If you’re a foodie, like me, traveling specifically to try a new restaurant or type of cuisine is always a good time.
Each state has its own type of cuisine and many are known for a specific dish. Chicago is praised for its deep-dish pizza while Los Angeles is popular for its yummy tacos and burritos.
If you’re keen on traveling for food, here are the cuisines each state is best at!
Alabama – Fried Green Tomatoes
Alabama has amazing southern comfort food, but you have to try their fried green tomatoes! Whether as a side dish with barbecue or as a snack, this fried delicacy is delicious.
Alaska – Smoked Salmon
Sure you can get smoked salmon anywhere, but eating smoked salmon from Alaska is special. If you’re wanting to try something new, be sure to taste a down of smoked salmon chowder!
Arizona – Chimichanga
Arizona has a load of delicious southwestern dishes to choose from, but indulging in a chimichanga or two is a must.
Arkansas – Fried Catfish
The fried catfish here is always super fresh with just the right amount of crisp. Be sure to eat it while it’s hot for ultimate satisfaction.
California – Burrito
Californians love their burritos and with good reasoning. Eating a burrito in California is the next best thing to eating a burrito in Mexico.
Colorado – Rocky Mountain Oysters
Also known as mountain oysters, this delicacy is made from bull, bison or calf testicles. It’s definitely a dish you must taste when in Colorado.
Connecticut – Lobster Rolls
These hot, buttered lobster rolls are sure to melt in your mouth and are a lot better than the cold lobster salad rolls served in other parts of the U.S.
Delaware – Blue Crabs
Locals love their blue crabs freshly caught from the Delaware Bay. They’re best enjoyed on a table lined with paper — don’t be scared to roll up your sleeves and get messy!
Florida – Key Lime Pie
The best Key Lime pie is found in, you guessed it — Key west. The pie is just the right amount of citrus and sweet, making it an incredible dessert choice.
Hawaii – Spam Musubi
This dish is the definition of simple, yet effective. Made from rice, fried Spam, and dried seaweed, Spam Musubi is a dish you just have to try for yourself.
Idaho – Morel Mushrooms
This edible fungi looks like a honeycomb and is commonly used in French cuisine. Idaho grows Morel Mushrooms and they have become the state’s prized possession.
Illinois – Deep Dish Pizza
If you didn’t know already, no place does deep-dish pizza quite like Chicago. This delicious pie is definitely a must for anyone visiting Chicago.
Indiana – Hoosier Pie
This sweet pie is made from vanilla cream, brown sugar and pie crust. It’s a tasty dessert and worth every calorie.
Iowa – Pork Tenderloins
Pork tenderloins in Iowa are perfectly fried and breaded and unique to the state.
Kansas – Barbecue
Lot’s of states in the U.S. do barbecue very well and Kansas is one of them! When here, you must try the barbecue ribs.
Kentucky – Kentucky Derby Pie
Using a combination of walnuts, chocolate chips, and bourbon, this pie is absolutely delicious and will have your tastebuds begging you for more.
Louisiana – Gumbo
You cannot come to Louisiana without trying a down of gumbo. This iconic soup can be seafood based or made with turkey, chicken, sausage, ham, rabbit, wild duck, and more.
Maine – Corn Chowder
This hearty dish is perfect for cold, winter days. However, locals eat it during the summer, when corn is in season.
Maryland – Crab Cakes
Locals love their crabs and although they’re delicious steamed, crab cakes have become a popular choice. Made from fresh crab meat, mayo, egg bread, and Old Bay, this dish is an explosion of flavor.
Massachusetts – Fluffernutter
These sandwiches are made with peanut butter, marshmallow creme, and white bread and are best served grilled!
Michigan – Coney Dog
The infamous Coney Dog is made with beef or beef and pork sausage with two stripes of yellow mustard, diced or chopped onions, and beef heart-based sauce.
Minnesota – Walleye
This state fish is known for its light, flaky, and delicious flavor. Enjoy fried Walleye with tartar sauce and lemon — yum!
Mississippi – Po’boys
Although this popular sandwich originated in New Orleans, a Mississippian by the name of Vincent Rosetti invented the pressed po’boy. This grilled sandwich is a must when in Mississippi.
Missouri – St. Louis-Style Pizza
What makes a St. Louis-style pizza? The crust has to be thin and crisp with Provel cheese. The slices are cut into squares instead of triangles.
Montana – Wheat Montana Cinnamon Rolls
This bakery has a great reputation for serving up some of the best cinnamon rolls known to man.
Nebraska – Reuben Sandwich
New York might claim the Reuben as it’s own, but the sandwich was actually invented in Nebraska.
Nevada – Shrimp Cocktail
This popular appetiser is a favorite among locals and tourists in Nevada.
New Hampshire – Apple Cider Donuts
You can eat it plain or with cinnamon-sugar glaze, either way, these donuts are delicious!
New Jersey – Hoagies
The best hoagies are loaded with meat, lettuce, tomatoes, oil vinegar, salt and pepper and freshly baked bread.
New Mexico – Blue Corn Pancakes
Enjoy the nutty and comforting taste of blue corn pancakes while in New Mexico!
New York – Pastrami
New York has so many amazing dishes to choose from, but you haven’t had a real sandwich until you’ve tried one of New York’s loaded pastrami sandwiches. Piled high with hand-carved beef pastrami and yellow mustard on rye bread, this iconic sandwich is worth every dime.
North Carolina – BBQ
North Carolina does BBQ differently from other states. You have to try both Eastern and Lexington styled BBQ on a sandwich or a plate with a side of hushpuppies.
North Dakota – Hot Beef Or Turkey Sandwich
This dish consists of either hot beef or turkey on bread, cut in half with a scoop of mashed potatoes in the middle and hot gravy over everything. It’s definitely a comforting dish.
Ohio – Buckeyes
This homemade candy consists of peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate. It’s perfect for those with a sweet tooth.
Oklahoma – Chicken Fried Steak
Similar to country-fried steak, this beaded cutlet consists of beefsteak dipped in seasoned flour and then fried to perfection.
Oregon – Marionberry Pie
Made with fresh and local berries, this pie is unique to Oregon and is a must!
Pennsylvania – Philly Cheeseteak
You really can’t come to Pennsylvania or Philly without trying this classic sandwich. Lots of steak smothered with cheese on a hoagie roll, yes please!
Puerto Rico – Pernil
One of Puerto Rico’s most popular dishes, Pernil is a mouthwatering blast of roasted pork shoulder seasoned in adobo mojado, a marinate made out of garlic, paprika, salt, vinegar and oregano.
Rhode Island – Clam Cakes
Clam cakes are basically fried dough stuffed with chopped up clam. It’s amazing eaten as an appetiser, side or even a late night snack.
South Carolina – Grits
Whether you’re eating it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, grits is yummy and best served with eggs, shrimp and topped with cheese or butter.
South Dakota – Beirocks
This yeast dough bread is stuffed with either hamburger, beef, pork, cabbage and seasonings.
Tennessee – Cornbread
Most Southern and soul food dishes aren’t complete without cornbread. The cornbread in Tennessee is moist and sweet, making it the perfect addition to any meal.
Texas – Barbecue
The barbecue in Texas is mouth-watering, juicy, and falls off the bone! It’s definitely an experience in itself.
Utah – Frog Eye Salad
Frog eye salad is basically a fusion of pasta salad and fruit salad and is commonly eaten at potlucks and gatherings. Made from acini di pepe pasta, egg yolks, and whipped cream, it’s sometimes topped with shredded coconut, marshmallows, mandarin oranges, or pineapple.
Vermont – Gravy Fries
Known as poutine in Canada, these fries are a true treat. You can eat them topped with cheese curd or without, the choice is yours.
Virginia – Rappahannock Oysters
Fresh from the Rappahannock, these oysters are incredible.
Washington – Cedar Planked Salmon
Commonly made with a honey-balsamic glaze, this grilled dish is both healthy and delicious.
Washington, D.C. – Mumbo Sauce
Hit up any carry-out Chinese-American spots in D.C. and order chicken wings with mumbo sauce — thank me later!
West Virginia – Biscuits And Gravy
Commonly eaten for breakfast, biscuits, and gravy is the ultimate comfort dish. A soft, warm, freshly baked biscuit is topped with meat gravy made from pork sausage, milk and flour.
Wisconsin – Kringle
This delicious pastry ring is best eaten for breakfast with your morning coffee or as a dessert.
Wyoming – Bison Steak
Bison is the official animal of Wyoming and is delicious cooked as a steak, burger, roasted, or even eaten as jerky.