From Nashville hot chicken
to New York's legendary Cronut,
here are our favorite dishes from every state.
If you're in Alabama,
it's worth trying these decadent orange rolls.
They're the biggest draw
to the restaurant All Steak in Cullman.
Each roll is topped with
a deliciously sweet orange glaze.
Despite the fish you'll find in Alaska,
we recommend trying the state's iconic
reindeer hot dog instead.
The sausage is made with reindeer, or caribou,
pork, and beef,
and it's not something you'll find
many other places.
Sopaipillas are the perfect savory or sweet treat.
The hollow pockets of dough
are a cross between Latin American fried pastry
and Navajo fry bread.
When served sweet,
sopaipillas can be filled with honey
or topped with powdered sugar.
We'd be remiss not to tell you
to try the cheese dip in Arkansas.
It's similar to queso,
but don't tell Texas we told you that.
The two states have long debated
which created the favored dip
and what it should be called.
With so many great places in California,
it's hard to pick just one.
But we love Fugetsu-Do in LA.
It makes delicious rainbow dango,
which are these bite-sized pieces
of tender, colorful mochi.
What might surprise you is our pick from Colorado.
At this Conoco gas station,
we recommend getting blue corn tortillas
with cactus and sautéed onions
or the traditional huarache,
a Mexican-style flatbread.
If you're near Neil's Donuts,
the star of the show is the giant cinnamon roll.
But there's also over 40 doughnuts to choose from,
if something small is more your thing.
Thrasher's French Fries has been serving
hungry beachgoers since 1929.
The boardwalk stand originated in Ocean City, Maryland,
but has since won over Delaware customers
with its large buckets of fries doused in vinegar.
Old Greg's Pizza in Miami
started as a quarantine pizza operation
for the owner's friends and family.
Today, it feeds hundreds of customers a week,
many who order the popular Roni Pie
weeks in advance.
Crispy, tender fried chicken
is one of the most satisfying dishes
we tried in Georgia.
We visited several places,
but our pick is JCT. Kitchen & Bar.
Our pick for Hawaii is an island staple.
The kalua pork sandwich is satisfyingly juicy
with a smoky flavor,
which is the result of roasting
a whole pig slowly all day.
Kalua is a traditional Hawaiian cooking method
that uses this pitlike underground oven
called an imu.
When in Idaho, you eat potatoes.
But we recommend going for their sweet counterpart,
the ice cream potato.
Yep, it's made entirely out of ice cream,
cocoa powder, and whipped cream.
You can get one at the Westside Drive In in Boise.
Have you ever seen a whole slice of cake
mixed into a milkshake?
Not many people have,
which makes it the best-kept secret at Portillo's.
The restaurant takes an entire slice of decadent cake
and mixes it in just a little bit of ice cream
and chocolate syrup.
And there you have it: the cake shake.
St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis
is known for packing serious spice
in its famous shrimp cocktail.
The restaurant loads its famous cocktail sauce
onto four black tiger shrimp.
This next one's reminiscent of Illinois,
in that it also takes a slice of dessert
and turns it into a milkshake.
At Hamburg Inn No. 2,
they mix a slice of pie with soft serve.
When in Kansas, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
won't disappoint.
The Z Man sandwich comes with thinly sliced brisket,
smoked provolone, onion rings,
and barbecue sauce.
You also won't go wrong if you order
a rack of ribs.
They're smoky, tender, and delicious.
In Louisville, Kentucky,
there's the one-of-a-kind Hot Brown sandwich.
It was created in the 1920s at the Brown Hotel
and has since become a local legend.
It's an open sandwich topped with turkey, tomato,
Mornay sauce, and bacon.
Café du Monde should be your first stop
when visiting New Orleans.
You can only get one thing,
and that's the shop's iconic fried pastry
called a beignet.
These pillowy pockets of fried dough
are dusted in powdered sugar
and always served hot.
In 2019, Maine fishers caught
more than 100 million pounds of lobster,
hence why it's become the star of a few popular dishes,
from the lobster roll to boiled lobster and butter.
There's even a shop that makes lobster tacos
with a cheese shell.
It's all about crabs in Maryland,
and there's a number of ways to enjoy them.
Be it soft-shell crabs or crab cakes,
this is where crab dishes truly shine.
We chose this next one not only because
the pork ramen is delicious,
but also because it encourages customers
to achieve their dreams.
The idea is that if you can finish
these huge bowls of ramen at Yume Wo Katare,
you have the power to make your dreams come true.
A hot dog in Detroit typically looks like this:
a steamed bun, an all-beef sausage
with an all-meat beanless chili on top,
and diced white onions.
And, of course, yellow mustard.
It's called the Coney dog,
and it's a century-old staple in the city.
In Minnesota, instead of placing cheese
on top of your burger,
they put it inside your patty.
It's dubbed the Jucy Lucy,
and it oozes melted cheese.
Matt's Bar in Minneapolis is one of two famous places
that say they created it.
Down South in Mississippi,
catfish is the go-to for some fried goodness.
Head to Taylor Grocery,
which was voted the best catfish restaurant
in Mississippi in 2020.
It's gooey. It's buttery.
What's not to like about gooey butter cake?
It's a St. Louis staple,
and it's unlike other traditional cakes.
It's a flat cake covered in a "goo" mixture.
Huckleberries are grown in
the northwestern United States
and particularly thrive in Montana.
They're similar to blueberries
in that they're both tart and sweet,
which makes them perfect for turning into pie.
For Nebraskans, it's all about the runza,
and one of the most popular places to get one
is the iconic fast-food chain called Runza.
This bread pocket is made with ground beef,
onions, and cabbage and baked.
We recommend going for the cheese runza.
It's a best seller.
You really can't go wrong with doughnuts,
and Pinkbox has over 50 to choose from.
The Be Well doughnut is limited edition.
It's a yellow doughnut with a mask,
because, you know, 2020.
There's no place like New England in the fall,
where apple picking is abundant
and apple pickers nom on these doughnuts
all through the season.
More doughnuts, we know.
But you're really missing out
if you're not trying an apple cider doughnut
in New Hampshire.
When in New Jersey,
you've got to try a pork roll, egg, and cheese.
At Slater's Deli, you can get a classic sandwich
with three slices of pork roll,
or, if you really like your processed meat,
take a jab at this monstrous option with six slices.
With its own Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail,
it's no secret New Mexico prides itself
on this popular burger.
Whole or chopped green chilies
give this meal its signature flavor and extra kick.
Earlier this year, we told you the Cronut
is still New York's most legendary dessert.
Why?
Well, aside from people around the world
waiting in line to try it even years after its debut,
the treat takes three whole days to make.
It's a labor of love rolled in sugar
and glazed with ganache.
You won't go wrong with barbecue in North Carolina,
but heads-up, because there are two kinds
depending where you go.
If you're ordering Eastern style,
you'll get meat from the whole hog, as they say.
But if you find yourself at a Lexington-style restaurant,
you can expect some form of pork shoulder.
Recipes for knoephla soup may vary slightly,
but every one always has potatoes.
It's what makes this rich and creamy soup so hearty.
When in Cincinnati,
we recommend giving Camp Washington Chili a go.
If you order the five-way chili,
expect to get a very full plate of spaghetti,
red beans, chili, of course,
diced white onions,
and shredded cheddar cheese.
If you're in Oklahoma,
then make sure you stop at Sonic.
It's headquartered in Oklahoma City
and known for its retro-themed in-car dining.
Try finishing the foot-long hot dog.
We recommend ordering a slushy to wash it down.
For a choice of more than 40 flavors,
head to Voodoo Doughnut in Portland.
The shop's signature treat is its Voodoo Doll doughnut,
a yeast doughnut filled with raspberry jam.
Philly is known for cheesesteaks, but have you tried
the roast-pork sandwich from DiNic's?
It comes with crumbled provolone,
thin-sliced roast pork, and broccoli rabe,
all squeezed between a long, plush roll.
At Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House,
you've got to try the doughboy,
because fried dough is truly never a bad option.
And this one comes with powdered sugar
or sugar and cinnamon on top.
You can find shrimp and grits at restaurants
along the coast of South Carolina.
With some spices and bacon mixed in,
you have an incredibly flavorful, hearty dish to enjoy.
Chislic is something you'll really only find
in South Dakota.
Typically, this meal consists of small cubes of meat
on a wooden skewer, usually deep-fried and salted.
If you can handle the heat,
then you've got to try hot chicken in Nashville.
We love Party Fowl's take on the dish,
but head to Prince's Hot Chicken Shack
if you want to experience the place that started at all.
Although we've praised other states' barbecue,
Texas barbecue should by no means
be left off this list.
Our pick is Louie Mueller in Austin.
The brisket is tender and juicy,
and the bark is just right.
If you like your burgers extra meaty,
then you won't go wrong with the signature burger
from Utah fast-food chain Crown Burgers.
The Crown Burger comes with a quarter-pound patty
topped with hot, juicy pastrami.
We love Ben & Jerry's, but really, who doesn't?
The iconic ice cream brand
is headquartered in Burlington, Vermont.
It makes over 60 flavors,
including Chocolate Therapy,
which is a pint of chocolate ice cream
with chocolate cookies and chocolate pudding.
Virginia is home to eight regions
that harvest their own oysters.
It's no wonder the state considers itself
the oyster capital of the East Coast.
The oysters range in flavor,
some with a salty taste on the tongue,
others with a delicate sweetness.
Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle
is known for fresh fish.
The shop is famous for tossing customers' fish orders
over heaps of ice in the front
to be weighed at the scales in the back.
Walk into a convenience store in West Virginia,
and you'll likely find pepperoni rolls.
They're said to be created in Fairmont back in 1927.
Imagine doughy bread filled with spicy pepperoni and cheese.
If you're looking to indulge in Wisconsin,
we steer you to Solly's Grille.
It serves a Wisconsin favorite known as
the butterburger.
It's like a regular burger,
but with a heaping chunk of melted butter on top.
Cowboy cookies are a popular treat in Wyoming,
but if you can't make it there,
it doesn't mean you can't try them yourself.
Make a batch at home like we did.
You'll need chocolate, pecans, coconut,
oats, and cinnamon.
While they aren't states,
here are our favorite dishes from Washington, DC,
and Puerto Rico.
Considered a Washington, DC, landmark,
Ben's Chili Bowl is worth visiting for the food
and the history.
The restaurant is a local icon,
stationed on the famous U Street.
Make sure you order its popular half-smoke.
It's a half-pork, half-beef sausage
smothered in homemade chili.
Plantains are widely grown in Puerto Rico,
which makes them a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine.
We like them in the form of tostones,
fried and crispy topped with garlic.
They're often served on their own
or even as the bread of a sandwich.
What foods do you think we should cover next?
Let us know in the comments.