The culinary world often debates if there is truly such a thing as ‘American cuisine,’ but many people argue our country of immigrants has defined it’s own unique foods–including burgers, fries, and BBQ. Beef jerky, for example, has become a staple in convenience stores across the US, but often perplexes foreigners when they visit America.
This list explores those American foods that, while beloved at home, often find themselves at the center of culinary controversy worldwide.
Corn Dogs
Corn dogs are a popular warm-weather fair snack across America combining the simplicity of a hot dog with a sweet cornmeal batter. Foreigners sometimes recoil at the thought of meat encased in a thick, fried dough, finding it an odd and greasy choice. The fact that it’s served on a skewer only adds to the confusion most foreigners have by seeing this unusual snack.
Beef Jerky
Beef jerky is a common road-trip snack in the U.S. While Americans appreciate its long shelf life and protein content, many from abroad find the chewiness and strong preservation taste unpalatable. This dried meat snack embodies a love-it-or-hate-it food item among international palates.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is a favorite for Thanksgiving in some regions across the U.S. and is often topped with marshmallows and sometimes cinnamon or sugar. The combination of sweet potatoes and sugary toppings is perplexing to those from countries where sweet potatoes are used primarily in savory dishes. This clash of sweet and savory confounds many international diners.
Grits
Grits are a Southern U.S. comfort food made from ground corn, cherished for their texture and flavor when mixed with butter or cheese. However, those unfamiliar with this dish often criticize it for its blandness and unusual texture. Grits illustrate a regional preference that might not translate well across different cultures.
Biscuits and Gravy
Though it’s a comfort food for many Americans, visitors often find the concept of meaty gravy over bread for breakfast unusually heavy. This dish’s regional charm may be lost on those accustomed to lighter morning meals. Biscuits and gravy features soft dough biscuits smothered in creamy sausage gravy.
Cheese Whiz
Cheese Whiz, a processed cheese product, is often used in sandwiches and as a dip in the U.S. Its artificial flavor and gooey texture are intended for convenience, yet they are precisely what many foreigners cite as unappetizing. This cheese’s divisive reputation highlights the American ease with processed foods.
Pop Tarts
Pop Tarts, a quick breakfast pastry, are filled with various sweet flavors and often frosted. While American children and adults alike enjoy them for their convenience and taste, the overly processed nature and high sugar content turn off many from other countries. These pastries exemplify America’s fast-food culture in breakfast form.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a staple in American households, and a favorite of American children. While beloved in the U.S. for its rich, creamy texture and versatility in dishes like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, many from other cultures find the combination overly sweet and texturally unappealing.
Root Beer
Root beer is a quintessential American beverage that evokes nostalgia among locals. However, to foreigners, its medicinal taste can be off-putting, likened often to cough syrup. Despite its popularity at American soda fountains, it seldom receives affection from international taste buds.
Jell-O Salad
Jell-O salad, which mixes gelatin with ingredients like fruit, vegetables, or even seafood, is a puzzling concoction to those outside the U.S. Its texture and the idea of sweet gelatin mixed with savory elements are particularly baffling. This dish remains a unique feature of American potlucks and family gatherings.
Twinkies
Twinkies hold a nostalgic value in America that is not easily matched. Iconic for their role in American snack culture, are small, sponge cakes filled with a creamy center. The snack’s longevity and chemical-laden ingredient list are often points of concern for foreigners, who might be used to fresher bakery items.
Spray Cheese
Spray cheese, which comes out of a can, is a novelty that many Americans find amusing and convenient for quick snacks. However, the concept of cheese that is sprayed from an aerosol can is both bewildering and unappetizing to those from countries with rich cheese-making traditions. This product epitomizes American innovation in food processing but doesn’t necessarily translate well globally.
S’mores
While beloved in the U.S. for their gooey, sweet composition, some international palates find them too sugary and messy. S’mores, a campfire treat consisting of graham crackers, chocolate, and roasted marshmallows, are deeply embedded in American camping culture.
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a sandwich made of ground beef and a sweet-tomato-based sauce served on a hamburger bun, which oddly embodies American cafeteria dining. Its messiness and sweet flavor profile can be off-putting to those who prefer more structured and less sugary main dishes. Still, it’s celebrated in many American households for its simplicity and flavor.
Chicken Fried Steak
Chicken fried steak, a Southern delicacy, involves a beef steak coated in seasoned flour and fried like chicken. The combination of beef and crispy breading, served with gravy, can be unusual for foreigners unfamiliar with this fusion. Despite its name, this dish is a testament to American culinary creativity.
Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad, combining fruit, coconut, and marshmallows, often dressed in yogurt or cream, is another American creation that puzzles many non-natives. Its sweetness and texture combinations do not typically align with the foreign concepts of a salad. This dish is a staple at many American holiday gatherings.
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie, a must-have during American Thanksgiving, surprises many with its sweet, spiced filling. While pumpkin is often used in savory dishes around the world, in the U.S., it’s a popular dessert ingredient, especially in the fall. This pie is a beloved tradition that encapsulates the flavors of American autumn.
Fried Pickles
Fried pickles are a popular appetizer in the Southern U.S., but can also been seen at county fairs and outdoor festivals. They usually are pickled cucumbers coated in batter and deep-fried, sometimes on a stick. This dish combines sour, salty, and crispy elements in a way that can seem unconventional to those unfamiliar with such bold combinations.
Meatloaf
Meatloaf combines ground meat with breadcrumbs, spices, and a ketchup-based glaze. While it’s a comfort food for many Americans, its dense texture and meaty, sweet flavor can be a turnoff for those not used to such hearty, blended meat dishes.
Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese, revered in the U.S. for its creamy, comforting nature, can sometimes be viewed as overly simple and unnaturally yellow by foreign eyes. The dish’s reliance on processed cheese and heavy cream is often cited as a negative. However, its universal appeal in America shows no signs of waning.
Clam Chowder
Clam chowder, particularly the New England variety, is thick, creamy, and filled with potatoes and clams. For those unfamiliar with seafood-based soups, their texture and robustness can be overwhelming. Nonetheless, it’s a beloved dish in coastal regions of the U.S., celebrated for its rich flavors and comforting warmth.
Buffalo Wings
Buffalo wings, served spicy and with blue cheese or ranch dressing, are a favorite at American sports bars and gatherings. The concept of eating spicy, buttery chicken wings as a casual snack or meal can be strange to those from milder culinary traditions.
Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls, with their sweet, sticky glaze and soft dough, are a beloved treat in many American bakeries and homes. While Americans relish the aromatic spice and rich frosting, some foreigners find the sugar level overpoweringly sweet. Despite this, cinnamon rolls have become synonymous with American comfort baking.
