Short answer: The five American foods not to miss are a classic burger, slow-smoked barbecue in Texas or Tennessee, a slice of New York pizza, a New England lobster roll and Creole gumbo in New Orleans, with a slice of pie for dessert. The best American food is regional, so eat the local specialty wherever you go.
The United States is a big country with big regional differences at the table. Native American crops such as corn, beans, squash and turkey, the cooking of English, German, Italian, Irish, Jewish, African, Mexican, Chinese and countless other immigrant communities, and a huge variety of climates have created a patchwork of local food traditions. New England eats seafood and chowder, the South fried chicken, biscuits and barbecue, Louisiana Creole and Cajun dishes, the Southwest chiles and Tex-Mex, California and Hawaii fresh produce, fish and Pacific flavors. Our United States travel guide covers the regions in full.
Holidays shape the table too. Thanksgiving, on the fourth Thursday of November, is the great food holiday, with roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. The Fourth of July means cookouts with burgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob, and summer is the season of farmers markets, lobster shacks and county fairs.
American classics
1. Hamburgers
A grilled beef patty in a soft bun with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and sauces. You can find one everywhere, from roadside diners and fast-food chains to steakhouses, but the best are often at small local burger joints. Order your patty cooked “medium” or “medium rare” at sit-down restaurants, and ask for a veggie burger, which almost every place now offers.
2. Barbecue
Meat slow-smoked for hours over wood until it is tender and smoky, and a matter of fierce regional pride. Texas is famous for beef brisket, especially around Austin; Memphis for pork ribs, either “dry” with a spice rub or “wet” with sauce; and the Carolinas for pulled pork with vinegar or mustard sauces. Popular barbecue joints sell out, so go early, and order by weight or by the plate with sides such as coleslaw, beans and cornbread.
3. Southern fried chicken and biscuits
Chicken marinated in buttermilk, coated in seasoned flour and fried until crisp, served with fluffy biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes or collard greens. It is the soul of Southern cooking in cities such as Atlanta, Charleston and Savannah. In Nashville, try hot chicken, fried chicken glazed with a fiery cayenne paste; order it mild the first time.
4. Pizza, New York and Chicago style
New York City pizza is a large, thin, foldable slice sold by the slice at counters all over the city, the perfect quick lunch. Chicago deep-dish is the opposite: a tall, buttery crust filled with cheese and toppings and topped with tomato sauce, which takes time to bake and is eaten with a knife and fork. Try both and pick a side.
5. Philly cheesesteak
Thinly sliced beef cooked on a griddle with onions, topped with melted cheese and stuffed into a long roll. It is the signature sandwich of Philadelphia, where South Philadelphia is home to the famous cheesesteak rivalry. Order quickly and simply: the type of cheese, then “with” or “without” fried onions.
Regional favorites
6. Clam chowder and lobster rolls (New England)
New England clam chowder is a thick, creamy soup of clams, potatoes and onions, often served in a sourdough bread bowl or with oyster crackers. The lobster roll is chunks of lobster meat in a buttered, toasted bun, served cold with mayonnaise or warm with melted butter. Eat both by the water in Boston, on Cape Cod or in Portland, Maine, especially in summer, when lobster shacks open along the coast.
7. Gumbo and jambalaya (Louisiana)
Gumbo is a dark, rich stew thickened with a slow-cooked roux, made with seafood or chicken and sausage and served over rice; jambalaya is a spicy one-pot rice dish with sausage, chicken or shrimp. Both are classics of Creole and Cajun cooking in New Orleans, along with po’boy sandwiches, red beans and rice on Mondays and crawfish boils in spring.
8. Beignets and café au lait (New Orleans)
Square French-style doughnuts buried in powdered sugar, served hot with café au lait made with coffee and chicory. The most famous place to eat them is Café du Monde, whose original coffee stand was established in 1862 in the French Market. Wear dark clothes at your peril; the sugar gets everywhere.
9. Tex-Mex and tacos
The Mexican-American cooking of Texas: enchiladas covered in chili gravy and cheese, sizzling fajitas, nachos and breakfast tacos, eaten in San Antonio, Austin and Houston. In Los Angeles, taco trucks and taquerías serve some of the best Mexican street food north of the border, and in Santa Fe the question is “red or green?” chile sauce; say “Christmas” for both.
10. Poke and plate lunch (Hawaii)
Poke is cubes of raw fish, usually tuna, marinated with soy sauce, sesame oil, seaweed and onion, sold by the pound at markets and fish counters. The plate lunch is Hawaii’s everyday meal: two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a main such as teriyaki chicken or kalua pork. Try both in Honolulu and on Maui, and finish with shave ice.
11. Seafood of the Pacific Northwest and Gulf
Salmon, Dungeness crab and oysters star in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, while the Gulf Coast and Florida serve shrimp, grouper sandwiches and, in the Florida Keys, Key lime pie. In San Francisco, look for sourdough bread and Dungeness crab in season.
Breakfast, sweets and drinks
12. Diner breakfast: pancakes, eggs and bacon
The American diner breakfast is a feast: stacks of pancakes or waffles with butter and maple syrup, eggs cooked how you like them, bacon, sausage, hash browns and toast, with bottomless filter coffee. In the South, add grits; in New York, a bagel with cream cheese. Many diners serve breakfast all day.
13. Apple pie and American desserts
“As American as apple pie” is a real saying: a double-crust pie of spiced apples, often served warm “à la mode,” with vanilla ice cream. Also try pecan pie in the South, Key lime pie in Florida, cheesecake in New York, and chocolate chip cookies and brownies everywhere. Portions are big; sharing a dessert is normal.
14. Thanksgiving dinner
If you are in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving dinner is the country’s great shared meal: roast turkey with stuffing and gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans and pumpkin pie. Many restaurants serve a set Thanksgiving menu that day; book ahead, as other restaurants close.
15. Craft beer, bourbon and California wine
The United States has thousands of craft breweries, from Portland, Oregon to Denver and Asheville. Kentucky is the home of bourbon whiskey, and California’s Napa Valley is the country’s most famous wine region, with tasting rooms that usually need a reservation. The legal drinking age is 21, and bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport or driver’s license.
Where to eat: New York City and beyond
In New York City, eat your way through pizza slices, bagels, delis, food halls and the cuisines of every country on earth, from Chinatown to Queens. In Philadelphia, the Reading Terminal Market, in business since the early 1890s under the old Reading Railroad terminal, is one of the country’s great indoor food markets, and the Italian Market in South Philadelphia sells cheese, meat and produce on the street. In Seattle, Pike Place Market, which opened on August 17, 1907, has fish stalls, produce, bakeries and the original market atmosphere of the waterfront.
In New Orleans, the French Market by the river has food stalls and a flea market, and the French Quarter is packed with Creole restaurants. For barbecue, head to Austin, Memphis or Nashville; for seafood, Boston, Portland, Maine and Charleston. In California, farmers markets, taco trucks and wine country restaurants show off the state’s produce.
Food etiquette and tipping
At sit-down restaurants, wait to be seated, and expect the server to check on you often. Tap water is free and usually served without asking, and soda refills are often free. Portions are large, and taking leftovers home in a “to-go box” is normal. The check comes when you ask for it, or sometimes as soon as you finish; it is not rude to pay while sitting.
Tipping is expected for table service: about 18–22% of the bill before tax, and a dollar or two per drink at a bar. Menu prices also do not include sales tax, which is added to the bill, so the final total is often 25–30% higher than the menu. Some restaurants add a service charge for large groups; check before tipping again. Our tip calculator does the math, and our phrase cards are handy if English is not your first language.
Eating on a budget
Numbeo’s October 2026 national figures put a meal at an inexpensive restaurant at about $20 and a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant at about $80, before tax and tip. To eat well for less, look for food trucks, diners, food halls, taquerías and lunch specials, and pick up breakfast and picnic food at supermarkets. See how much a trip to the United States costs for a full daily budget, and find food tours in New York, New Orleans and beyond in our tour finder.
Plan your trip
Use our best time to visit the United States guide for seasons and festivals, the United States itinerary to plan a route, and our top places to visit in the United States to choose your cities and parks. Our free trip planner can then build a day-by-day plan with food stops, and the Money exchange tool turns US dollars into your own currency.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national dish of the United States?
The United States has no official national dish. The hamburger and apple pie are the most often named, and the Thanksgiving turkey dinner is the closest thing to a national meal.
Is American food spicy?
Mostly not. Everyday American food is mild, but Tex-Mex, New Mexican chile, Cajun cooking and Nashville hot chicken can be very spicy. Hot sauce is usually on the table so you can add your own.
What do people eat for breakfast in the United States?
Weekday breakfast is often quick: cereal, a bagel, a breakfast sandwich or a muffin with coffee. On weekends, diners and brunch restaurants serve pancakes, waffles, eggs and bacon, French toast and breakfast tacos.
Is the United States good for vegetarians?
Yes. Most restaurants have vegetarian dishes, many have vegan options, and big cities have many fully vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Barbecue joints and steakhouses are harder, but sides such as mac and cheese, salads and beans may help; ask whether beans are cooked with meat.
What food is each American city known for?
New York for pizza and bagels, Chicago for deep-dish pizza, Philadelphia for cheesesteaks, Boston for clam chowder, New Orleans for gumbo and beignets, Memphis and Austin for barbecue, Nashville for hot chicken and Honolulu for poke.
How much should I tip at a restaurant in the United States?
For table service, about 18–22% of the bill before tax is normal, more for exceptional service. At counter-service places a tip jar or screen prompt is optional. Check whether a service charge has already been added for large groups.