Check Out the Top Unique Tastes in America by State
A definitive list of every region's favorite food.
— -- Every region has local favorite foods, and now, with the help of data from Foursquare, we know definitively what those are.
By using a mix of data sets such as menus, tips, ratings and more, and normalizing for size against other states, Foursquare editors analyzed the data to determine the winning taste that is “most special and unique to each state." Plus, they put it all into a nifty interactive map.
The resulting tastes are a mix of regional dishes, some more obscure than others. For example, Georgians love Brunswick stew 1,864% more than the rest of America. But what the heck is Brunswick stew? Read on to find out, as well as what the other most uniquely regional dishes are.
Arizona: Prickly Pear
816% more popular than in other states
More commonly known as cactus. Arizonans eat prickly pear raw, sauteed as a side dish or with eggs, in jams and jellies and more. When sautéed, the plant has a similar texture and taste to string beans.
Florida: Conch Fritters
3,870% more popular than in other states
Chances are you’ve held a conch shell up to your ear at some point in your life, claiming you can hear the ocean. Well, turns out in former lives those shells had snails in them, and you can eat those snails. Floridians like to batter and fry them into fritters, usually served with a spicy citrus aioli.Georgia: Brunswick Stew
1,864% more popular than in other states
This thick tomato-based stew -- sort of like a chili -- typically contains barbecue sauce, beans, corn and smoked meat such as rabbit, chicken, pork or beef.Hawaii: Poke
1,120% more popular than in other states
Poke is most easily compared to a ceviche, but it typically is made with raw tuna meat, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds and scallions and often served over rice.
Minnesota: Juicy Lucy Burger
850% more popular than in other states
Imagine a cheeseburger with the melted cheese on the inside, exploding out with each bite for an extra juicy patty.
Montana: Huckleberry
598% more popular than in other states
Huckleberry may be the state fruit of Idaho, but Montanans apparently gobble up the stuff. Similar to a blueberry in appearance, the huckleberry can range from tart to sweet and is most commonly baked into a pie.New Mexico: Sopapillas
255% more popular than in other states
This fried dough is sort of a like a tortilla chip with an airy center. The dough puffs out when cooked, leaving a crunchy, airy treat often topped with confectioner's sugar.
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