Atlanta is one of America’s top foodie cities

The Gist: Atlanta ranks 12th in America’s top foodie cities for 2023, amidst rising restaurant prices and a changing dining landscape.

The Details?: WalletHub, a personal-finance website, recently unveiled its report on the best foodie cities in the U.S. for 2023. The study took into account over 180 major U.S. cities, comparing them across 28 metrics, from the affordability and accessibility of top-tier restaurants to the number of food festivals and craft breweries per capita.

By The Numbers:

• Top 20 Foodie Cities: Atlanta stands at the 12th position, with Orlando, FL leading the list.
• Gourmet Specialty Stores: St. Louis boasts the highest number of gourmet specialty-food stores per square root of population, 0.4362, which is 13.3 times more than Pearl City, Hawaii.
• Restaurant Density: Miami leads with the most restaurants per square root of population, 8.6485, which is 19.7 times more than Pearl City, Hawaii.
• Full-Service vs Fast-Food: Cape Coral, Florida, has the highest ratio of full-service restaurants to fast-food joints, 1.58.
• Ice Cream Shops: Orlando, Florida, tops the list with the most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per square root of population, 0.3761.

In Context: With World Food Day approaching on Oct. 16 and restaurant prices seeing a 6.5% hike between August 2022 and August 2023, the report provides a timely insight into the evolving food scene in America.

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Why It Matters: The rise in restaurant prices impacts the choices consumers make when dining out. As Mark Z. Meng, Ph.D. from Indiana University Kokomo points out, the ongoing trend of remote working since the pandemic has shifted the industry, with delivery and pick-up options still in vogue. High inflation continues to shape our dining behaviors, prompting restaurants to consider family bundles or meal deals.

What’s Next?: As cities like Atlanta continue to evolve their food scenes, local authorities play a crucial role. They can support both existing and new food establishments, ensuring food safety and promoting local and seasonal flavors. With the ongoing challenges of food insecurity and waste, collaborations between government, non-profits, and volunteers are essential.