It was a big job, but AFAR magazine has narrowed down what it deems as the best bites in every US state.
And while the list is extensive, we’ve narrowed down some of the top picks from the more popular states. Starting in the Mid-West, clients bound for Illinois recommend an Italian beef sandwich.
In Kansas a bierok is highlighted, while a Detroit-style pizza is recommended to the Michigan bound, and North Dakota’s top dish is a lefse. In Ohio, have clients grab a pierogi, while South Dakota is famed for its chislic, a meat skewer.
Looking to the Northeast, top picks include a New Haven-style white clam pizza in Connecticut, a lobster roll in Maine and cod croquette in Massachusetts.
While disco fries the go in New Jersey and in New York, suggest clients also sample the Jamaican Patty.
In Pennsylvania, pork scrapple is toted as a must-try, while maple creemee is highlighted in Vermont. In the South, barbecue is the obvious option; try white barbecue sauce in Alabama or Lexington style barbecue in North Carolina.
Also highlighted is stone crab in Florida, boudin in Louisiana and fried onion burgers in Oklahoma, with Nashville hot chicken highlighted as the must-try in Tennessee, fajitas noted in Texas and royal red shrimp in Mississippi.
Out West, urge the Alaska-bound to try spruce tips, which can be found in ice-cream, soda and more, while clients in Arizona are recommended trying tepary beans, and in California there’s cioppino stew.
Montana is famed for huckleberries, Nevada for Basque lamb, Oregon for truffles and Utah for its dirty soda, while those in Washington are urged to try spot prawn, and trout is the go-to in Wyoming. Also worth mentioning is kalua pork, for those in Hawai‘i. See the full list HERE.
