From the juiciest tacos in LA
to barbecue ribs from a gas station in Kansas City,
here are 28 foods you can't miss in 2021.
If you're looking for some of the juiciest tacos in LA,
be sure to stop by Birrieria San Marcos.
The meat is slow-cooked for up to seven hours.
The cooking broth is used to crisp up the tortillas,
which then get a nice pile of cheese
and are cooked further.
And, of course, no Birrieria taco is complete
without a cup of consommé for dipping.
While Portillo's in Chicago is known for its hot dogs,
its cake shake is another incredibly popular menu item.
The business makes anywhere from 60
to 200 chocolate cakes a day.
Any cakes not served that day
are used to make the shakes,
which include an entire slice mixed in.
Primo's Donuts is an institution in LA.
Since 1956, Primo's has been serving up
hot and fresh doughnuts to Angelinos daily.
While it may not fit the traditional shape,
the Buttermilk Bar is widely regarded
as one of the best doughnuts in Los Angeles.
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
has been operating out of a gas station since 1996
and has become a favorite amongst locals.
The award-winning ribs are slowly smoked
and smothered in a sweet barbecue sauce.
If pancakes are your breakfast of choice,
look no further than the Clinton St. Baking Co.
in New York City.
Its blueberry pancakes have won numerous awards,
and for good reason.
The perfect balance of crispy outside and fluffy inside
paired with its homemade blueberry sauce
makes each bite as delicious as the next.
Skyline Chili is a Cincinnati staple
known for topping its meals
with huge amounts of delicious chili and cheese.
Its signature dish, called the 5-Way,
has a spaghetti base topped with beans,
chili, and loads of cheese.
For a savory option in the morning,
the full English breakfast from Terry's Cafe
is one of the best in London.
The dish comes as a hefty portion,
with Cumberland sausage, beans, roasted tomatoes,
black pudding, bubble and squeak, mushrooms,
bacon, and a perfectly runny egg.
La Newyorkina in New York City
makes traditional Mexican-style ice pops by hand.
It makes roughly 3,000 of the paletas a day
and features a variety of Mexican-inspired flavors,
such as mango chili and raspberry verbena.
C&O Trattoria in Venice, California,
offers free and endless garlic knots with every meal.
Each roll is doused with a signature garlic-butter mix.
The restaurant averages about 10,000 garlic knots each day.
The nutty cookie from Maman
is one of the most popular cookies in New York City.
The cookie includes almonds, walnuts,
macadamia nuts, and 61% dark chocolate wafers.
The shop goes through around 3,000 cookies
in just two days.
Some of the best pizza you can buy in LA
doesn't come from a restaurant,
but from this wood-fire grill
in the back of a pickup truck.
After spending time learning the craft in Italy,
Elio Lopez set up shop in a liquor store parking lot,
where he fires up fresh Neapolitan-style pizzas
with a wide range of customizations.
Central Texas is known for having
some of the best barbecue in the country,
and the beef rib from Louie Mueller Barbecue
is no exception.
A simple blend of seasonings
paired with old-school smoking techniques
cooks the meat to a nearly-pull-apart texture.
Konbi in Los Angeles
specializes in Japanese-style egg sandwiches.
One of its most popular is the egg salad sandwich,
which features a hefty scoop of egg salad
and a soft-boiled egg
sandwiched between two slices of fluffy white bread.
The business goes through around 2,200 eggs a week.
Across the river from Manhattan,
you'll find Fiore's House of Quality,
a small deli in Hoboken, New Jersey,
that's renowned for its roast-beef-and-mutz sandwiches.
The shop makes its own fresh mutz,
which pairs perfectly with its roast beef
and freshly baked rolls.
The sandwich is topped off
and served with a rich gravy for dipping.
Antico Vinaio is a must-try when visiting Florence.
Its sandwiches are made with
a local bread called schiacciata.
The shop has an endless selection of cold cuts,
cheese, and homemade creams, like truffle or artichoke.
You can find Fugetsu-Do in LA's Little Tokyo.
It's one of the oldest Japanese American businesses
in the country.
The family-run shop is known for its rainbow dango,
a fun and vibrant version
of the traditional Japanese mochi.
While Philadelphia may be known for its cheesesteaks,
Sarcone's Bakery serves up another Philly classic.
What started as a way to prevent leftover bread dough
from going to waste,
the tomato pie has become popular amongst Philadelphians
for an on-the-go meal.
Russ & Daughters is a fourth-generation family business
serving up some of the best lox in Manhattan.
The sandwich comes with a healthy portion
of the smoked salmon, tomato,
and cream cheese on both sides.
Monty's Good Burger in LA
offers a delicious burger option
that is 100% plant-based.
Cooks caramelize fresh onions daily,
then top Impossible meat with Follow Your Heart cheese,
house-made sauces, and all the fixings.
A great comfort-food option
for vegans and non-vegans alike.
Since 1925, Eddie's Sweet Shop has made a name for itself
in the Queens borough of New York City.
It's known for its classic sundae with the works.
That's three scoops of ice cream,
hot fudge or strawberry sauce, fresh whipped cream,
and a cherry on top.
Las Vegas' Sugar Factory features a five-dessert cake tower
that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
It includes a brownie base, chocolate-covered strawberries,
ice cream cookie sandwiches, and red velvet cake pops.
Lowkey Burritos is a pop-up in Long Beach, California,
serving up savory breakfast burritos
filled with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and avocado.
They're then finished off on a flattop
with a crispy cheese blanket cradling the outside.
Ralph's Italian Restaurant in Philadelphia
is the oldest Italian restaurant in the country.
Over the last 120 years, it's gained a loyal following
for classic Italian American dishes
like spaghetti and meatballs.
A mix of ground beef and ground pork
gives the meatballs their distinct tender texture.
The clam chowder from Atlantic Fish Co. in Boston
is perfect for seafood lovers.
The chowder's made with huge, fresh-chopped quahogs
and clarified butter.
It's then served in a toasted sourdough bread bowl.
The Cronut is one of New York City's most iconic desserts.
Dominique Ansel Bakery created
the doughnut-croissant hybrid in 2013,
and the hype remains fervent to this day.
It's filled with two different fillings, rolled in sugar,
and glazed with an evolving selection of flavors.
This version features Meyer lemon and honey.
Naples street-food shop T'imballo
has revolutionized the traditional pasta bake.
Instead of serving it on a plate,
the shop wanted to make a more portable version of the dish
by wrapping it in a baked shell with a variety of fillings.
Mashti Malone's has been serving Persian ice cream
to Hollywood locals since the 1980s.
One of the more popular items
is the pistachio ice cream sandwich
made with saffron rose water.
Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pie in Red Hook, Brooklyn,
has created a way to enjoy
its famous key lime pie on the go.
The founders came up with the idea
of making a smaller version of the pie
that fits on a stick and is dipped in chocolate.
So, what did we miss?
Are there any foods you think we should include for 2022?
Let us know in the comments below.