Authentic American or Special American Food?

jtboner
jtboner Posts: 59 Member
edited November 22 in Food and Nutrition
Hey, me and my family travel a lot to America but it's usually on an asian tour bus... I have yet to try some 'authentic' American food and I want to have the real deal! I hear that the food varies by state/area so feel free to list them! There's no need for the health factor either. I have heard of In N out burger but I've never tried it.
I've also seen American food on TV in Canada, looks so good!
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Replies

  • williamwj2014
    williamwj2014 Posts: 750 Member
    mcdonalds
    Taco bell
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    What American food have you seen on tv? Our food is such a hodge podge influenced by many cultures. I don't even know what to truly recommend as American.
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    Fast food
    If you're in the NYC area get pizza
    If you're on the coast go to a nice seafood restaurant
    If you're in the south get breakfast

    That's all I got
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    Barbecue in Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, and the Carolinas
    Cajun/creole food in Louisiana
    Burgers and fries (or better, onion rings) from an authentic place, not McDonalds
    Craft beer everywhere
    Southwest food in, uh, the Southwest - Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, SoCal
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    (puts on flame retardant clothing)

    national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    It depends on the region you are going to...and really, American food is a hodge podge of all kinds of different cultural influences...
    Jruzer wrote: »
    Barbecue in Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, and the Carolinas
    Cajun/creole food in Louisiana
    Burgers and fries (or better, onion rings) from an authentic place, not McDonalds
    Craft beer everywhere
    Southwest food in, uh, the Southwest - Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, SoCal

    these are good suggestions...

    when I think truly authentic "American food" I pretty much think steak and potatoes....and a good burger from a real burger joint, not a fast food joint. it seems like just about anything else comes from somewhere else or was highly influenced by another culture.



  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    Philly cheesesteaks!
  • cjcool88
    cjcool88 Posts: 188 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)
  • kk_inprogress
    kk_inprogress Posts: 3,077 Member
    Come to Wisconsin and have cheese curds. Even better if they are fried.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    cjcool88 wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)

    What's your point?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    cjcool88 wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)

    What's your point?

    That the OP is looking for American food to try.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    cjcool88 wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)

    What's your point?

    That the OP is looking for American food to try.

    so pizza originates from NY?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    cjcool88 wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)

    What's your point?

    That the OP is looking for American food to try.

    so pizza originates from NY?

    Nope
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    cjcool88 wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)

    What's your point?

    That the OP is looking for American food to try.

    so pizza originates from NY?

    Nope

    We have lots of places that serve really good fish tacos and yes they are originally from Mexico. But so what. It's hard to describe American food :)
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    What nationality are you? Personally, I would have to try the Americans version of Chinese or Japanese food, if I was actually from there (you said Asian, so I'm guessing).

    Going to add-if you're in NJ go to a diner! Get some cheese fries, a burger and top it off with pie and ice cream. Pretty American to me.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Another vote for diners, which are also in New York and Massachusetts.

    @jtboner - what's your itinerary?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Tom's Restaurant (diner) in NYC. I don't understand how everything there is so good. And they gave me a free milk shake once.
  • ashdawg8790
    ashdawg8790 Posts: 819 Member
    Anywhere you've never heard of if usually a good choice!! If it's tiny and in the middle of nowhere, the food will usually be amazing! Or at least that's generally my experience up here in New England. ;)
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    cjcool88 wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)

    What's your point?

    That the OP is looking for American food to try.

    so pizza originates from NY?

    Nope
    I've been to Italy...pizza as we know it is american...
  • conqueringsquidlette
    conqueringsquidlette Posts: 383 Member
    Get someone to make you a green bean casserole. :D
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Cornbread! Corn is very American and cornbread is well-loved.

    Hot dogs
    Cheeseburgers
    Apple pie
    Meatloaf (but that's different in every house)
    Pot roast (I think)

    If I had to pick something we could be known for, it would be sweet cornbread. So not low-cal, though.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I keep hearing about NJ diners but they had them in PA too... Is that really a regional thing?

    Anyway, depends on where you go. New England, you want lobster rolls or clam chowder. South, I'm not sure, maybe chicken and biscuits? Philly cheesesteaks obviously if you're in PA... Cheesecake if you're in NY... Cheese curds in Wisconsin (but I'm guessing you won't go there).

    I really don't know this country enough to say more though, lol. But yeah it's all very high calorie stuff, obviously.

    And I agree with some chain restaurants.

    Otherwise, things you got to try (coming from a French person living in the US) - cheese fries, pancakes, cheesecake, onion rings, ribs (barbecue), cornbread, pies.
  • OhdatMo
    OhdatMo Posts: 1 Member
    Friday night fish fry or a weekend morning Pancake feed!
  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    Cranberry jelly, pumpkin pie, umm....turkey....um mm pumpkin pie...
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I keep hearing about NJ diners but they had them in PA too... Is that really a regional thing?

    Anyway, depends on where you go. New England, you want lobster rolls or clam chowder. South, I'm not sure, maybe chicken and biscuits? Philly cheesesteaks obviously if you're in PA... Cheesecake if you're in NY... Cheese curds in Wisconsin (but I'm guessing you won't go there).

    I really don't know this country enough to say more though, lol. But yeah it's all very high calorie stuff, obviously.

    And I agree with some chain restaurants.

    Otherwise, things you got to try (coming from a French person living in the US) - cheese fries, pancakes, cheesecake, onion rings, ribs (barbecue), cornbread, pies.

    Pennsylvania doesn't quite know how to do diner food. It's not quite the same.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I keep hearing about NJ diners but they had them in PA too... Is that really a regional thing?

    Anyway, depends on where you go. New England, you want lobster rolls or clam chowder. South, I'm not sure, maybe chicken and biscuits? Philly cheesesteaks obviously if you're in PA... Cheesecake if you're in NY... Cheese curds in Wisconsin (but I'm guessing you won't go there).

    I really don't know this country enough to say more though, lol. But yeah it's all very high calorie stuff, obviously.

    And I agree with some chain restaurants.

    Otherwise, things you got to try (coming from a French person living in the US) - cheese fries, pancakes, cheesecake, onion rings, ribs (barbecue), cornbread, pies.

    Pennsylvania doesn't quite know how to do diner food. It's not quite the same.

    I must not have tried the right diners in NJ then... lol.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    edited July 2015
    Oh yes, lobster rolls and clam chowder in New England!

    *the buttered lobster roll is way better than the one with mayo
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I keep hearing about NJ diners but they had them in PA too... Is that really a regional thing?

    Anyway, depends on where you go. New England, you want lobster rolls or clam chowder. South, I'm not sure, maybe chicken and biscuits? Philly cheesesteaks obviously if you're in PA... Cheesecake if you're in NY... Cheese curds in Wisconsin (but I'm guessing you won't go there).

    I really don't know this country enough to say more though, lol. But yeah it's all very high calorie stuff, obviously.

    And I agree with some chain restaurants.

    Otherwise, things you got to try (coming from a French person living in the US) - cheese fries, pancakes, cheesecake, onion rings, ribs (barbecue), cornbread, pies.

    Pennsylvania doesn't quite know how to do diner food. It's not quite the same.

    I must not have tried the right diners in NJ then... lol.

    Probably not.
  • cjcool88
    cjcool88 Posts: 188 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    cjcool88 wrote: »
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.

    Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)

    What's your point?

    That the OP is looking for American food to try.

    so pizza originates from NY?

    Nope

    We have lots of places that serve really good fish tacos and yes they are originally from Mexico. But so what. It's hard to describe American food :)


    I never said that the fish tacos sold in the US are bad (they are good) but since the OP wants "real" or "authentic" american food, then, TACOS (of any kind) are not 'American' per se. That was my point.
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