Top 10 Food Cities

Yes, it’s a city known for how crazy it gets during Mardi Gras, but let’s not ignore the fact that NOLA also has a reputation for delicious cuisine. Its strengths are in their soul food, Cajun food and their Creole delicacies – like the ones found at Antoine’s restaurant, which has been around since 1840 and is the oldest American family-run restaurant of its kind. New Orleans is also big on fusion restaurants, with many blending European with Asian food.

If there’s one thing this city is famous for in terms of its cuisine, it’s how its food is not only delicious, but also something residents can call their own. Montreal’s bagels and smoked meat sandwiches are so distinct; they’re what tourists travel specifically to La Belle Province to eat. Not only that, but a venture down to the city’s famous Old Port will lead you to fancy restaurants inspired by a multitude of cultures where you’re sure to find at least one that’ll satisfy your cravings – even if it’ll take a pretty big bite out of your wallet. And let’s not forget some good ol’ poutine!

Although many of Cali’s best known restaurants are in nearby Berkeley and Oakland, the food found in The City by the Bay is well worth a look and taste itself, with San Fran’s street food and farmers markets like the one in Ferry Plaza numbering among its gastronomic highlights. Aside from its trendy cafes, the city’s also known for its fusion food, with local cuisine occasionally mashing up with those from Asia and Europe.

This city is known for typically Indian dishes like butter chicken, but also for street food like bhelpuri and vada pav. The seafood in Mumbai is also one of its strengths, with shark masala and tandoori crab proving popular, as well as whatever you can find at the Sassoon Docks fish market. A lot of the best food you can get in Mumbai is the regional stuff, but that’s just what makes this city so appealing.

It’s a city known for its huge skyscrapers and general hustle and bustle, but its food is quite simply to die for as well. The BBQ pork, steamed dumplings and flower crab are some of the best dishes found in Hong Kong, as well as – wait for it – roast goose. Another popular dish is Beggar’s Chicken, which is available at several different restaurants in the city, and is well worth the up-to-six-hour wait it requires to make it.

This city is renowned for putting a unique spin on food that has already gained popularity elsewhere, and Istanbul does it so well its style can’t be replicated anywhere else. From tea to kebabs to seafood and even pizza and scrambled eggs, Istanbul is a city that can take something more ordinary and turn it into something very exotic. Also worth trying are more country-specific dishes like Turkish stuffed turnovers, as well as the spices you can find at the Spice Bazaar.

You might think Tokyo’s biggest specialties in food are their traditional dishes: noodles, tempura, and of course, sushi. But what you might not know is that Japan’s biggest city also has many restaurants with a unique take on cuisine from other cultures. For example, their twist on French food in particular has been a huge influence on the city’s cuisine in general, including dishes like foie gras and duck confit, which are found at many of the city’s French restaurants.

Unless you’re a vegetarian, you’ve probably eaten pasta with Bolognese sauce and loved every bite of it. You’ve also probably eaten sandwiches named after this city before. While Rome is known for its seafood and produce, Bologna is known for its pasta, and more specifically as the birthplace of tortellini. But their pasta sauce isn’t the only food-related thing this Italian city is known for: they also have an astonishing array of fine cheeses found at their Mercato di Mezzo.

Contrary to fellow French city Bordeaux, which is known for its seafood, foie gras and wine, Paris is perhaps more known for its bistros, cafes, baguettes and cheeses – the latter two of which are best enjoyed at a picnic in one of the city’s many big public parks. There are also plenty of street carts within the city where you can buy a croque monsieur or a crêpe, while famous chefs like Pierre Gagnaire and Alain Ducasse also have restaurants in the city at which you can grab a gourmet bite.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.

- London, England
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Austin, USA

No city knows how to tick off every box on the food list quite like the Big Apple. It seems to have it all; fantastic street food, Jewish delis, pizza and hot dogs are popular, but it’s also got great bakeries and seafood – not to mention New York’s interpretations of foods from many different cultures. NYC’s quite literally got something for everyone, but for a city of more than eight million people, that’s just the way it has to be.

Do you agree with our list? What do you think is the best food city in the world? With delicious new Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.