What is the national dish of the United States?
The United States has no official national dish, but the hamburger is the most common answer. Apple pie and hot dogs are also seen as classic American foods.
The hamburger was probably brought to America by German immigrants, named after the city of Hamburg, but it became an American icon in the early 1900s. Fast-food chains made it popular around the world. Americans eat billions of burgers every year, and the country celebrates National Hamburger Day in May.
Apple pie is so linked with the country that people say something is as American as apple pie, although apple pies existed in England long before. Hot dogs, sold at baseball games and street stands, and Thanksgiving turkey are also strong contenders for the title.
Regional favorites
The US is large and diverse, so regional dishes matter a lot. Barbecue styles differ between Texas, Kansas City, Memphis and the Carolinas. New England is known for clam chowder, Louisiana for gumbo and jambalaya and the Southwest for Tex-Mex dishes. Immigrant cuisines from around the world also shape American food.
Did You Know?
Some historians credit the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair with popularizing both the hamburger and the ice cream cone in the United States.