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!!
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.
North Carolina BBQ (it’s a vinegary-mustard BBQ sauce). When I’m in the mood, I can put that sauce on almost anything.
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.
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
