Hey Big Spender
Fort Worth earns top-10 spot on list of dining big spenders in U.S.
Fort Worth doesn't mind spending when it comes to dining out, and now there is data that proves this to be true. According to a new study called the "Top U.S. Cities for Restaurant Spending," Dallas-Fort Worth comes in as the No. 6 spendiest metro, with residents spending more than $1,000 on dining out every year.
The study is by Escoffier.edu, the website of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, who conducted an analysis of 22 major U.S. metro areas, pulling data from surveys on food and consumer spending by the USDA and the U.S. Bureau of Labor, to form some conclusions about the dining-out habits of Americans around the country.
They looked at what percentage restaurant spending consumes in total spending versus discretionary spending, as well as restaurant spending per capita.
Despite the Metroplex's fondness for dining out, it did not come in at No. 1 on the list. That spot was taken by Honolulu, Hawaii, where locals spend a little more than $1,260 per year on dining out at restaurants, the report says.
But despite our 6th-place ranking, DFW does not come in too far behind: We spend up to $1007.58 per year, or about $84 per month.
That total sum represents a sizable 31 percent of a Fort Worth resident's total food expenditures for the year. Locals spend nearly three percent of their total pre-tax income on dining out.
Escoffier says Dallas-Fort Worth has a "strong dining culture" because of its numerous restaurants across many diverse cuisines.
"A mix of Southern comfort food, Tex-Mex, and barbecue plays a major role in why residents frequently dine out," the report's author writes.
Fort Worth is full of Michelin-star-worthy eateries, so it's not hard to see why North Texans wouldn't want to support local restaurants. There are so many new restaurants opening in the city that it can be hard to keep track of them all, but that's where CultureMap comes in to keep locals informed about the latest openings, closings, and other dining news.
Fort Worth can at least feel proud it was the top city in Texas. The only other city in Texas to make the top 10 is Houston which came in at No. 9, with residents spending about $776 on dining out annually, or nearly $65 monthly.
"While Houston has the lowest per capita spending of the top cities, it leads in restaurant spending as a percentage of total food expenditures, at 31.72 percent," the report said. "The city’s diverse and multicultural food scene, featuring influences from around the world, makes dining out a regular part of life for Houstonians."
The top 10 U.S. metros where residents spend the most on dining out are:
- No. 1 – Honolulu, Hawaii
- No. 2 – Los Angeles, California
- No. 3 – St. Louis, Missouri
- No. 4 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- No. 5 – Baltimore, Maryland
- No. 6 – Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
- No. 7 – Denver, Colorado
- No. 8 – San Diego, California
- No. 9 – Houston, Texas
- No. 10 – Tampa, Florida