Where do the locals actually eat?

Every restaurant Seemor has analyzed carries a reading of the crowd it draws, from firmly local to firmly tourist. Pick up to five cities. Below, in turn: what the local-leaning places serve, what kind of places they are, what they charge and how they score, next to the mixed-appeal places and the tourist-leaning ones.

San Francisco Bay AreaLondonNew York

Cuisine

The most local places lean furthest into the home cuisine in 1 of 3 cities. San Francisco Bay Area: American is 21% of local-leaning restaurants, 22% of mixed-appeal ones and 41% of tourist-leaning ones.

What this measures

What each restaurant serves, grouped into cuisines. Cuisines under 15 restaurants in a city are pooled as Other. Under each city: the home cuisine opened up by kind of place (pizzeria, trattoria, pub, diner and so on), read from how each restaurant describes itself.

San Francisco Bay Area

8,571 restaurants · 2,472 local-leaning, 5,797 mixed appeal, 302 tourist-leaning

All restaurants

22%

14%

12%

10%

13%

Local-leaning2,472

American21%

Mexican19%

13%

11%

Mixed appeal5,797

American22%

12%

11%

10%

Other14%

Tourist-leaning302

American41%

11%

10%

13%

American21% · 22% · 41%
Mexican19% · 12% · 8%
Italian13% · 11% · 11%
Chinese11% · 9% · 6%
Japanese9% · 10% · 10%
Indian3% · 6% · 3%
Vietnamese4% · 5% · 1%
Thai3% · 3% · 2%
6 smaller ones in gray18% · 23% · 18%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

Inside the American places

22% of San Francisco Bay Area · 1,888 restaurants · 511 local-leaning, 1,253 mixed appeal, 124 tourist-leaning

Burgers / fast food leads the local-leaning American places (23%); tourist-leaning ones lead with Bar / tavern (16%).

All American places

23%

18%

15%

11%

Local-leaning511

Burgers / fast food23%

Diner23%

Bar / tavern19%

Mixed appeal1,253

Burgers / fast food25%

Diner16%

Bar / tavern13%

10%

12%

Tourist-leaning124

11%

Bar / tavern16%

11%

Other kinds26%

Burgers / fast food23% · 25% · 8%
Diner23% · 16% · 11%
Bar / tavern19% · 13% · 16%
New American8% · 10% · 11%
Californian / PNW7% · 7% · 11%
Southern / soul / barbecue / Cajun6% · 8% · 5%
Brunch / cafe5% · 6% · 4%
Other kinds7% · 12% · 26%
Unspecified2% · 3% · 8%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

London

17,322 restaurants · 5,829 local-leaning, 9,960 mixed appeal, 1,533 tourist-leaning

All restaurants

25%

12%

20%

Local-leaning5,829

British29%

12%

Other18%

Mixed appeal9,960

British21%

12%

Other21%

Tourist-leaning1,533

British27%

Italian14%

Other21%

British29% · 21% · 27%
Italian12% · 12% · 14%
Indian9% · 8% · 5%
Chinese5% · 4% · 4%
Japanese3% · 5% · 7%
Turkish5% · 5% · 2%
American2% · 5% · 9%
Cafe5% · 4% · 1%
6 smaller ones in gray30% · 37% · 31%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

Inside the British places

25% of London · 4,238 restaurants · 1,704 local-leaning, 2,118 mixed appeal, 416 tourist-leaning

Pub leads every row of British places, 40% of local-leaning, 44% of mixed-appeal ones and 35% of tourist-leaning.

All British places

42%

19%

12%

Local-leaning1,704

Pub40%

Cafe24%

Fish & chips20%

Mixed appeal2,118

Pub44%

Cafe16%

Tourist-leaning416

Pub35%

Cafe18%

Modern British16%

Other kinds18%

Pub40% · 44% · 35%
Cafe24% · 16% · 18%
Fish & chips20% · 8% · 3%
Gastropub4% · 8% · 1%
Takeaway / chicken shop4% · 3% · 1%
Modern British3% · 6% · 16%
Bar / wine bar1% · 3% · 3%
Other kinds2% · 5% · 18%
Unspecified4% · 8% · 7%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

New York

13,966 restaurants · 4,732 local-leaning, 8,067 mixed appeal, 1,167 tourist-leaning

All restaurants

20%

17%

Local-leaning4,732

American17%

Italian19%

12%

10%

Other15%

Mixed appeal8,067

American20%

Italian15%

Other18%

Tourist-leaning1,167

American26%

Italian21%

Other16%

American17% · 20% · 26%
Italian19% · 15% · 21%
Chinese12% · 7% · 7%
Mexican9% · 8% · 6%
Japanese6% · 9% · 9%
Middle Eastern3% · 4% · 2%
8 smaller ones in gray34% · 38% · 30%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

Inside the American places

20% of New York · 2,743 restaurants · 797 local-leaning, 1,648 mixed appeal, 298 tourist-leaning

Bar / tavern leads every row of American places, 25% of local-leaning, 21% of mixed-appeal ones and 24% of tourist-leaning.

All American places

23%

10%

18%

13%

Local-leaning797

Bar / tavern25%

Diner18%

13%

10%

11%

Mixed appeal1,648

Bar / tavern21%

Burgers / chicken21%

13%

10%

Other kinds13%

Tourist-leaning298

Bar / tavern24%

Burgers / chicken16%

New American21%

Other kinds14%

Bar / tavern25% · 21% · 24%
Diner18% · 7% · 7%
Burgers / chicken13% · 21% · 16%
New American10% · 13% · 21%
Brunch / cafe9% · 10% · 6%
Salad bowls7% · 4% · 1%
Southern / BBQ5% · 8% · 4%
Other kinds11% · 13% · 14%
Unspecified2% · 4% · 7%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

Price

Tourist-leaning places are pricier than local-leaning ones in 3 of 3 cities. New York: 69% of tourist-leaning places are expensive or above, 45% of mixed-appeal ones and 23% of local-leaning ones.

What this measures

Price band read from menus and reviews, four bands from budget to very expensive. Places with no price reading are left out.

San Francisco Bay Area

8,544 restaurants with a price reading

All restaurants

55%

34%

Local-leaning2,463

Budget13%

Moderate61%

Expensive22%

Mixed appeal5,779

Moderate54%

Expensive38%

Tourist-leaning302

Moderate29%

Expensive63%

Budget13% · 6% · 1%
Moderate61% · 54% · 29%
Expensive22% · 38% · 63%
Very expensive4% · 3% · 8%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

London

17,260 restaurants with a price reading

All restaurants

14%

58%

26%

Local-leaning5,807

Budget23%

Moderate61%

Expensive15%

Mixed appeal9,926

10%

Moderate59%

Expensive29%

Tourist-leaning1,527

Moderate41%

Expensive50%

Budget23% · 10% · 4%
Moderate61% · 59% · 41%
Expensive15% · 29% · 50%
Very expensive1% · 2% · 5%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

New York

13,913 restaurants with a price reading

All restaurants

11%

49%

34%

Local-leaning4,706

Budget20%

Moderate57%

Expensive20%

Mixed appeal8,043

Moderate47%

Expensive39%

Tourist-leaning1,164

Moderate27%

Expensive58%

11%

Budget20% · 8% · 4%
Moderate57% · 47% · 27%
Expensive20% · 39% · 58%
Very expensive3% · 7% · 11%

Figures: local-leaning · mixed appeal · tourist-leaning

Food, value and setting

Local-leaning places score 8+ on food more often than tourist-leaning ones in 3 of 3 cities; tourist-leaning ones sit in better settings in 3 of 3. San Francisco Bay Area: 71% of local-leaning places score 8+ on food, 53% of mixed-appeal ones, 28% of tourist-leaning ones; on setting it is 43%, 53% and 80%.

What this measures

Share of restaurants reading 8 or higher on food quality, and 7 or higher on value for money and on setting appeal, on Seemor's 1 to 10 scale. Bands, not averages.

Food quality 8+

Value for money 7+

Setting appeal 7+

San Francisco Bay Area

8,571 restaurants · 2,472 local-leaning, 5,797 mixed appeal, 302 tourist-leaning

All restaurants

57%

82%

51%

Local-leaning2,472

71%

93%

43%

Mixed appeal5,797

53%

80%

53%

Tourist-leaning302

28%

43%

80%

London

17,322 restaurants · 5,829 local-leaning, 9,960 mixed appeal, 1,533 tourist-leaning

All restaurants

55%

84%

63%

Local-leaning5,829

67%

96%

52%

Mixed appeal9,960

52%

82%

66%

Tourist-leaning1,533

25%

49%

88%

New York

13,966 restaurants · 4,732 local-leaning, 8,067 mixed appeal, 1,167 tourist-leaning

All restaurants

55%

78%

62%

Local-leaning4,732

63%

90%

45%

Mixed appeal8,067

54%

75%

68%

Tourist-leaning1,167

35%

43%

89%

Neighborhoods

San Francisco Bay Area: in Fisherman's Wharf, 67% of restaurants are tourist-leaning and 2% local-leaning; in Fruitvale it is 0% and 58%.

What this measures

Share of each neighborhood's restaurants in each crowd band. The whole city first, then the 5 neighborhoods with the most tourist-leaning restaurants and the 5 with the most local-leaning, each group ordered by tourist-leaning share. Neighborhoods are Seemor's own place hierarchy; only those with 25 or more restaurants carrying a crowd reading are drawn. Under it: every neighborhood of every city on one chart.

San Francisco Bay Area

2,148 of the 8,571 restaurants sit inside a named neighborhood; 36 neighborhoods with 25+

The whole city

2,148 restaurants inside a named neighborhood

Mixed appeal 67%

Local-leaning 26%

Where the tourist-leaning places are

the 5 neighborhoods with the most of them, ordered by share

Fisherman's Wharf48

Tourist-leaning 67%

Mixed appeal 31%

Union Square73

Tourist-leaning 38%

Mixed appeal 58%

Jackson Square68

18%

Mixed appeal 69%

13%

South of Market93

16%

Mixed appeal 69%

15%

Tenderloin116

14%

Mixed appeal 71%

16%

Where the local-leaning places are

the 5 neighborhoods with the most of them, ordered by share

Mission District249

Mixed appeal 72%

Local-leaning 29%

Outer Sunset69

Mixed appeal 62%

Local-leaning 38%

Inner Richmond75

Mixed appeal 61%

Local-leaning 39%

Outer Richmond73

Mixed appeal 48%

Local-leaning 52%

Fruitvale43

Mixed appeal 42%

Local-leaning 58%

The same ten on the map of every city

1,549 neighborhoods in 43 cities

If each city's restaurants were scattered across its neighborhoods at random, about 63 of these 1,549 neighborhoods would have a fifth of their restaurants in each crowd. 10 do.

London

9,643 of the 17,322 restaurants sit inside a named neighborhood; 177 neighborhoods with 25+

The whole city

9,643 restaurants inside a named neighborhood

13%

Mixed appeal 60%

Local-leaning 27%

Where the tourist-leaning places are

the 5 neighborhoods with the most of them, ordered by share

Leicester Square75

Tourist-leaning 75%

Mixed appeal 25%

St Giles99

Tourist-leaning 56%

Mixed appeal 43%

Chinatown155

Tourist-leaning 49%

Mixed appeal 48%

Mayfair142

Tourist-leaning 37%

Mixed appeal 51%

11%

Soho149

Tourist-leaning 36%

Mixed appeal 58%

Where the local-leaning places are

the 5 neighborhoods with the most of them, ordered by share

Clapham119

Mixed appeal 53%

Local-leaning 40%

Tooting141

Mixed appeal 58%

Local-leaning 39%

Battersea124

Mixed appeal 59%

Local-leaning 40%

Stoke Newington88

Mixed appeal 55%

Local-leaning 46%

East Dulwich52

23%

Local-leaning 77%

The same ten on the map of every city

1,549 neighborhoods in 43 cities

If each city's restaurants were scattered across its neighborhoods at random, about 63 of these 1,549 neighborhoods would have a fifth of their restaurants in each crowd. 10 do.

New York

10,131 of the 13,966 restaurants sit inside a named neighborhood; 99 neighborhoods with 25+

The whole city

10,131 restaurants inside a named neighborhood

10%

Mixed appeal 60%

Local-leaning 31%

Where the tourist-leaning places are

the 5 neighborhoods with the most of them, ordered by share

Theater District179

Tourist-leaning 62%

Mixed appeal 37%

Garment District183

Tourist-leaning 47%

Mixed appeal 53%

Hell's Kitchen204

Tourist-leaning 34%

Mixed appeal 63%

NoMad161

Tourist-leaning 30%

Mixed appeal 67%

Financial District201

Tourist-leaning 24%

Mixed appeal 69%

Where the local-leaning places are

the 5 neighborhoods with the most of them, ordered by share

Williamsburg359

Mixed appeal 74%

21%

Astoria305

Mixed appeal 57%

Local-leaning 39%

Flushing295

Mixed appeal 66%

Local-leaning 33%

Jackson Heights174

Mixed appeal 49%

Local-leaning 49%

Crown Heights145

Mixed appeal 46%

Local-leaning 53%

The same ten on the map of every city

1,549 neighborhoods in 43 cities

If each city's restaurants were scattered across its neighborhoods at random, about 63 of these 1,549 neighborhoods would have a fifth of their restaurants in each crowd. 10 do.

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Cities shown: 39,859 restaurants with a crowd reading (13,295 from full analyses, 26,564 from lighter ones), data from October 2026. Each restaurant carries Seemor's reading of the crowd it draws. The most local places count as local-leaning, the most tourist-drawn as tourist-leaning, and the rest, where most of a city eats, as mixed appeal. Readings come from analysing public reviews and menus; they describe who a place tends to draw, not who is welcome. Shares of restaurants in a band, never individual scores.

Cities with fewer than 100 tourist-leaning restaurants are left out; the kind-of-place split of the home cuisine also needs 50 tourist-leaning places in that cuisine, which 3 of 44 cities do not have yet. Every city has its own page: see the list.