Top 5 USA Foods & Drinks You Gotta Try (A Delicious Guide)

Planning a trip around the US or just eager to sample some of America’s most famed culinary creations? So, you’re in luck! This is almost like your tasty map to uncovering some truly special eats and drinks across the country, from stick-to-your-ribs foods to cool, thirst-quenching sips, but where should we actually begin?

1. Classic Cheeseburger: A Bite of Americana

Is that even a debate about starting anywhere else other than with the cheeseburger? You know, the humble, all-American cheeseburger really stands tall, so it seems to be on menus across the nation, which means that this choice is quite a simple pick. The patty, which tends to be griddled to absolute perfection, and the toppings – well, they run wild. So, what makes this choice the right pick, do you ponder?

Is that the blend of savory beef with melt-y cheese? Maybe it might be. Could be the crunch from crisp lettuce and tomato, which really takes this sandwich over the top. We mustn’t forget, though, about the soft yet sturdy bun that ties everything together, almost the culinary equivalent of that nice hug from mom that is truly so appreciated. Want the absolute best of the best? Places that pride themselves on local sourcing and the art of grinding their own meat definitely serve up cheeseburgers that are almost in a league of their own.

2. New England Clam Chowder: A Spoonful of the Sea

Okay, next up is a cozy number all the way from the East Coast. As a matter of fact, chowder has a way of wrapping you up from the inside, almost like one of those perfect comfort food experiences you cherish forever. This creamy, dreamy, clam-filled bowl comes to us straight from New England that actually boasts big chunks of clam that you could find while discovering something on a beachside forage, potato pieces, plus the flavor of celery and onion and, oh yeah, everything swimming around together in a thick cream soup!

Usually served up steaming hot with a side of crispy oyster crackers for sprinkling on top, I mean, you gotta love this kind of meal on the New England waterfront as a quintessential moment. Now, some eateries might try throwing some bacon or other ingredients into the pot. Nevertheless, to keep this bowl traditional, seek out a super thick recipe using classic ingredients, but don’t forget those delicious clams!

3. Texas BBQ: Slow-Smoked Perfection

When the word ‘barbecue’ enters the conversation, it sounds like that automatically kicks things over to Texas! This state truly does own this type of food so totally that any mention of the subject tends to make one start planning road trips. Very famously, you almost certainly can’t miss out on this kind of cooking while in Texas, so slow-smoked brisket might be the ultimate food experience.

What kind of care goes into the final product? Oh, only like a thousand hours. What does the brisket taste like? Basically, you can describe the meat in that iconic state as melting off of the bone – is that good, though? To prepare things traditionally, people only need some super dry rub and, of course, post oak wood and then… wait… twelve or more hours. This kind of barbeque tends to require commitment!

The idea is for all of those flavors to combine and fully bring together the tenderness inside this meat for a flavor and texture like nothing else. Side dishes almost usually involve coleslaw, beans, potato salad and some type of delicious, sweet dessert. If, instead, beef turns you off, then it’s really worth checking out the pork ribs at certain regional locales to discover something new.

4. Key Lime Pie: A Tangy Florida Treat

Ready for dessert? Key lime pie almost sings with Florida sunshine and sea breezes, a treat made using Key limes of course from the Florida Keys which just makes one excited. What should we almost think about in that kind of circumstance? Tart Key lime juice is whipped up with egg yolks plus some sweetened condensed milk, and this makes for a super smooth filling which is then typically put inside a graham cracker crust.

Baked really, really slowly until set and chilled thoroughly – the perfect Key lime pie really sings some great notes. Okay, not actual musical notes, but one almost imagines how wonderful life will be. Plus the top? Lightly sweetened whipped cream which often is finished with a lime slice to really pull all this together! When tasting through that, what flavor notes really do pop, right?

5. Craft Beer: Hoppy Discoveries Coast to Coast

After we explore those kinds of pies and savory Texas ribs, might there be thirst? Then so, naturally we require drink options. A recent wave of super creative microbreweries basically took America over! You know that almost seems like the real beverage evolution which happened over the course of 30 years across many states! In what manner? Oh, different small breweries which really work toward super high quality in the products and beers they have for tasting or sale.

For those who have yet to dive into the IPA game with notes from floral hops all the way over through pale lagers with grassy tastes, you really ought to know the USA has beer offerings to fulfill every possible drink style out there! Try visiting regional breweries to start your own beer discovery. That’s a good way to discover the real character in that locality and its people.