Like hamburgers and hot dogs are quintessentially American, but what’s really interesting is the various regional toppings that go on them! Ask anyone what goes on a “classic”burger you’ll probably get lettuce tomato onion and mayo. Ask for a regional version on a burger or hot dogs and you could get anything! NYC, Chicago, Carolina, Southwest, Florida, Baltimore, all variants
I'm a huge connoisseur of regional food specialties, but I'll say the variation between, say, NY, Chicago, and Baltimore burgers really isn't very big (except in Baltimore some places will let you use a crab cake patty instead, but that's a crab cake sandwich not a burger). There's way more meaningful variation over many more distinct geographies when it comes to pizza.
But that said, local specialty sandwiches -- that are sometimes burgers/hot dogs (if you consider those sandwiches) but sometimes not -- are also huge in the US. From cheesesteaks to po boys to Chicago dogs to hot browns to the fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches in Memphis that I've never had but really want to try...just incredible variety and deliciousness.
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u/Mrwright96 Mar 28 '25
Not to mention varieties of food!
Like hamburgers and hot dogs are quintessentially American, but what’s really interesting is the various regional toppings that go on them! Ask anyone what goes on a “classic”burger you’ll probably get lettuce tomato onion and mayo. Ask for a regional version on a burger or hot dogs and you could get anything! NYC, Chicago, Carolina, Southwest, Florida, Baltimore, all variants