Food news
HeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkFarm and marketOct. 3 Harvest of Harmony Parade available to view in livestream broadcast during paradeFarm and marketSouthington Apple Harvest Festival kicks off tonightHeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkFarm and marketOct. 3 Harvest of Harmony Parade available to view in livestream broadcast during paradeFarm and marketSouthington Apple Harvest Festival kicks off tonight
Thali

🇺🇸 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
Pie 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreA baked dish with a pastry crust and sweet or savoury filling Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Chocolate brownieVegetarianBrownie 🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreDense chocolate squares baked as a bar, often served warm or with toppings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time ÉclairVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 2 moreChoux pastry filled with cream and topped with icing Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time MacaronVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreAlmond meringue sandwich cookie with a creamy or jam filling Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Cinnamon rollVegetarian 🇸🇪 Sweden and 4 moreA sweet rolled bun with cinnamon and sugar, baked and often topped with icing Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Tea time Chocolate cakeVegetarian 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCake made with chocolate or cocoa, often layered or topped with icing Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks Bruschetta 🇮🇹 Italy and 1 moreGrilled bread rubbed with garlic and olive oil, often topped with tomato or other ingredients Bread, Snacks, Tea time Black Forest cakeVegetarianSchwarzwälder Kirschtorte 🇩🇪 Germany and 2 moreGerman chocolate and cherry layer cake with whipped cream and kirsch Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks Scone 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreA quick bread, sweet or savoury, served with tea in Britain and beyond Bread, Tea time, Breakfast King cake 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreA festive sweet bread or pastry with a hidden token, eaten for Epiphany and Carnival Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time Kouign-amannVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 3 moreBreton pastry of caramelized butter and sugar in flaky layers Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks Ginger snapVegetarian 🇦🇺 Australia and 5 moreA crisp biscuit flavoured with ginger and spices, popular in many countries Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks Chocolate chip cookie 🇺🇸 United StatesDrop cookie with pieces of chocolate mixed into the dough Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Mince pie 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreSmall sweet pies filled with spiced fruit mincemeat, eaten at Christmas Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks Babkaעוגת שמרים 🇵🇱 Poland and 4 moreSweet braided loaf with rich fillings like chocolate or cinnamon Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Tea time Pan de muertoVegetarian 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreSweet, decorated bread made for Mexico’s Day of the Dead Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Zeppole 🇮🇹 Italy and 3 moreItalian deep-fried dough balls, sweet or savory, often filled or topped Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time Potica 🇸🇮 Slovenia and 4 moreSlovenian rolled pastry with sweet or savoury fillings, baked in a ring-shaped mould Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks BienenstichVegetarian 🇩🇪 Germany and 2 moreGerman yeast cake topped with almonds and filled with custard or cream Sweet or dessert, Tea time Cardamom breadVegetarian 🇫🇮 Finland and 3 moreEnriched Nordic sweet bread scented with cardamom, served with coffee or tea Bread, Snacks, Tea time Tea sandwich 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreSmall, crustless sandwiches served at afternoon tea Sandwich or wrap, Tea time

Photo credits on this page

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

The weekly plate

Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.