The InterExchange Top Cultural Picks in the U.S. > Guide to Food in the U.S.

Cheeseburgers! Pizza! Hot dogs! Macarooni and Cheese! Meatloaf? Yes, meatloaf. The typical American food that everyone knows contains lots of meat, fat and big portions. But, there is some interesting, great regional foods and dishes found in the U.S., influenced by our melting-pot of hundreds of different cultures, that you can't miss when traveling here.

Fast food

We know, we know. The U.S. is synonymous with greasy fast food. Cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers, french fries, milkshakes. People here eat way too much of it and the chain restaurants are everywhere. But, it really is so good. And if you are going to come to the U.S., you should probably try some of the meals a couple times just for fun. There are some "healthier" options. In-N-Out Burger on the west coast uses beef without any hormones or additives and cookes their french fries in vegetable oil. Chick-fil-a, an east coast chain, is famous for waffler fries and "healthy" chicken sandwiches.

Thanksgiving and The Holidays

Yea for the Holidays! Although every country and culture has its own traditions for this time of year, the U.S. really knows how to get things done. Starting with Thanksgiving at the end of November, the holiday season brings wonderful, heaping plates of cookies, cakes and everything good and fattening in the world. Thanksgiving is famous for the huge turkeys that grace the tables of most families. It also includes cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (yams), green bean casseroles and pumpkin pie. 

But thats not all. The month following Thanksgiving - all the way past Christmas and Hannukah to New Years - is filled with MORE food and desserts. Christmas or Hannukah dinner is more of the same. Most 

Americans gain 2-5 pounds over this month and New Year's resolutions are filled with the proclomations of despairing people who finally realized the state they put their bodies in. But, its an American tradition. So enjoy!

Traditional American 

This food harkens back to housewives in dresses and happy suburban scenes from the 1950s. We don't really know how things like casseroles, meatloaves and fried chicken really started, but they are as American as you can get. There is even a famous saying that says "as American as apple pie." InterExchange staff members love this food and almost everyone listed it as their favorite Americanfood. Hamburgers and BBQ from Saturday cook-outs are an American tradition. Be sure to go to one and also don't miss: peach cobbler, apple pie, meatloaf, hot dogs, submarine sandwiches (also called hoagies), macaroni and cheese and potato chips. You may also want to join a gym!

Regional Food

The U.S. is such a huge country, every state and every region has its own culture, accent, food and music. The south is known for "soul food" or "home cooking." That means fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, catfish, fried okra and sweet potato pie. A certain part of the South - Louisiana specifically - is known for cajun food. A mix of the French and Caribbean cultures that are present around New Orleans, jumbalaya, crawfish and gumbo are must -haves when in the area.

The Northeast U.S. is known for a couple of different dishes. Seafood dishes - like clam chowder - are popular. In New York City, the bagel and New York pizza (thin crust) reign supreme. And farther north, lobster, crab and anything with maple syrup on it is good to try. 

The Midwest takes its food influences from the German and Swedish farmers who immigrated there in the 1800s. Meat and potates are the standard fare there, but in Chicago, you will find deep dish pizza (amazing) and red hot dogs. 

Out West, healthy food is all the rage. Sushi, salads and fruit smoothies are popular choices. Also, the farther south you go, the better the Mexican food gets! Don't miss out on delicious vegan food and the best and cheapest burritos in the country!

Fusion Food

All of the fantastic ethnic foods that were brought over with the immigrants that made the U.S. what it is today have somehow combined over time. This created the ever-popular fusion food that populates U.S. cities today. Korean tacos - Yep! Tex-Mex - So good. Fruit sushi and hawaiian pizza - all good and all avaialble. Happy Eating!