People Shared The Meals They Believe Best Represents Their State And It's Time To Debate If They're Right

    Prepare for your mouth to water while reading this!

    Salimah McCullough
    by Salimah McCullough

    BuzzFeed Staff

    A while ago, Reddit user emilou99 asked people what meal they thought accurately represented their entire state. Her goal was to cook each food from each state (she even documented it here!). Here are the foods that locals believe best represent their state as a whole:

    1. Alabama: Smoked chicken with white sauce

    Smoked chicken wings with Alabama white sauce
    The Washington Post / Getty Images

    —u/aguadulce_103

    Runner-up: "BBQ pulled pork sandwiches." —u/cm1358CM

    2. Alaska: Basically, anything made from wild salmon

    A plate of cooked salmon with a side salad
    Getty Images

    "You can make salmon chowder, smoked salmon, salmon dip, salmon cakes (like fish cakes), etc." 

    —u/esk_209

    Runner-ups: "Halibut chowder. Rhubarb is another essential dessert additive." —u/olive_blondie

    3. Arizona: Carne asada tacos

    Two carne asada tacos
    Getty Images

    "Prickly pear jam or jelly is also pretty unique for Arizona." 

    —u/Diveit81 

    Runner-ups:  "Navajo tacos or Sopaipillas." —u/Layfon_Alseif

    4. Arkansas: Chocolate gravy and biscuits

    5. California: Street tacos

    Getty Images

    "I would say street tacos or Mission-style burritos." 

    —u/justicecactus

    Runner-ups: "Definitely burritos and French dip sandwiches if you're in Los Angeles or San Diego."

    —u/tlh9979

    6. Colorado: Lamb chops with roasted red San Luis Valley potatoes

    Lamb chops
    Glenn Asakawa / Getty Images

    "Add some Olathe Sweet corn on the cob and Rocky Ford cantaloupes for dessert. I also love green chile, but that's New Mexico's dish."

    —u/PMmedemitays

    Runner-up: "The Fort has delicious Rocky Mountain oysters."

    —u/yodabeanz

    7. Connecticut: New Haven–style pizza

    close-up of clam pizza on tray
    Getty Images

    —u/Finn1743

    Runner-up: "Connecticut-style lobster rolls." —u/pieandtacos

    8. Delaware: Scrapple, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on a toasted pretzel bun

    9. Florida: Publix subs

    Publix / Via publix.com

    —kaysixwhy

    Runner-up: "Cuban sandwiches." —u/doubleo6

    10. Georgia: Shrimp and grits

    Getty Images

    "Or Brunswick stew with either pecan pie or peach cobbler for dessert." 

    —u/whispercream

    Runner-ups: "Biscuits and gravy or pecan pie." —u/ilovemymom4118

    11. Hawaii: Pan-fried slices of Spam, two scoops of white rice, and scrambled eggs

    12. Idaho: Finger steaks with fry sauce

    Getty Images

    —u/Seventh7Sun

    Runner-up: "If you're going to eat like Idaho, you need to make elk steak with huckleberry compote, sauteéd morel mushrooms, and roasted potatoes."

    —u/RubyShyne

    13. Illinois: Deep dish pizza

    Getty Images

    "The right way!" 

    —u/SaturatedIncense

    Runner-up: "An Italian beef/sausage combo sandwich dipped with hot giardiniera, mozzarella, sautéed sweet peppers, and some thin slices of fresh basil on the top." —u/Chrispychilla

    14. Indiana: Hoosier breaded pork tenderloin sandwich

    15. Iowa: Pork tenderloin

    Oversize pork tenderloin sandwich
    Getty Images

    "A huge fried pork tenderloin on a regular bun with scotcheroos for dessert."

    —u/Bake-tastic

    Runner-ups: "I'd suggest a Maid-Rite (properly seasoned), taco pizza, or Quad City–style pizza. Sweet corn on the cob, of course, and a Busch latte." —u/Diet-CokeWhore

    16. Kansas: Chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes covered in white gravy

    Getty Images

    —u/shs00007

    Runner-up: "Bierock with spicy mustard."—u/notclevergirl

    17. Kentucky: Hot brown

    18. Louisiana: Gumbo

    Getty Images

    "Or jambalaya." 

    —u/liontrap

    Runner-up: "My personal favorite is boiled crawfish." —u/Tweeks_coffee

    19. Maine: Lobster boil

    Getty Images

    "A lobster boil is the way to go for savory!" 

    —u/Kreos642


    Runner-up: "Whoopie pies." —u/lumphians

    20. Maryland: Crab feast with Old Bay seasoning

    21. Massachusetts: Clam chowder

    Getty Images

    "I would really say that clam chowder is more of a Massachusetts thing. Or steamed clams." 


    —u/antilogy

    Runner-up: "Clam boil with clams, corn on the cob, potatoes, onions, and chorizo."
    —u/PhotographyIsMyLife

    22. Michigan: Coney dogs

    Getty Images

    "Northern MI/U.P. = Pasties, Metro Detroit area = Coney dogs, and Detroit = Detriot-style pizza."

    —u/topshelfreach

    Runner-ups: "Pasties or smoked fish would be Michigan's meal." —u/telefunkenU-47

    23. Minnesota: Jucy Lucy (a cheeseburger with cheese inside the meat instead of on top of it)

    The Washington Post / Getty Images

    "Jucy Lucy in my opinion. Or a walleye sandwich." 
    —u/Kippismn 

    Runner-up: "Tator tot hotdish." —u/Wally_Tee

    24. Mississippi: Fried catfish with fries, hush puppies, collard greens, and black-eyed peas

    25. Missouri: BBQ burnt ends

    Getty Images

    "These are a Kansas City, Missouri, classic! Also, everyone loves something called pork steaks and cashew chicken from Springfield." 

    —u/1ckyThump

    Runner-up: "Toasted ravioli from St. Louis." —u/Gorkymalorki

    26. Montana: Bison burgers

    27. Nebraska: Runza

    28. Nevada: Shrimp cocktail and prime rib

    Getty Images

    —u/martinis00

    Runner-up: "Nevada's meal is definitely Basque. Garlic soup, salad, french fries, sweetbreads, oxtails, and lamb chops, served with picon punch and even more picon punch for dessert." 

    —u/HolgerDanks

    29. New Hampshire: Blueberry pancakes with fresh maple syrup

    Getty Images

    "Then some poutine, which we've stolen from our friends up north." 

    —u/NHToStay

    Runner-ups: "I would say lobster tails or other seafood." —u/unseenwaters

    30. New Jersey: Taylor ham, egg, and cheese on a bagel with salt, pepper, and ketchup

    Getty Images

    "Depending on where you live, you might find Taylor ham as a pork roll in your stores, if at all." 

    —u/phoenixthoughts

    Runner-up: "A big plate of disco fries; which are cheese and brown gravy on top of french fries." —u/peachplastic

    31. New Mexico: Green chile enchiladas

    Getty Images

    "Also, carne adovada or stuffed sopaipilla smothered in red chile." 

    —u/raceclay

    Runner-up: "A green chile cheeseburger." —u/mewbusi

    32. New York: NY-style pizza

    Theo Wargo / Getty Images

    "Or NY-style cheesecake."

    —u/gamersasha

    Runner-up: "A bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll is something every single person here has eaten at least once." —u/Evileye2k17

    33. North Carolina: Pulled pork sandwich with a vinegar-based sauce

    Getty Images

    "Be sure to have some hush puppies and coleslaw on the side!" 

    —u/coolerthanicebby

    Runner-up: "Tomato sandwich with Duke's mayonnaise and lots of salt and pepper." —u/kittybanditti

    34. North Dakota: Knoephla soup

    35. Ohio: Kielbasa and sauerkraut

    Getty Images

    "To me, Ohio food means kielbasa and sauerkraut and pierogies."

    —u/StacyChadBecky
    Runner-up: "Ohio has to be some Cincinnati-style chili. Placed atop a hot dog or spaghetti and topped with cheese!" —u/NotABadBelayer

    36. Oklahoma: Fried catfish

    Getty Images

    "Fry up some catfish and feel like you're in the great state of Oklahoma." 

    —u/sorta_saiyan

    Runner-up: "Probably a good chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, and sweet tea." —u/zombie_overlord 

    37. Oregon: Marionberries

    Getty Images

    "Anything with marionberries!" 

    —u/-Amico-

    Runner-up: "I'd say cedar-plank grilled salmon with a marionberry or huckleberry glaze." —u/NotASlaveToHelvetica 

    38. Pennsylvania: PA Dutch food

    Getty Images

    "How about some PA Dutch?! Chicken pot pie, chicken corn soup, shoofly pie, scrapple, and pork and sauerkraut." 

    —u/eliwil


    Runner-ups: "Dutch apple pie. The state is really split down the middle; the West might be pierogi while the East would be Philly cheesesteak. No wrong answers!" —u/angerpants 

    39. Rhode Island: Clam cakes

    40. South Carolina: She-crab soup

    41. South Dakota: Chislic

    "South Dakota is definitely chislic." 

    —u/sophietal

    Runner-up: "A really good Buffalo burger from Al's Oasis." —u/armlessfarmboy

    42. Tennessee: Nashville hot chicken

    Getty Images

    "Or Memphis-style BBQ." 

    —u/virgvirgvirg

    Runner-up: "Catfish! I've never been to a Southern-style restaurant here in Tennessee that didn't serve catfish somewhere on the menu. Heck, where I'm from, they pride themselves on catfish." —u/Dokidokipunch

    43. Texas: Smoked brisket with white bread, white onions, and pickled jalapeños

    Getty Images

    "And spicy BBQ sauce for the love of God." 

    —u/_scentipede 

    Runner-up: "I agree 100%, but Tex-Mex gotta be a close second." —u/FwampFwamp88 

    44. Utah: Funeral potatoes

    Homemade Funeral Potatoes Casserole with Cheese and Chives
    Getty Images

    "Funeral potatoes are cooked by many people here. You could also just make anything with fry sauce." 

    —u/Nickolaix

    Runner-up: "Beef stroganoff is a good choice, but any old-school casserole works." —u/artstechnophile

    45. Vermont: Apple grilled cheese

    46. Virginia: Virginia country ham with red-eye gravy

    Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service via Getty Images

    "If you're doing Virginia country ham, then you have to have red-eye gravy with it." 

    —u/CatMasterSquee

    Runner-up: "If I were picking a Virginian dish, I'd probably go with Brunswick stew. Especially because I believe it originated in Virginia." —u/jackdoug90

    47. Washington: Salmon with dill and butter, asparagus, and Yukon Gold potatoes on the side

    Getty Images

    "Huckleberry ice cream and/or apple pie for dessert."

    —u/moxyc

    Runner-up: "Oysters. Some of the best oysters come from Washington." —u/twoforjuan

    48. West Virginia: Pepperoni rolls

    49. Wisconsin: Beer brats topped with fried onions and sauerkraut and grilled sweet corn

    50. Wyoming: Rocky Mountain oysters

    Are there any foods you think better represent your state than the ones listed? Feel free to drop it in the comments below!