The States With America’s Best Food, Ranked

California has America’s top food, according to a new national survey, but there’s a catch: Louisianans think they actually have the best cuisine in the country.

A survey of 5,000 Americans asked people across all 50 states to rank whose food deserves top honors. California took first place, followed by New York in second, Texas in third, Louisiana in fourth, and Florida rounding out the top five.

Louisiana residents aren’t buying it. Ninety-four percent of Louisianans believe their state has America’s best cuisine, showing the highest self-rating in the entire country. When you grow up on gumbo, crawfish, and Cajun spices, no other state’s cooking quite measures up.

States That Ranked Lowest in the Survey

While some states celebrated their culinary wins, others ranked at the bottom nationally. Delaware, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming all received the lowest rankings from respondents.

Wyoming’s “steak,” while perfectly fine, didn’t wow anyone. Delaware’s answer of “scrapple” and “Bengali cuisine” raised more eyebrows than appetites. Nebraska tried to win hearts with Runza sandwiches but clearly didn’t succeed.

What Makes Each State’s Food Stand Out

California earned its top ranking thanks to authentic Mexican food, burgers, and shrimp tacos. New York relied on its pizza reputation and iconic bagels with cream cheese. Texas leaned into Tex-Mex and barbecue traditions. Louisiana’s fourth-place finish came courtesy of the aforementioned crawfish, Cajun cuisine, and gumbo.

Beyond the top five, regional pride showed up in unexpected ways. Ohio residents enthusiastically defended buckeyes, the chocolate-and-peanut-butter balls that look like the nut from Ohio’s state tree. Utah claimed “fry sauce” and “funeral potatoes” as their contributions. New Hampshire residents pointed to apple cider donuts.

Kansas paired barbecue with an unusual twist: chili served alongside cinnamon rolls. Alabama split between banana pudding and pinto beans with cornbread. Minnesota favored the Juicy Lucy burger, tater tot hotdish, and walleye.

Southern states largely rallied around comfort food and barbecue. Tennessee and Missouri both claimed barbecue as their signature. Kentucky went with fried chicken. Georgia picked peach cobbler and seafood boils. North Carolina mentioned barbecue and knoephla soup. Mississippi and Arkansas both championed fried catfish, though Arkansas also mentioned country fried chicken.

Coastal states predictably leaned into seafood. Maine answered with lobster. Maryland chose crab cakes. Massachusetts went for clam chowder and seafood. Hawaii cited laulau, poke, and loco moco. Florida mentioned seafood, key lime pie, and fresh orange juice.

Some Midwestern states struggled to differentiate themselves. Indiana and Iowa both answered simply with “corn,” though Indiana added pork tenderloin sandwiches and Iowa included pork chops. Illinois stood out with deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs. Michigan mentioned cherry pie and Coney Island dogs. Wisconsin, predictably, said cheese and fish fry.

Western states offered variety. Colorado went with green chili on everything and Rocky Mountain oysters. Idaho answered with potatoes. Oregon chose salmon and marionberry pie. Washington said apples and salmon. Arizona highlighted Mexican cuisine and Sonoran hot dogs. New Mexico picked green chilis and enchiladas.

Mountain and Plains states had the toughest time impressing voters. Montana mentioned steak, wild game, and huckleberry. Wyoming simply said steak. South Dakota cited fry bread. Vermont picked pancakes with maple syrup and mac and cheese.

Pennsylvania brought pierogies and cheesesteaks to the table. New Jersey claimed Italian food, pizza, and Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwiches. Connecticut went with clam chowder and pizza. Rhode Island chose seafood, clam cakes, and chowder.

Nevada tried buffets and Mexican food. Alaska mentioned seafood and muktuk. West Virginia answered with pepperoni rolls. Oklahoma went for chicken fried steak and comfort food.

Americans Are Cooking More at Home

The research, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by HelloFresh, gathered responses from Americans across all 50 states between November 17 and 25, 2025.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they feel pride when preparing traditional recipes. More than half (53%) make an effort to document or record family recipes to preserve them.

“Food has always been about more than just sustenance. It’s how we connect, share stories and pass down traditions,” said Michelle Doll Olson, Senior Manager, Culinary Development at HelloFresh US. “From California shrimp tacos and Minnesota Juicy Lucy, to Louisiana gumbo and New York bagels, the dishes that define each state carry generations of family memories and cultural pride.”

“Our survey shows that Americans are returning to the kitchen not just to cook, but to create moments of togetherness, preserve recipes and enjoy the comfort of home-cooked meals with loved ones. In 2026, the kitchen is truly becoming a place where connection and tradition come alive,” Olson added.

Americans currently cook an average of 12 meals at home each week: three breakfasts, four lunches, and five dinners. Time spent at the stove adds up to about 67 minutes daily—nearly 410 hours per year, or roughly 17 full days.

Despite this time investment, people rarely cook or eat together. Americans cook just two meals weekly with others and share only four meals in company.

More than one-third of Americans (37%) said they’re prioritizing cooking traditions with loved ones in 2026. Six in 10 declared this year will be their “year of the kitchen,” with New Yorkers leading at 76%, South Carolinians at 73%, and Alabamians at 72%.

In the end, it’s really every American who comes out on top when it comes to the best food. We’re very lucky to have such a diverse mix of cuisine across the country, and it’s clear that we take great pride in our unique local menus.