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  • From the most historic to cult-favorite storefronts,

  • here's each state's most iconic restaurant.

  • In 1958, John "Big Daddy" Bishop opened Dreamland

  • in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

  • The barbecue joint's most iconic dish

  • is the pork spareribs.

  • They are cooked over a hickory-wood-fire pit

  • and basted with the restaurant's signature barbecue sauce.

  • Club Paris is Anchorage's oldest steakhouse.

  • Serving since the late 1950s,

  • the restaurant is known for its steak.

  • The hamburgers are even made withlet mignon.

  • El Charro Café has been around for nearly 100 years.

  • Not only is it historic,

  • it's also the birthplace of the chimichanga.

  • The Root Cafe is a farm-to-table restaurant

  • offering a variety of things,

  • like farm-fresh groceries, handmade burgers,

  • locally sourced brats, and baked goods.

  • Pink's Hot Dogs has been a Hollywood staple since 1939.

  • The stand serves over 2,000 hot dogs and hamburgers a day.

  • The options are creative, and the menu even offers

  • a hamburger with a hot dog in it.

  • The Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's most historic eatery.

  • The restaurant opened in 1893,

  • and presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower,

  • Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan have dined there.

  • One of the most popular items on the menu

  • is the Rocky Mountain oysters,

  • or deep-fried bull testicles.

  • Louis' Lunch is recognized by the Library of Congress

  • as the birthplace of the hamburger sandwich.

  • If you want to get a taste of the hamburger yourself,

  • be prepared to follow a few rules.

  • The patties can only be cooked medium-rare,

  • and there are no condiments.

  • While Charcoal Pit might look like your typical

  • shake-and-burger joint,

  • this institution has been a favorite for Delawareans

  • for over 60 years.

  • President-elect Joe Biden has been a fan

  • and used to eat there with his son Beau.

  • What started as a small lunch counter in 1913

  • has now turned into a Miami destination.

  • Joe's Stone Crab's most popular item is, obviously,

  • the stone crabs.

  • They're expertly cracked and enjoyed with mustard sauce.

  • Busy Bee Cafe is an Atlanta destination

  • for fried chicken and other Southern fare.

  • This place has always been busy,

  • like the restaurant's name,

  • and historic figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

  • and President Barack Obama have dined at the restaurant.

  • Waiahole Poi Factory started as a poi factory in 1905.

  • Now it is a restaurant that serves dishes

  • that you would find at a traditional Hawaiian luau.

  • As its namesake, the eatery continues

  • to hand-pound its poi,

  • which is made from taro root.

  • Westside Drive In's famous Idaho ice cream potato

  • looks like a baked potato, but it really isn't.

  • Vanilla ice cream is dusted in cocoa powder

  • and topped with whipped cream and chocolate.

  • Gene and Jude's is famous for its Depression Dogs,

  • which shouldn't be confused with the Chicago-style hot dog.

  • The hot dog is dressed in mustard, green relish,

  • onions, sport peppers,

  • and a heaping fistful of french fries.

  • St. Elmo Steak House is an old-school establishment

  • known for its steaks and spicy shrimp cocktails.

  • Fong's Pizza in downtown Des Moines is popular

  • for its funky concept.

  • It is most known for incorporating Asian flavors

  • into its pizzas.

  • The most famous is arguably the crab rangoon pizza.

  • Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is famous

  • for its award-winning ribs,

  • but its unique location is also a reason

  • why thousands visit every day.

  • The barbecue joint is located outside a gas station.

  • The Brown Hotel is home to a Louisville culinary icon:

  • the Hot Brown.

  • It's basically an open-faced turkey sandwich

  • with bacon and Mornay sauce,

  • which is a béchamel sauce with melted Gruyère.

  • Since 1862, Café du Monde has been a New Orleans tradition.

  • The coffee shop churns out delicious beignets 24/7,

  • except on Christmas Day.

  • The fritters are dusted with powdered sugar

  • and often enjoyed with the store's famous chicory coffee.

  • Red's Eats in Wiscasset has lines out the door

  • during peak season, and for good reason.

  • The restaurant's lobster rolls are time and time again

  • considered the best in Maine.

  • Each lobster roll is stuffed with a whole lobster's meat

  • and a side of melted butter.

  • When you think of Maryland, you think of crab cakes,

  • and Faidley's Seafood is the most iconic place to get them.

  • The award-winning crab-cake recipe

  • is made with giant morsels of blue crab,

  • which are then mixed with mustard

  • and Maryland's favorite seasoning: Old Bay.

  • Chopped saltines are also added

  • to give them added fluffiness.

  • Union Oyster House is Boston's oldest restaurant.

  • Established in 1826, the restaurant is considered

  • a national historic landmark

  • and is home to some of best clam chowder in the city.

  • Buddy's is where Detroit-style pizza was invented.

  • It's kind of like a Sicilian-style pizza,

  • except the key characteristic for this regional specialty

  • is the pan it's cooked in.

  • Legend has it that owner and inventor Gus Guerra

  • got the thick steel pans from a friend

  • who worked in a factory.

  • Acting like a cast-iron skillet,

  • this cooking method makes the pizza get a crunchy exterior

  • with caramelized cheese stuck to its edges.

  • Matt's Bar in Minneapolis boasts of inventing the Jucy Lucy,

  • a cheese-stuffed hamburger.

  • It's time and time again been considered

  • one of the best burgers in the United States.

  • Weidmann's in downtown Meridian has been around since 1870

  • and has been a community staple ever since.

  • The restaurant has continued its tradition

  • of serving every table a jar of peanut butter and crackers

  • since World War II.

  • Arthur Bryant's Barbeque is a destination in Kansas City.

  • The barbecue is doused in the restaurant's famous

  • vinegary, paprika-y sauce.

  • If you visit, make sure to try the ribs

  • and the burnt ends.

  • Sir Scott's Oasis has been a longstanding eatery

  • in Manhattan, Montana.

  • One of the most popular menu items

  • is the finger steak dinner.

  • The original recipe is basically steak strips deep-fried

  • and served with cocktail sauce.

  • Stella's Bar and Grill is a community staple

  • and popular for its burgers.

  • The burgers are so popular,

  • the restaurant has been named Omaha's best burger

  • for 10 years in a row.

  • Part of the reason why the burgers are so special

  • is each ground-beef patty is hand-pressed

  • on a cast-iron grill.

  • Lotus of Siam stands out from other Las Vegas eateries

  • for its award-winning northern Thai food.

  • Chefs, celebrities, and foodies around the world

  • have lauded the restaurant

  • as one of the best Thai restaurants in the country.

  • Popular dishes include khao soi and garlic prawns.

  • Polly's Pancake Parlor is a famous pancake restaurant

  • known for its variety of batter options.

  • Some of the mixes, like buckwheat and cornmeal,

  • are stone-ground on premises.

  • And, of course, the pancakes wouldn't be complete

  • without real maple syrup.

  • You might recognize Carlo's Bakery

  • from the hit show "Cake Boss."

  • Buddy Valastro creates these amazing,

  • larger-than-life cakes in real life, too.

  • The shop is also popular for its pastries and baked goods.

  • El Pinto is known for its New Mexican cuisine.

  • The restaurant uses a fair bit of chilies,

  • including in its famous red chili ribs.

  • Katz's Delicatessen is a legend and icon in New York.

  • The old-school restaurant has been around since 1888

  • and is world-famous for its pastrami on rye sandwich.

  • At Lexington Barbecue, the pit-cooked barbecue

  • is served Lexington style,

  • which is a western North Carolina specialty.

  • This style of barbecue uses a red sauce,

  • and at this spot,

  • they use a tangy vinegar- and ketchup-based sauce.

  • Anything on the menu is great,

  • but the pork shoulder is a must.

  • Red Pepper, or "The Pep," is a famous hangout spot

  • for UND students.

  • Its grinders, or sub sandwiches, are massive.

  • The everything grinder takes it up a notch

  • because it's got it all: the signature white sauce,

  • ham, turkey, salami, taco meat, and Colby cheese.

  • Camp Washington Chili serves what Cincinnati is known for:

  • Cincinnati chili.

  • The James Beard Foundation honored the restaurant

  • with an America's Classic award,

  • making it the only restaurant in the city to win the title.

  • Spaghetti is topped with the house chili,

  • which has a secret blend of spices.

  • If you order chili three-way,

  • it'll come with a handful of shredded

  • Wisconsin cheddar cheese.

  • An Oklahoma staple, Cattlemen's Steakhouse

  • was originally a hub for cattlemen, farmers, and cowboys.

  • Situated in the middle of the historic Stockyard City,

  • the steakhouse is famous for lamb fries,

  • which are fried lamb testicles,

  • and great-quality steaks.

  • Voodoo Doughnut started in Portland

  • and has become world-famous for its creative

  • and quirky doughnuts.

  • Iconic flavors include the bacon maple bar

  • and Voodoo Doll.

  • John's Roast Pork is not only

  • a must-go destination for tourists,

  • it's also been a local favorite for decades.

  • The restaurant is considered the best

  • to get two of Philadelphia's most iconic sandwiches:

  • the roast pork and cheesesteak.

  • Al Forno in Providence is famous

  • for starting the popular grilled pizza.

  • The Margherita has a thin and crispy crust,

  • and the cheese and sauce are bright.

  • Husk in Charleston is famous for taking Southern food

  • to a whole new level.

  • The restaurant only uses ingredients

  • that are from the South,

  • and the menu is constantly changing.

  • Cattleman's Steakhouse isn't your typical

  • white-tablecloth restaurant.

  • While the restaurant serves quality Black Angus steaks

  • and delicious prime rib, the dining experience is casual.

  • You can still find sawdust on the floor,

  • a tradition that started when owner Myril Arch

  • opened the restaurant with his son in 1986.

  • Prince's Hot Chicken is the originator

  • of Nashville's hot chicken.

  • Prince's authentic recipe is kept a secret,

  • and the kitchen is always closely guarded.

  • Whatever goes into this fiery dish,

  • locals and tourists can't get enough.

  • Considered by many to be Austin's best barbecue joint,

  • Salt Lick is known for its smoked meats

  • that are grilled on top of a giant pit.

  • While you can't go wrong with anything on the menu,

  • the brisket especially does Texas proud.

  • Crown Burgers is a small fast-food chain

  • that is based in Salt Lake City.

  • Its famous Crown Burger is a cheeseburger with hot pastrami.

  • Maple Sugar and Vermont Spice in Killington

  • makes its own maple syrup and serves it

  • alongside the restaurant's breakfast items.

  • The part-gift-shop, part-restaurant

  • is considered one of the best breakfast spots in town.

  • Since 1935, Riverside Lunch

  • has been a no-frills local favorite

  • for its hand-pressed, greasy-in-a-good-way burgers.

  • Beecher's started in Pike Place Market

  • and has become a Seattle staple.

  • The restaurant makes its own signature Flagship cheese,

  • which is a key ingredient

  • to its award-winning mac 'n' cheese.

  • Pies and Pints is a famous restaurant

  • known for its unconventional pizzas.

  • The grape and Gorgonzola pie is a crowd favorite

  • for its sweet and savory combination.

  • Leon's Frozen Custard is an iconic destination in Milwaukee.

  • It's been around since 1942, and upon entering the drive-in,

  • guests can feel like they're traveling back in time.

  • The famous custards are thick, creamy, and delicious.

  • The Luxury Diner is situated inside

  • what used to be a trolley.

  • The restaurant is popular for its hearty fare,

  • including the green chili, country-fried steak,

  • and corned beef hash.

  • While they aren't states,

  • here are the most iconic restaurants

  • in Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

  • Ben's Chili Bowl is an iconic diner

  • and landmark in the DC area.

  • While the menu offers the usual diner items,

  • The half-smoke, a chili hot dog, is the signature item.

  • The lechón from El Rancho de Apa

  • comes from a whole roasted pig.

  • Because it's cooked for more than five hours,

  • the skin is super crispy and the meat is juicy.

  • The dish is paired with pigeon pea rice and plantains.

  • What foods do you think we should cover next?

  • Let us know in the comments.

From the most historic to cult-favorite storefronts,

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