From Nashville hot chicken to New York's legendary Cronut, here are our favorite
dishes from every state. If you're in Alabama, it's worth trying these
decadent orange rolls. They're the biggest draw to the restaurant All Steak in Cullman. Each roll is topped with a deliciously sweet orange glaze. Despite the fish you'll find in Alaska, we recommend trying the state's iconic reindeer hot dog instead. The sausage is made with
reindeer, or caribou, pork, and beef, and it's not something you'll find many other places. Sopaipillas are the perfect
savory or sweet treat. The hollow pockets of dough are a cross between Latin
American fried pastry and Navajo fry bread. When served sweet, sopaipillas can be filled with honey or topped with powdered sugar. We'd be remiss not to tell you to try the cheese dip in Arkansas. It's similar to queso, but don't tell Texas we told you that. The two states have long debated which created the favored dip and what it should be called. With so many great places in California, it's hard to pick just one. But we love Fugetsu-Do in LA. It makes delicious rainbow dango, which are these bite-sized pieces of tender, colorful mochi. What might surprise you
is our pick from Colorado. At this Conoco gas station, we recommend getting blue corn tortillas with cactus and sautéed onions or the traditional huarache, a Mexican-style flatbread. If you're near Neil's Donuts, the star of the show is
the giant cinnamon roll. But there's also over 40
doughnuts to choose from, if something small is more your thing. Thrasher's French Fries has been serving hungry beachgoers since 1929. The boardwalk stand originated
in Ocean City, Maryland, but has since won over Delaware customers with its large buckets of
fries doused in vinegar. Old Greg's Pizza in Miami started as a quarantine pizza operation for the owner's friends and family. Today, it feeds hundreds
of customers a week, many who order the popular Roni Pie weeks in advance. Crispy, tender fried chicken is one of the most satisfying dishes we tried in Georgia. We visited several places, but our pick is JCT. Kitchen & Bar. Our pick for Hawaii is an island staple. The kalua pork sandwich
is satisfyingly juicy with a smoky flavor, which is the result of roasting a whole pig slowly all day. Kalua is a traditional
Hawaiian cooking method that uses this pitlike underground oven called an imu. When in Idaho, you eat potatoes. But we recommend going for
their sweet counterpart, the ice cream potato. Yep, it's made entirely out of ice cream, cocoa powder, and whipped cream. You can get one at the
Westside Drive In in Boise. Have you ever seen a whole slice of cake mixed into a milkshake? Not many people have, which makes it the best-kept
secret at Portillo's. The restaurant takes an
entire slice of decadent cake and mixes it in just a
little bit of ice cream and chocolate syrup. And there you have it: the cake shake. St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis is known for packing serious spice in its famous shrimp cocktail. The restaurant loads its
famous cocktail sauce onto four black tiger shrimp. This next one's reminiscent of Illinois, in that it also takes a slice of dessert and turns it into a milkshake. At Hamburg Inn No. 2, they mix a slice of pie with soft serve. When in Kansas, Joe's
Kansas City Bar-B-Que won't disappoint. The Z Man sandwich comes
with thinly sliced brisket, smoked provolone, onion rings, and barbecue sauce. You also won't go wrong if you order a rack of ribs. They're smoky, tender, and delicious. In Louisville, Kentucky, there's the one-of-a-kind
Hot Brown sandwich. It was created in the
1920s at the Brown Hotel and has since become a local legend. It's an open sandwich
topped with turkey, tomato, Mornay sauce, and bacon. Café du Monde should be your first stop when visiting New Orleans. You can only get one thing, and that's the shop's iconic fried pastry called a beignet. These pillowy pockets of fried dough are dusted in powdered sugar and always served hot. In 2019, Maine fishers caught more than 100 million pounds of lobster, hence why it's become the
star of a few popular dishes, from the lobster roll to
boiled lobster and butter. There's even a shop
that makes lobster tacos with a cheese shell. It's all about crabs in Maryland, and there's a number
of ways to enjoy them. Be it soft-shell crabs or crab cakes, this is where crab dishes truly shine. We chose this next one not only because the pork ramen is delicious, but also because it encourages customers to achieve their dreams. The idea is that if you can finish these huge bowls of
ramen at Yume Wo Katare, you have the power to make
your dreams come true. A hot dog in Detroit
typically looks like this: a steamed bun, an all-beef sausage with an all-meat beanless chili on top, and diced white onions. And, of course, yellow mustard. It's called the Coney dog, and it's a century-old staple in the city. In Minnesota, instead of placing cheese on top of your burger, they put it inside your patty. It's dubbed the Jucy Lucy, and it oozes melted cheese. Matt's Bar in Minneapolis
is one of two famous places that say they created it. Down South in Mississippi, catfish is the go-to
for some fried goodness. Head to Taylor Grocery, which was voted the
best catfish restaurant in Mississippi in 2020. It's gooey. It's buttery. What's not to like
about gooey butter cake? It's a St. Louis staple, and it's unlike other traditional cakes. It's a flat cake covered
in a "goo" mixture. Huckleberries are grown in the northwestern United States and particularly thrive in Montana. They're similar to blueberries in that they're both tart and sweet, which makes them perfect
for turning into pie. For Nebraskans, it's all about the runza, and one of the most
popular places to get one is the iconic fast-food
chain called Runza. This bread pocket is
made with ground beef, onions, and cabbage and baked. We recommend going for the cheese runza. It's a best seller. You really can't go wrong with doughnuts, and Pinkbox has over 50 to choose from. The Be Well doughnut is limited edition. It's a yellow doughnut with a mask, because, you know, 2020. There's no place like
New England in the fall, where apple picking is abundant and apple pickers nom on these doughnuts all through the season. More doughnuts, we know. But you're really missing out if you're not trying
an apple cider doughnut in New Hampshire. When in New Jersey, you've got to try a pork
roll, egg, and cheese. At Slater's Deli, you can
get a classic sandwich with three slices of pork roll, or, if you really like
your processed meat, take a jab at this monstrous
option with six slices. With its own Green Chile
Cheeseburger Trail, it's no secret New Mexico prides itself on this popular burger. Whole or chopped green chilies give this meal its signature
flavor and extra kick. Earlier this year, we told you the Cronut is still New York's
most legendary dessert. Why? Well, aside from people around the world waiting in line to try it
even years after its debut, the treat takes three whole days to make. It's a labor of love rolled in sugar and glazed with ganache. You won't go wrong with
barbecue in North Carolina, but heads-up, because there are two kinds depending where you go. If you're ordering Eastern style, you'll get meat from the
whole hog, as they say. But if you find yourself at
a Lexington-style restaurant, you can expect some form of pork shoulder. Recipes for knoephla
soup may vary slightly, but every one always has potatoes. It's what makes this rich
and creamy soup so hearty. When in Cincinnati, we recommend giving Camp
Washington Chili a go. If you order the five-way chili, expect to get a very
full plate of spaghetti, red beans, chili, of course, diced white onions, and shredded cheddar cheese. If you're in Oklahoma, then make sure you stop at Sonic. It's headquartered in Oklahoma City and known for its
retro-themed in-car dining. Try finishing the foot-long hot dog. We recommend ordering a
slushy to wash it down. For a choice of more than 40 flavors, head to Voodoo Doughnut in Portland. The shop's signature treat
is its Voodoo Doll doughnut, a yeast doughnut filled
with raspberry jam. Philly is known for
cheesesteaks, but have you tried the roast-pork sandwich from DiNic's? It comes with crumbled provolone, thin-sliced roast pork, and broccoli rabe, all squeezed between a long, plush roll. At Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House, you've got to try the doughboy, because fried dough is
truly never a bad option. And this one comes with powdered sugar or sugar and cinnamon on top. You can find shrimp and
grits at restaurants along the coast of South Carolina. With some spices and bacon mixed in, you have an incredibly
flavorful, hearty dish to enjoy. Chislic is something
you'll really only find in South Dakota. Typically, this meal consists
of small cubes of meat on a wooden skewer, usually
deep-fried and salted. If you can handle the heat, then you've got to try
hot chicken in Nashville. We love Party Fowl's take on the dish, but head to Prince's Hot Chicken Shack if you want to experience the
place that started at all. Although we've praised
other states' barbecue, Texas barbecue should by no means be left off this list. Our pick is Louie Mueller in Austin. The brisket is tender and juicy, and the bark is just right. If you like your burgers extra meaty, then you won't go wrong
with the signature burger from Utah fast-food chain Crown Burgers. The Crown Burger comes
with a quarter-pound patty topped with hot, juicy pastrami. We love Ben & Jerry's,
but really, who doesn't? The iconic ice cream brand is headquartered in Burlington, Vermont. It makes over 60 flavors, including Chocolate Therapy, which is a pint of chocolate ice cream with chocolate cookies
and chocolate pudding. Virginia is home to eight regions that harvest their own oysters. It's no wonder the state considers itself the oyster capital of the East Coast. The oysters range in flavor, some with a salty taste on the tongue, others with a delicate sweetness. Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle is known for fresh fish. The shop is famous for
tossing customers' fish orders over heaps of ice in the front to be weighed at the scales in the back. Walk into a convenience
store in West Virginia, and you'll likely find pepperoni rolls. They're said to be created
in Fairmont back in 1927. Imagine doughy bread filled
with spicy pepperoni and cheese. If you're looking to indulge in Wisconsin, we steer you to Solly's Grille. It serves a Wisconsin favorite known as the butterburger. It's like a regular burger, but with a heaping chunk
of melted butter on top. Cowboy cookies are a
popular treat in Wyoming, but if you can't make it there, it doesn't mean you
can't try them yourself. Make a batch at home like we did. You'll need chocolate, pecans, coconut, oats, and cinnamon. While they aren't states, here are our favorite
dishes from Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Considered a Washington, DC, landmark, Ben's Chili Bowl is worth
visiting for the food and the history. The restaurant is a local icon, stationed on the famous U Street. Make sure you order
its popular half-smoke. It's a half-pork, half-beef sausage smothered in homemade chili. Plantains are widely grown in Puerto Rico, which makes them a staple
of Puerto Rican cuisine. We like them in the form of tostones, fried and crispy topped with garlic. They're often served on their own or even as the bread of a sandwich. What foods do you think
we should cover next? Let us know in the comments.
