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Italy is known for pasta, India is the land of spicy curry, Spain wins when it comes to paella and South Africans love a good braai. The United States, meanwhile, is a melting pot of foods from around the world. Many dishes are heavily influenced by immigrants, and carefully adapted to give that quintessential homegrown flavor.
If we’ve learned anything from Americans, it’s that they’re great at hyping things up. Even mediocre hamburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken can be spun into gourmet meals that'll have you standing in long queues and paying through your teeth. Someone asked, “What’s the most overhyped food in America that everyone pretends is amazing?” and no less than 6,000 responses came flying in, almost as fast as a smash burger getting sizzled in a hot pan.
Bored Panda has compiled a list of the best answers for you to scroll through while you decide what to eat tonight. There’s mediocre matcha, Hershey’s chocolate that reportedly tastes like vomit, and Crumbl Cookies, which someone described as "1,000 calories of raw sugar dough." We also take a look at how America has adapted global dishes and turned them into something a little different. You’ll find that info between the images.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Starbucks coffee. Literally the WORST coffee I've ever had.
nottheactualphoto 54 minutes ago
Starbucks' sugar drinks are for people who don't like coffee. Unsugared, the straight coffee tastes burnt, as in egregiously over-roasted.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the beloved hamburger was born in the United States. There’s no shortage of burger joints across the country, and several reports reveal that Americans chow around 50 billion burgers annually.
“That’s nearly 800,000 miles of burgers consumed by Americans every single year — a long enough line to go to the moon, come back, then go to the moon again,” reports VinePair.
Hamburgers actually have their roots in Germany. Made from minced or ground beef that is spiced and cooked, they appeared in the 1800s in the port city of Hamburg (go figure). But some historians believe that burgers were already being eaten in ancient Rome during a time when street food was popular.
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#3
No offense but I do not get the hype for twinkies, they taste chemically.
Multa Nocte (she/her 8647) 1 hour ago
That's not a Twinkie, BP, unless they have changed drastically since I left the US.
Nevertheless, hamburgers (known then by the Germans as frikadellen) are believed to have arrived in the United States in the mid-to-late 19th century, thanks to German immigrants who introduced the salted, minced beef to New York and other cities.
“I can imagine the frikadellen meant nothing to most people who were living in the US unless you were German. So they had to change the name at that point to ‘steak in the style of Hamburg,’ or simply, Hamburg steak,” explains George Motz, a burger "expert" who has traveled America researching hamburgers for his 2004 documentary film aptly titled, Hamburger America.
#4
Truffle infused/flavored anything. Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s good.
#5
While I do enjoy them, not every burger needs to be a "smash burger".
Also, not every beer needs to be a IPA.
#6
Gold leaf. Paying extra for something with zero flavor has never made sense to me.
Motz believes that the hamburger, as we know it today, was inspired by the hot dog. Not ones to do “basic,” Americans started putting Hamburg steaks onto bread (Hamburg sandwiches), and eventually onto buns. Voila! A quintessentially ‘American’ meal was born.
“The hamburger is pretty much the only food invention in America in the last 100 years or so. It started out as ethnic food from Germany, but we adopted it and made it different by putting it on bread,” he says.
#7
Dubai Chocolate.
Elladine DesIsles 43 minutes ago
Dubai chocolate is enjoyable. It is not, however, $20/bar (CAD)-level enjoyable. I love pistachio and there are plenty of other options at reasonable prices.
#8
As a SoCal native I think we should only praise in-n-out with the caveat that it’s “not the best burger ever but good for its price” and compliment it for having fresh ingredients over being some amazing life-changing burger. Because the amount of people from other states and countries who hear about in n out only to come try it and be extremely disappointed is staggering. We hype it up way too much.
nottheactualphoto 1 hour ago
The nearest In-n-Out to my house is over 1100 miles away. Doesn't seem worth the trip.
It would seem that Americans have Germany to thank for more than just the hamburger. Hot dogs apparently also have their roots in that European country. Again, it was German immigrants who introduced frankfurter sausages to the land of the free and the home of the brave.
These sausages originated in a city called Frankfurt (hence the name), and just like burger patties, they made their way onto soft buns in the United States. Nowadays, hot dogs come in all shapes and sizes.
Sara Lee Corp. even made a 1,996-foot one during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. However, it didn't qualify as an official Guinness record because it used separate individual buns instead of one continuous bun.
#11
Pro-biotic sodas. I get it, it’s healthy, but the taste is so bad.
#12
As an avid McDonalds fan over the years, I’ll say The McRib. It came back on the menu a few years ago and the hype made me curious, finally got it, I literally took one big bite and spit it out. Then I tried a second just to be sure it wasn’t that particular spot, even worse. Never again.
"The hot dog’s simplicity invites creativity: mustard, ketchup, relish, sauerkraut, chilli or cheese," reports luxury travel site Condé Nast Johansens. "Cities claim their own specialities: Chicago’s pickle-topped version; New Jersey’s Italian hot dog; and Los Angeles’ legendary chilli dog."
"Each bite reflects the immigrant ingenuity and local pride that make American street food so iconic," adds the site.
#13
Anything pumpkin spice flavored.
Elladine DesIsles 49 minutes ago
I love pumpkin pie. Pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin fudge, I'm up for most of the real, seasonal pumpkin desserts and baked goods. But if it's been labelled "pumpkin spice", I'll pass. Years ago, when I encountered a fall display of pumpkin spice dog treats, I decided that was the line for me, personally, and I have subsequently treated all things "pumpkin spice" as though they were "unfit for human consumption". I would have sworn, at the time, that the dog treats would signal peak pumpkin spice saturation. Sadly, I was proven wrong. After that came pumpkin spice Oreos and pumpkin spice bath bombs, and a couple of years ago, a local restaurant was advertising pumpkin spice ramen. Can we not just find a new autumn flavour already?
According to data from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, that's a thing), Americans eat about 20 billion hot dogs each year. That's roughly 70 hot dogs per person. In case you were wondering, peak hot dog season is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when around 7 billion hot dogs are consumed. Another 150 million (or thereabout) are chowed every Independence Day.
But the United States of America isn't all hot dogs and hamburgers. They like their fried chicken, too...
#16
Crumbl is such a disappointment. Paying that much for 1,000 calories of raw sugar dough is wild. I really don't get the hype, lol.
#17
Voodoo Donuts in PAC NW. It’s a donut with Capt Crunch on it or something similar. Wow! They’re not bad, but they didn’t blow me away. It’s better now that the hysteria has piped down. I remember waiting in line for an hour and then feeling like…this is a donut. Why did I wait so long for a donut?
Nicole Weymann 6 minutes ago
I always though the Brits (or English?) were pros at queueing, but AN HOUR? To BUY something - and something that's eaten in five minutes tops? Ridiculous. I struggle to imagine anything worth standing in line for an hour for - but then I'm not a crowds person. I prefer to sit out hypes and come back when things have cooled down.
Southern fried chicken makes it sound like it originated in the south of the country. But yet again, this is a dish that was first born further afield.
"Some culinary experts linked such expertise to West Africa where, for several centuries prior to European contact, local populations ate chicken and deep fried their food," the BBC notes, adding that the West African version of fried chicken was a bit different.
"It was more like a fricassee, where chicken was lightly fried and then braised for a much longer time in a seasoned sauce – similar to Senegalese chicken yassa," it explains.
#20
Anything from panera.
nottheactualphoto 1 hour ago
Panera is mediocre corporate lunch-n-learn food. Not the worst, but I've never paid for it.
#21
Raising Cane's. I went to the first location of Raising Cane's when it first opened up in my state and I was not impressed (we received our first Raising Cane's location within the past 3 years). Basic chicken tenders, the chicken sandwich is just the chicken tenders in a bun, and the fries are very basic as well.
According to the site, America's first widely accepted printed recipe for fried chicken appeared in 1824 in the first regional American cookbook, The Virginia House-Wife. It was Mary Randolph, "a white woman from a slaveholding family," who wrote:
“Cut them up as for the fricassée, dredge them well with flour, sprinkle them with salt, put them into a good quantity of boiling lard and fry them a light brown.” And this recipe reportedly set the tone for southern fried chicken as we know it today.
Condé Nast Johansens has a slightly different take, though. The outlet's foodies believe that the Scots should aat least get some credit for southern fried chicken.
#23
Dunkin’ Donuts. They are always stale these days.
nottheactualphoto 1 hour ago
They used to be a solid choice. I'll bet it varies between different franchise owners.
#24
Not sure if anyone in the USA thinks it's amazing but to the European taste hersheys chocolate tastes like vomit. I know the reason it does, but still horrible.
They argue that the dish "owes its irresistible flavour to cultural fusion: Scottish frying techniques meeting the bold seasonings of West Africa." And go on to explain that enslaved Africans were forced into kitchens across the South, where they marinated chicken in buttermilk, then coated it in spiced flour, before frying it to a golden crisp.
"Paprika, garlic powder and onion powder became hallmarks of the breading, while buttermilk ensured tenderness," notes the site. "What began as survival cooking evolved into global comfort food, carrying both cultural memory and the universal pleasure of that first crunchy bite."
#26
Am I the only American that thinks ranch dressing is disgusting???
#27
Not just in America, but the Dubai chocolate craze. It's extremely expensive and not even very good.
Meanwhile, the BBC reports that fried chicken in the US was considered a food for special occasions before World War Two. "It later transitioned to something that people ate for breakfast or dinner a couple of times a week," the site reveals.
The United States seems to have a council for everything, and according to the National Chicken Council, the average American ate 28lb of chicken in 1960. That figure is closer to 99lb of chicken each year, making it more popular than beef (57lb) or pork (53lb).
#28
Chick-fil-a. The first time I had it was over 15 years ago--long before I was aware of the chain's politics--and I was really confused over the long as line for something that was just ok.
#29
Waygu. It’s fat cattle that they have force fed like lamb. And it’s bad. If you have ever had a5 wagyu in a restaurant it’s way different. Don’t tell me these hamburger patties are Wagyu. They aren’t. Nor is this beef you claim (it’s not, it’s American sourced and the cattle are not certified Wagyu; but a hybrid). Just like “shaved Wagyu steak” it’s not WAGYU! Same with duroc pork but duroc pork is cheaper ffs.
Lost Panda 25 minutes ago
Wagyu just means Japanese Beef... Any beef that comes from cattle in Japan is default wagyu...
#30
Lobster. And I say this as a Mainer. Not because it’s overhyped per se but because it’s made out to be far more of a luxury (especially in price) than it actually is. Especially lobster tails. The best meat is in the knuckles and claw. People pay a premium for the less than best part of the bottom feeding ocean bug.
America may now be known for it's southern fried chicken, juicy beef burgers, and hot dogs, but food-wise, the country has so much more to offer.
It's a melting pot of global cuisine, and as the International Organization of Migration's Charles Kinney puts it, "sushi, falafel, fajitas and pho are as American as well, apple pie, buttered popcorn and potato chips." That's all thanks to the many migrants who have introduced their dishes to the United States.
#33
Dishes that involve mixing in lobster (ravioli, Mac and cheese, etc.). Lobster by itself or in a well made lobster roll is great.
#34
Thank God we're past the kale period.
Elladine DesIsles 40 minutes ago
I love kale. Seriously. I will continue to crave and savour a good kale salad. But I'm not completely insane; I also crave cake.
#35
Any national pizza chain. They are all bad compared to mom and pop pizza chains. Dump the dominos!
#36
Specifically Hidden Valley Ranch. If you're an international tourist visiting the US right now, I need you to hear me when I say there are much better ranches out there. Even buying Hidden Valley's seasoning mix in the pouch or shaker bottle and making your own is miles better than the trash they bottle themselves, but the best pre-made ranch is the Litehouse Homestyle Ranch in the glass bottle from the refrigerated section.
#38
Chipotle. Man I just do not understand how that place is still hyped up after all these years.
#40
Tomahawk steak,
anything Starbucks sells
the current "Dubai chocolate" trend thats showing up everywhere but is just meant to flood the internet so that you get mixed results when you google it.
#41
Matcha. It tastes like lawn clippings. And in case anyone says "you've just never had good matcha." A friend's mother in law was trained by the same people who train the people who do the tea ceremonies for the royal family of Japan.
#42
IPA beer
Not food, I know, but bad enough to merit special attention.
nottheactualphoto 49 minutes ago
It's not "bad." It's just a style that not everyone likes. Now, the true definition of "bad" is food that *I* dislike.
#43
KFC. They got rid of potato wedges, popcorn chicken, extra crispy tenders, and the gravy is less flavorful than the stuff you make from powder at home. South Park had an entire meme about how the gravy was the best part of their subpar menu!
From what I understand KFC outside North America still has all those items and the good gravy, at the cost of not having bacon (usually Halal menu). Sounds worth it for me!
#45
Crayfish. You need a ton of spices just to make it taste decent. A lot of work when a shrimp is easier to peel and more delicious.
#46
I am English but I’ve visited America a fair few times and every time someone says I have to have Mexican food, and I say I have always found it underwhelming and then they say that I have never had Mexican food like this and insist I go to whatever local “authentic” Mexican place and it will blow my English mind. And it’s underwhelming but I am English so I politely tell my American host that it has blown my English mind and they look so pleased with themselves and it’s kinda worth it.
Also, for all that you invented mcdonalds and coca cola, both of those things are so much worse in the US than in any other country I have had them in.
#49
Oysters. Consistency of congealed snot, smell like a damp beach towel, and taste like nothing except the cracker and hot sauce you add.
What do you think ?
Multa Nocte (she/her 8647) 1 hour ago (edited)
I just realised that after having been out of the US for almost 5 years, I can no longer really comment on the food. Especially since the year before I left it was Covid and I wasn't exactly eating out a lot at the time.
Multa Nocte (she/her 8647) 1 hour ago (edited)
I just realised that after having been out of the US for almost 5 years, I can no longer really comment on the food. Especially since the year before I left it was Covid and I wasn't exactly eating out a lot at the time.
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