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Despite a reputation for the ridiculous, both in calories and portions, the United States has a deep and colorful food culture. There is an abundance of items, from snacks to ingredients that tend to not exist anywhere else.
Someone asked, “Non-Americans, what’s your favorite American food you can’t get in your country?” People shared their experiences and dishes that they simply could not recreate outside of the USA. So get comfortable, assemble some snacks, and get scrolling. Be sure to upvote your favorite posts and comment your thoughts below.
Image credits: ballroombritz
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A friend of mine who’s a foreign exchange student misses Wisconsin deep fried cheese curds the most.
unfilteredCigarette73 2 years ago (edited)
These are a separate food group in the upper Midwest, I live there(MN) and can confirm
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#2
American pancakes. Doughnuts. Basically diner food! I want American diners in Norway!
Doctor Strange 2 years ago
Come to New Jersey, Land of the Midnight Diner. NJ is known for its excellent, twenty four hour diners.
#3
Was in Houston in August 2016. Me and my girlfriend (British) went to a mexican bar/restaurant called Paparruchos.
Honestly, ruined Mexican food for us. We can't ever have it in the UK again, I've tried three or four times since from various places and it just doesn't even begin to compare to the pure culinary joy we got from Paparruchos.
While internet culture and memes have perhaps skewed most people’s perception of American food, the reality is that many, very common ingredients all hail from North and South America. Tomatoes, potatoes, squash, and pumpkin, to name a few. Think about a handful of your favorite dishes and you will no doubt find an ingredient that came from the Americas.
Given the massive size of the nation and all the different cultural influences, it’s no surprise that certain American dishes are simply better. This is a country that takes every single meal very seriously, so it simply stands to reason that non-Americans will encounter some dish so powerful that they can’t stop thinking about it.
#4
Dr Pepper is for the ascended Gods who have transcended the coke vs pepsi debate
#5
Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce! Ugh I loved that when I went to the states. Come back to Australia, and cannot find them anywhere!!
#6
Jesus hasn't anyone still mentioned MAC AND CHEESE?
Creamy, tasty, super delicious
In fact, the US is so large that it becomes hard to pin down what exactly is “American cuisine,” despite the stereotypes of burgers and fries. Each region has its own variations, and every group of immigrants brought with it techniques, dishes, and concepts, which were then tailored for the host of ingredients available in the USA.
#7
It’s almost sacrilegious of me to say as an Englishman but I miss breakfasts. I love my full English but breakfast is something the US does so well. I lived in Manhattan for a few months and a diner, somewhere on Essex I think, did poached eggs with fried potato and onions for about $2-3 and I must’ve eaten that dozens of times whilst there. Pancakes and bacon too, we have US style places here but it is not the same.
Ian Reynolds 2 years ago
As a Welshman, I prefer bacon in the states over bacon in the UK, and I love bacon.
#8
When I was living in the UK, I couldn't find good Tex-Mex for the life of me. People would swear by some places, "no, this place has THE BEST burritos in all of the UK! The chef is from Tijuana, gets all the ingredients imported, it's amazing!" I show up, it's burnt and dried-up meat, a half a can of s****y beans, and some other stuff rolled into a tortilla in the shape of a softball. Terrible.
To be fair, I think it's not the fault of the restaurants, but the lack of ingredients. Even my own home-made guacamole was terrible over there. The avocados just weren't the same as the standard California ones, they had no flavor at all. No matter how you try to make the Tex-Mex over there, it's just never going to be the same.
HTakeover 2 years ago
You also might run into a problem of the good stuff being too far removed from the local familiarity. As in, make it the good way and people won't touch it because they can't recognize it or the taste is too far off what they know/like. Many a restaurant has gone under because of it.
#9
Every time I'm down in Montana, Sonics is my go to. I barely eat fast food in Canada, but I'm drawn to those cherry lime slushies, and those delicious massive f*****g chili dogs. God damn it. I'm hungry now.
At the same time, the United States might be the undisputed fast food king of the world. To the degree that for many people, Mcdonald's was the first bit of exposure to American “culture,” for better or worse. Love it or hate it, fast food is a massive, dominant industry, and the US has restaurants to satisfy every craving.
#11
Australian here. I have dreams about eating another everything bagel. 😭
HTakeover 2 years ago (edited)
Whenever I travel & stay somewhere other than a big hotel, like a B&B or host family or even hostel, I try to get in touch with someone who works there to ask around and see if there's anything they want me to bring since I'll have extra space on the way there. In Italy it was a bag of bagels and some Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Belize it was local craft whiskey. Iceland it was some hiking gear, which they paid me to buy for them (long story involving VAT and local prices). China it was a grab bag of candy. Germany it was Mexican vanilla. It was always interesting to see what they wanted and I HIGHLY recommend doing the same if you get the chance.
#12
I will forever have a empty feeling knowing I may never get to eat American buffalo wings again. I've tried to make them, bought them at restaurants here in Australia but nothing will ever fill the void they left. That and gumbo. I'd F*****g kill a man just to sniff the sponge that washed the plate they were served on. But seriously if anyone has a good recipe/link to a recipe for either gumbo or wings I'll give you and upvote and a personal message of thanks cos I have no idea how reddit gold works or what it is
Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
You dont want gumbo from a restaurant. You want it from a roadside stand cooked by an 89 y/o black woman who only speaks thick Creole. Your taste buds will explode.
This blend has also led to incredible levels of fusion cuisine. While some might argue that this “waters down” original dishes from the rest of the world, there is something to be said for bold combinations, new methods, and ingredients to see what works together best.
#13
Reeses anything
Donkey boi 2 years ago
I love peanut buttercups! I buy a least one pack a week. Thankfully sold just about everywhere in the UK.
As these accounts can attest, there are some things that Americans simply do better. It might not be better for your arteries, your wallet or anything else, but when it comes to flavor, it's a class of its own.
#16
Well I moved to the US, so it's not much of an issue anymore, but before recent times, the UK was so far behind on what constituted as BBQ.
If I flip the question, now I miss actual Fish & Chips. It's common to see on a menu here but they come out with tiny thin fries and no malt vinegar to be found. :/
HTakeover 2 years ago
Funny story: I live in the general Kansas City area, so one of the huge BBQ havens. I've even competed in the KC Royal bbq competition so not unfamiliar with good bbq. Last year I was traveling around Scotland and stopped by Edinburgh at the tail end of Fringe Fest. Walking through the equivalent of a farmers/craft market and couldn't pass up the hot sauce & bbq sauce stand. I figured at the least it would be interesting to see what the locals considered bbq sauce. But the flavors genuinely surprised me as the hot sauces were excellent, very American style. And he did a decent job with the bbq sauces too. As in better than 75% of the mediocre but common sauces like Sweet Baby Ray's, and far better than the local Heinz type stuff. Got to chatting with the guy & expressed my surprise and turns out that while he was a Edinburgh local, he went to college only 45 min. away from my area so had strong exposure to the good Q! Small world!
#17
I'm from the UK and went to America for the first time last Summer. I absolutely loved Cracker Barrel! You can get similar meals back home but their fried chicken and honey mustard sauce were something else.
Donkey boi 2 years ago
I LOVED Cracker Barrel. I later found that it wasn't really highly rated in the US, kind of how the UK rates, oh I don't know... Little chef?? Surprised me a bit, it was good hearty home style American food. I just loved the stuff in their shop as well, really worked well with the theme for the tea shop at my farm.
#19
Fried Oreos! I was initially horrified at hearing how they were made, but damn, after I had them, it was love at first taste!
#20
I'm American but ran across a guy from the UK earlier this year and he couldn't get enough of gas station beef jerky. He talked about how good it was for a solid 10 minutes.
Donkey boi 2 years ago
Readily available in the UK. Not just at petrol stations, but in supermarkets, convenience store, sweet shops, and more.
#21
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing/dip.
My mum made the dip every Christmas. We had to wait for someone to travel to the US to get us a load. Still got a few boxes left..
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
this american hates ranch and its ubiquity in american cuisine...bleech
#22
Tie between Crab cake sandwich and Cornbread. Pure heaven
#23
Well in grew up mostly in the UK, but would visit my maternal grandparents every year spending the whole summer.
Whenever I comeback, I always miss BBQ, very few countries have a good BBQ tradition like the US, and none of them are in Europe. British BBQ is burnt bland sausages and either over cooked or undercooked burgers.
Mexican and Tex-mex , Though Pakistani and Indian food, kind of fill that void at times for me.
American Chinese food- I know it’s not authentic but damn if it’s so good.
Chicken sandwiches have improved a lot in the UK, especially thanks to British Asian community, but cheese burgers have a long way to go.
My grans fried chicken, gumbos, cornbread and fried catfish, they the best.
Beans - canned bland Heinz beans aren’t proper beans, Brits think they a nation of bean eaters but they really not.
#25
Here's a 'favorite' I haven't even tried, but as a Canadian who doesn't mind a nice burger & fries, and who has heard so many frustratingly good reports about this place, it *really* bugs me we don't have In-N-Out Burger.
Whiskey Tango Delicious 2 years ago
Can vouch for this. We have an in-n-out down the street. We get it when we can, but the line is prohibitively long most of the time
#26
Wendy’s, we dont have it in the UK and I always wanted to try it so i heard they had a few restaraunts in Dubai so when my dad took me to Dubai (not just to try wendy’s btw) We spent hours trying to track one down and wow! It was worth it. Great burgers and not overly expensive considering the size.
If they had Wendy’s in London i would be at a serious risk of getting fat cause I’d be in there on a regular basis. I heard there used to be one in Covent Garden in London but it got closed down i think.
Wendy’s if you’re listening, make this happen.
#27
Lots of things, really, but the true gut-punch is the sheer **variety** of stuff you can get in the US now, especially online. Specialty ingredients can be tough to come by, and substitutes sometimes don't do much - try making Mexican food without the fantastic range of chillies.
René Sauer 2 years ago
yeah, the variety is what pi**es me off. america as well as japan and other SEA countries always get so many good sounding coca-cola flavors every year, while we in Germany are sitting there staring on in envy.
#28
There’s a few, but the ultimate is Dippin’ Dots. Holy s**t, that ice cream was *awesome* and I miss it everyday. Also, Taco Bell (though I only had it once) and Starbucks.
Depressed Boykisser 2 years ago
im from america and i barley ever get to eat Dippin Dots since its mostly at amusment parks or zoos
#29
Velveeta, Mountain Dew, Twinkies, giant snow crab legs from Costco and Ring Pops.
#30
I lived in Austria in the late 80s and had to have my mother send me taco seasoning. The need for Tex-Mex is powerful.
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
send taco shells, taco seasoning, and chili spice mix to my cousin in switzerland,,,based on reading here...i should send her cornbread mix with the next batch!
#31
maple syrup flavoured biscuits with a layer of creme icing in the middle.
Christos Arvanitis 2 years ago
We get this in Vermont. Not like the picture but rather shaped like little maple leafs EXCEPT.... they are always made in Canada :D
#32
My friend, now an expat in Japan, says Raising Cane's and Culver's. As you might guess, she's from the Midwest.
Ozymandias73 2 years ago
Culver's yes, not so much on Cane's. It's just, boring chicken. I don't like the sauce, so without that, it's just big a*s chicken tenders. And that's all they have! Just not a fan. But that butter burger at Culver's is delicious! Along with the other variety of foods they serve. Something for everybody. Dang it, now I wish there were some here in Nevada. Michigan born here, and there was one not too far from where I lived.
#33
Living in Korea, I miss
1) Italian beef/combo and hot dogs from Portillo's before they sold out.
2) Lou Malnati's and Pequads pizza
3) Fried shrimp po' boy
4) Homemade gumbo
5) Legit al pastor tacos (Mexico is a part of America)
There is a lot more I miss, but these are the big ones.
#35
A&W is the nicest fast food place I've ever been. We need that and IHOP.
#36
It's tough to get good Gumbo where I live in Canada.
Whiskey Tango Delicious 2 years ago
A couple posts about Gumbo, it's tough to get it in our area in the States too.
#37
Big Red gum. You can get it here in the UK, but for several pounds. I wish it was readily available everywhere. I frigging love it.
KDav 2 years ago
What I'm really hearing people say here is that we need to create some kind of mailing system where we send stuff from the US directly to individuals around the world in exchange for them sending us stuff from their countries, mostly because I want some Mr. Kiplings apple pies but I don't want to spend $19 bucks on Amazon for something that would have cost a quarter of that in the UK. Plus, I make my own taco seasoning and would happy to share it with whomever wants it.
#38
I can't find dirty rice mix anywhere where I live... Hard to find cajun food ingredients in general.
#41
My high school sweetheart (20+ years ago) was a German exchange student in the US. When I visited him there, he asked me to bring Doritos, cinnamon gum, and Dr Pepper.
#42
Chocolate Cake Shake from Portillos in Chicago, every time I go visit my fiancé’s family I insist we get one as soon as we leave the airport
#43
You have a lot of cereals I buy and bring back to my nieces and nephews. They're not available in Canada. Would I get arrested if I brought a box of Kinder Eggs to trade for cereal?
Dogfacedboy1980 2 years ago
We have them here called Kinder Joy and they toy is separate from the candy
#44
Canadian here. Drive to the states specifically for Beecher’s cheese and Tillamook cheese which are not available in Canada (that I have seen anyway). I also stock up on butter because American Costco sells butter in half cup portions which are not available at home... and the cost even with the exchange rate is still cheaper in the US. Proud to have a freezer full of American butter.
#45
Taco Bell. Had it once. Loved it. Bring it to NZ please
#46
I no longer live in Seoul SK but it was really difficult to find peanut butter unless you were able to get some from the US army px at Yongsan or the black market.
#47
Chicken wings with that spicy-sweet sauce (?) Best food to have with a cold beer
#48
I really want to try me some Jambalaya, but I've never been able to find any at restaurants here in Ireland or when I visit the UK.
Donkey boi 2 years ago
I've tried about 50 recipes for Jambalaya, It just doesn't work in the UK. My friend (from New Orleans) has actually stopped cooking it because 'it just doesn't cook right.'
#49
Ho Ho’s, Iv tried them once and have had a want for them ever since then
iseefractals 2 years ago
Little Debbie Swiss Cake rolls. I'd keep them in the freezer, so, so, so much better than ho ho's.
#50
Monterey Jack cheese and Reese's peanut butter cups!
#51
There's this flavoured water that Walmart sells called Clear American. I drank like a litre of that s**t a day, it's awesome. Arby's is great. I've heard from Americans who hate it, but where I got it, it was really good. That chicken place that fries in peanut oil is really good, too.
Kelly Scott 2 years ago
I'll have to check Walmart out. I've been drinking Clearly Canadian and I love it, but it's pretty expensive.
#52
Fruit Smiles, Combos, Salsa con Queso, those steam-in-bags of veggies with cheese sauce, a whole bunch of flavours of protein bars, a bunch of flavours of Halo Top ice cream, certain types of hard Ciders and different flavours of spirits. I miss the USA
#53
I've been to America twice years ago, well more like 20+ years ago and they had a chocolate milkshake in a glass bottle with a yellow top. I can't remember the name but it was amazing.
#54
Flamin hot cheetos!!!!! I can find them, but they're usually $7-8 (about $6 USD) for a pack which is a bloody rip
Theo Blackwood 2 years ago
They’re finally back here in Ireland but they’re so f*****g expensive.
#55
Pizza flavored Pringles. They used to be available, then, they weren't anymore. I miss them. Also, Root Beer. SOMETIMES you can find Sarsparella around the place, or some A&W, but it's just not a flavor in New Zealand.
#56
god damn XL coke from McDonalds :(
#57
pineapple flavour (or similar to} soft drinks, i used to be able to find it in old fashion lolly shops but recently i've been unable to find it anywhere, i usually hate american brand flavours but that flavour was heaven on earth.
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
just as a tip, most pineapple sodas in the u.s. are from mexico...try juaritos brand....
#58
I dunno if it's still available even to Americans, but on a trip to Texas in '15, I fell in love with an alcoholic apple cider from Trader Joe's. It had nothing but fermented apple juice with a bit of fresh apple juice. Friggin DELICIOUS! And I have not found any cider in Canada that A: is real (most arr artificial flavor and concentrated alcohol), and B: tastes anywhere close to this amazing elixer, zingy and fresh but not too dry, almost like a fresh McIntosh. The name was something to do with crushing apples like Smashed Cider but I forgot. Should have written it down.
Tjoori Vids 2 years ago
Frankly... you can keep all your apple ciders. I live in France now, in a region that makes PEAR cider. And... yeah. Keep your apple cider. :P
#59
Candy corn m&ms, I'm sure if I had some now they would be no where near as good as I remember but damn they were delicious
Christos Arvanitis 2 years ago
I think that the poster imagined this in a fever dream! I've never heard of nor seen candy corn m&ms... huh
#60
My partner is obsessed with Lucky Charms. Apparently you can only find them in American import/expat shops in their home country. One time when I was mad at him I went to Burger King without him and got that Lucky Charms milkshake. Regretted it immediately afterward because that was like a week's worth of sugar.
Whiskey Tango Delicious 2 years ago
I do believe that milkshake will allow you to see into the future
#61
No particular food jumps out at me, but I do like the SIZE of American food. Haha. It's great for when you want to feel like you've gone to another planet, and everything's too big.
#62
american corn pops cereal is vastly superior to canadian.
#63
They don't have hardly any Taco Bell, grape juice or apple butter over in the UK 😔 still love it there though.
Roan The Demon Kitty 2 years ago
Grape Juice is easy to find, there's Welchs purple grape juice, or white grape with pear and apple. They're delicious. There's also KA grape, that can be fizzy or still. M&S do their own grape juice,too. And apple butter isn't exactly difficult to make.
#66
Ranch powder which you mix with water and pour over salads. I don't know if that's how you write it, but it was delicious when our American friends brought it when I was a child.
#67
Funyuns
#69
Chick-Fil-A has become my definition of good American (fast)food. Them spicy chicken sandwiches...
What do you think ?
Ellie Ahmed 2 years ago
When I lived in the States, I was in Georgia... so I just miss the peaches and peach-based desserts. You can't get really nice fresh peaches where I live and, probably for that reason, they're not really a huge part of our culinary culture. I just want to be able to walk into any restaurant and know there is probably something peach on the dessert menu. Especially peach cobbler. Also, I really liked Funyuns. I occasionally still cave and buy a bag, even though I have to get them from specialty import retailers and a standard bag is around $10 Australian.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
Nobody does peaches like Georgia; that's why they're the Peach State! Every time I drove down there for a comic con, I'd always stop at a roadside farmer's stand and get peach cider, I swear it's the nectar of the gods.
Load More Replies... Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
I visited the States once some years ago and got seriously hooked on Corn Nuts. Imagine my dismay when I found out you can't get 'em in Australia. America also has the best goddamn steaks I've ever tasted.
CP 2 years ago
I remember traveling in Europe and seeing menus advertising imported Nebraska steaks and I just didn't realize it was a thing. We do that to Japanese steak here in the states.
Load More Replies...
Ellie Ahmed 2 years ago
When I lived in the States, I was in Georgia... so I just miss the peaches and peach-based desserts. You can't get really nice fresh peaches where I live and, probably for that reason, they're not really a huge part of our culinary culture. I just want to be able to walk into any restaurant and know there is probably something peach on the dessert menu. Especially peach cobbler. Also, I really liked Funyuns. I occasionally still cave and buy a bag, even though I have to get them from specialty import retailers and a standard bag is around $10 Australian.
Tracy Wallick 2 years ago
Nobody does peaches like Georgia; that's why they're the Peach State! Every time I drove down there for a comic con, I'd always stop at a roadside farmer's stand and get peach cider, I swear it's the nectar of the gods.
Load More Replies... Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
I visited the States once some years ago and got seriously hooked on Corn Nuts. Imagine my dismay when I found out you can't get 'em in Australia. America also has the best goddamn steaks I've ever tasted.
CP 2 years ago
I remember traveling in Europe and seeing menus advertising imported Nebraska steaks and I just didn't realize it was a thing. We do that to Japanese steak here in the states.
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