American food has a reputation for being oversized, indulgent, and maybe a little over the top, but ask people outside the U.S., and you’ll quickly realize it’s also deeply loved. The kind of love that has someone sitting in another country daydreaming about mac and cheese or a diner breakfast they once had in Texas. A Reddit thread asked non-Americans to share what they thought was the best American food, and people mentioned their favorite dishes they miss the most from the States!
The story
A person on Reddit asked, “Non-Americans, what is the best ‘American’ food?” It sparked hundreds of thousands of responses from people who had either visited the U.S. or grown up abroad but lived there for a while. Some people remembered their first Thanksgiving dinner in America or putting on extra weight after a month of diner breakfasts. And honestly, reading through them makes you hungry almost immediately.
The reactions
Before we even get to the turkey and pies, people couldn’t stop mentioning the American Mac & Cheese. One person admitted: "I hate to sound like an ignorant foreigner, but a made-from-scratch Mac & Cheese with at least 3 different cheeses plus a crispy breadcrumb crust on top is one of my favorite American dishes."
They weren’t alone. Another added, "Mac & Cheese is such a favorite of family get-togethers that if you volunteer to cook it, your Mac & Cheese needs references. It’s especially good with some pulled pork and caramelized onions mixed in. And some insulin."
There’s something very American about taking a humble pasta-and-cheese dish and turning it into a casserole. If you’ve never tried baked mac and cheese with a crunchy topping, it’s worth making at home. And the recipe is not even too complicated. Just mix multiple cheeses (cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, or parmesan), pour over pasta, top with buttered breadcrumbs, and bake until golden. Your Mac n Cheese is ready in no time!
For many non-Americans, Thanksgiving in the States is a whole feast. Families go all out, making their traditional Turkey dishes and desserts: pumpkin pies, apple pie, apple crumb cake, and even pecan cookies. A traveler from Mexico shared, "I'm from Mexico and we get spoiled with our traditional cuisine, but I found the Thanksgiving dinner experience in the US incredible. Love everything, the turkey (dark meat 🙂 ), cranberry sauce, the stuffing (oh the stuffing), mashed potatoes, salads, and the delicious pies that follow for dessert. That whole combination, plus the red wine and good company, is an incredible experience hard to match."
A Spaniard who lived in the States for six years had a laundry list of favorite American foods, he commented, "I liked apple pie, pastrami on rye sandwiches, Tex Mex, all the things you do with sweet potatoes, virtually any item at a Waffle House, bagels, Reuben sandwiches, chicken and waffles, cheesecake, s'mores, chocolate chip cookies, buffalo wings. I never got into peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I tried, but it wasn't for me."
Cheesecake, in particular, is one of those desserts that gets called “too American,” but that creamy filling on a graham cracker crust has clearly won international fans.
And s’mores, well, you don’t need a campfire to enjoy them. Just stack graham crackers, layer chocolate, and marshmallows, and microwave for ten seconds. Your favorite American sweet treat is ready!
One British commenter shared a fun memory about eating cookie dough. He added, "This is probably a recipe for disaster, but I'm British and growing up visiting Florida, I would love eating raw cookie dough from the refrigerator section."
If you can’t get American supermarket cookie dough where you live, the safer alternative is making edible dough at home by heat-treating flour and skipping the eggs. It’s very easy to make, and a batch will last you a long time.
Another person didn’t hold back when describing their favorite. For anyone who hasn’t grown up in the American South, biscuits and gravy can sound a little strange at first. But that’s not an ordinary biscuit you eat with gravy. One user added, "Biscuits and gravy. Nothing even comes close. A good buttermilk biscuit with a proper sausage gravy is heaven on earth. Because by the end, your heart stops beating anyway."
This is a staple in most parts of America. The biscuits are like tender, buttery scones, and the gravy is a creamy, peppery sauce made with sausage drippings. It’s heavy and hearty, and people love eating it on a slow morning.
A European expat gave a glowing review of some of the regional specialties, he shared, "Lobster Rolls. OMG these would be soooo popular back home. They are the perfect seafood sandwich!
Smoked brisket. Wow! I tried this in some small Texas town, and that place deserves a Michelin star!
Key Lime Pie. I think I ate a whole one by myself when I was in Miami.
Another person agreed, adding, "Key Lime Pie is my favorite dessert, and Smoked Brisket is my go-to barbecue order. Excellent choices."
The takeaway
American food may sometimes look larger-than-life, but it’s also deeply comforting and memorable. Whether it’s a first Thanksgiving dinner, a hearty breakfast at diner, or eating that cookie dough, it’s those unique flavors people remember even when they’re back home on the other side of the world.
What makes American food special is the variety that each region, and even city, offers! A lobster roll in New England tastes nothing like the one you’ve had somewhere else. Texas’s brisket is a popular nationwide, and add in delicious pies and cheesecakes, it’s easy to see why visitors rave about it.
That’s the real charm of American food: there’s always another favorite around the corner.
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