It’s official: the rest of the world is finally catching on to what we’ve known all along. In the newly released 2026 Food & Wine Global Tastemaker Awards, Houston has officially been named the No. 6 best food city in the United States.
This year’s ranking marks a major climb for the Space City, which jumped three spots from its No. 9 position in 2025. Not only did Houston move up in the national rankings, but it also officially leapfrogged Austin (No. 7) to claim the title of the highest-ranked food city in Texas.
According to Food & Wine’s panel of over 400 experts—including chefs, travel writers, and critics—Houston’s culinary prowess is in part due to its diversity. As the most diverse large city in the country, Houston’s food scene is a “multicultural marriage” of flavors.
The report specifically highlighted the city’s ability to offer world-class Tex-Mex, Vietnamese, Indian, Japanese, and Cajun cuisines alongside its “peerless” Texas barbecue.
While the entire city received accolades, a few local staples were singled out as essential stops for any foodie, including: Theodore Rex, Feges BBQ, Tatemó, and Anvil Bar & Refuge.
Here’s a snippet about what the publication had to say about Houston:
“Everything’s bigger in Texas, and Houston is no exception. It boasts the most ethnically diverse population of any large city in the country. That multiculturalism seasons the city’s dining scene, offering exceptional Tex-Mex/Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Southern/Cajun cuisines alongside classic Texas barbecue”.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) was also named the No. 6 best airport in the U.S. for food and drink. With local favorites like The Hubcap Grill, El Tiempo, and the newly opened Taste of Gold by Simone Biles, even a layover in Houston is now considered a fine-dining experience.
Here are the top 10 food cities in the U.S. according to Food & Wine:
- New York City, New York
- Chicago, Illinois
- Los Angeles, California
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- San Francisco, California
- Houston, Texas
- Austin, Texas
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Charlestown, South Carolina
- MIami, Florida
