know anything about Southeast Asia, you know that this tiny island city-state surrounded by Malaysia offers an incredible array of Chinese, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, and native cuisines. Whether you wander through the mesmerizing street markets or tour the city’s highly acclaimed fine dining establishments, you’re guaranteed to eat well during your time in Singapore.
2. Cape Town, South Africa
We have to include the “Mother City” on this list, as Cape Town abounds in homegrown culinary excellence. You might have heard about La Colombe, the fine dining palace that took the internet by storm before publications like Condé Nast Traveler began to notice. But beyond the city’s fanciest restaurants, you will notice Cape Town’s commitment to great food all the way through its wide array of cheap yet tasty street food.
3. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
While foreign tourists may be more familiar with Sydney, Australian foodies have long considered Melbourne the country’s foodie capital. Not only does the State of Victoria’s largest city have a dazzling range of fantastic fine dining restaurants, but it’s also overflowing with cool cafes and hip holes in the wall serving all kinds of incredible international fare.
4. Mexico City, Mexico
Yes, coastal resort destinations like Los Cabos may have more celebrity chef establishments, but Mexico City is where you’ll find more of the traditional Mexican cuisine that UNESCO has honored as an intangible cultural heritage. Much of the local street food pays homage to the nation’s indigenous roots, but you can also find wild and wonderful new creations that will surprise your taste buds in the best ways possible.
5. Modena, Italy
Though cities like Rome, Naples, and Florence attract far more attention for their respective culinary pedigrees, you shouldn’t sleep on Modena when you’re in Italy. If you can make it to the Michelin three-star restaurant Osteria Francescana, you will be rewarded with the incredible edible art of chef Massimo Battura.
Beyond Osteria Francescana, however, you will be blown away by the homemade pasta dishes found at even the most humble-appearing eateries.
6. Bangkok, Thailand
If you’ve already spent plenty of time in Southeast Asia, you might already be clued in. If not, get ready to be wowed by the marvelous food scene in Bangkok.
At first glance, much of the street food here might appear pretty basic. But when you note the freshness of the ingredients, the care with which vendors prepare their food, and the incredible flavors of the finished dishes, even straightforward street food in Thailand’s capital city tastes like some of the best food on earth.
7. Seattle, Washington, USA
While San Francisco and Los Angeles constantly compete to be the West Coast’s culinary capital, Seattle has always let its great food speak for itself. The city has long cultivated its own local farm-to-table culinary culture, and Pacific Northwest gourmands celebrated Seattle’s homegrown creativity long before Bravo came around to film the tenth season of Top Chef there in 2012.
8. Taizhou, China
Located about 232 miles (or 372 kilometers) south of Shanghai, Taizhou is largely known among Chinese foodies for its rustic yet tasty farm-fresh dishes and amazing seafood. Yet, until recently, foreign tourists haven’t known about this hidden gem of a city that often falls in the shadow of the more famous Chinese cities to the north.
9. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Though Toronto tends to get more attention for its high-profile and celebrity chef establishments, the largest city of Canada’s largest Francophone province should not be ignored. Montreal’s food scene is a tasty melange of traditional French cuisine, familiar Canadian favorites, and more diverse flavors from across the globe. Visitors can expect great quality everywhere, from local cafes to fine dining powerhouses.
10. Bogotá, Colombia
Colombia’s capital city is one of South America’s epicenters of creative cuisine. You can find plenty of great coffee all over town, but don’t sleep on the city’s up-and-coming restaurants that artfully combine traditional Colombian recipes and avant-garde attitude. And while you’re there, definitely take time to check out Bogotá’s colorful local markets.
11. Verona, Italy
Though the (relatively) nearby city of Venice tends to attract far more tourists, this city in the Veneto region is definitely worth a detour. From highly impressive high-end restaurants to tasty trattorias and appetizing aperitivo bars, Verona’s local food and wine scene is just as remarkable as Venice’s. Yet, unlike Venice, you’ll likely enjoy fewer crowds and less overall hassle.
12. Kep, Cambodia
In a country that’s largely just begun to open to foreign visitors, Kep is one of Cambodia’s most delicious secrets. Not only does this city have a beautiful shoreline studded with white sand beaches, but it’s also home to many local vendors offering some of the freshest and most delectable seafood you’ll find anywhere. Seafood enthusiasts will love the fresh swordfish, squid, and crab available all around town.
13. Tainan, Taiwan
Tainan is another Asian city that’s usually off the beaten path for foreign tourists. Yet, Taiwanese locals love coming here for the many delectable treasures they can find on quiet streets, in bustling night markets, and in the many cafes dotted across town. If you haven’t yet tried Asia’s most exotic fruits, then Tainan’s Ching Ji Fruits is the place to go for the freshest and most unique juices you’ll encounter.
14. Chicago, Illinois, USA
When you look at Michelin’s three-star restaurants in the U.S., you’ll see that New York and San Francisco dominate the list but also that Chicago has two of its restaurants on the highly esteemed list: Alinea and Smyth. Even when you set aside the Michelin Guide, Chicago shines as an incredible foodie city full of rich, multicultural flavors and top-tier talent.
15. San Sebastián, Spain
San Sebastián may be far from Spain’s largest city, but it has just as many Michelin three-star restaurants (Arzak and Akelarre) as Chicago, a metro region almost 20 times its size. Even more surprising, this Basque city on the Bay of Biscay has more Michelin three-star restaurants than Rome, Milan, Oslo, and Stockholm.
16. Bergen, Norway
While Oslo may have more of Norway’s (relatively) flashier restaurants, the west coast city of Bergen has been honored by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy due to its commitment to organic and sustainable food. Not only are locals proud to support local farmers and fishermen, but they also know how to make truly great grub.
17. San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean territory rich in culture and culinary heritage, and the capital city of San Juan is the place to dive right into Puerto Rico’s finest edible treasures. Not only will you find bars serving “the original piña colada,” but you will also find plenty of delicious arroz con gandules (rice with pork and pigeon peas), bacalao guisado (fish stew), mofongo (mashed plantains), and a whole lot of fried treats.