From viral TikToks exposing restaurant hygiene fails to online reviews mentioning cockroaches and “dirty” dining rooms, consumers are paying closer attention than ever to where they choose to eat.
That growing scrutiny comes at a difficult time for the restaurant industry. According to Bank of America card data, casual dining and pizza restaurants have experienced multi-year declines in their share of overall restaurant spending, as consumers increasingly gravitate towards restaurants that offer better value, stronger experiences, and higher quality standards. With competition intensifying and diners becoming more selective about where they spend their money, restaurants are under growing pressure to retain customers through stronger reputations, cleaner environments, and better overall dining experiences.
At the same time, online reviews now play a major role in shaping where people decide to eat. Research from ReviewTrackers found that 94% of diners read reviews before choosing a restaurant, highlighting just how influential customer commentary has become within the hospitality industry.
With restaurant reputations now more visible, and more important than ever before, Excel Pest Services has conducted a new study examining which U.S. cities show the strongest indicators of restaurant pest problems.
The study analysed:
- Restaurant density per square mile
- Average humidity levels
- Tripadvisor reviews mentioning terms such as “dirty”, “bugs”, and “pests”
Each city received a ranking across all factors, with the combined scores used to create the final Restaurant Pest Risk Index.
Key Findings
- Seattle ranked as the U.S. city showing the strongest indicators of restaurant pest problems overall
- Miami, Florida recorded the highest restaurant density in the study, with more than 125 restaurants per square mile
- Memphis had the highest percentage of Tripadvisor reviews mentioning “dirty”, “bugs”, or “pests”
- Chicago ranked fourth overall after analysing more than 8,600 restaurants
- Portland, Oregon recorded one of the highest humidity levels in the study
- Las Vegas ranked significantly lower than many humid cities despite its huge restaurant scene
- New York City placed 52nd overall despite having 10,000 restaurants analysed
The U.S. Cities With The Most Pest Concerns In Restaurants
Why Florida Cities Ranked So Highly for Restaurant Pest Complaints
Florida appeared prominently throughout the Restaurant Pest Risk Index, with Miami ranking third nationwide and Jacksonville also placing within the top 70 overall. The findings suggest warmer, humid states with dense hospitality scenes may create conditions that are more favourable for restaurant pest complaints and hygiene-related concerns.
Miami stood out in particular for recording by far the highest restaurant density in the entire study. The city analysed 4,507 restaurants overall, equating to more than 125 restaurants per square mile — almost double the density recorded in second-place Wilmington. Miami also recorded one of the highest percentages of Tripadvisor reviews mentioning terms such as “dirty”, “bugs”, or “pests”, with 1.26% of reviews containing pest-related complaints.
Known for its luxury hospitality scene, celebrity-backed restaurants, and growing collection of Michelin-recognised dining spots, Miami has become one of the biggest food destinations in the U.S. in recent years. Areas such as Brickell, Wynwood, and South Beach now attract huge numbers of diners year-round, while Florida’s constant tourism industry means restaurants often operate at extremely high capacity throughout the year.
Combined with Florida’s humid climate and dense concentration of restaurants, the findings suggest these busy hospitality environments may contribute to higher levels of restaurant hygiene concerns and pest-related complaints. Jacksonville’s appearance within the rankings further reinforces how Florida’s climate conditions and restaurant density may increase exposure to these kinds of complaints compared to drier parts of the country.
Seattle Ranks First Overall for The Most Susceptible to Restaurant Pest Complaints
Seattle ranked first overall after performing consistently highly across all ranking factors included within the Restaurant Pest Risk Index. The city recorded one of the highest humidity levels in the study at 80.5%, while also maintaining a high restaurant density of more than 36 restaurants per square mile. In total, more than 3,000 restaurants were analysed across Seattle alone, highlighting the scale of the city’s dining scene.
Seattle has developed a strong reputation as one of America’s leading food cities, known for its seafood restaurants, coffee culture, independent dining scene, and Pike Place Market, one of the most famous food destinations in the country. The city’s hospitality industry has also grown significantly in recent years, driven by tourism and its expanding tech sector.
Although Seattle did not record the highest percentage of pest-related review complaints, its combination of humid climate conditions and dense restaurant environments contributed heavily to its overall ranking. The findings suggest cities with busy year-round dining scenes and damp conditions may create more favourable environments for restaurant pest complaints and hygiene concerns.
Las Vegas and New York Ranked Lower Than Many Diners May Expect
Despite having some of the largest restaurant scenes in the country, both Las Vegas and New York City ranked lower overall than many diners may expect.
Las Vegas placed 81st overall despite recording one of the highest restaurant densities in the study, with more than 37 restaurants per square mile. However, the city also recorded the lowest humidity levels analysed at just 34%, which may help explain its comparatively lower overall ranking.
Known for its celebrity chef restaurants, luxury hotel dining, and globally recognised hospitality industry, Las Vegas has one of the most concentrated restaurant scenes in the country. Despite this, the city’s dry climate appears to reduce some of the environmental conditions more commonly associated with pest-related complaints.
Meanwhile, New York City ranked 52nd overall after analysing 10,000 restaurants, the highest number in the entire study. As one of the world’s biggest hospitality capitals, New York’s restaurant industry spans everything from Michelin-starred fine dining to independent neighbourhood restaurants and 24-hour food culture.
Despite the scale of the city’s hospitality industry, New York recorded comparatively lower levels of pest-related review complaints than many cities ranking above it.
You can view the full data on the map below:
Methodology
The Restaurant Pest Risk Index analysed major U.S. cities to identify where restaurant pest complaints and hygiene concerns may be most prominent.
The study analysed:
- Restaurant density per capita
- Review mentions relating to hygiene and pests (e.g. “dirty”, “bugs”, “cockroach”)
- Average temperature and humidity conditions
Sources included Tripadvisor review data, Google search data from KeyWordTool.io, U.S. Local Climatological Data (LCD) from the National Centres of Environmental Information, and restaurant density data from Google Maps.
Each city received a ranking across all metrics, with the combined scores used to produce the final overall Restaurant Pest Risk Index.
