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🇺🇸 The food of the United States

252 dishes from the United States, best known first, across 60 cities and regions.

American cuisine is shaped by a blend of Native American, European, African, and later immigrant traditions. Its diversity comes from regional ingredients, waves of immigration, and local innovation, resulting in a wide range of dishes from barbecue to Tex-Mex. Fast food and global influences are now central, but regional and festive foods remain important.

  • Native Americans practiced companion planting of corn, beans, and squash.
  • Barbecue and fried foods are widely associated with American cooking.
  • Thanksgiving features roast turkey as a traditional centerpiece.
  • Louisiana Creole cuisine blends French, West African, and Native American elements.
  • Drive-in and drive-through restaurants shaped 20th-century eating habits.

The cooking of the United States

Cooking in the United States is marked by constant mixing and adaptation. Early Native American farming and hunting practices formed the base, later joined by European settlers’ crops and livestock. African American traditions, especially in the South, brought new ingredients and techniques. Over time, each region developed its own style, shaped by local resources and the customs of immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Modern American food is influenced by technology, media, and global trends, but regional specialties and holiday meals still play a big part.

Staple foods in the United States

Corn, beans, and squash were the first staples, grown by Native Americans. Wheat, pork, beef, and dairy arrived with Europeans. Over time, rice, potatoes, and a wide range of vegetables became common. Seafood is important on both coasts, while game meats and wild plants remain part of some regional diets. Today, processed foods, bread, and fried foods are widely eaten.

Sweets and drinks in the United States

Milkshakes are a classic American treat. Drinks and desserts vary by region and heritage, with influences from many immigrant groups. Sweet potato and pecan pies are found in the South, while other areas have their own favorites. Coffee, introduced by African and European settlers, is widely consumed.

From region to region in the United States

Each part of the country has its own cooking style. The South is known for soul food and barbecue, the Northeast for seafood and baked beans, and the Midwest for hearty, farm-based dishes. Louisiana Creole blends French, African, and Native American influences. Hawaiian food draws from Polynesian and Asian roots. Tex-Mex and New Mexican cooking come from the Southwest’s ties to Latin America. States like Minnesota and California have their own distinct food traditions, shaped by local crops and immigrant communities.

Festival and religious food in the United States

Certain foods are tied to holidays. Roast turkey is central to Thanksgiving and often Christmas. Jewish Americans keep traditional dishes for religious holidays, such as stews and fried fish. Other groups maintain their own festive foods, reflecting their heritage.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "American cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of the United States

New Orleans 8Louisiana 6New York City 6New England 5Texas 5Chicago 4Pennsylvania 4San Francisco 3Southern United States 3Wisconsin 3Acadiana 2Baltimore 2Boston 2Buffalo 2California 2Charleston 2Hawaii 2Los Angeles 2Maine 2South Carolina 2Albany 1American South 1Arizona 1Austin 1Bangor 1Barberton 1Breaux Bridge 1Carolinas 1Connecticut 1Dallas 1Denver 1El Paso 1Florida 1Harlem 1Houston 1Kansas City 1Kauai 1Key West 1La Jolla 1LaPlace 1Long Island 1Louisville 1Lowcountry 1Madison 1Manhattan 1Maryland 1Massachusetts 1Memphis 1Middletown 1Minnesota 1Montana 1New York 1North Dakota 1Oklahoma 1Omaha 1Pasadena 1Philadelphia 1Pittsburgh 1Portland 1Rhode Island 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
Pizza 🇮🇹 Italy and 4 moreFlatbread topped with tomato, cheese and baked at high heat Main dish, Lunch, Dinner HamburgerMeat 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreA hot ground meat patty in a sliced bun, often with salad and sauces Main dish, Lunch, Dinner French friesVeganpommes frites 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreDeep-fried strips of potato, served hot and salted Street food, Lunch, Dinner SpaghettiVegan 🇮🇹 Italy and 2 moreLong, thin pasta strands made from durum wheat and water Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Hot dogMeat 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreA sausage in a sliced bun, topped with condiments and eaten hot Street food, Lunch, Dinner Taco 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreA folded tortilla filled with meat, beans or vegetables, eaten by hand Street food, Lunch, Dinner GuacamoleVegan 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreAvocado mashed with lime, salt, and herbs, served as a dip or spread Sauce, pickle or ferment, Snacks, Lunch Pancake 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreFlat cakes made from batter, cooked on a griddle or pan and served sweet or savoury Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks Fish and chipsFish or seafood 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 8 moreBattered fried fish served hot with thick-cut chips Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Pie 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreA baked dish with a pastry crust and sweet or savoury filling Main dish, Lunch, Dinner BaguetteVegan 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreLong, thin French bread with a crisp crust and soft interior Bread, Breakfast, Lunch FondueVegetarian 🇨🇭 Switzerland and 1 moreMelted cheese and wine served hot in a communal pot for dipping bread Main dish, Dinner Pique machoMeat 🇧🇴 Bolivia and 1 moreA Bolivian platter of beef, sausage, fries, vegetables and spicy sauces Main dish, Dinner, Lunch Thanksgiving dinnerMeat 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreA holiday meal centered on roast turkey with a variety of side dishes and desserts Main dish, Dinner Zereshk poloMeatزرشک‌پلو 🇮🇷 Iran and 1 morePersian rice with tart barberries, often served with saffron chicken Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Seafood boil 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreShellfish and sides cooked together for a communal feast Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Barbecue in the United StatesMeat 🇺🇸 United StatesMeat slow-cooked over wood smoke, a tradition rooted in the American South Main dish, Lunch, Dinner BarbacoaMeat 🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreMeat slow-cooked in a pit lined with agave or banana leaves Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Christmas hamMeat 🇸🇪 Sweden and 3 moreCured ham served at Christmas, with local glazes and traditions Main dish, Dinner KāluaMeat 🇺🇸 United StatesMeat slow-cooked in an underground oven with hot stones and leaves Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Burrito 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreA wheat flour tortilla wrapped around a savory filling, eaten by hand or with sauce Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch CarbonaraMeatpasta alla carbonara 🇮🇹 Italy and 1 morePasta tossed with eggs, hard cheese, cured pork and black pepper Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Phophở 🇻🇳 Vietnam and 5 moreVietnamese rice noodle soup with beef or chicken in aromatic broth Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Foie grasMeat 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreFattened duck or goose liver, a French delicacy served whole or as a spread Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Caesar salad 🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreRomaine lettuce tossed with a creamy, tangy dressing and croutons Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner RavioliRavioliai 🇮🇹 Italy and 4 moreStuffed pasta parcels, usually square, with varied fillings and sauces Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Nachos 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreTortilla chips topped with melted cheese and a mix of savory garnishes Main dish, Snacks, Lunch Peking duckMeat北京烤鸭 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreCrisp-skinned roast duck from Beijing, carved and served with pancakes and condiments Main dish, Dinner, Lunch KhachapuriVegetarianხაჭაპური 🇬🇪 Georgia and 4 moreLeavened bread filled with cheese, sometimes egg, from Georgia Bread, Breakfast, Lunch Pickled cucumberVegan 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCucumbers preserved in brine or vinegar, enjoyed worldwide in many styles Sauce, pickle or ferment, Lunch, Dinner Iced teaVegan 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreChilled tea served over ice, sometimes sweetened or flavored with fruit Drink, Lunch, Dinner CheeseburgerMeat 🇺🇸 United StatesA hamburger topped with melted cheese, often with lettuce, tomato and condiments Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Potato saladVegetarianKartoffelsalat 🇦🇹 Austria and 5 moreBoiled potatoes mixed with dressing, herbs, and vegetables, served cold or warm Salad or side, Lunch, Dinner Chili con carneMeat 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreA spicy stew of meat and chili peppers from Mexico and the United States Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Pierogi 🇵🇱 Poland and 6 moreDumplings of unleavened dough filled with savory or sweet mixtures Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner Beef StroganoffMeatбефстроганов 🇷🇺 Russia and 6 moreSautéed beef in a creamy mustard and sour cream sauce, often with mushrooms or onions Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Haggistaigeis 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreA savoury pudding of sheep offal, oats and spices, boiled in a casing Main dish, Dinner Steak tartareMeat 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreRaw minced beef, seasoned and often topped with a raw egg yolk Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Chicken tikka masalaMeat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreRoasted marinated chicken in a creamy, spiced tomato-based sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Chicken soupMeat 🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreA hot soup of chicken simmered with vegetables, noodles or grains Soup, Lunch, Dinner Quesadilla 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreTortilla folded around cheese and fillings, cooked on a griddle or fried Main dish, Lunch, Dinner GyrosMeatγύρος 🇬🇷 Greece and 3 moreGreek pita wrap with rotisserie meat, tomato, onion, fries and tzatziki Sandwich or wrap, Lunch, Dinner Pea soup 🇸🇪 Sweden and 5 moreA thick, hearty soup made from dried peas, found in many world cuisines Soup, Lunch, Dinner Tandoori chickenMeat 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreChicken marinated in yogurt and spices, roasted in a clay oven Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Fried chickenMeat 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreChicken pieces coated in seasoned flour or batter and fried until crisp Main dish, Lunch, Dinner French onion soupsoupe à l'oignon 🇫🇷 France and 1 moreA hot soup of caramelized onions in stock, topped with bread and melted cheese Soup, Lunch, Dinner MortadellaMeat 🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreLarge Italian sausage of finely ground pork and cubes of fat, often with pepper or pistachio Sausage or cured food, Lunch, Dinner BratwurstMeat 🇩🇪 Germany and 3 moreGerman sausage made from pork, veal, or beef, often grilled and served in a bread roll Main dish, Lunch, Dinner
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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