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Food
Erin McDowell
Updated
- Each state has its own signature sandwich, from grilled cheese to something called a Jucy Lucy.
- Indiana claims to have the best pork-tenderloin sandwich in the nation.
- Illinois is known for the Horseshoe, an open-face sandwich topped with fries and cheese sauce.
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Nothing hits the spot quite like a local-favorite sandwich.
We researched the most famous local sandwiches in every state, and while some may be up for debate, every sandwich on this list is at least worth trying.
These are America's most famous local sandwiches, from a classic grilled cheese to something called a Horseshoe.
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ALABAMA: A chicken sandwich with white barbecue sauce
Alabama's famous white barbecue sauce is creamy and tangy, made with mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and ground black pepper.
ALASKA: A wild Alaskan salmon sandwich
Alaska's salmon is said to be the freshest, pinkest salmon around.
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ARIZONA: Frybread tacos
Also known as "Navajo tacos," these are extremely popular in Arizona. The fried dough is topped with traditional taco fillings like meat, beans, and cheese.
ARKANSAS: A deep-fried catfish sandwich
Caught locally and tucked between two buttered buns, the deep-fried catfish sandwich is best paired with a side of fries and slaw.
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CALIFORNIA: An avocado club sandwich
Though the famed French Dip came out of this sunny state, it's best known for its avocados. Try one of California's fresh avocado club sandwiches to see why.
COLORADO: A Denver sandwich
You've heard of the Denver omelet, but have you heard of the Denver sandwich? It's a traditional Denver omelet filled with diced ham, onions, and green bell peppers, and then stuck between pieces of toast. Extra points if you add ham and hash browns.
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CONNECTICUT: A Connecticut hamburger
Connecticut is known for its non-traditional hamburgers, which are served on white toast with a choice of onion, tomato, or cheese, but no condiments. Try one at Louis' Lunch in New Haven.
DELAWARE: A soft-shell fried crab sandwich
Anyone visiting this fishing Mecca should try a soft-shell fried crab sandwich topped with coleslaw and leafy greens.
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FLORIDA: A Cuban sandwich
The sunshine state is known for its Cuban sandwich with generous portions of ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, all on two slices of Cuban bread.
GEORGIA: A fried-chicken sandwich
Those visiting Georgia — the original home of Chick-fil-A — should partake in a classic fried-chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and spicy mayo.
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HAWAII: A Kālua-style pork sandwich
Kālua-style pork is common fare at most luaus, but the slow-roasted and shredded meat is also amazing on sandwiches. Try yours with pineapple coleslaw for an extra Hawaiian punch.
IDAHO: The "Meat Your Maker" sandwich
The Best Sandwich Shack in Idaho really lives up to its name. Locals swear by the "Meat Your Maker" — a combo of steak, Italian sausage, bacon, and more.
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ILLINOIS: A Horseshoe sandwich
Illinois is known for an open-faced sandwich called the Horseshoe, made with thick-sliced toasted bread, your choice of meat, and topped with french fries and a secret cheese sauce.
INDIANA: A Hoosier sandwich
Indiana claims to have the best pork tenderloin in the nation. Put it to the test by tasting a Hoosier sandwich, or a breaded tenderloin on bread. Purists insist on trying it with only a few dill pickles and some mustard, but you can also get it with lettuce, tomato, and other fixings.
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IOWA: A Tavern or "loose meat" sandwich
This state is home to the tavern or "loose meat" sandwich. It's made with unseasoned ground beef, sauteed onions, and sometimes topped with pickles, ketchup, or mustard on a bun.
KANSAS: "Runza" or "bierocks"
"Runza" or "bierocks" are a bun-shaped bread pocket filled with beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. The recipe was spread by German immigrants to the Midwest.
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KENTUCKY: A Hot Brown sandwich
The Hot Brown sandwich originated at the Brown Hotel in Louisville in 1926. The open-faced sandwich with turkey and bacon is covered in cheesy Mornay sauce, and then baked or broiled until the sauce begins to brown.
LOUISIANA: A po' boy
The po' boy sandwich is one of Louisiana's most iconic eats. The classic sub is made with French bread and roast beef or fried seafood. A "dressed" po' boy has lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise with optional onions and hot or regular mustard.
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MAINE: A lobster roll
What else would you order in Maine but a classic lobster roll? Served on a lightly grilled bun and filled with steamed and buttered lobster, these sandwiches taste like summer.
MARYLAND: A crab-cake sandwich
You can find some of America's freshest crabs in Maryland. Try a crab-cake sandwich on a buttered bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion.
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MASSACHUSETTS: A Fluffernutter
If you've never tried the Fluffernutter sammie, you're missing out. It's made with soft white bread topped with peanut butter and marshmallow Fluff, which was invented by Archibald Query of Somerville, Massachusetts.
MICHIGAN: A corned-beef sandwich
Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor is known for its corned-beef sandwiches, especially the Oswald's Mile High, which is made with corned beef and yellow mustard on double-baked, hand-sliced Jewish rye bread.
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MINNESOTA: A Jucy Lucy
Though the war over which restaurant invented it continues, Minnesota is the official home of the Jucy Lucy — a burger cooked with cheese on the inside that oozes out at the first bite.
MISSISSIPPI: A pig-ear sandwich
A local staple in Jackson is a pig-ear sandwich. It's two tender pig ears served on a small bun with mustard, slaw, and hot sauce.
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MISSOURI: A Gerber sandwich
Feast on Missouri's famous Gerber, an open-faced sandwich with French bread, garlic butter, ham, Provolone, and paprika, and then perfectly toasted.
MONTANA: A PB&J with huckleberry jam
Montana is known for its huckleberries, which grow in the wild during the summer and fall seasons. Try its famous huckleberry jam for a delicious PB&J.
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NEBRASKA: A Reuben
The classic Reuben sandwich was supposedly invented by an Omaha grocer. It's made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing, and is best served on rye bread.
NEVADA: A Heart Attack Grill burger
Las Vegas' Heart Attack Grill is periodically in the news for its calorific burgers. Some variations contain five burger patties with bacon and, of course, a side of fries.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE: A fried ham and cheese Monte Cristo drizzled with syrup
One of the proudest accomplishments for this state is its delicious maple syrup. Order a fried ham and cheese Monte Cristo drizzled with it for the ultimate breakfast sammie.
NEW JERSEY: A Jersey breakfast sandwich
Stop by any Garden State diner and try the signature Jersey breakfast sandwich. It's thick-cut Taylor ham (or pork roll) with egg and American cheese on a hard Kaiser roll or bagel.
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NEW MEXICO: A green chile cheeseburger
A cheeseburger is one thing, but a green chile cheeseburger takes it to a whole other level. This state's signature vegetable adds a major kick to this classic American dish.
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NEW YORK: A pastrami sandwich on rye
There's nothing more NYC than a pastrami sandwich from Katz's Delicatessen in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The famous deli, which opened its doors in 1888, is known as one of the city's oldest delis, and it's arguably the most famous deli in the entire country.
The restaurant has been frequented by scores of celebrities and politicians over the years and was even featured in the classic 1989 romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally..." — Katz's is where the iconic"I'll have what she's having" scenetook place.
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NORTH CAROLINA: A pulled-pork sandwich
Just like Hawaii, one of North Carolina's best sandwiches is pulled pork, but make sure to smother it in a tangy, vinegar-based BBQ sauce.
NORTH DAKOTA: Smørbrød
This state's huge Scandinavian population love their Smørbrød, a classic open-faced sandwich commonly made with rye bread, roast beef, Gravlax (a type of salmon), butter, lettuce, Jarlsberg cheese, pickled herring, hard-boiled eggs, honey mustard, or cucumber.
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OHIO: A Polish boy
Not to be confused with Louisiana's po' boy, Ohio's Polish boy is a sausage sandwich native to Cleveland. It has a link of kielbasa covered with a layer of french fries, barbecue or hot sauce, and coleslaw, all on a bun.
OKLAHOMA: A chicken-fried steak sandwich
What's better than chicken-fried steak? That same breaded and fried steak on a hamburger bun with your choice of condiments.
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OREGON: A falafel pita
Portland is known for its delicious vegan food. Falafel pitas in particular are a popular choice, packed to the brim with veggies and hummus.
PENNSYLVANIA: A Philly cheesesteak
The state's most famous food by far is the classic Philly cheesesteak. Thinly cut steak handsomely topped with cheese on a roll is delicious by itself, but don't be afraid to add sautéed onions, peppers, mushrooms, mayonnaise, hot sauce, salt, pepper, or ketchup.
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RHODE ISLAND: A Dynamite sandwich
This tiny state is home to a very big sandwich. The Dynamite, which hails from Woonsocket, is a sloppy Joe burger made with onions, bell peppers, and celery. Be careful — it is spicy.
SOUTH CAROLINA: A tuna melt
People say the tuna melt was born in 1965 in South Carolina at the Woolworth's lunch counter. Head there and see for yourself why this simple delicacy is a Charleston classic.
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SOUTH DAKOTA: A walleye sandwich
South Dakota's walleye is next level, so it's no surprise that the state is known for its walleye sandwiches. When the flaky fish is fried to perfection, it will melt in your mouth.
TENNESSEE: A Fluffernutter
Sink your teeth into Elvis Presley's favorite sandwich, made with peanut butter, banana, and bacon. Just be careful — the mix of salty, sweet, and savory is highly addictive.
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TEXAS: A brisket sandwich
Barbecue brisket is the national dish of Texas, so try yours on some hardy, homemade bread with or without onions and bell peppers.
UTAH: A pastrami burger
When in Utah, it's perfectly acceptable to dig into a burger topped with a quarter-pound of thin-sliced pastrami. "Pastrami burgers," which originated at Crown Burgers in Salt Lake City, are slathered with a Thousand Island-style sauce as well as tomatoes, shaved lettuce, and onions.
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VERMONT: A Vermonter
The "Vermonter" takes advantage of its state's freshest ingredients, like turkey, ham, Vermont cheddar cheese, green apples, and honey mustard.
VIRGINIA: A grilled ham and cheese
There's almost nothing more classic than a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, and Virginia is known for its excellent cheeses and succulent ham.
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WASHINGTON: Bánh mì
Seattle has a large Vietnamese community and is home to some of the best bánh mì sandwiches in America. The inexpensive staple is usually made with pate, bright, crunchy vegetable slaw, fish sauce, and sliced jalapeño pepper or fresh cilantro.
WASHINGTON, DC: A chili half-smoke
Stop into Ben's Chili Bowl and order a chili half-smoke, a half pork, half beef smoked sausage served on a warm steamed bun with mustard, onions, and spicy homemade chili sauce.
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WEST VIRGINIA: An apple and turkey sandwich
Make a delicious apple and turkey sandwich with West Virginia's Golden Delicious apples. Cheese and apples sound like a weird combo, but it's worth it.
WISCONSIN: A sausage roll or brat bun
This Midwestern state has a large German immigrant population, so it's no surprise that its most famous sandwich contains classic bratwurst. Eat the sausage roll topped with mustard, sauerkraut, and cheese curds — another thing for which Wisconsin is well-known.
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WYOMING: A bison meatball sandwich
Wide-open Wyoming is where the buffalo roam ... and occasionally appear on menus. Try a bison meatball sandwich when you're here to taste the state's most famous meat.
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