First Stop – Texas! 

Best known for its barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine, the Lonestar state is home to all kinds of delicious eats. As the second largest state, there’s a lot of ground to cover for your foodie tour. From chopped steak, to barbacoa, to brisket; there are many different definitions to Texas-style BBQ determined by region. According to Texas Monthly, you won’t want to miss Gatlin’s BBQ located at 3510 Ella Blvd, Houston. Must try: Pork ribs (baby back and/or St. Louis with dirty (Cajun) rice.

It’s no secret that the food in Texas is influenced by its southern neighbor, Mexico. Tamales, enchiladas, fajitas – there’s so much to try but if tacos are more your thing, there are endless – and we mean ENDLESS possibilities. In fact, Texas Monthly has also published a list of “The 120 Tacos You Must Eat Before You Die”. Where do we sign up? Some notable options are the El Pastor from El Tejavan in Amarillo or the potato and egg breakfast taco from H&H Car Wash and Coffee Shop in El Paso.

Next on our foodie tour of the US is California

From hot dogs and burgers to tacos and seafood, California seems to have it all. The avocado toast fad that swept the nation is said to have roots in The Golden State but let’s take a look at some other CA food finds.

Cioppino: A fish stew fresh from the Pacific that includes a mix of squid, crab, mussels, clams, white fish with a tomato/wine base.
Where to find: Tadich Grill
240 California St, San Francisco

Apple Pie: There is nothing more American than a fresh slice of apple pie. One of the best slices in the country can be find just over an hour northwest of San Diego. Always remember to order yours a la mode.

Where to find: Julian Pie Company

2225 Main St, Julian

Let’s head out East to New York City

We all know the Big Apple is famed for its pizza by the slice and you might be able to find it every few feet walking the streets, but here are a few specialty spots we wanted to call out.

Di Fara, Midwood: Dubbed “one of Brooklyn’s most legendary pizza joints” by the Thrillist. The shop was opened by an Italian immigrant in the mid-60s and uses imported Italian ingredients. Give us all the prosciutto

Scarr’s Pizza, Lower East Side: Hop in for a blast from 80s past and order up a slice that jut might put all other slices to shame.

Emmy Squared, Upper East Side, East Village and Brooklyn: Not your average triangular slice of pizza, these pies are rectangular in shape and are cut into squares, “Detroit style”. They even have other American fare if your fellow foodie tourists are not all craving pizza.

Heading south to Louisiana

The ever popular city of New Orleans is filled with cuisine, new and old. It’s not uncommon to find a new restaurant on each visit to “The Big Easy”. Try Dian Xin in the French Quarter for delicious dim sum. With its huge menu, you’ll be sure to find something as exotic as squid to a familiar American favorite, General Tso’s Chicken. If it’s traditional New Orleans local favorites you’re craving, try Costera. They blend these local flavors with traditional Spanish dishes and create a relaxed, communal dining experience.

For our last foodie tour stop, let’s check out Tennessee!

You guessed it! Fried chicken. There seems to be a war that continues to rage on between Nashville and Memphis for who does it best. We think it’s all in the eye of the taste-bud beholder. Between delicious, fiery, “Nashville hot” style chicken and the “original fried” kind, it all depends on if you can handle the heat! One of the most well known chicken stops in Memphis is Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. Treat yourself to the fried-to-order 3-piece meal but be prepared to let it cool off before taking your first bite! If you want to feel the heat, there’s no better stop than Prince’s Hot Chicken. Known as the “grand-daddy” of chicken, Thorton Prince’s great niece still serves the original famous recipe.