10 Signature Dishes Of American Cities That Aren't That Great & 10 We Love
The Hits & Misses Of America's Iconic Eats
Just about every city in America boasts a signature dish that fills locals with a sense of pride for their hometown. But American food isn't necessarily known for its finesse. Much of our cuisine is glorified sandwiches, hot dogs, and late-night food inventions. While some cities' signature dishes, like Buffalo wings or chicken and waffles, have become globally renowned, others have little to offer by way of innovation, or have even taken a European concept and made it worse. Keep reading for our unsolicited opinions about this country's local delicacies. Here are 10 signature dishes of American cities that we think are overrated and 10 that slap.
1. Philly Cheesesteak
Sorry, Philadelphia, but we think your sandwich is overrated. It's beef and cheese on a piece of mediocre bread that becomes far too greasy, and don't even get us started on the Cheez Whiz that's sometimes used.
2. Washington D.C. Half-Smoke
The half-smoke is a glorified hot dog made from a sausage that blends pork and beef, which is smoked, then grilled and sliced down the middle. Its distinctiveness comes mainly from the chili sauce, but that's about the only remarkable aspect of this dish.
3. New Orleans Beignets
From glorified hot dogs to glorified donuts, beignets originate in France, where they're made with choux pastry, the dough used in eclairs and profiteroles.
In New Orleans, they make them with yeasted dough which makes them much less refined and more like a normal donut.
4. San Francisco Sourdough
Don't get us wrong, we love sourdough bread. San Francisco sourdough, on the other hand, is an extreme version where the sour flavor is unbalanced and overpowering.
5. New York City Pizza
There's a lot of good pizza being made in different cities across the US, but NYC is not the place for it. We more often associate it with cheap and cheerful, mediocre slices than anything gourmet or exceptional.
6. Nashville Hot Chicken
Nashville hot chicken is intensely spicy fried chicken. It gets its heat from a paste made with cayenne pepper, and it's typically served with white bread. It's an excessively salty and fatty dish, and we don't think it compares to some other takes on fried chicken.
Sean Russell from Knoxville, TN, USA on Wikimedia
7. Seattle Coffee
Seattle is known for having an abundance of hipster coffee shops with mustachioed baristas serving up coffees that take ten minutes to make. Still, we'd argue the coffee culture doesn't compare to other cities in the world, and for us, a simple brewed coffee will do anyway.
8. New York Bagels
Sorry, NYC, but New York bagels are nothing more than chewy round bread. We're partial to the Montreal-style bagel, which is more dense and sweet.
9. Cincinnati Chili
Cincinnati chili is essentially just chili served over spaghetti with cheddar cheese. We love a bowl of chili, but serving it over spaghetti is just offensive.
10. Detroit Coney Dog
Yet another American city with its own style of hot dog, the Detroit coney dog is a beef frankfurter served on a steamed bun topped with chili, onions, and mustard. It's essentially beef with more beef on top served on soggy bread.
Now that we've made our case for the overrated-ness of some cities' signature dishes, let's talk about the ones that are actually worth the hype they receive.
1. New Orleans Gumbo
New Orleans gumbo is a thick roux-based stew made with vegetables, meat, and an abundance of seafood. It's an extremely flavorful and rich dish that represents the combination of cultures between French Creole and Southern cooking traditions.
Coastal Elite from Halifax, Canada on Wikimedia
2. Buffalo Wings
Buffalo wings were originally created as a late-night snack by the chef at Anchor Bar for her son and his friends, and quickly became an American classic, loved the world over. The wings are deep-fried without breading, so they're crispy on the outside and irresistibly juicy on the inside, served with a tangy sauce which gives the dish a beautiful contrast.
3. Los Angeles Chicken & Waffles
Deep-fried chicken served over waffles with syrup seems like an unlikely combination, but it somehow works.
It's the perfect contrast between sweet and savory that makes for a hearty and satisfying dish.
4. Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza
A unique take on pizza, Chicago deep-dish is like a combination of a casserole and pizza. It's made in a deep, round pan, the dough is more like a pie crust than a traditional pizza dough, and it's filled with a chunky tomato sauce, pizza toppings, and plenty of cheese. It's a creative twist that's every bit worthy of its classic status.
5. Boston Cream Pie
Not a pie at all, Boston cream pie is layers of sponge cake and rich vanilla custard topped with dark chocolate ganache. It's a simple and perfectly balanced, not-too-sweet dessert.
6. Charleston Shrimp & Grits
Charleston shrimp and grits is a surprisingly refined dish made from simple ingredients. The creamy grits are complemented by savory and flavorful locally caught shrimp, often with mushrooms, sausage, or bacon, and Irish gravy. It's the quintessential Southern comfort food.
7. Detroit Style Pizza
Detroit-style pizza has become trendy in cities across the world, and once you try it, it's easy to see why. It's distinct for its rectangular shape and the fact that it's cooked in a deep pan. The crispy edges are to die for.
Renewableandalternativeenergy on Wikimedia
8. Baltimore Crab Cakes
Baltimore crab cakes are the epitome of authentic Maryland crab cakes.
With minimal filler, the high-quality, delicat crab meat takes center stage. They're pan-fried instead of deep-fried, so they're not as oily and the texture is flaky and moist.
9. Louisville Hot Brown
The Louisville hot brown is an open-faced sandwich invented at the Brown Hotel in the 1920s, consisting of sliced roasted turkey smothered in Mornay sauce and broiled, then garnished with tomato and bacon. It's the definition of an indulgent sandwich and is incredibly satisfying, especially as a late-night snack.
10. Memphis Dry Rub Ribs
Memphis dry rub ribs are famous and distinct for their generous coating of a particular mix of spices instead of sauce, the dry rub imparting a flavorful crust to the ribs. It's perfect for those of us who prefer our barbecue not so sweet and sticky.
