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ROAD TRIP FOOD / ROAD FOOD

From the shoofly pies in the Amish/Dutch country of Pennsylvania, to the date shakes of southern Arizona, to the fried clam shacks of New England, there are many local food specialties that shouldn't be missed as one travels across the United States.

Many travelers believe that in order to truly explore a place, you have to sample the local flavors. This is true across the world but also in the United States. Given the number of chain restaurants in the United States, it's actually quite astonishing how many of the best foods in United States have managed to remain completely local.

Below you will find a guide to help foodies find the best of what's local for each state in the United States. You likely won't end up enjoying all these of foods, but try give as many as you can a try. On an overall basis, you'll be very happy you did.

If you want an outstanding guide to the best restaurants that actually serve these foods, we highly recommend purchasing the very best guidebook on local eateries: Road Food (10th Edition) and/or visiting the Roadfood website itself.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN ALABAMA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Alabama:

✮ banana pudding
✮ chicken with white BBQ sauce
✮ conecuh sausage
✮ fried crab claws
✮ fried green tomatoes
✮ gulf shrimp ("big reds")
✮ orange pineapple ice cream (e.g. Trowbridge)
✮ pecan pie / pecans
✮ shrimp and grits
✮ west indies salad

Discover Alabama travel ideas with my comprehensive Alabama Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN ALASKA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Alaska:

✮ birch syrup
✮ dungeness crab
✮ fireweed ice cream
✮ halibut (including halibut tacos)
✮ king crab
✮ muktuk
✮ reindeer (e.g. reindeer sausage, reindeer dogs)
✮ rockfish
✮ salmon candy
✮ salmon jerky
✮ smoked salmon
✮ snow crab
✮ oysters

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN ARIZONA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Arizona:

✮ carne seca
✮ cheese crisp
✮ chilis rellenos
✮ coctels del elote
✮ date nuts / date shakes
✮ fry bread
✮ horchata
✮ huevos rancheros
✮ Navajo tacos
✮ piki bread
✮ pork chimichanga
✮ posole
✮ prickly pear margarita
✮ Sonoran hot dog
✮ tamales
✮ topopo salad

Discover Arizona travel ideas with my comprehensive Arizona Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN ARKANSAS

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Arkansas:

✮ cheese dip
✮ chocolate gravy
✮ delta tamales
✮ duck gumbo
✮ fried dill pickles
✮ muscadine jams and jellies
✮ possum pie
✮ southern fried catfish

Discover Arkansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Arkansas Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN CALIFORNIA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in California:

✮ avocado toast
✮ barbecued oysters
✮ black mission figs
✮ california burrito - a burrito that typically includes french fries
✮ cioppino - this is popular in San Francisco
✮ cruffin
✮ dates / date shakes
✮ dungeness crab
✮ fish tacos
✮ garlic fries
✮ garlic ice cream
✮ mission burrito
✮ santa maria barbecue
✮ sourdough - this is popular in San Francisco (e.g. boudin style)
✮ tamales

Discover California travel ideas with my comprehensive California Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN COLORADO

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Colorado:

✮ chili verde (green chili)
✮ rocky mountain oysters
✮ slopper

Discover Colorado travel ideas with my comprehensive Colorado Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN CONNECTICUT

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Connecticut:

✮ hot dogs / deep fried dogs
✮ ice cream parlors
✮ new england clam chowder
✮ steamed cheeseburgers
✮ white clam pizza

Discover Connecticut travel ideas with my comprehensive Connecticut Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN DELAWARE

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Delaware:

✮ broiled chicken and sour-milk biscuits
✮ creamed-corn pudding
✮ dilly crab dip
✮ muddle fish stew
✮ peach pie
✮ scrapple
✮ vinegar french fries

Discover Delaware travel ideas with my comprehensive Delaware Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN FLORIDA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Florida:

✮ conch fritters / conch chowder
✮ cuban coffee
✮ cuban sandwich
✮ Dole Whip (e.g. at Disney)
✮ fish dip
✮ fried catfish
✮ fried shrimp
✮ frog legs
✮ gator
✮ key lime pie
✮ key lime pie ice cream
✮ lobster (e.g. Key West lobster)
✮ shrimp and grits
✮ stone crab
✮ swamp cabbage

Discover Florida travel ideas with my comprehensive Florida Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN GEORGIA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Georgia:

✮ boiled peanuts
✮ brunswick stew
✮ chicken and dumplings
✮ cornbread cake
✮ fried apple pies (e.g. Mercier Orchards)
✮ peaches
✮ peach cobbler
✮ peach pie
✮ pecan pie
✮ pralines
✮ sweet tea

Discover Georgia travel ideas with my comprehensive Georgia Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN HAWAII

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Hawaii:

✮ ahi poke
✮ garlic shrimp
✮ haupia
✮ hula pie
✮ Huli Huli chicken
✮ kalua pig
✮ lau lau
✮ loco moco
✮ macadamia nuts
✮ malasadas
✮ manapua
✮ poi
✮ saimin
✮ shave ice
✮ spam musubi
✮ ubi

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN IDAHO

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Idaho:

✮ basque dinner
✮ finger steaks
✮ giant potatoes
✮ huckleberries (e.g. huckleberry milkshake)
✮ ice cream potato
✮ potato fudge
✮ potato vodka

Discover Idaho travel ideas with my comprehensive Idaho Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN ILLINOIS

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Illinois:

✮ chicken vesuvio
✮ corn dogs
✮ corned beef sandwich
✮ deep-dish pizza
✮ flaming saganaki
✮ horseshoe sandwich
✮ Italian beef sandwich (w/sweet peppers)
✮ jibartito sandwich
✮ pizza puffs
✮ popcorn (e.g. Garrett's)
✮ rainbow cone
✮ shrimp de jonghe
✮ Vienna beef hot dog (e.g. Chicago hot dog)

Discover Illinois travel ideas with my comprehensive Illinois Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN INDIANA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Indiana:

✮ perch
✮ persimmon pudding
✮ popcorn
✮ pork tenderloin sandwich
✮ sugar cream pie

Discover Indiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Indiana Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN IOWA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Iowa:

✮ breaded pork tenderloin
✮ chili with cinnamon rolls
✮ cinnamon rolls
✮ corn dogs
✮ fried pork chops
✮ ham balls
✮ loosemeat
✮ pickle wraps
✮ puppy chow
✮ scotcharoos
✮ snickers salad
✮ sour cream raisin pie
✮ steak de burgo
✮ sweet corn on the cob
✮ taverns
✮ tenderloin
✮ turkey and dressing sandwich

Discover Iowa travel ideas with my comprehensive Iowa Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN KANSAS

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Kansas:

✮ chili con carne
✮ Kansas City-style ribs
✮ Kansas dirt cake

Discover Kansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Kansas Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN KENTUCKY

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Kentucky:

✮ beer cheese
✮ benedictine (cucumber and cream cheese spread)
✮ bourbon / whiskey
✮ bourbon balls
✮ burgoo
✮ country ham and red eye gravy
✮ derby pie
✮ fried chicken
✮ hot brown sandwich
✮ libwich
✮ mint julep (an alcoholic drink)
✮ mutton
✮ rolled oysters
✮ spoonbread
✮ southern wilted lettuce (kilt lettuce)

Discover Kentucky travel ideas with my comprehensive Kentucky Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN LOUISIANA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Louisiana:

✮ alligator
✮ beignets
✮ boiled crabs
✮ boudin sausage
✮ butter beans
✮ cracklings
✮ crawfish / mudbugs
✮ crawfish or shrimp etouffee
✮ dirty rice
✮ fricassee
✮ fried soft shell crab
✮ frog legs
✮ grillades
✮ gumbo (e.g. chicken & sausage)
✮ Hurricane cocktails
✮ jumbalaya
✮ king cakes
✮ meat pies
✮ muffaletta
✮ pastalaya (jambalaya with spaghetti noodles)
✮ po' boy
✮ red beans and rice
✮ Sazerac cocktails
✮ shrimp
✮ shrimp gumbo
✮ snowballs

Discover Louisiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Louisiana Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MAINE

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Maine:

✮ blueberry pies
✮ fiddleheads
✮ fried clams
✮ lobster
✮ lobster rolls
✮ Moxie (soda)
✮ needhams
✮ ployes
✮ popovers - e.g. Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park
✮ potatoes
✮ red snapper hot dogs
✮ whoopie pies

Discover Maine travel ideas with my comprehensive Maine Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MARYLAND

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Maryland:

✮ beaten biscuits
✮ Berger cookies
✮ crab cakes
✮ crab dip
✮ fried oysters
✮ Old Bay seasoning (e.g. on crabs, potato chips)
✮ orange crushes (alcoholic drink)
✮ pit beef sandwich (w/horseradish)
✮ Smith Island Cake
✮ snowballs
✮ steamed crabs
✮ vegetable crab soup

Discover Maryland travel ideas with my comprehensive Maryland Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MASSACHUSETTS

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Massachusetts:

✮ beach pizza
✮ boston creme pie
✮ fried clams (e.g. Clam Box in Ipswich)
✮ indian pudding
✮ lobster / lobster rolls
✮ new england clam chowder
✮ roast beef sandwiches (e.g. Nick's Roast Beef in Beverly)

Discover Massachusetts travel ideas with my comprehensive Massachusetts Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MICHIGAN

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Michigan:

✮ almond boneless chicken (warr shu gai)
✮ cheese curds
✮ cherries / cherry pie
✮ chicken dinner (e.g. Frankenmuth restaurants)
✮ chipati
✮ coney dog / coney island
✮ cudighi
✮ Detroit-style pizza
✮ fudge (e.g. Mackinac Island)
✮ pasty / pasties
✮ smelt
✮ Vernors Ginger Ale (soda)
✮ walleye
✮ whitefish

Discover Michigan travel ideas with my comprehensive Michigan Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MINNESOTA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Minnesota:

✮ cheese curds
✮ cinnamon rolls
✮ jucy lucy
✮ lefse
✮ lutefisk
✮ polish sausage
✮ salted nut roll
✮ smoked fish
✮ spam
✮ sour cream raisin pie
✮ strawberry rhubarb pie
✮ Swedish meatballs
✮ tater tot hot dish
✮ walleye
✮ wild rice

Discover Minnesota travel ideas with my comprehensive Minnesota Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MISSISSIPPI

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Mississippi:

✮ biscuits
✮ fried catfish
✮ fried hushpuppies
✮ fried mullet
✮ mud pie
✮ pig ear sandwich
✮ slugburgers
✮ tamales (e.g. delta tamales)

Discover Mississippi travel ideas with my comprehensive Mississippi Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MISSOURI

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Missouri:

✮ BBQ pork burgers
✮ cashew chicken
✮ fried crappie fillets
✮ fried ravioli ("toasted ravioli")
✮ frozen custard / concretes
✮ gooey butter cake
✮ grilled pork burgers
✮ Kansas City BBQ
✮ porksteaks
✮ slingers
✮ St. Louis-style ribs
✮ toasted raviolis

Discover Missouri travel ideas with my comprehensive Missouri Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN MONTANA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Montana:

✮ chokecherries
✮ Flathead cherries
✮ huckleberry ice cream
✮ huckleberry pie
✮ pasties
✮ pork chop sandwiches
✮ Rocky Mountain oysters

Discover Montana travel ideas with my comprehensive Montana Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NEBRASKA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Nebraska:

✮ chili with cinnamon rolls
✮ meat pies
✮ pork tenderloin
✮ reuben sandwich
✮ runza sandwich / bierock
✮ tin roof sundae

Discover Nebraska travel ideas with my comprehensive Nebraska Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NEVADA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Nevada:

✮ basque dinner
✮ buffets (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
✮ shrimp cocktails

Discover Nevada travel ideas with my comprehensive Nevada Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in New Hampshire:

✮ beach pizza
✮ fried clams
✮ lobster / lobster rolls
✮ maple syrup
✮ pancake houses / pancake parlors
✮ poutine

Discover New Hampshire travel ideas with my comprehensive New Hampshire Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NEW JERSEY

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in New Jersey:

✮ bagels
✮ crumb cake
✮ deep-fried hot dogs
✮ disco fries
✮ hoagies
✮ Italian hot dogs
✮ pizza (e.g. Neapolitan-style, Jersey pizza)
✮ pork roll sandwich / taylor ham
✮ salt water taffy
✮ sloppy joes

Discover New Jersey travel ideas with my comprehensive New Jersey Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NEW MEXICO

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in New Mexico:

✮ biscochitos
✮ blue corn pancakes
✮ calabacitas
✮ carne adovada
✮ chiles rellenos
✮ frito pie
✮ green chile cheeseburger
✮ green chile pizza
✮ green chile stew
✮ hatch chilis
✮ horchata
✮ huevos rancheros
✮ pistachios
✮ posole
✮ red chile sauce
✮ sopaipilla

Discover New Mexico travel ideas with my comprehensive New Mexico Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NEW YORK

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in New York:

✮ bagels
✮ black and white cookies
✮ buffalo wings
✮ crumb cake
✮ deep-fried hot dogs
✮ fried soft shell crabs
✮ garbage plates
✮ Half-Moon cookies
✮ New York cheesecake
✮ New York-style pizza
✮ pastrami sandwiches
✮ poutine
✮ roast beef / beef on weck
✮ spiedies

Discover New York travel ideas with my comprehensive New York Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NORTH CAROLINA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in North Carolina:

✮ boiled peanuts
✮ BBQ-Lexington style
✮ cheerwine soda
✮ cheese straws
✮ cole slaw
✮ hushpuppies
✮ livermush
✮ Moravian style cookies
✮ pimento cheese
✮ pulled pork sandwich
✮ sweet tea

Discover North Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive North Carolina Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN NORTH DAKOTA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in North Dakota:

✮ caramel rolls
✮ cheese buttons
✮ chokecherries
✮ juneberries
✮ knoephla soup
✮ lefse potato crepes
✮ rhubarb pie

Discover North Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive North Dakota Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN OHIO

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Ohio:

✮ buckeyes
✮ chili
✮ Cincinnati chili
✮ Dutch apple pie
✮ goetta (e.g. around Cincinnati)
✮ pierogis
✮ polish boy
✮ sauerkraut balls

Discover Ohio travel ideas with my comprehensive Ohio Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN OKLAHOMA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Oklahoma:

✮ braums
✮ catfish
✮ chicken-fried steak
✮ crispy cornmeal okra
✮ fry bread
✮ lamb fries / testicles
✮ migas
✮ onion-fried burgers
✮ white gravy

Discover Oklahoma travel ideas with my comprehensive Oklahoma Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN OREGON

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Oregon:

✮ coffee houses
✮ crab louis
✮ hazelnuts
✮ marionberries
✮ marionberry pie
✮ Oregon clam chowder
✮ razor clams
✮ salmon

Discover Oregon travel ideas with my comprehensive Oregon Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN PENNSYLVANIA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Pennsylvania:

✮ apple fritter donuts
✮ cheese steaks
✮ chipped ham (chopped ham) BBQ sandwich
✮ chow chow
✮ dippy eggs
✮ god cakes
✮ goulash
✮ haluski (fried cabbage and noodles)
✮ halupki (stuffed cabbage)
✮ hoagies
✮ Jewish apple cake
✮ Lebanon bologna
✮ lemon sponge pie
✮ montgomery pie
✮ pierogies
✮ Pittsburgh salad
✮ polish sausage
✮ potato pancakes
✮ pretzels / soft pretzels
✮ primanti sandwich
✮ ring bologna
✮ scrapple
✮ shoofly pie
✮ soft pretzels
✮ tearberry ice cream

Discover Pennsylvania travel ideas with my comprehensive Pennsylvania Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN RHODE ISLAND

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Rhode Island:

✮ calamari (e.g. Rhode Island style)
✮ clam cakes
✮ coffee milk
✮ dynamite sandwich
✮ frozen lemonade (e.g. Del's Lemonade)
✮ johnnycakes
✮ snail salad
✮ stuffies (stuffed quahogs)

Discover Rhode Island travel ideas with my comprehensive Rhode Island Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in South Carolina:

✮ biscuits
✮ boiled peanuts
✮ collards
✮ fried catfish
✮ frogmore stew
✮ lima beans
✮ low country boil / Frogmore stew
✮ peach cobbler
✮ perlo (sometimes spelled purloo, perlou)
✮ pimento cheese
✮ she-crab soup
✮ shrimp & grits
✮ sweet tea

Discover South Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive South Carolina Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in South Dakota:

✮ chislic
✮ lefse
✮ kuchen

Discover South Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive South Dakota Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN TENNESSEE

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Tennessee:

✮ barbecue pork sandwich
✮ barbecue ribs
✮ hot chicken
✮ hot fish sandwich
✮ Memphis-style ribs
✮ moonpies
✮ moonshine
✮ pancake houses
✮ pimento cheese
✮ sorghum syrup

Discover Tennessee travel ideas with my comprehensive Tennessee Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN TEXAS

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Texas:

✮ beignets
✮ BBQ / BBQ brisket
✮ buttermilk pie
✮ chicken-fried steak
✮ chili
✮ chili con carne
✮ chilis rellenos
✮ frito pie
✮ huevos rancheros
✮ hot guts
✮ kolache
✮ migas
✮ pecan pie
✮ steaks

Discover Texas travel ideas with my comprehensive Texas Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN UTAH

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Utah:

✮ huckleberries
✮ funeral potatoes
✮ Navajo tacos

Discover Utah travel ideas with my comprehensive Utah Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN VERMONT

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Vermont:

✮ cheddar cheese apple pie
✮ cremees (maple-flavored soft serve ice cream)
✮ maple syrup / maple sugar

Discover Vermont travel ideas with my comprehensive Vermont Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN VIRGINIA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Virginia:

✮ blue crab
✮ oysters
✮ peanut soup
✮ Virginia (country) ham

Discover Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive Virginia Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN WASHINGTON

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Washington:

✮ cherries
✮ coffee houses
✮ crab louis
✮ seafood chowder
✮ smoked salmon

Discover Washington travel ideas with my comprehensive Washington Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Washington D.C.:

✮ bahn mi
✮ half smoke
✮ mumbo sauce
✮ pupusas

Discover Washington D.C. travel ideas with my comprehensive Washington D.C. Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN WEST VIRGINIA

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in West Virginia:

✮ buckwheat cakes
✮ hot dogs / slaw dogs
✮ paw paw
✮ pepperoni rolls

Discover West Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive West Virginia Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN WISCONSIN

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Wisconsin:

✮ booyah
✮ brat / bratwurst
✮ butter burgers
✮ cheese curds
✮ colby cheese
✮ corned beef sandwich
✮ fish fry / fish boil
✮ fried cheese curds
✮ kringle
✮ sour cream raisin pie

Discover Wisconsin travel ideas with my comprehensive Wisconsin Travel Guide.

BEST FOODS TO TRY IN WYOMING

Here are some local/unique foods to try when traveling in Wyoming:

✮ bison
✮ chicken fried steak
✮ elk (e.g. elk steak, elk burgers, elk sausage)
✮ fry bread
✮ trout

Discover Wyoming travel ideas with my comprehensive Wyoming Travel Guide.

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