Chicago Falls Behind Milwaukee in New Foodie Rankings

If you've had breakfast, lunch, or dinner in Chicago, you'd probably have to assume the Windy City would be at the top of every food ranking. They've got Deep Dish Pizza, Hot Dogs, and restaurants with Michelin Stars.

WalletHub has just released its list of the Best Foodie Cities, and Chicago finished 23rd overall. Meanwhile, Milwaukee was ranked 17th. I'm not going to lie, that's surprising news.

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Why Chicago Fell in the Foodie Ranking

Here's why it happened, though. WalletHub divided the scoring into two categories: one for Affordability, Diversity, Accessibility, and Quality across 28 different metrics. Chicago crushed on quality but got dinged hard on price. It was listed as the 154th most affordable city for restaurants, which is a big ouch considering WalletHub listed 182 cities in total.

Milwaukee’s Advantage: Affordability

Chicago did well in the diversity, accessibility, and quality fields, ranking 22nd overall. Milwaukee cracked the top 20 because the restaurants there are much easier on the wallet. Milwaukee was ranked 6th for affordability and 28th for diversity, accessibility, and Quality.

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WalletHub says "the best foodies cities...make delicious dining affordable for residents and visitors alike."

Miami was considered the first overall, with Portland in second place and San Francisco in third. Closer to home, Madison just missed out on the top 25 ranking, 26th overall; just another win for Wisconsin foodies.

Chicago Still Shines for Quality Dining

Chicago is still the place for an elite culinary experience, considering the sheer number of great chefs and restaurants in the area. However, the ranking is more than that, as people want to eat well without taking out a small loan, and Milwaukee offers that, while the Windy City doesn't.