10 States That Love to Dine Out the Most
Americans from these states just can't get enough of eating out.
After (at least) eight hours of work—and especially following two years of pandemic—ordering dinner, driving through, or dropping in for a sit-down meal at a favorite restaurant is a particular pleasure for most of us. Some take advantage of the opportunity more than others. If you've ever wondered whether feeling that a local restaurant has become your kitchen is a personal quirk or the influence of your neighbors, price-comparison experts at pricelisto.com analyzed how many times people in all 50 states searched for more than 3,500 dining-related terms—including "best restaurant near me" and "restaurant menu"—online. These are the ten states that seemingly love to dine out the most.
Residents of the Prairie State aren't so eager to live off the land—they'd rather eat out. Illinois ranks tenth in the nation with 59,730 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents.
Virginia takes ninth place with 59,799 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. Perhaps the state's proximity to D.C. is responsible—government staffers infamously eat more meals in the office than in their own kitchens.
COVID hit North Carolina hard, like every state, but the region's restaurants weathered the pandemic just fine by pivoting to takeout, Charlotte magazine reported. The evidence: The state comes in eighth nationwide, with 62,721 monthly searches for dining-related terms per 100,000 residents.
From BBQ to Tex-Mex, the Lone Star State is a hotbed of authentic cuisine—and, apparently, better things to do than cook at home. The state ranks seventh nationwide with 64,255 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents.
Georgia lands in sixth place nationwide, with 65,510 average monthly searches per 100,000 Peach State dwellers.
Hitting the top five is Arizona, with an average of 67,194 monthly searches per 100,000 residents. The state's most popular searches are for Taco Bell, McDonald's, Starbucks, and Dutch Bros.
Nevada comes fourth on the list with 70,101 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. The most popular chains are Starbucks, McDonald's—where an average meal costs $13.50, the most expensive Mickey D's meal in the country—and Taco Bell.
The Sunshine State came in third, with 71,903 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. McDonald's, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A are the state's most popular chains.
Hawaii hit second place with 72,127 average monthly searches per 100,000 residents. In Honolulu, going to a restaurant costs between $20.00 and $80.00 on average, and a typical meal at McDonald's costs around $12.00.
RELATED: 30 Area Codes to Watch for in Latest Phone Scam
Colorado claimed the nation's dining-out crown with an average monthly search volume of 74,795 per 100,000 residents. As with #3 Nevada, the study found that the top three chains in the state are Starbucks, McDonald's, and Taco Bell.
