American must-try foods?

I am a Hoosier so I offer the requisite tenderloin and sugar cream pie suggestions.

I second peanut butter and grape jelly. On white wonder bread- that is a commonly known childhood food for a lot of us. So was Kraft macaroni and cheese- boxed meal, with an added cheese powder.

These aren’t ‘good’ really, but they are so common for kids here that it is a kind of cultural bonding experience. :-)

I would try rootbeer- A&W brand. And a rootbeer float, Just for kicks- most folks from the UK I know do not like it. It tastes like a specific medicine over there, I understand, but it is well liked here, especially the floats!

I would try some chinese food and Indian food, too- different flavor focus than in the UK so it is an interesting contrast.

If you can find some authentic creole or cajun place I would try gumbo or red beans and rice.

Southern fried chicken and cornbread would be a fun one too.

American pizza that has canadian bacon/ham and pineapple, or hershey’s chocolate, or malted milk shakes are also common here and a little different.

Some good authentic mexican food is great. If you can find traditional california style mexican food and then new mexico Mexican food, that will double the yum- they developed differently, with some different ingredients, due to different colonization patterns way back when. Hatch brand green chile is a good one to try and cook with- it is chile grown in hatch, new mexico and rather classic.

Oh- nachos. Definitely check out some good nachos.

Turkey with stuffing, which you may be able to get this time of year. It is a staple of the thanksgiving holiday in November.

Hamburgers- the toppings are a bit different as I recall

Baked or fried sweet potato dishes- also common thanskgiving fair.

Blackened catfish is a cajun dish, I believe, that could be fun.

Oh, new england clam chowder might be fun too.

And, hmmm, oyster stew- this is a common new year celebration food for a lot of folks here- it developed originally from an Irish celebratory dish, altered to fit US ingredients when immigrants moved here.

For ideas, if you look up regional american cuisine you will likely find some awesome ideas- california is kind of thbmelting pot of the US in a lot of ways, so you can almsot always find a restaurant from any region in the US if you look hard enough. :-) so good for foodies!

I am not from the UK but my mother is so I’ve heard a lot of her opinions about food her. :-)

Anon2018 wrote: »

Omg, do NOT get halo top on your vacation! Halo top is "OK" at best. Treat yourself to real food.

Yeah, I'd skip the Halo Top...it's coming to the UK anyway. I guess it's ok if you really have a thing for "ice cream" and need a diet version...personally, I'll take the real deal on occasion. I don't eat enough ice cream to need some diet version.

I've tried it, and I don't really get the hoopla... Give me some Ben and Jerry's.

I’m from the UK and over the past 15 years have been visiting the US a couple of times a year with the idea of work my way round all 50 states. In November it’s Texas. In May it was north and South Dakota.

From what I remember of California - try the Cheesecake Factory, Panera Bread and Cinnabon’s. I also go crazy for Orange Chicken or General Tsaos from food mall Chinese. Oooo and an Orange Julius or Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

Avoid US chocolates except for really high end luxury stuff. Nothing like Cadbury’s. Uck.

PM me if you have any questions

In & Out burger, for sure, and a taco truck.
Also check out this list of best LA cheap eats!

If you are an active member of these forums....be wary especially if coming to california. Take a look at the largest population of californians and notice their physicalities.
But to vote....I would vote for mexican and In n out! But you've been warned!

dsboohead wrote: »

If you are an active member of these forums....be wary especially if coming to california. Take a look at the largest population of californians and notice their physicalities.

WTF does this even mean??

fitoverfortymom wrote: »

Definitely get some Mexican food. So Cal will have excellent options. Also, swing through an In N Out burger and get a Double Double with fries and a chocolate shake. You can ask for it animal style and they will skip the bun if you care about such things.

Actually no bun is called protein style. Animal style is extra lettuce and tomato. But I agree, do try In-N-Out. It's good and everyone who vacations here always wants to go.

I don't live anywhere near LA - I am near Chicago. Anytime I go on vacation to other states I get excited to try local foods. If I was headed to LA I would want to go to a sushi restaurant, have some fish tacos and of course go to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. I may or may not have some California style pizza.

I love Aloha Poke and that is in Chino, CA. Mexican is fantastic in San Diego!!!

VintageFeline wrote: »

Before you all say it. I know. I know I know I know BUT. IHOP. Kind of a US holiday tradition for me. We don't really have great pancake places here for some reason (though I have fond memories of on from my childhood in the West End of Edinburgh. I'm also from Scotland but live in London now) so a giant stack of IHOP pancakes is always on my list.

Are you doing Disney while you're there? There's loads of must try things there too if you're going.

IHOP has pretty good pumpkin pancakes-- they don't need syrup.

vingogly wrote: »

It appears the topic's opening up to food all over the country, not just in southern California.

I think mainly because California is such a melting pot you can find at least one restaurant that will serve food from nearly all regions of the country. :-)