There's no shortage of fine-dining restaurants and modern, creative cuisine in the USA – but sometimes, only a rib-sticking comfort dish will hit the spot. From golden fried chicken to America's top burgers, we've scoured the country to find the comfort food dishes each state is famous for – and every single one is a must try. Get cozy, and dig in!

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the best comfort dish in every US state – and where to try it. 

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

Plenty of regions have a signature barbecue dish – and the Yellowhammer State is no exception. Alabamians like their meat smothered in a comforting white sauce, typically made with mayonnaise, vinegar, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Try it at down-home joint Big Bob Gibson's BBQ, which has two locations in northern Alabama's Decatur; here, the signature sauce is slathered over everything, from pork to smoked chicken wings.  

In Alaska, you can't go wrong with a heaping plate of king crab legs – a Last Frontier staple. They typically come slathered with butter, and served with coleslaw and bread rolls. If you're visiting the Alaskan capital of Juneau, make a beeline for Tracy's King Crab Shack; as the name suggests, this down-to-earth spot specializes in the seafood specialty, serving up delicious crab legs by the buttery bucketload. 

There are endless delicacies to try in Arizona, from some of the finest Mexican cuisine in the USA to traditional Native fry bread. But for a comforting meal, you should plump for a Sonoran hot dog – a classic hot dog sausage bundled into a traditional Mexican bolillo (a kind of bread roll) then loaded up with bacon, pinto beans, jalapeños, and sauces. Get your fix at BK Carne Asada and Hot Dogs in Tucson, one of two UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy in the USA. 

What could be more comforting than a bowl of cheese dip? The Arkansas staple is typically made with good old-fashioned processed cheese (such as Kraft) and spiked with chili for an extra kick. There are endless places to get your fix, but we recommend Izzy's in state capital Little Rock. This convivial restaurant serves its cheese dip with tortilla chips – making it the perfect appetizer to enjoy before tamales or a quesadilla. 

The Golden State is a gourmand's delight – though it's more famous for its farm-fresh salads than its rib-sticking comfort food. However, California's tasty fish tacos are the kind of hearty, satisfying fare that's sure to put a spring in your step. To make them, white fish (such as cod or tilapia) is fried up with spices, then piled into a flour tortilla with crema (a kind of sour cream) and crunchy cabbage. You're spoiled for choice when it comes to top taco joints, but both San Diego's Puesto and LA's Tacos Baja get high praise from diners. 

You'd be forgiven for thinking this was a seafood dish – but Colorado's signature Rocky Mountain oysters aren't from the ocean at all. They're actually deep-fried bull testicles, originally cooked up by ranchers in the American West. They're an acquired taste and texture, but those who love them swear that they're supremely comforting. To decide for yourself, head to Denver's Buckhorn Exchange, a historic restaurant that serves its take on the dish with a horseradish dipping sauce. 

Everyone's favorite hand-held snack, the hamburger, was invented in Connecticut (at Louis' Lunch in New Haven). But did you know that the state offers a special twist on the classic, too? Jack's Lunch, a now-shuttered diner in Middletown, is credited with the invention of the steamed cheeseburger – which is exactly what it sounds like. The go-to place to try it these days is Ted's Restaurant in Meridien. The menu is big, but you can't go wrong with 'The Everything,' a steamed cheeseburger layered up with salad, pickles, and condiments including mustard, mayo, and ketchup. 

OK, you don't have to travel far in the US to find great French fries, but Delaware excels at this classic American side dish – and beachside shacks that put fries front and center abound along the coast. Head to Rehoboth Beach, where Thrasher's French Fries has become an institution. Boardwalk Fries in Bethany Beach gets its fair share of love from customers, too. 

From gator bites to Key lime pie, the Sunshine State has plenty of comforting eats to sink your teeth into – but our favorite is the mighty Cuban sandwich, a belly-busting parcel of roasted pork, ham, and pickles on traditional Cuban bread. Follow your taste buds to Miami, where the Little Havana neighborhood serves the finest Cuban sandwiches around. At the historic Versailles Restaurant, you can wrap your hands around a version that contains all the staple ingredients, plus Swiss cheese and mustard. 

In the Peach State, it's a sweet treat that takes the comfort food crown. You can't leave without trying a generous portion of Georgia's classic dessert: peach cobbler, a traditional pie with fresh fruit, a biscuity topping and, perhaps, a scoop of ice cream on the side. You can get a soul-nourishing serving of the staple dish at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, which also serves heaving plates of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac 'n' cheese, and collard greens, family style.

This dish is so popular in Hawaii that there's even a day dedicated to celebrating it: National Spam Musubi Day (August 8). Canned pork product Spam became a staple part of Hawaiian food culture post-World War II. The specific origins of Spam musubi – a sushi-style dish that sees Spam layered on top of rice, then wrapped in nori (seaweed) – are hazy, but its invention is often credited to Japanese American cook Barbara Funamura. Modern Got’z Grindz in Kaneohe, Oahu is a great place to sample it. 

There are few things more indulgent or comforting than deep-fried finger steaks – which are kind of like giant chicken nuggets, made with beef. They're ubiquitous in Idaho (a state that's also known for its hearty potato dishes); you can find them on menus at a whole host of cheerful, family-friendly restaurants. A must-try is Lindy's Steak House in Boise, which is known for its well-seasoned, garlicky finger steaks, served with a generous heap of fries.

You'll no doubt be familiar with Illinois' favorite comfort food. Chicago's decadent deep-dish pizza is legendary, consisting of a tall pie crust filled with gooey cheese, rich tomato sauce, and your choice of toppings. Try it at the brilliant Burt's Place in the suburb of Morton Grove (where you also shouldn't miss the cannoli) – or head to Bartoli's (in West Town or Roscoe Village) for the 'Chicago Classic,' a pizza pie loaded with Italian sausage, mushrooms, peppers, and onions.

Iowa's classic Maid-Rite sandwich is a little like a Sloppy Joe, featuring seasoned ground beef piled high with onions, all packed into a pillowy bun. The cheerful Maid-Rite fast-food chain first opened in Iowa back in the 1920s – and these days, locations are ubiquitous across the state. There are also outposts in a few other Midwestern states, including Illinois and Minnesota. 

The western half of Kansas City crosses over into the Sunflower State, meaning you can get your hands on some stellar barbecue here – in particular, great burnt ends. The aptly named Burnt Ends BBQ in suburb Overland Park is one of the finest places to try the dish in the city. You can get your beef or pork burnt ends laden into a sandwich, or graze on a platter loaded with extras like fries and coleslaw. 

Kentucky is synonymous with fried chicken – not least because of Colonel Sanders and his secret blend of eleven herbs and spices (the Colonel founded KFC in Corbin, Kentucky during the Great Depression). Today you can find delicious fried chicken across the state, often served with buttery corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. A fried chicken trail winds its way across the state too, from Corbin to Louisville. In the latter, be sure to visit Shirley Mae's Café, a charming cash-only joint that serves some of the most mouth-watering Southern-fried chicken wings around.

This Louisiana original is thought to have been invented at the humble Martin Brothers’ Coffee Stand (owned by Bennie and Clovis Martin) during a streetcar workers' strike in the 1920s. The Martin brothers began doling out hearty sandwiches to the striking laborers, which they referred to as 'poor boys' – hence the name. Today you can find these satisfying sandwiches all over the state, often filled with fried shrimp. There are plenty of spots to try one in New Orleans, but we recommend Verti Marte, an old-school deli on Royal Street.

No trip to Maine would be complete without sampling a lobster roll. These delectable sandwiches typically see delicate chunks of lobster piled into a buttery roll and topped with mayonnaise. You'll find the best versions in unassuming seaside shacks; we love the simply named (and long-running) Lobster Shack at Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, southern Maine. Eat here and you'll get epic waterside views with your lunch.

More seafood delights await in the state of Maryland. You've no doubt heard of Maryland crab cakes – delicate patties typically made with lump crab, and lifted with herbs and zesty lemon (sometimes with a sprinkling of Old Bay seasoning, too). For your fill, make a beeline to Baltimore's historic Lexington Market. Here, you'll find veteran seafood spot Faidley's Seafood, which has been dishing up its crowd-pleasing crab cakes since 1886. 

On cold days in Massachusetts, nothing beats a warming bowl of clam chowder. When done right, it's creamy and buttery, with chunks of potato, clams, and bacon, all ready to be scooped up by thick hunks of bread. If you're spending time in Boston, you should make for the Union Oyster House (the city's oldest restaurant). It serves a stellar chowder, alongside other New England seafood favorites.

If there's one comfort food dish that's synonymous with Michigan – specifically with Detroit – it's the Coney dog. There's a fierce rivalry between Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island, neighboring vendors that were originally owned by feuding brothers. Most Detroiters swear by one or the other, but both spots' offerings feature a beef frankfurter encased in a steamed bun, topped with meat chili, onions, and mustard.

Sample this dish in any Minnesota restaurant, and it's sure to feel like a taste of home cooking. A classic hotdish typically sees meat and vegetables combined in a creamy sauce (often canned mushroom soup), and topped with tater tots and cheese. For a taste of the best, head for Crooked Pint Ale House – there are a few locations across the state.

From fried green tomatoes to shrimp and grits, Mississippi does comforting Southern cooking just right – but it's the state's signature dessert that we can't get enough of. There are a few variations, but most Mississippi mud pies feature layers of flourless cake, ice cream (or meringue), gooey fudge sauce, and plenty of nuts. The sweet treat is ubiquitous on Mississippi dessert menus, but we think the best version is served at The Chimneys in Gulfport. This elegant restaurant is your go-to stop for all the Southern classics. 

Plenty of states have their preferred style of barbecue – and Kansas City's way of doing things is particularly renowned. Beef burnt ends (pictured) are a favorite here, coated in an unctuous molasses-based sauce. There are endless places to chow down on fine barbecue in the city, but Arthur Bryant's Barbecue is arguably the most famous. People describe the burnt ends here as deliciously tender.

Montana is an agricultural titan – and among the state's sweet bounty is an abundance of huckleberries. The best way to eat them? Baked into a huckleberry pie, of course! Plenty of quaint bakeries across the state are known for serving up generous slices of the dessert, but we love Glen's Mountain View Cafe in Florence. Huckleberry pie isn't always on the menu here, but when it is, it's the best you can buy.

Have you ever heard of a runza? It's a delicious doughy hand-held snack, filled with ground beef, cabbage, and onions – and it's as rib-sticking as it sounds. The dish has German-Russian origins, but the first Runza restaurant (named after the dish) was founded in Lincoln, Nebraska in the 1940s. Today you can try the Nebraskan delicacy at Runza joints everywhere from Scottsbluff to Falls City.

Head to Las Vegas and you'll find your fair share of hearty, satisfying comfort food, from prime rib to decadent seafood buffets. But you can't go wrong with a zingy shrimp cocktail, a dish that's become a Sin City classic over the decades. Get yours at Lola’s, a Louisiana-inspired restaurant whose flavorful cocktail sauce is made in-house. 

It may not be the prettiest dish to look at, but a classic New England boiled dinner is like a hug on a plate – and it's done especially well in restaurants across New Hampshire. A typical plate includes some form of meat (oftentimes corned beef) served up alongside boiled cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. Sample it for yourself at the convivial Kathleen's Irish Pub in Bristol. 

It's estimated that there are more than 2,000 pizzerias in the state of New Jersey, so you're never very far away from a tasty slice of pie. However, Trenton, New Jersey is credited with inventing the tomato pie: a tempting thin-crust pizza laden with cheese and toppings, then finished with lashings of tomato sauce. Located in Robbinsville, DeLorenzo's Tomato Pies has been dedicated to serving some of the state's finest since 1947. 

Green chiles are everywhere in the Land of Enchantment – and there's no more comforting way to enjoy them than heaped on top of a juicy beef burger. You'll find iterations of this spicy burger in diners and casual restaurants all over the state, but our favorites are served at Bob's Burgers (a small chain centered around Albuquerque) and Dick's Cafe in Las Cruces. 

The City That Never Sleeps is overrun with comforting eats, from New York–style cheesecake to giant slices of pizza, not to mention bagels layered with lox and cream cheese. But for a snack that'll soothe your soul, you should get your teeth into a classic pastrami sandwich. The offering from Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side – made famous by 1989 rom-com When Harry Met Sally – is a classic.

North Carolina is another state that's renowned for its barbecue. Pulled pork, often hickory smoked, is a staple of many a menu in restaurants across the state – and it usually comes either doled into a sandwich, or served on a platter with sides like coleslaw and fries. You're spoiled for choice when it comes to amazing barbecue joints here, but you can't go wrong with Lexington Barbecue (located in namesake Lexington) or Skylight Inn BBQ in Ayden.

Carnivores will love the Rough Rider State, not least because a meaty bison burger is North Dakota's premier comfort food. Bison patties are typically served like a typical beef burger – layered up with onions, salad, cheese and condiments. As its name suggests, The Bison Turf in Fargo offers a solid take on the dish.

Cincinnati chili is a staple of Ohio's Queen City. Get it 'three way,' and your spaghetti will come doused with beef chili and lashings of cheese. Upgrade to 'five way,' and you'll get the same, plus beans and diced onions. There's a plethora of places to try the classic dish, but you'll find the best at Skyline Chili, which has locations across town. 

Not many dishes are more filling or indulgent than chicken-fried steak – and Oklahoma has become well-known for the meaty entrée. The dish is created by pounding a cut steak until thin and tender, then breading and frying it (just like classic fried chicken). To make it even more irresistible, it typically comes slathered in a thick, savory gravy. For the best version, head to Cheever's Cafe in Oklahoma City; its tempting offering is served with a jalapeño cream gravy and garlicky mashed potatoes.

Oregonians are mighty proud of its marionberries, a blackberry variety that's grown exclusively in the Beaver State. These tart yet delightfully sweet berries are delicious in their own right – but for a really comforting treat, seek them out baked into a buttery pie case and topped with ice cream. The version served at the Dayville Cafe (in Dayville, Eastern Oregon) is well worth the drive. 

Pennsylvania's ultimate comfort food is, of course, the much-loved Philly cheesesteak. The cheesesteak is tastiest in its purest form, featuring thinly sliced steak bundled into a hoagie roll, then finished with Whiz cheese, peppers, and onions. Established in 1930, Pat's King of Steaks is the place where the indulgent sandwich was invented – but we recommend that you give rival joint Geno's Steaks a try, too. 

The USA's smallest state noses up to the Atlantic Ocean, so it's no surprise that seafood reigns supreme in these parts. For a comforting seafood snack, make sure you try Rhode Island's calamari. The aptly named Ocean State has become well known for its delicately battered, perfectly seasoned squid. For the best, head to Andino's in Providence, where the delicacy features on a menu loaded with seafood-stuffed Italian entrées. 

You'll find plenty of menus filled with comforting Southern cooking in the Palmetto State – but for something truly South Carolinian, you must try the she-crab soup. It's thought that the deliciously creamy bisque was invented in Charleston back in the 1920s, at the still-operating John Rutledge House Inn. Today, the best place to try the dish is the Charleston Crab House; its version is made with a generous amount of cream, sherry, and crab roe.

Unsurprisingly given the state's high number of sheep and cattle farms, a meaty morsel wins the prize for South Dakota's best comfort food. Chislic comprises small cubes of meat (typically lamb), which are grilled or fried, generously seasoned, then served on a stick. Popular Urban Chislic in Sioux Falls is a great place to sample some. 

From barbecue to soul food, there's no shortage of comfort food to be found in Tennessee – but sitting head and shoulders above the rest is Nashville's addictive hot chicken. Purportedly invented by a scorned wife who wanted to punish her cheating husband with a too-spicy dish, hot chicken has become beloved in the Tennessean capital. It's served up across the state, but you shouldn't miss the original (and what many say is the best) at Prince's Hot Chicken. 

Texas is one of the best states for belly-busting barbecue – and here, brisket is king. The sought-after cut of beef is typically smoked to perfection, and often comes smothered in a tangy barbecue sauce. There are endless places to eat it throughout the state, but you won't be disappointed at Franklin Barbecue in Austin, or at Lonestar Sausage & BBQ in Houston.

The name might not be too appealing, but the dish itself certainly is. It's so named for its traditional place at family gatherings (specifically, wakes), and it's a warming concoction of potatoes, unctuous cream sauce (or creamy soup), generous amounts of cheese, and a crunchy topping – typically cornflakes or breadcrumbs. Give the dish a try at Huckleberry Grill in state capital Salt Lake City. 

There are sugar shacks serving incredible maple syrup right across the Green Mountain State – so you know what to order for breakfast! A stack of pancakes drizzled (or drenched) in locally produced maple syrup is the perfect way to start the day. In Mendon, Maple Sugar & Vermont Spice is a working sugar house that's well known for its charming restaurant; on the menu you'll find delicious pumpkin pancakes with house-made maple syrup. 

It's a bold claim indeed, but some say that Virginia is the birthplace of beloved pasta dish mac 'n' cheese – which sees macaroni smothered in a decadent cheese sauce, then baked with yet more cheese. It's said that third president Thomas Jefferson (who was from Virginia) brought the dish back to US soil from Northern Italy. It also appeared in The Virginia House-Wife, a cookbook by Mary Randolph, in 1824. The dish is served on many a menu, but we love the offering from BIGWIFE's Mac n' Cheese food truck, parked up in Richmond. 

This Seattle original is as delicious as it looks. The dish is thought to have been invented at Manca's Cafe in the early 20th century, and it's somewhere between a giant fluffy pancake and a British Yorkshire pudding. Try one at Seattle's Tilikum Place Cafe – there's a whole list of varieties, from classic Dutch babies (with lemon, powdered sugar, and maple syrup) to deliciously sweet versions topped with mango, mascarpone, and amaretti cookies.

West Virginia isn't always hyped up as a foodie state, but you can still find plenty of tasty eats here. Among its roster of comfort foods is the humble pepperoni roll – a swirl of dough, Italian herbs, tomato sauce, pepperoni, and cheese that once made a hearty lunch for West Virginia's hard-working coal miners. They're often served as appetizers at down-to-earth sports bars or grills; try The Lost River General Store & Cafe in the east of the state for some of the best. 

There's a reason why Wisconsin is nicknamed 'America's Dairyland' – it's estimated that the state is home to almost 25% of the USA's dairy farms. It's no surprise, then, that cheese curds have become a state delicacy. These golden, squeaky, cheesy delights can be found all over the state, often served with ranch or a spicy dipping sauce. We think the best in the state can be found at The Old Fashioned, a cheerful tavern in state capital Madison.

Plenty of states know how to cook a fine cut of beef, but Wyoming always gets high praise for its steak dinners. It's estimated that Wyoming has twice as many cows as people, and endless restaurants across the state specialize in serving tasty cuts, from roasted chuck to sirloin. Plenty of folks say that the best steakhouse in Wyoming is The Gun Barrel Steak & Game House in Jackson – here, you'll find the likes of strip loin with truffle oil and wild mushroom butter, and rib eye served with Cajun onion straws.

Now discover America's bucket-list food experiences, state by state