Chicago was just named the second-best food city in America—here’s who beat it

Sorry, Chicago—you came this close.

In the latest rankings from Food & Wine’s 2026 Global Tastemakers Awards, Chicago was officially crowned the second-best food city in the United States. The only place to outrank it? None other than New York City, which held onto the top spot thanks to its sheer scale, diversity and constant culinary reinvention. 

RECOMMENDED: The 28 best restaurants in Chicago right now

Still, being No. 2 is hardly a loss, especially considering the company Chicago is keeping. The annual list, compiled from input by more than 400 chefs, food writers and travel experts, highlights cities that best blend tradition, innovation and a strong sense of place. And unsurprisingly, Chicago checks all those boxes.

According to the ranking, the city continues to stand out for its balance of high-end dining and deeply rooted neighborhood food culture. You’ll find Michelin-starred tasting menus alongside old-school institutions, plus a wave of newer restaurants and younger chefs pushing boundaries with global mashups and personal storytelling.

That combo of innovation and diversity keeps Chicago firmly in the national spotlight, proving that the city’s food scene isn’t just about deep-dish pizza and hot dogs (although those definitely still matter). Chicago dining is also about Filipino tasting menus, Cambodian flavors, Mexican street food and everything in between, often in the same neighborhood.

In fact, Chicago’s culinary rep has only grown in recent years. The city now boasts 21 Michelin-starred restaurants, along with dozens of Bib Gourmand spots highlighting affordable excellence.

Elsewhere on the list, Los Angeles, New Orleans and San Francisco rounded out the top five, each recognized for their own distinct culinary identities, from L.A.’s global mashups to New Orleans’ deeply rooted Creole traditions, as well as San Francisco's longstanding farm-to-table tradition. In fact, the list features all the same cities as 2025's, but in a slightly different order.

Here is the full list of the top 10 U.S. cities for food and drink in 2026:

1. New York City
2. Chicago
3. Los Angeles
4. New Orleans
5. San Francisco
6. Houston
7. Austin
8. Philadelphia
9. Charleston
10. Miami