From Illinois’ famous deep-dish pizza to the Colorado-born “Fool’s Gold” sandwich, every state has its own iconic meal.
Some famous foods, like Nashville hot chicken, have become synonymous with their state and have even become the signature food of famous institutions, as hot chicken has at Hattie B’s.
Local foods can also make an impact far beyond their origin states, sparking nationwide trends. KFC and Dave’s Hot Chicken have added iterations of Tennessee’s most famous local dish to their menus over the years, and mentions of “Nashville hot chicken” on menus have increased 65.7% over the last five years, CNBC reported in November 2023, citing data from food-service consulting company Technomic.
Here’s the most famous local dish from every state.
ALABAMA: Chicken with white barbecue sauce
Alabama’s famous white barbecue sauce, which is made with mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and ground black pepper, is described as both creamy and tangy.
The sauce, which is said to have been invented in the 1920s by Bob Gibson of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama, often comes served on a sandwich, or with grilled or fried chicken.
ALASKA: Smoked salmon
Alaska is famous for its salmon, though whether locals prefer it smoked, grilled, or pan-seared is up for debate. For a classic Alaskan dish, pairing salmon with vegetables or a bagel and cream cheese are both good ways to enjoy the state’s most famous fish.
ARIZONA: Chimichangas
You might not know that chimichangas were invented in Arizona.
As Tucson Foodie reported, two different restaurants in Tucson claim they originated the dish, which features a large meat burrito filled with vegetables and spices, deep-fried, and topped with cheese and sauce.
ARKANSAS: Fried pickles
Fans of fried pickles have Arkansas to thank for the iconic snack. The first fried dill pickles ever sold anywhere first appeared on the menu of the Duchess Drive-In in Atkins, Arkansas, in the summer of 1963, Encyclopedia of Arkansas reported.
CALIFORNIA: Avocado toast
California is famous for its avocados, so it should come as no surprise that avocado toast is one of the most popular and famous local dishes in the Golden State. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that California residents have been making avocado toast for more than 130 years.
An issue of The Daily Alta California from 1885 lists a recipe that suggests spreading avocado “on slices of bread, and season with salt and pepper.”
COLORADO: The “Fool’s Gold” sandwich
The first “Fool’s Gold” sandwich, a sourdough loaf stuffed with peanut butter, blueberry jam, and a pound of bacon, was invented by the now-closed Colorado Mine Company, a restaurant in Denver.
The sandwich shot to fame after Elvis Presley tried the sandwich and loved it so much, he took his private jet to Denver and back in one night just to order one.
CONNECTICUT: Warm lobster rolls
Culture Trip reported that the first documented lobster roll was served at a Milford, Connecticut, restaurant named Perry’s in 1929.
However, while you might be familiar with New-England style or Maine lobster rolls, the folks down in Connecticut do things a little differently. In a Connecticut-style lobster roll, a split bun is stuffed with warm lobster meat and just a drizzle of melted butter.
DELAWARE: Peach pie
Delaware’s official state dessert is peach pie, and peaches are an integral part of the state’s agricultural industry.
According to the Delaware government website, “peach farming is an important part of Delaware’s agricultural heritage, as the peach was introduced to Delaware in Colonial times and expanded as an industry in the nineteenth century.”
At its peak in 1875, the state shipped six million baskets of peaches to market.
FLORIDA: Cuban sandwiches
While these sandwiches can, of course, be traced back to Cuba, what we know now as a “Cuban sandwich” is largely thanks to Cuban immigrants in Tampa, Florida. Thrillist reported that the sandwiches made in Cuba and the United States had a few key differences in ingredients.
The Florida version, which used salami imported from Italy in some cases, became known as a “Cuban sandwich.”
GEORGIA: Brunswick stew
Both Brunswick County, Virginia, and Brunswick, Georgia, lay claim to inventing Brunswick stew.
However, a 25-gallon iron pot on top of a town monument in Brunswick, Georgia, reads that the very first Brunswick stew was cooked inside it way back in 1898.
HAWAII: Kālua pork
Kālua pork, which is smoked, shredded pork shoulder sometimes mixed with cabbage, is one of Hawaii’s most famous local dishes — in Hawaiian, kālua translates as “to cook in an underground oven.”
IDAHO: Finger steaks
Many have traced the origin of finger steaks — fried pieces of beef — back to Milo’s Torch Lounge in Boise. Idaho Beef says that chef Milo Bybee invented the dish in 1957 as a way to make use of the restaurant’s leftover tenderloin.
ILLINOIS: Deep-dish pizza
While you might assume that all pizza originates in Italy, deep-dish pizza is actually American.
The BBC reported that restaurant owners Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo introduced their creation, an Italian-American pizza they called deep-dish, at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago’s Near North Side neighborhood in 1943.
INDIANA: Pork tenderloin sandwiches
Pork tenderloin sandwiches, also called “Hoosier sandwiches,” can be traced back to Nick Freienstein, a Huntington, Indiana, native-born to German parents. Eater reported the dish was originally inspired by wiener schnitzel, a Viennese-style veal dish that is breaded and pan-fried.
In 1904, Freienstein began selling sandwiches and burgers out of a food cart. While veal was hard to come by in his hometown, pork was readily available. After he added pickles and onions to his fried pork tenderloin sandwich, Freienstein’s cart took off. He is credited with creating the first “Hoosier sandwich.”
IOWA: Fried catfish
While fried catfish is a popular dish throughout the South, Iowans are also fond of the dish.
KANSAS: Loose meat sandwiches
A cross between a sloppy joe and a cheeseburger, loose meat sandwiches are a favorite among Kansas locals. The Nu-Way Cafe, a Wichita-based chain of restaurants, is famous for its loose meat sandwiches.
In other parts of the county, they are known as tavern sandwiches or Maid-Rites, named after the Iowa chain.
KENTUCKY: Beer cheese
According to local lore, beer cheese was invented by Chef Joe Allman for his cousin Johnnie, the owner of the Driftwood Inn near Winchester, Kentucky. The Downtown Winchester Beer Cheese Festival reported that the dish was originally created by Allman to entice customers to order more beer with their meals.
LOUISIANA: Gumbo
Gumbo, a traditional stew consisting primarily of a strong-flavored stock, meat or shellfish, a thickener, and vegetables, is the official state cuisine of Louisiana.
Its roots have been traced back to the late 1800s, and many food historians believe it to have evolved from ki ngombo, an okra-based stew brought over by slaves to colonial Louisiana.
MAINE: Lobster rolls
Maine is famous for its lobster rolls, largely due to the fact lobster is one of Maine’s most profitable exports.
However, while the first lobster roll can be traced back to Connecticut, Maine-style lobster rolls often consist of cold lobster meat, rather than warm meat, dressed with mayonnaise and served in a toasted bun.
MARYLAND: Crab cakes
Crab cakes can likely be traced back to Native American cooking in the Chesapeake Bay region of the United States.
However, the first official recipe for crab cakes appeared in a cookbook written by Crosby Gaige in the 1930s, under the name “Maryland Crab Cakes,” Baltimore Magazine reported.
MASSACHUSETTS: New England-style clam chowder
Clam chowder has roots all over the Northeast but New England-style clam chowder is said to have been first served in Boston at Ye Olde Union Oyster House in 1836, Eater reported.
MICHIGAN: Wet burritos
Wet burritos, which come covered in red chile sauce and tons of cheese, are said to have been created at the Beltline Bar in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the restaurant’s website says.
MINNESOTA: Corn dogs
While some say corn dogs, then called “corny dogs,” were introduced at the State Fair of Texas between 1938 and 1942, Pronto Pup vendors at the Minnesota State Fair claim to have invented the first breaded-and-fried hot dog in 1942, Eater reported.
MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi mud pie
Eater reported that Mississippi mud pie, a dessert made with pudding, cake, biscuits, ice cream, whipped cream, marshmallows, and some kind of liqueur like Kahlua or amaretto, was reportedly invented in the Vicksburg-Natchez area outside Jackson, Mississippi.
MISSOURI: Barbecue
Henry Perry is known as the “father of Kansas City barbecue” — he began selling slow-smoked meats wrapped in newspaper for 25 cents in the Garment District of Kansas City, across the Missouri border, in the early 1900s.
He later opened Kansas City’s first official barbecue restaurant in an old trolley barn. Perry loved barbecue so much that, on his death certificate, his occupation was listed as “barbecue man.”
MONTANA: Meat pie
While meat pies originate from New Zealand and parts of Europe, they’re also really popular in Montana.
Oftentimes called “pasties,” the meat pies grew in popularity due to the large population of Irish miners living in Butte, Montana, who found them easy to transport to work each day.
NEBRASKA: Reuben sandwiches
The classic Reuben sandwich, made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing, and served on rye bread, was supposedly invented by an Omaha, Nebraska, grocer in 1925, The Nebraska State Historical Society reported.
NEVADA: Shrimp cocktail
Although the shrimp cocktail may not have been invented in Nevada or even the United States, Las Vegas residents have certainly claimed it as their own.
The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino says that in 1959, it introduced Las Vegas to its famous, world-recognized 50-cent shrimp cocktail. Ever since, visitors have enjoyed partaking in the city’s signature dish.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Pancakes with maple syrup
While Vermont produces more maple syrup than any other state, New Hampshire is also known for its syrup production. True Granite State natives are known to douse their pancakes in 100% New Hampshire syrup.
NEW JERSEY: Disco fries
Disco fries, which are french fries smothered in gravy, mozzarella, and other toppings, originate from the Garden State.
Local legend has it that the late-night dish got its name from the hoards of people pouring into New Jersey diners after a long night of dancing, in search of the perfect snack.
NEW MEXICO: Green chile cheeseburgers
Green chiles are the state’s signature vegetable, so it comes as no surprise that New Mexico natives would want to add the ingredient to their burgers.
NEW YORK: Pizza
New York is undeniably famous for its pizza, from cheap and cheerful $1 slices to more gourmet versions. New York City is also home to the nation’s first pizzeria, Lombardi’s, which opened in Little Italy in 1905.
NORTH CAROLINA: Krispy Kreme donuts
Krispy Kreme began operating in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on July 13, 1937. At the time, the owner Vernon Rudolph was only selling his donuts to local grocery stores.
However, after people passing by the bakery asked about the heavenly scent, he cut a hole in an outside wall and began selling glazed donuts to people on the sidewalk.
NORTH DAKOTA: Walleye
North Dakota is famous for its walleye, and the state is known not only for selling the fried fish on its own but also in sandwiches.
OHIO: Cincinnati-style chili
What’s Cooking America reported that Cincinnati prides itself on being the chili capital of the United States with more than 180 chili parlors. Thinner in consistency and commonly served over pasta, the dish is slightly different from traditional chili.
Cincinnati-style chili is also often topped with chopped onions, shredded cheese, beans, and crushed oyster crackers.
OKLAHOMA: Chicken-fried steak
Chicken-fried steak often comes served with mashed potato and gravy and is popular all over the South.
However, one state loves the dish so much that it decided to make it official. In 1988, Oklahomans named chicken-fried steak one of their state meals, the Oklahoma Historical Society reported.
OREGON: Clams
Clamming is a popular activity in Oregon, where shellfish is abundant. So, it makes perfect sense that one of the most famous dishes from Oregon would involve clams.
PENNSYLVANIA: Philly cheesesteak
The state’s most famous food by far is the classic Philly cheesesteak, which is believed to have been invented by a hot dog vendor in 1930, Visit Philadelphia reported.
The sandwich contains thinly cut steak handsomely topped with cheese on a roll, plus sautéed onions, peppers, mushrooms, mayonnaise, hot sauce, salt, pepper, or ketchup.
RHODE ISLAND: Stuffed clams
Also called stuffed Quahogs or stuffies, stuffed clams are the unofficial dish of Rhode Island.
To make them, you’ll just need to mix chopped clam meat, breadcrumbs, herbs, diced onion, bell pepper, and celery together, then bake the mixture inside a clamshell.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Shrimp and grits
While the exact origin of shrimp and grits is largely unknown, it’s thought that the dish might have stemmed from Charleston, South Carolina, or the larger Carolina region.
Today, shrimp and grits is a favorite dish in South Carolina.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Navajo tacos
Instead of traditional taco shells, those in South Dakota use frybread, which is flattened dough cooked in hot oil until puffy and crispy, to make Navajo tacos.
However, while the dish is delicious, it also has a controversial history. Native Americans living in South Dakota invented the dish, but it was less about making a tasty meal and more about survival.
Lisa Ironcloud, who works with food sovereignty programs, told Argus Leader that frybread was invented because Native Americans could make it using rationed ingredients like yeast and because it “filled their stomachs.”
TENNESSEE: Nashville hot chicken
Nashville hot chicken, which is famous for being extremely spicy, also has quite a spicy history. Nashville hot chicken was originally invented when Thornton Prince, the owner of Prince’s Hot Chicken where legend says hot chicken was first created, came home to find his lover upset.
To get revenge, she served him chicken covered in extra-hot spices. However, Prince liked the dish so much that he decided to open a restaurant and serve a version of it to local people in Nashville.
TEXAS: Barbecue
Texas is practically synonymous with barbecue. However, while other states have their own way of barbecuing, Texas-style barbecue focuses on beef as the main course.
UTAH: Pastrami burgers
The New York Times reported that pastrami burgers were popularized by Crown Burgers in Salt Lake City, and are still one of the city’s most famous foods. The burgers come topped with a Thousand Island-style sauce as well as tomatoes, shaved lettuce, and onions, but can also come served with cheese or other toppings.
VERMONT: Vermont corn chowder
Vermont corn chowder is a state-favorite dish made with a milk-based broth, corn, and other vegetables like onions, potatoes, and cabbage, thickened with flour or Vermont cheddar cheese. Bacon is also commonly added to the dish.
VIRGINIA: Oysters
Virginia’s government website claims that “Virginia is for Oyster Lovers,” and there’s a reason. Not only is Virginia home to multiple oyster festivals but Virginia oysters can be harvested in eight different regions of the state.
WASHINGTON: Fish and chips
While fish and chips are often thought of as a quintessentially British dish, the state of Washington is equally famous for its flaky, fried fish and chips.
WEST VIRGINIA: Biscuits and gravy
The roots of biscuits and gravy can be traced back to the Southern Appalachian region of the United States in the late 1800s. The Washington Post reported that the earliest version of this Southern food used sausage gravy, which was also called “sawmill gravy” at the time.
Historians believe that the food was hearty enough to power sawmill workers through their long days lifting heavy logs, and also thick and flavorful enough to make biscuits of that era “more palatable.”
WISCONSIN: Fried cheese curds
Fried cheese curds are a favorite dish in Wisconsin, the state famous for its cheese and dairy products. What’s Cooking America reported that cheese factories in the state have to make cheese curds daily to meet the high demand for the product.
WYOMING: Turducken
Turducken, an over-the-top hybrid food that consists of a chicken stuffed inside a duck that’s then stuffed inside a turkey all separated by layers of stuffing, was reportedly invented by Louisiana chef Paul Prudhomme in a lodge in Wyoming, The New York Times reported.
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