Curious about which states in the USA are celebrated for their culinary delights? A recent poll sheds light on this delicious topic!
A survey conducted among 5,000 Americans—equally distributed by state—delved into opinions regarding homemade dishes and the tastiest offerings from each region.
Claiming the top spot for the best food is California, with New York, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida following closely behind in the culinary rankings.
Residents of Louisiana are particularly confident in their food scene, with a whopping 94% of those surveyed believing their state’s cuisine reigns supreme!
However, not every state impressed the respondents; states like West Virginia, Indiana, Montana, Delaware, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North and South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming left many feeling less than enthusiastic about their food options.
Participants were also asked to identify the dish that best represents their state. Some responses were expected, such as New York’s iconic pizza, California’s vibrant Mexican food, and Texas’ famed barbecue. But other answers brought a delightful twist: New Hampshire residents proudly highlighted their apple cider donuts, while those from Utah cherished their beloved “fry sauce.” Ohioans, too, enthusiastically celebrated their delicious “buckeyes.”
This survey, carried out by Talker Research for HelloFresh, revealed that 69% of participants feel a strong sense of pride when cooking traditional recipes. These cherished dishes are so important to respondents that 53% make a point to document or preserve their beloved culinary creations.
On average, Americans whip up 12 meals at home each week, dedicating about 67 minutes daily to cooking—totaling nearly 410 hours a year, or approximately 17 full days!
“Food transcends mere sustenance; it fosters connections, storytelling, and the passing down of cherished traditions,” shared Michelle Doll Olson, Senior Manager at HelloFresh US. “From California shrimp tacos to Minnesota’s Juicy Lucy, and from Louisiana gumbo to New York bagels, the iconic dishes that represent each state are steeped in family memories and cultural pride. Our survey highlights a growing trend of Americans returning to the kitchen—not just to cook, but to create moments of togetherness and preserve treasured family recipes.”
Here’s a taste of what each state is known for:
- Alabama: “banana pudding,” “pinto beans and cornbread”
- Alaska: “seafood,” “muktuk”
- Arizona: “Mexican cuisine,” “Sonoran hot dogs”
- Arkansas: “catfish,” “country fried chicken”
- California: “Mexican food,” “burgers,” “shrimp tacos”
- Colorado: “green chili on anything,” “Rocky Mountain oysters”
- Connecticut: “clam chowder,” “pizza”
- Delaware: “scrapple,” “Bengali cuisine”
- Florida: “seafood,” “key lime pie,” “fresh orange juice”
- Georgia: “peach cobbler,” “seafood boils”
- Hawaii: “laulau,” “poke,” “loco moco”
- Idaho: “potatoes”
- Illinois: “deep dish pizza,” “Chicago-style hot dogs”
- Indiana: “corn,” “pork tenderloin sandwich”
- Iowa: “corn,” “pork chops”
- Kansas: “barbecue,” “steak,” “chili with cinnamon rolls”
- Kentucky: “fried chicken”
- Louisiana: “crawfish,” “Cajun cuisine,” “gumbo”
