{"id":411,"date":"2024-04-20T01:26:04","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T17:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/the-best-places-to-eat-in-the-usa-right-now\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:01","slug":"the-best-places-to-eat-in-the-usa-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=411","title":{"rendered":"The best places to eat in the USA right now"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Think about your favorite meal you\u2019ve ever had while traveling. Maybe it was steamed crab drizzled in various tempting sauces in Bali. Fresh pasta in Bologna. Charred kangaroo tartare in Melbourne. Even when you narrow your options down to one country, choosing just one favorite dish is a daunting task. When we\u2019re talking about the whole of the United States, It\u2019s nearly impossible.<\/p>\n

These destinations across the country are worth traveling for their culinary scenes alone. Here\u2019s where\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/b>and what\u00a0\u2013\u00a0you should eat when you get there.<\/p>\n

\"Left,
LA’s food scene is know for more than tacos and breakfast burritos. Amelia Murlaz for Lonely Planet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Los Angeles<\/h2>\n

Eating out in LA is more than tacos and breakfast burritos (but we won\u2019t pass up on either of those). If you do go for one, go with a fresh take; Just What I Kneaded in Frogtown has mastered the vegan burrito with soyrizo, tofu egg scramble and avocado. Or tackle the lemon ricotta pancakes with fried chicken at Marelle in Santa Monica. At lunchtime, a historic hotdog from Tail O\u2019 the Pup (who reopened their original 1946 stand in 2022) will keep you full and happy until dinner. When the sun goes, sink into a couch at East Hollywood\u2019s Lolo Wine Bar, a glass of natural orange in hand.<\/p>\n

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The best dishes in Los Angeles right now (and where to find them)
Guide to eating and drinking in Los Angeles<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Caviar
Locally caught oysters and caviar are Charleston staples. Andrew Thomas Lee, via Chubby Fish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Charleston, South Carolina<\/h2>\n

In case you haven\u2019t heard, Charleston\u2019s been dubbed the food capital of the South, championing elevated southern classics and, of course, fresh oysters. It\u2019s the birthplace of Callie\u2019s Hot Little Biscuit, whose products you may have seen in your local grocery store, but there\u2019s nothing like the real thing fresh from their tiny King Street kitchen, topped with pimento cheese, gravy, jam or goat cheese. Keep the carbs coming at lunchtime with a piled-high sandwich from The Pass. Order the “Such a Nice Italian Boy” with pickled Calabrian chili relish and pistachio-loaded mortadella. You can\u2019t leave Charleston without trying locally caught oysters and caviar, and downtown\u2019s Chubby Fish has the raw bar for the job. Or, if you really want a luxurious meal, the five- and eight-course tasting menus at Honeysuckle Rose make it hands-down the place to go.<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking in Charleston<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Left,
Begin your day in Miami with cafecito, and end it with natural wine or cocktails. Left, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Right, Margot Natural Wine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Miami<\/h2>\n

\u201cAs the unofficial capital of Latin America, Miami does one thing better than just about anyone else: it brings together an envious roster of Latin cuisines from around the Caribbean and South America in one gloriously simmering pot melding flavors with passion, chispa<\/i> (spark) and a gustatory history of a tropical homeland an ocean away,\u201d writes Miami native Jackie Gutierrez-Jones. The day begins with Cuban coffee, or cafecito, most likely from a venanita<\/i> (walk-up window) like Little Havana\u2019s Versailles. Take your pick of 26 vendors at Julia & Henry\u2019s food hall, from Venetian tapas to poke and ramen. Or head to Dr Limon for a full ceviche bar (potatoes on the side, trust us). From there, you could spend the whole night sipping cocktails or natural wine and dancing until the sun comes up.<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking in Miami<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Tiny
This beautiful flaky bite? It comes from Tiny Croissanterie in San Francisco. Margot Seeto for Lonely Planet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. San Francisco<\/h2>\n

While the pandemic led to the closing or relocation of many beloved San Francisco restaurants, the city\u2019s food scene is still buzzing with constant new openings. \u201cLook increasingly to residential neighborhoods for some of the best local bites in the city,\u201d says SanFran native Margot Seeto. For flaky, cinnamony goodness, pick up a morning bun at Tartine to go with a cardamom blend from Delah Coffee \u2013 or bite into the flaky miso bacon egg cup at Tiny Croissanterie. Lunchtime is perfect for dim sum. You\u2019ll find the best in one of San Francisco\u2019s four Chinatowns, including the very first US dim sum parlor: Hang Ah Tea Room. Come dinner time, plan ahead and order Singaporean chili crab from the delivery\/pick-up only Dabao Singapore, or sit down at Dumpling Home and bite into their famous pan-fried pork soup dumplings.<\/p>\n

11 incredible places to eat in San Francisco right now
Guide to eating and drinking in San Francisco<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Left,
NOLA’s palette is becoming incresingly international. Left, Camille Farrah Lenain for Lonely Planet. Right, Paprika Studios, via Mister Mao.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. New Orleans<\/h2>\n

NOLA\u2019s distinctive, Creole-influenced food scene is one of the most recognizable in the country, thanks to \u201cthe intermingling of cultures, access to great ingredients, and an aversion to cutting corners,\u201d says travel writer Adam Karlin. And nowadays, the local palette is becoming increasingly international. So order the gumbo when it\u2019s on the menu, but also dig into curry chicken at Queen Trini Lisa and the pani puri at Mister Mao. And no visit to the Big Easy is complete without a night (or day \u2013 we don\u2019t judge) on the town, sampling craft cocktails like a classic NOLA Sazerac at Bar Tonique and the gingerita at Pal\u2019s Lounge.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Where to eat in New Orleans (and what to order)
The top 10 places to grab a drink in New Orleans<\/i><\/p>\n

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\"Left,
Bagels and cocktails: two New York classics. Left, Ann Douglas Lott\/Lonely Planet. Right, Rachel Robshaw, via HiLot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. New York City<\/h2>\n

Like every New Yorker, our team in NYC has plenty of strong opinions about where to eat. It seems like there\u2019s always a TikTok-viral pastry or pizza joint with a cult following around every corner. In short, you\u2019re never scrambling for options that will satisfy whatever kind of craving you have. For bagels, it\u2019s got to be Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side, a classic Jewish deli where lox and sturgeon are the specialties, or head to Brooklyn for a bagel sandwich from Gertie with a side of latkes. Grab a crispy New York-style slice at L\u2019Industrie (Williamsburg and the West Village) or Scarr\u2019s when you\u2019re in the mood for a casual dinner. Save room for dessert: the daily sundae at Caff\u00e8 Panna in Gramercy. Then wash it all down with a nightcap and live jazz at Ornithology Jazz Club in Bushwick or HiLot in the East Village.<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking in Manhattan
Guide to eating and drinking in Brooklyn<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Seis
Start the day right in Tucson with breakfast at Seis Kitchen. Bailey Freeman for Lonely Planet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Tucson<\/h2>\n

Eating in Tucson is never boring, thanks to its multifaceted influences and abundance of heritage crops. What\u2019s a heritage crop, you may be wondering? These plants have sustained locals for millennia, and Tuscon is home to several of them, like prickly pear fruits and wolfberries. It\u2019s also claimed the title of the first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in the US, so just about any culinary adventure in Tuscon will impress. Start your day with chilaquiles at Seis Kitchen (don\u2019t skip the guac), but save room for tacos at lunchtime. Tacos abound in all kinds in Tuscon, like crispy fish tacos from Taqueria Pico de Gallo or birria tacos at Rollies. Dinner is when you\u2019ll find the most elevated meals in Tuscon, like the sea bass crudo at James Beard Semifinalist Tito & Pep.<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking in Tucson<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Slap's
In Kansas City, it’s all about the barbecue. Lauren Keith for Lonely Planet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Kansas City<\/h2>\n

\u201cKansas City is synonymous with barbecue, but if you\u2019re visiting just for the burnt ends, you\u2019re missing out on the ever-expanding, diverse menu of flavors that KC dishes up daily \u2013 so save room,\u201d writes KC local Lauren Keith. You\u2019ll want to plan your food tour of KC on both the Missouri and Kansas sides. The Bandit, a roast beef sandwich with raspberry jam from Bay Boy, will surprise your taste buds in the best way possible. Multicultural coffee shops are found all over, like the city\u2019s first Vietnamese cafe, Cafe C\u00e0 Ph\u00ea. Locals will tell you that Kansas City barbecue comes out on top, and you can see for yourself at establishments like the legendary Joe\u2019s Kansas City Barbecue and Slap’s BBQ.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking in Kansas City<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Duck
The duck jambalaya at Dauphine’s is true comfort food. The Washington Post\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9. Washington DC<\/h2>\n

Ironically, the US capital\u2019s specialty is international cuisine \u2013 but that also makes sense, since it\u2019s home to over 175 embassies and is a major immigration entry point. And there are seemingly countless incredible restaurants dishing up global favorites to choose from in DC\u2019s award-winning dining scene. Go for fluffy, buttery potato pierogies at Michelin-starred Bresca in the energetic U St Corridor. Or head to Dauphine’s, an American spot with a heavy emphasis on New Orleans specialties like duck jambalaya.\u00a0One of the most competitive tables in town is\u00a0Moi Moi, a West African and Southern American fusion spot. Order the thieboudienne<\/i> (Senegal\u2019s national dish). Whatever reservations you score in DC, creative fusions are pretty much guaranteed.<\/p>\n

The best restaurants in Washington, DC right now<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Coava
Portland is no stranger to crafting the best brews. Justin Katigbak, via Visit Portland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10. Portland, Oregon<\/h2>\n

Portland hasn\u2019t always had the hard-hitting culinary scene it does now. What it has always had: fresh, local produce out the wazoo, straight from the flourishing farmlands right outside the city. Pastry snobs will be delighted by Orange & Blossom\u2019s brioche cardamom orange blossom buns. The birthplace of Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Portland is no stranger to crafting the best brews. Try Anna Bananas \u2013 one of the oldest and coziest coffeehouses in town \u2013 to relax with coffee and a good book, or Coava Coffee Roasters for superior espresso drinks. Another quintessentially Portland dining experience: food cart pods \u2013 aka groupings of food carts with shared tables \u2013 like Lil’ America in Southeast Portland (try the Guyanese noodles from Bake on the Run).<\/p>\n

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Guide to eating and drinking in Portland<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Only
In the land of deep-dish pizza, prepare to be impressed by the international cuisine options. Left, Laura Scherb, via Sfera. Right, Thattu Chicago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11. Chicago<\/h2>\n

\u201cChicago racks up a slew of Michelin stars and James Beard Awards, but it keeps it real with an affordable, no-pretenses scene that spreads across neighborhoods and mixes with the city\u2019s cultural mash-up,\u201d says local travel journalist Karla Zimmerman. In the land of deep-dish pizza, stopping for a slice is pretty much a given for any visitor, and for many locals, the answer is obvious: Pequod\u2019s Pizza\u2019s pepperoni pie. At Thattu in the neighborhood of Avondale, dishes inspired by the South Indian coastal cuisine of Kerala warm the tables, like the fried chicken sandwich topped with curry leaf aioli. Or bite into gooey arancini at Sfera Sicilian Street Food \u2013 try variations with beer ragu, mushrooms and ricotta.<\/p>\n

The best things to eat in Chicago right now<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Pescado
Sunset o’clock on the Florida Panhandle is best spent on Pescado’s rooftop. Pescado Rosemary Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12. The Florida Panhandle<\/h2>\n

A longtime beloved vacation spot of US southerners, \u201cthere is finally a culinary scene to match the beauty of the beaches,\u201d says journalist and frequent Panhandle vacationer Jennifer Leigh Parker. For some reason, donuts and the beach just make sense. You\u2019ll find proof of this at the Donut Hole. Don\u2019t be overwhelmed by the number of flavors \u2013 you can\u2019t really go wrong, but the blueberry cake donuts always hit the spot. Aside from the sandwich you made to devour as soon as you arrive at the beach, the rest of the day\u2019s meals should be heavy on seafood because everything\u2019s local. The best sushi is at Harbor Docks in Destin, and The Citizen in Alys Beach is best for finer fare, like the steaming hot Fisherman\u2019s Stew. Sunset o\u2019clock is best spent on the roof at Pescado, listening to live music and gazing at the Gulf while sipping your cocktail.<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking on the Florida Panhandle<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Left,
Palm Springs is a proud steak and cocktail town. Left, Cheeky\u2019s. Right, Mr Lyons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

13. Palm Springs<\/h2>\n

Palm Springs wasn\u2019t always the California desert\u2019s restaurant hotspot. \u201cMy, how things have changed,\u201d says travel writer Andrew Bender, \u201c…the restaurant scene has busted wide open.\u201d Cheeky\u2019s has mastered the breakfast and brunch game with favorites like yam hash and fried chickens and waffles (and a Bloody Mary in a cowboy boot-shaped glass \u2013 yeehaw to that!). Also, something important to note about Palm Springs: this is a steak and martini town, and the atmospheric and clubby Mr Lyons gives these classics a modern edge. The second thing to note: Palms Springs is synonymous with cocktail culture. Sip rooftop aperitifs at High Bar, and bar hop to Chill Bar before dancing the night away at Hunter\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking in Palm Springs<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Michigan
Look at that cheese pull! Now that’s a Detroit-style pizza. Jack Thomas for Lonely Planet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

14. Detroit<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of coney dogs and thick, rectangular Detroit-style pizza, but that\u2019s just the beginning of the Motor City\u2019s growing dining scene. Take the corned beef burger at The Food Exchange, for instance: a thick, grilled patty on an onion roll, topped with corned beef and two kinds of cheeses (Swiss and American), plus all the classic burger fixings \u2013 so iconic, it\u2019s become a 25-year staple on the menu. Or take advantage of Michigan\u2019s seemingly endless supply of maitake mushrooms and order the mushroom dumplings at restaurant-butcher shop-combo Marrow, served in corn butter with a signature szechuan sauce. For that much-awaited slice of pizza, it\u2019s got to be from Michigan and Trumbull. Pro tip: BYOB.<\/p>\n

Guide to eating and drinking in Detroit<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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