In this package, Eater digs into the stories behind iconic regional dishes to kick-start a conversation on the diverse cuisine of a country made up of 50 different states. To put the feelings of hometown pride to the test, 16 of Eater's editors have faced off in a great bracketed debate to crown one local dish supreme. Discover every stand-out feature through our guide ahead.
We dig into the stories behind iconic regional dishes, from Philly cheesesteaks to Chicago giardiniera to the perfect bowl of Texas chili When it comes to talking about “American food,” it’s easy to slip into cliches about burgers and hot dogs. But turning an eye to more specific iconic regional …
Everyone has a certain devotion to regional dishes, especially those from where we grew up, or from the cities we eventually make our home. They can remind us of our childhood or be linked to a particular sense of place, and often remain intertwined with our own sense of self. But which of these …
Living in Philly for over a decade, I used to consider myself a cheesesteak fundamentalist — one who only prefers the traditional version of the iconic dish (made with sliced rib-eye, provolone, and fried onions, on a long hoagie roll). I hated chicken cheesesteaks because they didn’t have beef. I …
In the 2015 hype track “Jumpman,” Atlanta rapper Future follows up a chorus by his collaborator Drake with a rhythmic: “Nobu, Nobu, Nobu, Nobu, Nobu, Nobu / I just throwed a private dinner in LA.” Future is, of course, referencing the high-end Japanese restaurant from chef Nobu Matsuhisa that opened …
Call me biased, but New York is the most dynamic city in the world when it comes to pizza. Waves of Italian immigrants, our city’s hustle culture, updates in oven technology, and the influence of the cheffy era have led to the evolution and diversification of one of the city’s most famous meals. New …
WarnerMedia botched it big time when its myopic executives canceled South Side, a thoughtful comedy that unapologetically represented locals who lived way past Madison, way past Roosevelt, and — yes — even past Hyde Park. Chicago writer Studs Terkel was famous for pointing out that Division Street …
New Orleans restaurant Bennachin’s namesake is one of the West Africa region’s most popular dishes — a plate of fluffy jollof rice, winkingly described on the menu as “African jambalaya.” Accompanied by a buttered roll and jama-jama, a side dish of spinach sauteed to a deep green hue, the plate …
Every city in Texas thinks it has the best Tex-Mex food. It’s a statewide competition with no winner, other than anyone eating it. One of Tex-Mex’s formative dishes is chili, or chili con carne — easily set apart from other chilis around the country by its lack of beans. (In Texas, this staple also …
Along the side of Highway 101 on the Oregon Coast, a giant 30-foot fiberglass corn dog, complete with a zigzag of yellow mustard, looms over the roof of a small white-and-black hot dog shack. On a Saturday in May, the Rockaway Beach, Oregon stand is packed with tourists in tennis shoes and ball …
Every year for the past decade, Washington State has gained between 38,000 and 98,000 transplants — migrants who come here for the natural beauty or the tech jobs or for no reason at all. And, every so often, one of these newcomers notices the drive-thru espresso stands dotting the highways and …
Before the idea of “South Shore bar pizza” (and the much-deserved enthusiasm that followed) came about, there was just “pizza,” or at least that’s what South Shore native Paul Butler recalls. Growing up in a semi-rural town about 30 miles south of Boston, the Butlers rarely dined out. But if they …
Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, a glistening heap of paper-thin beef slathered with shelf-stable cheese and nestled in the pillowy embrace of a hoagie roll. El Reno, Oklahoma has the griddled onion burger, a cross-state roadside attraction that’s the perfect synthesis of beef, onion, and flattop …
While Philadelphia is known for its cheesesteaks and hoagies, there are more than a dozen other dishes that have shaped this city’s culinary legacy. Some are meaty and filling, while others are savory and light, and these various bites are edible pieces of history that embody the spirit of a …
It was while sitting at the Tavern inside the Fontainebleau, sharing a plate of those nachos, when I admitted to a colleague that I had not dined in any of the Las Vegas Strip’s buffets since the Aladdin closed in 1997. As a food writer in and longtime resident of Las Vegas, it’s a glaring omission. …
What belongs on a menu of New York’s iconic dishes? It’s a collection of items from elsewhere, often imported by immigrants and adapted to the ingredients and cooking methods available here. Such a menu would constantly change based on when a dish arrives or has been invented. No one disputes that …
