Top 10 American States With The Best Culinary Scene

 

Foodies can appreciate these top 10 American states, offering the best culinary scene, according to a new study. It was run by Escoffier, the number 1 culinary school in the US and featured Hawaii for the top statewide restaurant scene, as the state ranked at or near the top five of seven categories explored in the study. Read on to find out more about the study, run to discover the state with the best culinary scene.

Escoffier ranks the states with the best culinary scene in the USA

A new study was run by Escoffier, the number 1 culinary school in the USA to reveal the top ten American states offering the best culinary scene. From the results of the study, it is clear that Hawaii has the best statewide restaurant scene, as it ranks at or near the top five of the seven categories explored in the study.

Rather unexpectedly, Rhode Island ranked in the overall top ten, powered by high restaurant spending, strong employment numbers and a large percentage of independent restaurants.

Moreover, population size isn’t everything, as while some of the largest states do hit the top ten, it was smaller states like Hawaii, Nevada and Rhode Island that ranked highly, making it clear that population size doesn’t determine the vibrancy of a state’s restaurant scene.

The results were found by exploring economic factors like restaurant spending and employment, restaurant density, and the presence of independent and Michelin-starred restaurants. In the study, each state received a composite score to reveal the top food hotspots, as follows:

1. Hawaii

Hawaii comes out tops in the rankings with a composite score of 100, and stands out for its exceptional capacity to serve visitors, with 376 tourists per restaurant, the highest of all states analyzed. Meanwhile, 77.17 percent of its restaurants are independently owned. Moreover, Hawaii also ranks high in restaurant spending and employment, with 14 percent jobs in the state tied to the industry.

2. New York State

Coming in second place with a score of 83.23, New York offers a dense restaurant scene, with 68 Michelin-starred restaurants. Moreover, it also boasts the highest percentages of independent restaurants at 71.87 percent, reflecting the diversity of its dining options.

3. Nevada

Ranked in third place, Nevada boasts a score of 82.57, standing out for its restaurant spending. That accounts for 43.81 percent of the average food budget. It also boasts the highest percentage of restaurant jobs, making up 15 percent of the state’s workforce.

4. California

California comes fourth in the study with a score of 75.01. The state leads the nation with 85 Michelin-starred restaurants and has the most restaurants per capita, making it a key destination for diverse dining options.

5. Florida

In fifth place, Florida ranked with a score of 72.14. Meanwhile, the state has 164 patrons for each restaurant, highlighting Florida’s popularity with tourists. Moreover, the state boasts 26 Michelin-starred establishments, with 11 percent of its workforce employed in the restaurant industry.

6. Massachusetts

Massachusetts comes in sixth place with a score of 51.29, with steady restaurant spending and a strong restaurant workforce. Moreover, the state has a restaurant-to-tourist ratio of 73:1 and hosts 15 Michelin-starred restaurants, offering a variety of dining options.

7. Illinois

Ranking in seventh place, Illinois boasts a score of 48.33. Meanwhile, locals allocate 41.20 percent of their food budgets to dining out and the state features 20 Michelin-starred restaurants. These factors combine to make dining out a popular choice across the state.

8. Texas

In eighth place, Texas boats a score of 46.25. Moreover, the state ranks high in restaurant density, with 16.98 restaurants per 100K people. It also employs 11 percent of its workforce in the restaurant industry. Furthermore, Texas has one of the highest numbers of culinary schools, further supporting the state’s food industry.

9. Rhode Island

Rhode Island ranks in ninth place with a score of 43.31. Almost two-thirds (64.21 percent) of its restaurants are independently owned. Moreover, 12 percent of its workforce is in the restaurant industry. Rhode Island also boasts one restaurant for every 30 visitors, while offering a wide range of dining options for locals and tourists alike.

10. New Jersey

Coming in at number 10, New Jersey boasts a score of 42.04. Locals spend 36.76 percent of their food budgets dining out, and the state offers one restaurant for every 24 residents. While smaller in scale, 10 percent of the state’s workforce is employed in the culinary industry, reflecting its importance to the local economy.

Readers can learn more about the study here.