If you ask a number of individuals to guess America’s favorite foods, you will likely receive similar responses. It is common knowledge that pizza, sandwiches, and fries are popular menu items at both fast food and traditional restaurants. However, did you consider gyoza or hummus? It may come as a surprise to discover that the top most popular foods in the United States are not typical high school cafeteria fare.
There are numerous methods for determining the nation’s favorite foods, but we used Grubhub to determine what Americans craved in 2022. The delivery platform, comprised of 320,000 restaurant partners in more than 4,000 cities, analyzed data from hundreds of thousands of users to determine which foods (and a few beverages!) we order repeatedly. You’ll undoubtedly find some of your favorites (the best burgers are difficult to beat), but you may be surprised by other items.
If the mere thought of perusing this list is making you hungry, visit the nation’s best pizza and coffee shops. Also, don’t neglect to sample the state’s cuisine.
Sesame Chicken
This dish of fried poultry served in Chinese restaurants has its origins in the United States. A sweet-and-salty sauce composed of honey, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil is applied to it. It was surpassed by General Tso’s chicken in Grubhub’s poll four years ago, but this year it reigns preeminent. Have you heard about these chicken-flavored foods?
Nachos
Here are some culinary facts for you: This popular bar snack dates back to 1943 when chef Ignacio Anaya Garca combined tortilla chips, cheese, and jalapeno peppers to appease ravenous customers. Frank Liberto introduced them to Arlington Stadium, home of the Texas Rangers, in 1977, and they quickly became a stadium standard.
Seaweed Salad
In Japanese cuisine, this classic mélange coated in soy sauce, mirin, sesame, and yuzu juice is a staple appetizer. (You’ve likely seen it alongside miso soup on American menus as well.) If you’ve ever wondered how it obtains its otherworldly green hue, here’s a quick lesson in science: Chlorophyll has a high melting point, and when seaweed is boiled, other pigments evaporate, leaving behind the brilliant green hue.
Chili
People are so passionate about chili that the World Championship Chili Cook-Off is one of the world’s largest culinary competitions. Whether Americans order Cincinnati-style chili, chili con carne, or traditional Texas red, it is evident that we cannot get enough.
Pizza Margherita
The basic yet iconic pie made of basil, mozzarella, and tomato is a mainstay in many Italian restaurants in the United States, but according to legend, the style originated in Naples. The history of pizza is somewhat obscure, but the pizza Margherita was purportedly created by Raffaele Esposito in 1889 in honor of Italy’s unification and was named after Margherita of Savoy, the queen of Italy. Today, pizza-obsessed tourists can locate a plaque identifying Pizzeria Brandi as the birthplace of the pizza margherita in Naples.
Hummus
Currently worth approximately $2.95 billion, the global hummus market is projected to reach $6.6 billion by 2028. While hummus is ranked a modest 45th this year, we anticipate great things for the Middle Eastern delicacy.
Sweet Potato Fries
If your face brightens up whenever a waiter asks whether you’d prefer regular or sweet potato fries, you’re not alone. Not to be confused with yams, agricultural scientist George Washington Carver is credited with discovering over a hundred new applications for the humble sweet potato. His innovative recipes, such as sweet potato cakes and hash-browned sweet potatoes, paved the way for the fry to flourish.
Cheese Quesadilla
Authentic quesadilla recipes would have called for masa tortillas stuffed with Oaxaca cheese. Today, there are a multitude of variations on this popular Mexican dish, the majority of which are prepared with flour tortillas, stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese, and served with salsa and fresh avocado.
Chicken Tenders
The United States consumes eight billion (yes, billion) poultry annually, so it is not surprising that chicken appears twice on this list. However, chicken tenders (not to be confused with chicken morsels) are said to have been created by a New Hampshire restaurant.
Wonton Soup
It should not come as a revelation that this Chinese cuisine staple is a delivery food favorite. What’s not to adore about pork-filled dumplings floating in a salty, briny chicken broth? This dish dates back to the Qing Dynasty, which lasted from 1644 to 1911, so you know it has stood the test of time.
Salmon Avocado Roll
Sushi and sashimi are frequently considered healthful dining options, and these sushi rolls certainly meet that standard. A six- to eight-piece salmon-and-avocado roll contains approximately 300 calories, protein, and healthful fat.
Garlic Knots
Another popular Italian restaurant dish that was invented in the United States. Food historians have narrowed the location to New York, either Brooklyn or Queens, although the precise location within these municipalities is the subject of heated debate. They became popular because they allowed restaurants to dispose of excess pizza dough.
Bean Burrito
In 2018, bean burritos topped this list, but their popularity appears to have diminished in recent years. They are an Americanized rendition of Mexican cuisine, and you would not find them in Mexico, at least not in the familiar form.
Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
Yes, this is a reference to the popular Taco Bell menu item. The dish consists of delicately breaded, crispy russet potatoes coated with nacho cheese and low-fat sour cream. The chain removed them from the menu for six months in 2020 but reintroduced them in March 2021 in response to popular demand.
Thai Iced Tea
It may not be an entrée in and of itself, but it is the ideal accompaniment to dozens of dishes (as evidenced by the frequency with which diners order it). Thai iced tea recipes differ, but the beverage is typically composed of brewed black tea, sugar, and spices such as star anise, cardamom, and tamarind. Fans should also try chai tea and bubble tea for flavorful tastes.
Milkshake
The milkshake as we know it became popular in the 1940s and 1950s when drink-mixing appliances were invented. In New York, 6,000 liters of milkshakes were blended together to create the world’s largest milkshake. That seems like enough, right?
Hamburger
Few cuisines are as iconic as the humble hamburger, and Connecticut is responsible for the creation of this all-American dish. Louis Lassen of Louis’ Lunch served steak sandwiches to employees in 1895, but he didn’t want to waste any of the meat, so he ground it up, grilled it, and placed it between two slices of bread. Voilà! The burger was created. If you’re interested, the restaurant is still in New Haven and still in the same family.
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