Texas reigns supreme as the top state for pasta lovers

DALLAS (KDAF) — Americans have developed their own twist on pasta, an Italian classic.

The research team at Maine Lobster Now decided to find out which U.S. states are cooking up the best plates. They analyzed nearly one million Google Maps reviews from the top 10 pasta restaurants in every state, specifically looking for phrases like “great pasta.” 

Texas tops the charts

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including its love for pasta. The Lone Star State takes first place with an impressive 35.49% of reviews mentioning “best pasta.” From upscale Italian spots in Dallas to cozy family-run eateries in San Antonio, Texans clearly know a thing or two about good food. The state’s thriving food scene, influenced by a mix of Italian-American heritage and creative fusion cuisine, likely contributes to its pasta dominance.

The full list of the states with the best pasta according to nearly 1M reviewers:

Rank	State	Reviews mentioning “BestPasta” (%)
1	Texas	35.49
2	Oklahoma	31.23
3	Washington	30.47
4	Wyoming	30.17
5	Tennessee	30.12
6	Utah	29.23
7	Vermont	28.54
8	Virginia	27.37
9	Florida	24.98
10	North Carolina	24.57
11	Missouri	24.47
12	South Dakota	24.13
13	Pennsylvania	23.75
14	New Mexico	23.58
15	Wisconsin	23.56
16	Iowa	23.37
17	West Virginia	23.35
18	South Carolina	23.29
19	Arkansas	23.07
20	New Hampshire	22.66
21	Kentucky	22.63
22	Mississippi	22.49
23	Alabama	22.39
24	Nebraska	22.37
25	Kansas	22.07
26	Montana	22.04
27	Indiana	22.02
28	Ohio	21.99
29	Arizona	21.77
30	New Jersey	21.71
31	New York	21.65
32	Connecticut	21.43
33	Michigan	21.14
34	Delaware	21.05
35	Idaho	20.59
36	Colorado	20.58
37	Louisiana	20.47
38	Massachusetts	20.19
39	Minnesota	19.91
40	Hawaii	19.74
41	Alaska	19.01
42	Maryland	18.92
43	North Dakota	18.74
44	California	18.54
45	Rhode Island	18.32
46	Georgia	18.19
47	Illinois	17.82
48	Oregon	17.19
49	Maine	14.15
50	Nevada	13.27