Some dishes are so iconic of America, they bring us together at the table no matter where we live. I’m talking burgers, mac & cheese, pizza, French fries, apple pie, pancakes, etc. (Just ask Jeffrey Saad of United Tastes of America — he’s tried them all.)
But lately we’ve been wondering what dishes are unique to each state. If each state had to pick a dish that really defined it, what would it be?
Our Kitchens did a little research and came up with an interesting list of foods noteworthy to each state. Many are what you’d expect — Deep Dish Pizza in Illinois, BBQ Brisket in Texas, Peach Pie in Georgia, New Jersey’s Italian Subs.
The research found some curious dishes, too — Funeral Potatoes in Utah, Kansas’s Burnt Ends, Sauerkraut Balls in Ohio — not to mention some really odd-sounding ones. Burgoo in Kentucky? Chislic in South Dakota? Spam Musubi in Hawaii? (Apparently it’s a sushi-sized bite of grilled spam atop a block of rice, wrapped in seaweed. We can’t wait to try.)
We hope you enjoy exploring the list below as much as we have, but we also want you to join the conversation and cast a vote…
Vote for your state’s iconic dish using a poll we set up on Facebook. (You must be logged into Facebook and you’ll only be able to see the poll for the state you live in now.) If you don’t have a Facebook account, don’t fret… just leave your comments below.
Enjoy, and check back soon for the tallies. It will most certainly be an interesting conversation!
Alabama
- Deep-Fried Crab Claws
- Lane Cake
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- West Indies Salad (Crab Salad)
- Hummingbird Cake
- Alabama residents, vote here!
Alaska
- Salmon Bake
- Halibut Sandwiches (“Buttwiches”)
- Caribou Stew
- Baked Alaska
- Hot Crab Salad (King Crab)
- Alaska residents, vote here!
Arizona
- Chimichanga
- Sonoran Hot Dog
- Fritos Pie
- Chile Verde
- Frybread
- Arizona residents, vote here!
Arkansas
- Fried Chicken
- Fried Dill Pickles
- Arkansas Green Beans
- Biscuits
- Fried Catfish
- Arkansas residents, vote here!
California
- The French Dip
- California Roll
- Mission Burrito
- Fish Tacos
- Cobb Salad
- California residents, vote here!
Colorado
- Denver Omelets
- Denver Sandwich
- Pan-Fried Rainbow Trout
- Chile Verde
- Grilled Colorado Lamb
- Colorado residents, vote here!
Connecticut
- Chicken Pie
- White Clam Pizza (or New Haven-Style Pizza)
- Deep Fried Hot Dogs
- Connecticut Clam Chowder
- Election Cake
- Connecticut residents, vote here!
Delaware
- Crab Puffs
- Dover Cake
- Crabcakes
- Softshell Crab Sandwiches
- Vinegar French Fries
- Delaware residents, vote here!
Florida
- Key Lime Pie
- Cuban Sandwich
- Fried Shrimp / Coconut Fried Shrimp
- Stone Crab Claws with Mayonnaise
- Conch Salad
- Florida residents, vote here!
Georgia
- Peach Pie
- Boiled Peanuts
- Pimento Cheese Sandwich
- Country Captain
- Braised Collard Greens
- Georgia residents, vote here!
Hawaii
- Ahi Poke
- Lomi Lomi Salmon
- Loco Moco
- Spam Musubi
- Shave Ice
- Hawaii residents, vote here!
Idaho
- Idaho Nachos
- Spudnuts (Potato Doughnuts)
- Grilled Trout
- Finger Steaks
- Huckleberry Ice Cream
- Idaho residents, vote here!
Illinois
- Deep Dish Pizza
- Chicago Hot Dogs
- Italian Beef
- Chicken Vesuvio
- Gyros
- Illinois residents, vote here!
Indiana
- Sugar Cream Pie (Hoosier Cream Pie)
- Persimmon Pudding
- Pork Tenderloin Sandwich (or BPTs — Breaded Pork Tenderloins)
- Beef and Noodles
- Popcorn
- Indiana residents, vote here!
Iowa
- Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Sour Cream Raisin Pie
- Loosemeat Sandwich (or Taverns)
- Iowa Pork Chop with Pan Gravy
- Cinnamon Roll
- Iowa residents, vote here!
Kansas
- Sliders
- Burnt Ends
- Corn Pudding
- Kansas City-Style Ribs
- Bierocks
- Kansas residents, vote here!
Kentucky
- Mint Julep
- Burgoo
- Kentucky Hot Browns
- Raceday Pie
- Bourbon Balls
- Kentucky residents, vote here!
Louisiana
- Jambalaya
- File Gumbo
- Muffaletta
- Po Boy
- Beignets
- Louisiana residents, vote here!
Maine
- Whoopie Pie
- Lobster Roll
- Fried Clams
- Blueberry Pie
- Baked Beans
- Maine residents, vote here!
Maryland
- Crabcakes
- Old Bay Steamed Blue Crabs
- Pit Beef
- Smith Island Cake
- Maryland Fried Chicken
- Maryland residents, vote here!
Massachusetts
- Fluffernutter Sandwich
- Boston Cream Pie
- Boston Brown Bread
- Hermit Cookies
- Beans and Franks
- Massachusetts residents, vote here!
Michigan
- Sour Cherry Pie
- Coney Island Dog
- Gyros
- Pasties
- Apple fritters
- Michigan residents, vote here!
Minnesota
- Wild Rice Soup
- Walleye Sandwich
- Potica
- Hotdish
- Seven-Layer Bars
- Minnesota residents, vote here!
Mississippi
- Catfish Po Boy
- Hot Tamales
- Mud Pie
- Cheese Straws
- Pecan Pie
- Mississippi residents, vote here!
Missouri
- Slingers
- Toasted Ravioli (St. Louis)
- St. Louis-Style Ribs
- Gooey Butter Cake
- St. Louis-Style Pizza
- Missouri residents, vote here!
Montana
- Finger Steaks
- Huckleberry Pie
- Smettanick pie
- Bison Burgers
- Elk Stew
- Montana residents, vote here!
Nebraska
- Runzas
- Popcorn
- Duck with Sauerkraut
- Eskimo Pie
- Corndogs
- Nebraska residents, vote here!
Nevada
- Nevada Cocktail (Rum Martini with Grapefruit)
- 99-cent Shrimp Cocktail
- Basque Cake
- Basque Lamb Stew
- All-You-Can-Eat
- Nevada residents, vote here!
New Hampshire
- Corn Chowder
- Pancakes with Maple Syrup
- New England Clam Chowder
- New England Boiled Dinner
- Maple Candy
- New Hampshire residents, vote here!
New Jersey
- Rippers (Deep-Fried Hot Dogs)
- Tomato Pie (Trenton-Style Pizza)
- Pork Roll
- Disco Fries
- Italian Subs
- New Jersey residents, vote here!
New Mexico
- Sopaipillas
- Bizcochito
- Chile Verde
- Carne Adovada
- Green Chile Cheeseburger
- New Mexico residents, vote here!
New York
- Reuben Sandwich
- Bagels and Lox
- Black & White Cookie
- Buffalo Wings
- New York Cheesecake
- New York residents, vote here!
North Carolina
- Moravian Spice Cookie
- Sweet Potato Pie
- Hummingbird Cake
- North Carolina Pulled Pork
- Country Ham Biscuit with Egg and Tomato
- North Carolina residents, vote here!
North Dakota
- Lefse
- Fleischkuekle
- Strudel
- Kuchen
- Frybread
- North Dakota residents, vote here!
Ohio
- Cincinnati Chili
- Sauerkraut Balls
- Potica (Slovenian Nut Roll)
- Buckeyes
- Pierogis
- Ohio residents, vote here!
Oklahoma
- Barbecued Bologna (Okie Sirloin)
- Chicken and Corn Pudding
- Onion-Fried Burger
- Fried Okra
- Sausage and Gravy
- Oklahoma residents, vote here!
Oregon
- Crab Louis
- Oregon Clam Chowder
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies
- Marionberry Pie
- Poached Pears
- Oregon residents, vote here!
Pennsylvania
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Stromboli
- Sticky Buns
- Shoo Fly Pie
- Soft Pretzels
- Pennsylvania residents, vote here!
Rhode Island
- Johnnycakes
- Coffee Milk
- Stuffies (Baked Stuffed Clams)
- Frozen Lemonade
- Rhode Island Red Chowder
- Rhode Island residents, vote here!
South Carolina
- Hoppin John
- Shrimp ‘n Grits
- Perloo (Carolina pilau)
- Frogmore Stew
- Lady Baltimore Cake
- South Carolina residents, vote here!
South Dakota
- Chislic
- Wojapi (Sioux Fruit Pudding)
- Knoephla Soup (Dumpling Soup)
- Kuchen
- Kolache
- South Dakota residents, vote here!
Tennessee
- Memphis Dry Ribs
- Tennessee Mountain Stack Cake
- The Elvis Sandwich (Fried Peanut Butter and Banana)
- Barbecue Spaghetti
- Nashville Hot Chicken
- Tennessee residents, vote here!
Texas
- Chili con Queso
- BBQ Brisket
- Frito Pie
- Kolaches
- Chicken Fried Steak
- Texas residents, vote here!
Utah
- Green Jell-O
- Funeral Potatoes
- Utah Scones (Mormon Scones)
- Pastrami Burgers
- Utah residents, vote here!
Vermont
- American Chop Suey
- Ploughman’s Lunch
- Indian Pudding
- Maple Cream pie
- Cheddar-Crusted Apple Pie
- Vermont residents, vote here!
Virginia
- Braised Collard Greens
- Brunswick Stew
- Oyster Stew
- Peanut Soup
- Ham Biscuits
- Virginia residents, vote here!
Washington
- Steamed Dungeness Crab with Melted Butter
- Cedar-Planked Salmon
- Oysters on the Half-shell with Mignonette
- Geoduck Clam Chowder
- Apple Candy (Aplets)
- Washington residents, vote here!
West Virginia
- Pepperoni Cheese Rolls
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Apple Stack Cakes
- Strawberry Pie
- Chow Chow
- West Virginia residents, vote here!
Wisconsin
- Fried Cheese Curds
- Chicken Booyah
- Beer Cheese Soup
- Wisconsin Fish Boil
- Sheboygan Brats
- Wisconsin residents, vote here!
Wyoming
- Buffalo Burger
- Chicken-Fried Steak
- Wyoming Pudding
- Drovers Stew
- Milk Can Supper
- Wyoming residents, vote here!
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