Your coworker says they want to get American food for lunch. Since it can run the gamut, you may wonder, what is considered American cuisine?
The answer is coming your way, along with a list of the biggest American restaurant brands.
What Is American Cuisine?
Okay, so what are American dishes? Well, at its simplest, American cuisine refers to food items created in the United States.
The more complex answer is that American food has a little bit of many cuisines, with Pacific Islander, European, Asian, and Latin American influences mixed in.
Specific parts of the nation also have their own definitions for what constitutes American food. For example, if you travel down south to New Orleans, Louisiana, the food there is all Louisiana Creole and Cajun. That’s American cuisine to them, but not to those from other parts of the country.
Another example is the Pennsylvania Amish, or Tex-Mex food down in Texas, which combines US and Mexican cuisine. Then there are those representing their heritages through food with an Americana flair, such as Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Greek Americans, or Italian Americans.
What Foods Are Considered American?
Many of us have heard the saying “as American as apple pie,” but besides that, what is considered American food? Here’s a handful of favorites across multiple categories.
Breakfasts
- Banana bread: Maybe it’s a bit of an indulgent breakfast, but this smooth, soft, fluffy, and fruity bread does indeed originate on American soil.
- French toast: You might assume, based on the name, that French toast comes from France. Indeed, it does…Joseph France, that is, an American who named this yummy breakfast/dessert in his own honor.
- Hashbrowns: You can’t imagine breakfast without ‘em, right? Maria Parloa created what were then known as hashed brown potatoes in 1887, publishing them in a cookbook. They’ve been around ever since.
- Chicken fried steak: Showing how America is a melting pot, chicken fried steak comes from Austrian and German 19th-century immigrants living in Texas.
Sandwiches
- Fluffernutter: The dessert sandwich called the Fluffernutter, which uses marshmallow spread, was known as a Liberty Sandwich when Emma Curtis created it in the late 1910s. The original recipe also used peanut butter and marshmallow crème.
- Peanut butter and jelly: We have Julia Davis Chandler to thank for PB&J. Although it’s super simple to make, it was originally published as a recipe in the Boston Cooking School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics.
- Cheesesteak: Cheesesteaks are synonymous with Philadelphia because that’s where they were invented by Harry and Pat Olivieri around the 1930s. Today, they’re still a huge part of Philly culture.
- Hot dog: While technically a German creation, hot dogs were reborn on American soil by Charles Feltman, who served them on Coney Island in the 1860s.
Main Dishes
- Buffalo wings: The next time you’re at a Super Bowl party and bust out some buffalo wings, tip your figurative hat to Teressa Bellissimo, who’s believed to be the inventor. They were named after her home of Buffalo, New York.
- Club sandwich: Although its history is somewhat shrouded in mystery, the general consensus is that the club sandwich comes from the US, specifically Danny Mears, and became a restaurant staple before 1900.
Baked Goods and Desserts
- Apple pie: You had to know you would see this one here. Apple pie came to American soil by English settlers and became a big hit. Today, it represents American culture and tradition.
- Jell-O: Everyone’s favorite jiggly dessert is attributed to Pearle Bixby Wait, a cough syrup producer (so how far of a leap could gelatin be?). Together with his wife, they came up with the OG Jell-O flavors in the late 1890s, including lemon, orange, raspberry, and strawberry.
- Chocolate chip cookies: Ruth Wakefield is the inventor of chocolate chip cookies, which some would argue is the penultimate dessert. She published a cookbook in 1938 featuring the yummy cookie. Fun fact: people thought the cookie was originally made in error, but fortunately, it was not!
- Key lime pie: Although the creator is still debated, it’s believed by some that a lady called Aunt Sally came up with Key lime pie, named after Key West, Florida. Either way, we’re glad we have it!
Which Restaurants Specialize in American Food?
The next time you’re craving American and don’t want to cook, check out any of these establishments that specialize in the cuisine:
- Dave & Busters
- Texas Roadhouse
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House
- Chili’s
- Outback Steakhouse
- Chevy’s Fresh Mex
- Johnny Rockets
- Hurricane Grill & Wings
- Morton’s The Steakhouse
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
- Hooters
- Sonny’s BBQ
- TGI Fridays
- Famous Dave’s
- Waffle House
- O’Charley’s
- Cracker Barrel
- Rainforest Café
- Applebee’s
- IHOP
- Planet Hollywood
- Houlihan’s
- Bennigan’s
- Ruby Tuesday
- Friendly’s
- Seasons 52
- Denny’s
- Bob Evans Restaurant
America Food – Conclusion
What are American dishes? It’s a complex answer, as this cuisine is a melting pot of cultures and tastes, with regional flavors popping up across the nation. Just as many cultures feel strongly about their food, America has woven its dishes into the fabric of its being.
We wouldn’t have such beloved dishes as cheesesteaks, apple pie, buffalo wings, or peanut butter and jelly without the USA!
