American food is regional and diverse and as you travel across the country it’s easy to see how each hamlet, town and city has developed its own unique food traditions. From spicy Cajun food in the south to Boston’s beans and Chicago’s hot dogs there’s plenty of diversity and good eating.
- New Orleans, Louisiana
Food in New Orleans is a way of life and a big part of the city’s charm. Any visit here will mean the postponement of diets and getting your mouth around dishes such as catfish, jambalaya, gumbo and more. One of the best places to go is the French Quarter, where descendants of original French and Spanish settlers left a legacy of good coffee, breads, markets and over 300 restaurants.
- San Francisco
San Francisco is the restaurant capital of the country and awash in culinary riches. The only downside is deciding where to eat. Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf offer sophisticated buffets. Trendy neighborhoods like Mission District and Noe Valley have inventive menus. And world-class wineries, cheese makers and small farms are just a short drive away.
- New York City
Eating in New York is inexpensive and uniformly good with a lot of ethnic restaurants and a diversity of foods. Get away from tourist areas like Little Italy and Times Square and venture into Chinatown, the East Village and the Lower East Side to find the best and cheapest food.
- Kensington Market, Toronto
The best produce and meats to be had in Toronto are in this maze of cramped back streets. But it’s more than just a place to buy fruit and vegetables. It’s a real multicultural center with more than 30 ethnicities represented and each offers a broad array of cuisines from Portuguese to Ethiopian to Caribbean.
- Farmers market, Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles
Keep a look out for Hollywood stars that frequent this market while you stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables, pita bread, gourmet tamales, Italian cheese and roasted coffee.
- Olvera Street, Los Angeles
If you crave Mexican food this block-long market is the place to come for hot taquitos, carne asada and Mariachi Bands.
- Chicago
Go nuts on Chicago’s famed mouthwatering hot dogs, big T-bones and classic deep-pan pizza.
- Las Vegas
There’s nowhere else in the US you can dine as well for so little. The 24 hour buffets here are legend and completely inexpensive with everything from champagne brunches to shrimp cocktails and cuisines highlight seafood, Italian or Greek food.
- Farmer’s Market, Baltimore
One of the must-food-do’s of Baltimore is to take in the Sunday market. Breakfasts range from omelets to curry and crepes to apple bacon pancakes. Gorge on fresh market ingredients, sausages, biscuits and freshly ground coffee while you people watch.
- Beans in Boston
Boston is famed for its baked beans but it’s far from being its only important dish. Massachusetts has the second largest fishing business and its difficult to find a menu that lacks seafood. Eat near the harbor for the best of the fish-dishes. You can breakfast in Beacon Hill’s cafes, lunch in the flood plazas of Quincy Market, have Indian in Cambridge or Italian at Hanover Street or go Chinese in Chinatown.