One of the best parts of visiting a new state is experiencing some of the local cuisine. While every state has its own unique food culture, some of the most popular state dishes are also popular in other regions. Some of these state dishes are well-known nationwide while others are less common.
When looking at the data for the most popular state dishes in the U.S., it’s clear that bagels are well-loved by people in numerous states. Bagels are the most popular state dish in the country and have twice as many Google searches as other state foods. Additionally, bagels are the favorite state dish in 23 states, and enchiladas, the state dish of New Mexico, are the most popular in seven states.
Fried green tomatoes are another popular state dish. This fried dish is popular in the South and is the most searched food in Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky. Runza tied with fried green tomatoes for the spot of the third-most-popular state dish in the country.
Originating in Nebraska, runza is a type of meat-filled bread that often includes fillings such as beef, sauerkraut, and seasonings. There’s even a midwestern food chain based entirely on this state dish. (After this article, check out the signature dishes that define every US region.)
This list of each state’s favorite state dish is based on data collected by The Cookie Rookie. The state dishes were ranked based on the annual Google searches for each state. The annual Google searches for each dish range from 5.4K to 2.5 million and the states are listed in alphabetical order.
Here are the most popular state dishes in every state:
Alabama
- Favorite state dish: Fried green tomatoes
- Annual Google searches: 64.9K
Alaska
- Favorite state dish: King crab
- Annual Google searches: 9.1K
Arizona
- Favorite state dish: Chocolate gravy
- Annual Google searches: 164.7K
Arkansas
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 29K
California
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 1.1M
Colorado
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 175.7K
Connecticut
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 102.5K
Delaware
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 23.7K
Florida
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 392K
Georgia
- Favorite state dish: Fried green tomatoes
- Annual Google searches: 163.1K
Hawaii
- Favorite state dish: Loco moco
- Annual Google searches: 145K
Idaho
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 19.2K
Illinois
- Favorite state dish: Deep dish pizza
- Annual Google searches: 266.5K
Indiana
- Favorite state dish: Enchiladas
- Annual Google searches: 68.4K
Iowa
- Favorite state dish: Runza
- Annual Google searches: 37.6K
Kansas
- Favorite state dish: Bierocks
- Annual Google searches: 33.4K
Kentucky
- Favorite state dish: Fried green tomatoes
- Annual Google searches: 42.3K
Louisiana
- Favorite state dish: Gumbo
- Annual Google searches: 120.9K
Maine
- Favorite state dish: Lobster roll
- Annual Google searches: 84.7K
Maryland
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 131.1K
Massachusetts
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 262.7K
Michigan
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 130.5K
Minnesota
- Favorite state dish: Walleye
- Annual Google searches: 88K
Mississippi
- Favorite state dish: New York Pizza
- Annual Google searches: 28.3K
Missouri
- Favorite state dish: Enchiladas
- Annual Google searches: 58.8K
Montana
- Favorite state dish: Enchiladas
- Annual Google searches: 9.9K
Nebraska
- Favorite state dish: Runza
- Annual Google searches: 416.2K
Nevada
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 72K
New Hampshire
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 27.2K
New Jersey
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 628.9K
New Mexico
- Favorite state dish: Green chile stew
- Annual Google searches: 35.2K
New York
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 2.5M
North Carolina
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 198.3K
North Dakota
- Favorite state dish: Walleye
- Annual Google searches: 11.8K
Ohio
- Favorite state dish: Enchiladas
- Annual Google searches: 115.6K
Oklahoma
- Favorite state dish: Enchiladas
- Annual Google searches: 33.8K
Oregon
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 115.4K
Pennsylvania
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 286.7K
Rhode Island
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 28.6K
South Carolina
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 71.3K
South Dakota
- Favorite state dish: Runza
- Annual Google searches: 14.2K
Tennessee
- Favorite state dish: Nashville hot chicken
- Annual Google searches: 82.2K
Texas
- Favorite state dish: Enchiladas
- Annual Google searches: 478.6K
Utah
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 48.5K
Vermont
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 30.2K
Virginia
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 197.5K
Washington
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 224.1K
West Virginia
- Favorite state dish: Pepperoni rolls
- Annual Google searches: 23K
Wisconsin
- Favorite state dish: Enchiladas
- Annual Google searches: 62.8K
Wyoming
- Favorite state dish: Bagels
- Annual Google searches: 5.4K