What and where to eat in the United States

Discover the specialties of North American cuisine with the experts from Hotels.com who have selected five gourmet destinations and their traditional dishes.

1. Jambalaya – New Orleans, Louisiana

At the top of every food lover’s list should be a trip to the Deep South of the United States, the birthplace of Creole and Cajun cuisine. Many delicious dishes originated in New Orleans – such as Fish Gumbo, Andouille, a smoked sausage, and the Po’boy sandwich – but the most famous is undoubtedly Jambalaya: a one-pot dish made of sausage, vegetables, meat or fish, accompanied by broth and rice. Available both in the red variety (with tomato) typical of Creole cuisine and in the white Cajun version (without tomato), Jambalaya is a must-have dish in this culinary adventure in the United States.

The tip: the rabbit and sausage Jambalaya at Coop’s Place, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, is the favorite among the locals.

2. Fish Tacos – San Diego, California

Inspired by the nearby Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, San Diego is clearly the home of the best fish tacos in the world. The city, located on the ocean coast, hosts numerous food trucks and Mexican-style restaurants and visitors will have a hard time finding a menu without an enticing taco. The appearance is simple, but it is the contents that makes it interesting. Fresh white fish is placed in a tortilla cone and covered with shredded cabbage, sour cream, Mexican salsa, and a squeeze of lime. The most traditional way to serve the taco is with fried fish, but a healthier grilled fish version is almost always available upon request.

The tip: Point Loma Seafood on Emerson Street buys fresh fish daily from local fishermen.

3. Funeral Potatoes – Salt Lake City, Utah

They may seem sad, but “Funeral Potatoes” from Utah are a true comfort food inspired by home cooking. A casserole is filled with diced potatoes, cheese, onions, creamy soup, butter, and crushed potato chips, then baked. Traditionally, this dish is brought to the funeral dinner and served as a side, but it is a simple dish more commonly prepared for family gatherings. Every year at the Utah State Fair, there is even a contest for the best Funeral Potatoes. Participants must use at least 3 locally sourced ingredients, and the winner receives a $150 gift card.

Tip: Garage on Beck, on Beck Street, serves “Fried Mormon Funeral Potatoes” topped with Utah’s signature ranch dressing.

4. Rocky Mountain Oysters – Billings, Montana

It is best not to be fooled by its name: this delicacy from Montana is not what it seems. This dish does not actually contain seafood, but bull testicles. The organs are floured and seasoned with salt and pepper before being fried and served as an appetizer with cocktail sauce. Young bulls are commonly castrated to make them more docile and, in order not to waste anything, the testicles are preserved and served as a delicacy, as happens every year at the Montana Testicle Festival.

Advice: it might really be worth visiting the Bull Mountain Grille for an aperitif with Rocky Mountain Oysters.

5. Shrimp & Grits – Charleston, South Carolina

There is no doubt about the shrimp portion of this dish, but the part related to the Grits might need some explanation. Called “nixtamal” since World War II, Grits is made from coarsely ground corn or hominy boiled in milk or water to create a dish similar to savory porridge. On its own, Grits is usually eaten for breakfast, but with the addition of shrimp and seasonings, it becomes a delicious main course. Bacon, mushrooms, green onions, garlic, and cheese are often added to create a very flavorful dish.

The tip: Charleston’s Hominy Grill avoided serving this dish for several years in an attempt to stand out, but eventually yielded to customer demand and added the dish to the menu, winning the prestigious James Beard Award.