Every Major American City's 50 Must-Eat Foods

" What should I be eating right now ? " It ’s a question we think about incessantly at Thrillist . It ’s also a question we have a go at it YOU guess about constantly ( or at least semi - regularly ? ) , which is why directing the great unwashed to the most amazing , life - altering poppycock to eat has been kind of our matter .

Whether you ’re heading to a raw metropolis soon or look for some uncovered culinary treasures you ’ve overlook in your own backyard , below you ’ll rule a series of meticulously craft lists of the 50 must - eat things in America ’s biggest , most delicious dining powerhouses – 26 of them , to be accurate . That ’s 1,300 thing totally ! well-chosen eating , America .

Atlanta

You better believe Atlanta ’s must - have list is deep with southerly favorites like fried crybaby and biscuits … topped with fried chicken . But you ’ll also find fabled chili pepper andiron , pizza for breakfast , and chocolate soup . Get all 50 here .

Austin

peg down Austin ’s perpetually enticing food scene down to 50 thing was no sluttish feat . It could have easily been a list of 50 thing just involving brisket , and to be certain , you ’ll find brisket tacos , brisket Bloody Marys , brisket Frito pie , just straight - up brisket , and pastrami ( it ’s made from brisket ! ) . But do n’t think Austin ’s a one - note township : waitress until you get a load of this Thai take on a southerly classic and some of the finest ramen you ’ll chance anywhere . Take in all that Texan gustatory perception here .

Boston

If you love that pestiferous water … too spoilt , because it gratefully did NOT make the track for Boston ’s 50 must - eat foods . You know what did ? A top - hidden Warren Burger , a 160 - year - old dessert , and the lobster roll to terminate all lobster rolls . Will you notice it down by the river?Only one agency to observe out !

Charlotte

What makes a burger a White Trash Warren E. Burger ? What goes on a spicy frump call the Life Changer ? How are Charlotte " nachos " unlike than regular old nacho ? Where can you get that unbelievable - attend breakfast sandwich?These question and more will be answer right here .

Chicago

Chicago is n’t just pizza and blistering firedog ( although , do n’t worry , you ’ll be totally cover in those categories ) . In fact , did you know Chicago also has its own style of barbecue , invented a sandwich that apply fried plantains for staff of life , and boasts the classiest Riffian on dip Gallic fries in a milk shake you ’ll ever encounter in your life?Unlock all the best eats Chicago has to offer .

Dallas

Can beef be any better than a perfect slice of Texas brisket ? That ’s arguable , but if anything could give it a run for its money it ’s a 240 - day - aged rib - eye that ’s so precious it ’s sell by the inch . And if you prefer your steak Gallus gallus - fried ? Your covered . favour that fried steak to be electrocute chicken ? Still covered!It ’s all here .

Denver

If you should visit Denver you ’re obviously within your legal right field to buy sealed experience - raise content , but these dishes do n’t postulate them ! stabilize yourself for chile relleno burrito , Cheddar Goldfish ice cream ( yep ) , and a full ole PB&J that ’s much more complex than it first seems . Get a ( optical ) predilection for yourself .

Detroit

Detroit ’s not just about coney dogs . It ’s also about lobster Zea mays Canis familiaris ! And other completely non - dog - pertain cuisine , like the whodunit meat sliders at one of Detroit ’s most treasured crapulence institutions . Well , at least those honorable not be wienerwurst - tie in …

Houston

Houston ’s dining panorama is immensely more diverse and complex than outsider ever seem to actualise . Yes , there ’s a big - shag beef rib on here that you ’ll want to get your hired man on , but there ’s also Vietnamese crawfish , Korean braised Capricorn , and legendary dim sum . And do n’t care , you ’re still not leaving without a bowl of queso …

Los Angeles

Would you be interested in birth a steak inside a dining gondola at 3 am where you ’ll be handle like you ’re Sinatra ? How about a donut that run through like it match with a piece of music of pie ? Or a now - off - computer menu pizza that was once the pledge of the LA food view ? Yes?!Great , because it ’s all here .

Louisville

You probably wo n’t be surprised to find a Kentucky Hot Brown ( though you wo n’t be upset either ! ) . But you ’ll probably be surprised to find bison enchiladas and octopus Baron Verulam . What you wo n’t find is a unbowed - up shot of Bourbon dynasty ( it ’s an eating list ! ) , but do n’t worry , the good stuff induce its agency into PLENTY of lulu . Find out how many …

Memphis

" When I was walking in Memphis / I understand they put BBQ on nachos and spaghetti . " OK , fine , the poetry and rhyming power of Marc Cohn are hard to bewilder , but then again , so is Memphis ' porc game . Of course , there ’s way more to Memphis than simply pork . But also , like , a LOT of pork …

Miami

What do you get when you merge traditional Judaic deli flavors with the classic configuration of a Cuban sandwich ? A Jewban ! That ’s not a joke , it ’s a really pleasant-tasting sandwich you may eat in Miami , along with bacon - wrap plantain tree , Lobster Pop - Tarts , and a big - tail end chocolate bit cooky . Go on , look at it .

Milwaukee

Sometimes Wisconsin ’s just gon na Wisconsin , which in this case means hot dogs spread over in inconceivable sum of cheese , burgers swimming in even MORE impossible sum of butter , and mac & high mallow pizza pie . But other times Wisconsin ’s gon na storm you with spicy crab alimentary paste , amazing Indonesian beef , and bacon - wrapped meat loaf . OK , that last one was n’t awfully surprising .

Minneapolis

It ’s not just about the cheese transude out of your Jucy Lucy . It ’s about soft - scrambled eggs with pickle slovenly person feet and blinis with caviar . But lest you think Minneapolis is getting a little too refined , wait until you get a load of this incredible foot - long red-hot firedog . It ’s all here .

Nashville

From soul - fill classic like wimp & dumpling and ( of course ) live poulet to more surprising pick like duck - fat tater tots , pad Thai pig auricle , and something call a Bonut ( ? ) , there are definitely more than 50 culinary reasons to call Nashville these days . But these 50 are a fine lieu to set forth .

New Orleans

New Orleans is the birthplace of so many classics it can be difficult to keep track of them all . Rest assured you ’ll be getting your po - boys and gumbo and banana Foster . But you ’ll also be getting fry anuran legs with goose - fat nipper , blue crab louse linguine , and something shout out " Le Pig Mac . " you’re able to probably guess what that one ’s all about …

New York

Where do you even embark on with a lean of New York ’s must - eat food ? That ’s a trick interrogation . The result is pastrami at Katz ’s . But you better believe you ’re follow it up with mutton chop , chocolate babka ( Seinfeld ! ) , and The Rev. Al Sharpton . Not like , literally . You are n’t blend cannibal . It ’s a dish identify for him . But what form of ravisher ? !

Philadelphia

Sure , you knew there ’d be a cheesesteak , but did you know there ’s one in omelet form ? And in pretzel form ? Man , that ’s heavy hooey . How about a easy bite ? Like popcorn . Oh wait , it ’s douse in Baron Verulam grease . Now all you demand is some afters pizza pie …

Pittsburgh

Gallic fries in your sandwiches ! French fries in your salad ! A pierogi on every scale . Also , pierogies on pizza . Man , you have to bonk Pittsburgh . But did you screw there ’s a Pittsburgh - style pizza pie ? tinge : it is n’t the one with the pierogies on it .

Portland

Portland is full of surprises . Sometimes they ’re of the " I did n’t recognise an total store devoted to artisanal lightness bulbs was necessary " variety . But sometimes they ’re of the " doughnut you satisfy up with booze via syringe " miscellanea . So yeah , let ’s focalize on the 2nd sort . Buttermilk - fry cony sandwiches are involved …

San Antonio

If the only thing you have a go at it about San Antonio involves a certain catch phrase about the Alamo , you necessitate to remedy that with some tumescent tacos , instantly . Then tote up some pastrami short ribs , grilled pimento cheeseflower sandwich , and chicken - fried oyster to the mix . Did that goad ( ! ) you into action ?

San Diego

Not to be surpass by the good multitude of Pittsburgh , San Diego pioneered the prowess of working Gallic fries into a burrito . Then , just for the sin of it , it go nuts on tiramisu pancakes , lasagna pizza , and lemon yellow meringue Proto-Indo European shake . Like you want an excuse to go to San Diego …

San Francisco

Whoever made " heyday in your hair’s-breadth " the decisive point of advice when visiting San Francisco CLEARLY is not up to date on the local dining fit , because there are at LEAST 50 thing you should be concenter on first . Among them are porcini mushroom donuts , pastrami cheese fries , and something visit a California croissant . Will France be angry ?

Seattle

On the one hired man , you ’d be screwball to go to Seattle and not savour the local premium of seafood that attest itself in delights like pertly shucked oyster or beautiful salmon nigiri . On the other hand , life is all about symmetricalness , so you should n’t lose the emollient cheese - lade hot dog or SPAM slider , either .

Washington, DC

DC ’s dining scene continues to flourish in exciting fresh directions , but that does n’t mean you ’re too good forold local standbys like a chili - covered half fume . You ’ll also find unbelievable Greek donuts and Laotian duck’s egg , but do n’t worry , there ’s also a breakfast sandwich nickname " The Patriot " in fount you ’re disturbed about tramp too far from America in the commonwealth ’s capital .

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