If you've ever wondered what foods are quintessentially "American," or at least which ones come to mind to those visiting the states, Reddit's recent thread on the topic is truly fascinating. The two-month-old thread is still active with nearly 37,000 comments, and gives a pretty interesting look into what American pop culture and restaurants look like around the world. These are the foods that came up most often during the conversation.
1. Corn Dogs
Corn dogs appeared several times throughout the thread, and some people weren't even sure what they are – one commenter thought it was just fried corn flour, sans hot dog. Apparently, corn dogs are big in movies. In Scotland, they have a similar snack, but no stick.
2. Thanksgiving Dinner
This was another super-popular request, and it may bring some visitors to America come November. Several American commenters extended invites to those wanting to try stuffed turkey, "that weird sweet potato with marshmallow thing," and green bean casserole. Commenters also pointed out the latter isn't easily found on menus. Diners, step up your game!
3. State Fair Foods
America's penchant to fry pretty much anything is no secret. Several commenters mentioned wanting to try fried Oreos, funnel cakes, candy apples, and, as mentioned, corn dogs.
4. Barbecue
This was easily the most contentious on the list, given there are so many varieties of BBQ within the U.S. Heck, even North Carolina can't decide on just one. As one user put it, it's worth it to try "Texas BBQ, Carolina BBQ, ALL THE BBQ." American commenters suggested brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, as well as trying as many sauces as humanly possible.
5. Root Beer
It's obviously an underrated soda, but who knew it wasn't available worldwide? Do your Euro friends a favor and store some in your suitcase if you visit (and then do the lord's work and introduce them to root beer floats).
6. Pie
A quintessential American food (sort of), pie came up in all kinds of flavors and variations. There's even discussion on who the ideal baker would be. Key lime, pecan, apple, sweet potato, pumpkin, and strawberry rhubarb were among the pies requested.
7. Gumbo
This southern dish is a soup/stew that's typically made with seafood, chicken, or sausage, plus tons of veggies like okra, peppers, and onions. It's not necessarily a widespread dish in the U.S., but several commenters were interested in trying Louisiana gumbo.
8. Chicken and Waffles
Southern cuisine was well-represented in this thread. Chicken and waffles were mentioned often, though people were also wary of why it's a thing (fair). As a chicken and waffles convert, Roscoe's in LA, Dame's in Durham, North Carolina, and Pies-N-Thighs in New York are all solid bets if you're in the States.
9. Biscuits and Gravy
Nothin' like some Southern cooking ... biscuits and gravy appeared pretty often throughout the thread, and American users were FLOORED one commenter had never tried them. Her response is hilarious.
10. White Castle
McDonald's and Burger King can be found pretty much anywhere in the world, but White Castle stays local – even Canadians want in on the tiny burgers. The chain has been around since 1921, and was hyped up in the movie Harold and Kumar.
11. S'mores
Poor, sweet souls – from the sounds of it, s'mores-flavored items can be found abroad, but actual s'mores just aren't a thing. According to a user named doublestich, graham crackers can be hard to find outside the U.S.
(h/t Huffington Post)
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