From the most historic to cult-favorite storefronts,
here's each state's most iconic restaurant.
In 1958, John "Big Daddy" Bishop opened Dreamland
in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The barbecue joint's most iconic dish
is the pork spareribs.
They are cooked over a hickory-wood-ﬁre pit
and basted with the restaurant's signature barbecue sauce.
Club Paris is Anchorage's oldest steakhouse.
Serving since the late 1950s,
the restaurant is known for its steak.
The hamburgers are even made with ﬁlet mignon.
El Charro Café has been around for nearly 100 years.
Not only is it historic,
it's also the birthplace of the chimichanga.
The Root Cafe is a farm-to-table restaurant
offering a variety of things,
like farm-fresh groceries, handmade burgers,
locally sourced brats, and baked goods.
Pink's Hot Dogs has been a Hollywood staple since 1939.
The stand serves over 2,000 hot dogs and hamburgers a day.
The options are creative, and the menu even offers
a hamburger with a hot dog in it.
The Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's most historic eatery.
The restaurant opened in 1893,
and presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower,
Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan have dined there.
One of the most popular items on the menu
is the Rocky Mountain oysters,
or deep-fried bull testicles.
Louis' Lunch is recognized by the Library of Congress
as the birthplace of the hamburger sandwich.
If you want to get a taste of the hamburger yourself,
be prepared to follow a few rules.
The patties can only be cooked medium-rare,
and there are no condiments.
While Charcoal Pit might look like your typical
shake-and-burger joint,
this institution has been a favorite for Delawareans
for over 60 years.
President-elect Joe Biden has been a fan
and used to eat there with his son Beau.
What started as a small lunch counter in 1913
has now turned into a Miami destination.
Joe's Stone Crab's most popular item is, obviously,
the stone crabs.
They're expertly cracked and enjoyed with mustard sauce.
Busy Bee Cafe is an Atlanta destination
for fried chicken and other Southern fare.
This place has always been busy,
like the restaurant's name,
and historic figures like Martin Luther King Jr.
and President Barack Obama have dined at the restaurant.
Waiahole Poi Factory started as a poi factory in 1905.
Now it is a restaurant that serves dishes
that you would find at a traditional Hawaiian luau.
As its namesake, the eatery continues
to hand-pound its poi,
which is made from taro root.
Westside Drive In's famous Idaho ice cream potato
looks like a baked potato, but it really isn't.
Vanilla ice cream is dusted in cocoa powder
and topped with whipped cream and chocolate.
Gene and Jude's is famous for its Depression Dogs,
which shouldn't be confused with the Chicago-style hot dog.
The hot dog is dressed in mustard, green relish,
onions, sport peppers,
and a heaping fistful of french fries.
St. Elmo Steak House is an old-school establishment
known for its steaks and spicy shrimp cocktails.
Fong's Pizza in downtown Des Moines is popular
for its funky concept.
It is most known for incorporating Asian flavors
into its pizzas.
The most famous is arguably the crab rangoon pizza.
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is famous
for its award-winning ribs,
but its unique location is also a reason
why thousands visit every day.
The barbecue joint is located outside a gas station.
The Brown Hotel is home to a Louisville culinary icon:
the Hot Brown.
It's basically an open-faced turkey sandwich
with bacon and Mornay sauce,
which is a béchamel sauce with melted Gruyère.
Since 1862, Café du Monde has been a New Orleans tradition.
The coffee shop churns out delicious beignets 24/7,
except on Christmas Day.
The fritters are dusted with powdered sugar
and often enjoyed with the store's famous chicory coffee.
Red's Eats in Wiscasset has lines out the door
during peak season, and for good reason.
The restaurant's lobster rolls are time and time again
considered the best in Maine.
Each lobster roll is stuffed with a whole lobster's meat
and a side of melted butter.
When you think of Maryland, you think of crab cakes,
and Faidley's Seafood is the most iconic place to get them.
The award-winning crab-cake recipe
is made with giant morsels of blue crab,
which are then mixed with mustard
and Maryland's favorite seasoning: Old Bay.
Chopped saltines are also added
to give them added fluffiness.
Union Oyster House is Boston's oldest restaurant.
Established in 1826, the restaurant is considered
a national historic landmark
and is home to some of best clam chowder in the city.
Buddy's is where Detroit-style pizza was invented.
It's kind of like a Sicilian-style pizza,
except the key characteristic for this regional specialty
is the pan it's cooked in.
Legend has it that owner and inventor Gus Guerra
got the thick steel pans from a friend
who worked in a factory.
Acting like a cast-iron skillet,
this cooking method makes the pizza get a crunchy exterior
with caramelized cheese stuck to its edges.
Matt's Bar in Minneapolis boasts of inventing the Jucy Lucy,
a cheese-stuffed hamburger.
It's time and time again been considered
one of the best burgers in the United States.
Weidmann's in downtown Meridian has been around since 1870
and has been a community staple ever since.
The restaurant has continued its tradition
of serving every table a jar of peanut butter and crackers
since World War II.
Arthur Bryant's Barbeque is a destination in Kansas City.
The barbecue is doused in the restaurant's famous
vinegary, paprika-y sauce.
If you visit, make sure to try the ribs
and the burnt ends.
Sir Scott's Oasis has been a longstanding eatery
in Manhattan, Montana.
One of the most popular menu items
is the finger steak dinner.
The original recipe is basically steak strips deep-fried
and served with cocktail sauce.
Stella's Bar and Grill is a community staple
and popular for its burgers.
The burgers are so popular,
the restaurant has been named Omaha's best burger
for 10 years in a row.
Part of the reason why the burgers are so special
is each ground-beef patty is hand-pressed
on a cast-iron grill.
Lotus of Siam stands out from other Las Vegas eateries
for its award-winning northern Thai food.
Chefs, celebrities, and foodies around the world
have lauded the restaurant
as one of the best Thai restaurants in the country.
Popular dishes include khao soi and garlic prawns.
Polly's Pancake Parlor is a famous pancake restaurant
known for its variety of batter options.
Some of the mixes, like buckwheat and cornmeal,
are stone-ground on premises.
And, of course, the pancakes wouldn't be complete
without real maple syrup.
You might recognize Carlo's Bakery
from the hit show "Cake Boss."
Buddy Valastro creates these amazing,
larger-than-life cakes in real life, too.
The shop is also popular for its pastries and baked goods.
El Pinto is known for its New Mexican cuisine.
The restaurant uses a fair bit of chilies,
including in its famous red chili ribs.
Katz's Delicatessen is a legend and icon in New York.
The old-school restaurant has been around since 1888
and is world-famous for its pastrami on rye sandwich.
At Lexington Barbecue, the pit-cooked barbecue
is served Lexington style,
which is a western North Carolina specialty.
This style of barbecue uses a red sauce,
and at this spot,
they use a tangy vinegar- and ketchup-based sauce.
Anything on the menu is great,
but the pork shoulder is a must.
Red Pepper, or "The Pep," is a famous hangout spot
for UND students.
Its grinders, or sub sandwiches, are massive.
The everything grinder takes it up a notch
because it's got it all: the signature white sauce,
ham, turkey, salami, taco meat, and Colby cheese.
Camp Washington Chili serves what Cincinnati is known for:
Cincinnati chili.
The James Beard Foundation honored the restaurant
with an America's Classic award,
making it the only restaurant in the city to win the title.
Spaghetti is topped with the house chili,
which has a secret blend of spices.
If you order chili three-way,
it'll come with a handful of shredded
Wisconsin cheddar cheese.
An Oklahoma staple, Cattlemen's Steakhouse
was originally a hub for cattlemen, farmers, and cowboys.
Situated in the middle of the historic Stockyard City,
the steakhouse is famous for lamb fries,
which are fried lamb testicles,
and great-quality steaks.
Voodoo Doughnut started in Portland
and has become world-famous for its creative
and quirky doughnuts.
Iconic flavors include the bacon maple bar
and Voodoo Doll.
John's Roast Pork is not only
a must-go destination for tourists,
it's also been a local favorite for decades.
The restaurant is considered the best
to get two of Philadelphia's most iconic sandwiches:
the roast pork and cheesesteak.
Al Forno in Providence is famous
for starting the popular grilled pizza.
The Margherita has a thin and crispy crust,
and the cheese and sauce are bright.
Husk in Charleston is famous for taking Southern food
to a whole new level.
The restaurant only uses ingredients
that are from the South,
and the menu is constantly changing.
Cattleman's Steakhouse isn't your typical
white-tablecloth restaurant.
While the restaurant serves quality Black Angus steaks
and delicious prime rib, the dining experience is casual.
You can still find sawdust on the floor,
a tradition that started when owner Myril Arch
opened the restaurant with his son in 1986.
Prince's Hot Chicken is the originator
of Nashville's hot chicken.
Prince's authentic recipe is kept a secret,
and the kitchen is always closely guarded.
Whatever goes into this fiery dish,
locals and tourists can't get enough.
Considered by many to be Austin's best barbecue joint,
Salt Lick is known for its smoked meats
that are grilled on top of a giant pit.
While you can't go wrong with anything on the menu,
the brisket especially does Texas proud.
Crown Burgers is a small fast-food chain
that is based in Salt Lake City.
Its famous Crown Burger is a cheeseburger with hot pastrami.
Maple Sugar and Vermont Spice in Killington
makes its own maple syrup and serves it
alongside the restaurant's breakfast items.
The part-gift-shop, part-restaurant
is considered one of the best breakfast spots in town.
Since 1935, Riverside Lunch
has been a no-frills local favorite
for its hand-pressed, greasy-in-a-good-way burgers.
Beecher's started in Pike Place Market
and has become a Seattle staple.
The restaurant makes its own signature Flagship cheese,
which is a key ingredient
to its award-winning mac 'n' cheese.
Pies and Pints is a famous restaurant
known for its unconventional pizzas.
The grape and Gorgonzola pie is a crowd favorite
for its sweet and savory combination.
Leon's Frozen Custard is an iconic destination in Milwaukee.
It's been around since 1942, and upon entering the drive-in,
guests can feel like they're traveling back in time.
The famous custards are thick, creamy, and delicious.
The Luxury Diner is situated inside
what used to be a trolley.
The restaurant is popular for its hearty fare,
including the green chili, country-fried steak,
and corned beef hash.
While they aren't states,
here are the most iconic restaurants
in Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Ben's Chili Bowl is an iconic diner
and landmark in the DC area.
While the menu offers the usual diner items,
The half-smoke, a chili hot dog, is the signature item.
The lechón from El Rancho de Apa
comes from a whole roasted pig.
Because it's cooked for more than five hours,
the skin is super crispy and the meat is juicy.
The dish is paired with pigeon pea rice and plantains.
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