I am currently visiting the USA, and before I leave I want to try some food that is “uniquely” american - IE, you can’t really find it outside of the country.
UK stores do tend to have a “USA section” which has a small amount of sweets and other products. But I am wondering what americans specifically missed / couldn’t find in other countries.
As an example - Wendy’s as far as I’ve seen, isn’t local to the UK or at least where I live. So trying that was a “unique american food”, to me.
I’m also in Chicago at the moment, so I made sure to try a proper (real?) Chicago deep dish pizza (loved it, by the way).
Alternatively, any other suggestions of food to try?
Immediate edit - turns out Wendy’s is in some locations in the UK. I just assumed incorrectly!
Thanks for all the suggestions!!
I don’t get to Europe often so I’m going out on a limb here (a very strong, stout limb) and say The Waffledoodle https://mrhero.com/menu/chicken-bacon-waffledoodle/
Big lack of peanut products
Cajun blackened chicken remains one of my favourite things to eat ever.
You can probably find these outside the US but they won’t match what you’ll get here
Spicy chicken deluxe +waffle fries + sweet tea + Chick fil a sauce from Chick fil a
All star breakfast from Waffle House
Any Nashville Hot sandwich
BBQ ribs
Lobster rolls
There are a lot of good suggestions here and great food suggestions. Hotdogs, Italian beef sandwiches and deep dish are totally good ones. I would also suggest some fried chicken. Fried chicken is a total southern American food but thanks to the Great Migration the cuisine is common in Chicago. Anywhere with good reviews online that isn’t in the rich white areas of the city will do.
There’s a restaurant in Chicago called Honey Butter Fried Chicken. They serve fried chicken sandwiches with honey butter melted onto them. 10/10
Also, don’t sleep on Mexican, Cuban, or similar food. I know Chicago has great restaurants for both and I struggled to find good Mexican food in Europe.
You should be able to find real American BBQ. Note that this doesn’t mean meat cooked over fire.
It means meat slow cooked over indirect heat, typically involving smoke.
Usually the best way to find these places is to ask around, then go in the morning before they open to see if there’s a bunch of huge smokers running out back and maybe even a line.
Order pork ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. Maybe throw some sausage on there. I don’t order beef ribs outside of Texas.
You don’t need the most famous or popular place. Just somewhere that values quality meat, doesn’t rush it, and doesn’t soak it in sauce. Look for St. Louis style BBQ in the Chicago area.
This kind of food and exists nowhere else in the world, I’ve done a decent job of looking.
In Chicago hit Frontera Grill for mexican.
Biscuits and gravy are great. I’m not sure where to get good ones that far north. Make sure you get a side of bacon. I’ve never had bacon done properly outside the US.
Find some good bbq.
Peanut butter is american. It’s hard to find anywhere else. Get some at the grocery store and put it on toast or make a sandwich.
American style Chinese food. It’s it’s own thing now.
Frontera Grill is Rick Bayless’ restaurant. He is on YouTube if OP wants to get an idea of the type of food the restaurant serves. He lived in Mexico for many years, and I can say that his recipes are top notch and authentic. Can’t speak of the price since I have not been to Chicago, but I know that Chicago has lots of Mexican people, so it has to be good to keep good reviews.
North Carolina BBQ (it’s a vinegary-mustard BBQ sauce). When I’m in the mood, I can put that sauce on almost anything.
Man, you ain’t kidding. I have family all over the south, but NC pit cooked bbq with the vinegar sauce (the mustard or spiced version) is the best BBQ anywhere, and I’ll fight on that hill
Not exactly food, but root beer. I’ve been many places and it is definitely an uniquely America thing. Don’t do barqs or mug, maybe a&w if you can’t find IBC (my personal easier to get choice) or a Boylan’s or Stewart’s. If
You can also try the extra uniquely american soda sasparilla. Its a close relative to root beer.
I’m a fan of birch beer. Though that’s hard to find even in most places outside of Pennsylvania
Polar birch beer is common in NJ to New England. Boylans makes two kinds in NJ.
If you’re in Chicago you should go do a shot of Malort.
Biscuits and gravy is good for breakfast. I would only do a 1/2 order which is one split biscuit, a full order is two split biscuits. Some places do it better than others, it’s hit or miss.
i’ve had a shot! it was… not great
It’s a rich botanical!
Does Chicago do Midwest style cheese curds?
Shame you’re not here during the summer, the state fair is where we hide the truly incredible culinary abominations like deep fried twinkies, deep fried oreos, deep fried ranch dressing… (no, we don’t usually eat that kind of thing but you’d get to go home and confirm that we are actually doing this stuff).
Try some sweet tea as well if Waffle House has it, Cracker Barrel (another chain) also does most of the southern style breakfast stuff (grits, biscuits and gravy) and it’s an interesting trip but local places and Waffle House should take higher priority.
If you’re in Chicago at the moment, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t have an Italian Beef sandwich and a hot dog Chicago-style as well.
Thank you!
And you should get them from Portillo’s. People from other places in the US make sure to get some Portillo’s when they’re in Chicagoland.
Portillos got bought out a while back. It’s not particularly great any more.
Devil Dawgs isn’t too bad. Tried them and Portillos the last time I was out there.
Are there any others out there that you would recommend?
I haven’t noticed any real change, it’s still good.
Also, if you want the best hot dog you’ve ever had, visit Fat Johnnie’s. And for god’s sake do not put ketchup on it! Lol
Chicago is obviously not the best location for it, but if you can find it you should really have some lobster. You can get other species of lobster in other countries but a chance to eat a Maine lobster would be a shame to miss.
A hamburger from a non-chain, or small chain restaurant with rave reviews is often an incredible experience.
Do NOT go to In-N-Out, Five Guys, Shake Shack, etc… I know people rave about chains, but they are seldom going to be as good as the smaller guys. Just get your reviews from Google maps, and make sure they are 4-5 stars with hundreds or thousands of reviews.
Chains are more consistent, but Indies have more potential to be great. More potential to be terrible this week too, but more potential to be great.
American breakfast cereals are unique (because they’re all desserts).
If you’re in Chicago get a Chicago style hotdog from a street vendor.
I’m from the South so I default to recommend (despite being a vegetarian) fresh cornbread (without the sugar), gumbo, grits, biscuits & gravy, and chicken fried steak. Chicago ain’t ideal for those foods.
Biscuits and gravy isn’t really a southern dish and when I’ve had it there it wasn’t made right. I think the gravy they make is mostly just sausage grease with the sausage in it.
Thank you!
Seconding gumbo, adding etouffee.
An excellent suggestion. OP would do good overall to get a bit of Cajun exposure. I haven’t seen a crawfish boil since 2020 and moving away from Texas. So I can’t conjecture the availability or quality of Cajun or Creole cuisine in Chicago.
I did introduce a bunch of yankees to zydeco though.
I can’t speak to the quality of these restaurants, but there seem to be several:
I will second the biscuits and gravy! They are my go to. If you see it on a menu I also recommend creamed chipped beef. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but very American. It’s my absolute favourite. It’s like biscuits and gravy except the gravy is made with a dried salted beef instead of sausage, either on toast or biscuits.
Have a wonderful trip!
You’re more than welcome. I hope you have a good time here.
