Every American State’s Tastiest Takeout Restaurants, We’ve Found ‘Em
Ready for a mouthwatering road trip across America? We’ve tracked down the absolute best takeout spots in every single state, from hole-in-the-wall treasures to legendary local institutions.
These places don’t just serve food – they dish out unforgettable flavors that’ll have you planning your next cross-country adventure with your taste buds leading the way!
1. Alabama’s Dreamland BBQ
Holy smoked ribs, Batman! Dreamland’s legendary BBQ has folks lining up for miles.
Their sauce recipe remains locked away tighter than Fort Knox, creating a sweet-tangy magic that transforms ordinary pork into southern poetry.
2. Alaska’s Tracy’s King Crab Shack
Forget gold rush – the real Alaskan treasure hides in these massive crab legs! Crack into sweet meat dripping with melted butter while gazing at Juneau’s harbor views.
Even seafood skeptics surrender to Tracy’s legendary crab bisque.
3. Arizona’s Barrio Café
Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza doesn’t just cook Mexican food – she creates edible art!
Her pomegranate-studded guacamole and cochinita pibil transport taste buds straight to Yucatán. Skip the airport, this Phoenix gem delivers Mexico’s soul to your doorstep.
4. Arkansas’ McClard’s Bar-B-Q
Where presidential appetites meet down-home cooking! Bill Clinton’s favorite Hot Springs hideaway serves ribs so tender they practically jump off the bone.
Their tamale spread – tamales smothered in Fritos, beans, and cheese – defies all logic yet works brilliantly.
5. California’s Howlin’ Ray’s
Lines may snake around the block, but Howlin’ Ray’s Nashville hot chicken delivers heat and flavor that make the wait unforgettable.
From tame to downright fiery, their spice levels challenge even the bravest. Bonus points: you might just spot a celebrity fueling up on some of the city’s hottest wings.
6. Colorado’s Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs
Rattlesnake sausage, anyone? Former repo man Jim Pittenger swapped car keys for tongs, creating Denver’s wildest hot dog joint.
Elk, reindeer, and wild boar dogs topped with cream cheese and caramelized onions create flavor explosions that defy hot dog logic.
7. Connecticut’s Frank Pepe Pizzeria
Pizza pilgrims flock to New Haven for coal-fired perfection since 1925! Frank Pepe’s white clam pie – fresh clams, garlic, olive oil, oregano, and grated cheese on a charred, chewy crust – makes even New Yorkers question their pizza loyalty.
8. Delaware’s Walt’s Flavor Crisp Chicken
Wilmington’s worst-kept secret since 1973! Walt’s pressure-fried chicken achieves the impossible – ultra-crispy outside, impossibly juicy inside.
Their sweet potato biscuits could make a vegetarian reconsider life choices. Local legend says the recipe came from a dream.
9. Florida’s Joe’s Stone Crab
Miami Beach’s century-old institution ships those legendary claws nationwide! Cracked stone crab claws arrive with mustard sauce that should be illegal.
Though pricey, Joe’s key lime pie finale makes wallet pain vanish faster than Florida sunshine after a summer storm.
10. Georgia’s Fox Bros Bar-B-Q
Texas-born twins brought brisket brilliance to Atlanta and sparked a BBQ revolution. The Frito pie with brisket chili served right in a Fritos bag sounds wild but delivers pure flavor gold.
Fox Bros smoked wings paired with house-made ranch have won over even the most devoted buffalo wing fans.
11. Hawaii’s Helena’s Hawaiian Food
A James Beard Award-winning hidden gem that’s been dishing out authentic Hawaiian soul food since 1946. Helena’s kalua pig melts with smoky, salty goodness, while the pipikaula short ribs bring bold, tender flavor.
Finish strong with haupia coconut pudding, a silky, sweet taste of island paradise in every spoonful.
12. Idaho’s Westside Drive In
Chef Lou’s ice cream potato might be Idaho’s greatest culinary prank!
This vanilla ice cream shaped like a spud, dusted with cocoa, topped with whipped cream “sour cream” fools eyes but delights taste buds. Their prime rib sandwich remains criminally underrated.
13. Illinois’ Portillo’s
Chicago’s hot dog legacy began in a tiny trailer back in 1963. Portillo’s Vienna beef dogs loaded with seven classic toppings – no ketchup allowed – are the city’s iconic flavor on a bun.
And their chocolate cake shake, blending actual cake into creamy ice cream, is a mind-bending treat that defies the rules of dessert.
14. Indiana’s Shapiro’s Delicatessen
Indy’s 115-year-old Jewish deli stacks sandwiches taller than most kids. Hand-carved corned beef heaped high between rye slices has fueled generations of Hoosiers.
Shapiro’s giant black-and-white cookies are big enough to throw but way more satisfying to eat.
15. Iowa’s Zombie Burger
Apocalypse-themed burger joint where creativity meets carnivore paradise! Zombie Burger’s “They’re Coming to Get You Barbara” features fried mac-n-cheese buns that would make any zombie forget about brains.
Their Undead Elvis – peanut butter, banana, bacon burger – lives forever.
16. Kansas’ Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Gas station BBQ that Anthony Bourdain named among “13 places to eat before you die”! Joe’s Z-Man sandwich – brisket, provolone, onion rings, and sauce on kaiser roll – creates more happiness than should legally fit between bread. Their burnt ends sell out faster than concert tickets.
17. Kentucky’s Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
Owensboro is a mutton BBQ mecca where humble sheep transform into smoky, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Moonlite serves a signature Kentucky mutton dip with tangy vinegar sauce that perfectly balances the rich meat, winning over newcomers every day.
The burgoo stew, loaded with a mix of meats and bold flavors, has the power to revive even the weariest soul or cure the toughest hangover.
18. Louisiana’s Willie Mae’s Scotch House
In New Orleans, fried chicken isn’t just food – it’s a soulful ritual.
Willie Mae’s legendary wet-battered bird delivers a crunch so heavenly, it feels like a blessing with every bite. Hurricanes have come and gone, but this crispy treasure and its buttery beans side dish keep pulling folks back, tempting even steadfast vegetarians to stray from their path.
19. Maine’s Red’s Eats
Tiny roadside shack with lobster rolls bigger than your face! Red’s piles more than a whole lobster onto each buttered, grilled roll – no fillers, just sweet meat and drawn butter or mayo on the side.
Summer lines stretch for blocks but winter visitors score instant seafood nirvana.
20. Maryland’s Chaps Pit Beef
Baltimore strip club parking lot hides beef sandwich royalty! Chaps’ pit beef – charcoal-grilled top round sliced paper-thin, piled on kaiser roll with horseradish “tiger sauce” – creates a flavor explosion.
Guy Fieri couldn’t stop saying “money” while devouring it.
21. Massachusetts’ Galleria Umberto
Cash-only North End pizza square that sells out daily by 2pm! Umberto’s Sicilian squares – thick, airy dough topped with tangy sauce and just enough cheese – cost less than a Boston parking meter.
Their arancini rice balls hide molten cheese cores that could cause spontaneous happiness.
22. Michigan’s Lafayette Coney Island
Detroit’s century-old coney dog battleground where loyalty runs deeper than motor oil. Lafayette’s natural-casing hot dogs piled high with beanless chili, mustard, and onions hit your plate faster than you can say “Motor City.”
Chili cheese fries so loaded they could power an entire automotive assembly line.
23. Minnesota’s Matt’s Bar
Home of the legendary “Jucy Lucy” – cheese stuffed INSIDE the burger patty! Matt’s molten cheese core creates burger physics that defy explanation.
Warning: first-timers always burn their mouths on the volcanic cheese explosion, earning their Minnesota badge of honor.
24. Mississippi’s The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint
Built from junkyard scraps, this Gulf Coast BBQ spot has weathered hurricanes and fires with grit and flavor. The Shed’s baby back ribs are smoke-kissed and glazed in a sweet-tangy sauce that makes the meat fall off the bone with the slightest touch.
Potato salad here is a closely guarded secret, more protected than Fort Knox itself.
25. Missouri’s Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue
Kansas City BBQ royalty where presidents and celebrities wait alongside the rest of us. Bryant’s burnt ends – twice-smoked brisket nuggets – explode with bold, smoky beef flavor.
The original orange-tinged sauce, with its spicy, slightly gritty kick, may surprise newcomers but turns many into lifelong fans.
26. Montana’s Burger Dive
World Burger Championship winner hiding in downtown Billings!
The Dive’s “I’m Your Huckleberry” – huckleberry hatch chili BBQ sauce, goat cheese, bacon burger – conquered Vegas food competitions. Owner Brad Halsten flipped corporate life for burger glory, becoming Montana’s patty wizard.
27. Nebraska’s Block 16
Farm-to-table street food that Alton Brown called his favorite burger in America! Block 16’s “Croque Garcon” – burger topped with cheese, ham, egg, mustard and truffle mayo – creates flavor architecture worthy of engineering awards.
Their duck fat fries should be illegal in at least 12 states.
28. Nevada’s Lotus of Siam
Strip mall Thai restaurant that food critics pilgrimage to experience! Lotus’ Northern Thai specialties – particularly their crispy garlic prawns and nam prik noom – create flavor memories that haunt dreams.
Their wine list, specialized for spicy food pairing, shocks first-time visitors.
29. New Hampshire’s Moxy
Inspired by Revolutionary War-era flavors, Moxy’s tapas pay tribute to New England’s rich culinary roots.
The Johnny Cake Community features cornmeal pancakes crowned with brown sugar-cured pork shoulder, giving colonial cooking a modern twist.
Whoopie pie sliders transform Maine’s beloved dessert into irresistible bite-sized treats.
30. New Jersey’s White House Subs
Atlantic City sub shop so legendary Frank Sinatra flew in private planes just to get a taste.
The White House Italian sub piled high with capicola, salami, provolone, and pickled peppers demands serious jaw power. Half-subs satisfy families, whole subs could settle minor conflicts.
31. New Mexico’s Tomasita’s
Santa Fe chile institution where heat levels should come with warning labels! Tomasita’s carne adovada – pork marinated in fiery red chile – tests human spice tolerance while delivering flavor enlightenment.
Their sopaipillas – hollow fried bread pillows drizzled with honey – provide essential chile recovery.
32. New York’s Katz’s Delicatessen
Lower East Side legend famous for the iconic “When Harry Met Sally” scene. Katz’s hand-carved pastrami, cured for weeks and smoked for days, piles high into sandwich mountains that demand both hands and a napkin bib.
Matzo ball soup here offers more than comfort – it’s a cure for everything from colds to existential crises.
33. North Carolina’s Skylight Inn BBQ
A whole hog shrine crowned with a Capitol dome replica, Skylight serves wood-smoked pork chopped with crispy crackling and drenched in tangy vinegar pepper sauce. It’s BBQ at its purest.
Cornbread cooked in pork fat delivers such rich flavor it might just make vegetarians reconsider everything.
34. North Dakota’s Kroll’s Diner
German-Russian comfort food served in a classic ’50s diner setting. Kroll’s knoephla soup is a creamy potato dumpling delight that warms Prairie winters better than any furnace.
Fleischkuechle features seasoned beef wrapped in pastry and deep-fried, proving North Dakota mastered hand pies long before they became trendy.
35. Ohio’s Tony Packo’s
Toledo legend where hot dogs meet Hungarian spices and a touch of MAS*H fame. Packo’s Hungarian hot dogs topped with secret-recipe chili sauce and yellow mustard earned Klinger’s devotion on national television.
Pickles and peppers tangy with paprika have the power to wake taste buds from hibernation.
36. Oklahoma’s Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
Stockyards institution won in a dice game during the Great Depression! Cattlemen’s breakfast steak – served with eggs since 4am – fuels cowboys and city slickers alike.
Their lamb fries (exactly what you think they are) remain Oklahoma’s most notorious culinary dare.
37. Oregon’s Nong’s Khao Man Gai
Portland food cart sensation built on one perfect Thai chicken dish. Nong’s poached chicken and rice served with ginger-soy sauce that deserves to be bottled and sold everywhere proves simplicity beats complexity every time.
Handwritten notes on each package add a special personal touch.
38. Pennsylvania’s DiNic’s Roast Pork
Reading Terminal Market sandwich shop where porky perfection blends with Italian soul. DiNic’s roast pork, slow-roasted and thinly sliced, topped with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe, has beaten cheesesteaks to earn “Best Sandwich in America” honors.
The meat-to-roll ratio hits mathematical perfection every time.
39. Rhode Island’s Olneyville New York System
Despite the name, these wieners are pure Rhode Island tradition. Olneyville’s hot wieners are small veal, pork, and beef links topped with meat sauce, onions, celery salt, and mustard and come “all the way” perfectly stacked.
Coffee milk, the official state drink, serves as the essential companion for washing it all down.
40. South Carolina’s Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ
James Beard-winning pitmaster who turned whole hog BBQ into an art form. Rodney’s whole hog, basted with pepper-vinegar sauce and smoked over hardwood, delivers pork so good it feels transcendent.
Banana pudding served in simple plastic cups packs more joy than should legally fit in such a small container.
41. South Dakota’s Pizza Cheeks
Tucked away in downtown Sioux Falls, Pizza Cheeks has revolutionized South Dakota’s pizza game with their Detroit-style square pies that locals can’t stop raving about.
The thick, crispy-edged crust develops a caramelized cheese border that’s absolutely worth the trip alone.
42. Tennessee’s Prince’s Hot Chicken
Nashville hot chicken originator born from relationship revenge! Prince’s chicken – fried then coated in cayenne-laden paste – comes in heat levels from mild to “what did I do to deserve this punishment?”
Legend claims it was created to torture a cheating boyfriend.
43. Texas’ Franklin Barbecue
Austin’s brisket sanctuary where five-hour lines start forming before dawn. Franklin’s pepper-crusted, smoke-ringed brisket offers a spiritual experience for BBQ pilgrims.
Aaron Franklin turned a backyard passion into an international sensation, proving that patience is the secret to transcendent beef.
44. Utah’s Red Iguana
Salt Lake City Mexican treasure where mole sauces reach divine heights. Red Iguana’s mole sampler offers seven unique variations, from rich chocolate-tinged to vibrant pumpkin seed-based, awakening palates and delighting souls.
Chile verde loaded with tender pork chunks has the power to tempt even the most devoted vegetarians.
45. Vermont’s Al’s French Frys
Retro burger joint where hand-cut fries take center stage. Al’s double cheeseburger paired with crinkle-cut fries fried twice for extra crunch delivers simple food perfection.
Creemees, Vermont’s signature soft serve, come maple-flavored because here they know what’s truly good.
46. Virginia’s Buz and Ned’s Real Barbecue
Richmond smoke joint that defeated Bobby Flay on national TV! Buz’s St. Louis ribs – seasoned with secret spice blend and hickory-smoked – proved Virginia belongs in BBQ conversations.
Their fried okra, crispy outside and tender inside, converts skeptics of this southern vegetable.
47. Washington’s Paseo
Seattle sandwich legend serving up Caribbean flavor explosions. Paseo’s Caribbean Roast features pork shoulder marinated for days, topped with caramelized onions, aioli, and cilantro.
Expect to need both hands and plenty of napkins, the messier the face, the more authentic the experience.
48. West Virginia’s Pepperoni Roll Heaven
Coal miner lunch staple elevated to artform! Pepperoni Roll Heaven’s signature creation – pepperoni and cheese baked inside soft bread until the spicy oils infuse everything – was designed for miners’ lunchboxes. Their jalapeño version adds kick to this Mountain State classic.
49. Wisconsin’s Kopps Frozen Custard
Coal miner lunch staple transformed into an art form. Pepperoni Roll Heaven’s signature creation stuffs pepperoni and cheese inside soft bread, baking until spicy oils soak every bite – made originally for miners’ lunchboxes.
The jalapeño version kicks up the heat on this Mountain State classic.
50. Wyoming’s Luxury Diner
Cheyenne breakfast institution where cowboys and politicians come together. Luxury’s chicken fried steak is hand-breaded with a crispy exterior and tender interior, all smothered in rich pepper gravy to fuel ranchers before dawn.
Green chile sauce inspired by New Mexico adds a bold southwestern kick to every breakfast dish.