If you’re anything like me, you might’ve grown up watching a heck of a lot of food and travel shows on TV. Whether it was the Travel Channel, Food Network, or Destination America, I loved learning about food from different parts of the country — both the good and the…uh, acquired tastes. So, I asked BuzzFeed readers from around the country to share “the worst regional American food” they’ve ever tasted, for science, of course. Here are 21 of the most…questionable dishes they shared:
Hey, you! Yeah, you. Do you have a regional dish you think is the absolute worst in the U.S.? Join the conversation in the comments or anonymous form at the very end of this list!
1.Wisconsin: Cannibal Sandwiches
“I’m not from Wisconsin and have never seen and will never try this! Apparently, in the Milwaukee area, there is this thing called a ‘Cannibal Sandwich’: raw hamburger meat mixed with raw onion on a bun. I’ve confirmed with multiple people from Milwaukee and the internet that this is real!”
—fluffygazelle652
“In some areas of Wisconsin, it is called ‘Wildcat’. I’ve lived here my whole life and have only seen it once at a party.”
—spiritedlight8833
2.Pennsylvania: Altoona Pizza
“Altoona pizza. It’s supposedly famous and good. Well, it’s an abomination of pizza. It starts off with a nice Sicilian-style crust, and then American cheese is placed on top of a perfectly good pizza.”
—Anonymous, 39 State College, PA
This mid-century Altoona classic is topped with marinara, green bell peppers, salami, and, of course, American cheese.
3.Arkansas: Mountain Oysters
—Anonymous, 65, Cordova, TN
If you’re not familiar, Mountain Oysters have nothing to do with seafood. They’re actually battered and fried bull testicles.
4.Ohio: Skyline Chili
“Hey Ohio…I do not see the fuss…”
—beatnikinsc
“Cincinnati Chili in Cincinnati itself. Get outta here with that stuff. Spaghetti? And the chili is, like, sweet? And not at all spicy? Calling it chili is incorrect. This is weird white people beef pasta. I’m sorry, Ohio. No.”
—Anonymous, 46, Minneapolis
“We moved to Ohio a couple of years ago. I’d heard about Cincinnati chili before coming here but had never tried it. It is an abomination. I mean, gross. What fresh hell is this?”
—Anonymous, 57, Ohio
Skyline Chili is a chain that serves Cincinnati chili, which is Greek-inspired and usually served over hot dogs or spaghetti, then covered in cheese. Its flavor is described as sweet and savory, with more emphasis on spices like cinnamon and clove than your traditional American chili seasonings.
5.Georgia: The Luther Burger
—Anonymous, 35, NJ
The thing that separates a Luther Burger from a regular, schmegular burger is the bread. Rather than your traditional hamburger bun, it’s served on a donut.
6.Alabama: Alabama White Barbeque Sauce
“In Alabama, they have this weirdly vinegary white barbecue sauce that they SWEAR by. It overwhelms anything I’ve tried it on and not in a good way.”
—Anonymous, Ben, KS
Ingredients, of course vary, but white barbeque sauce is typically made with mayo, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and spices.
Related: People Are Revealing The Homemade Food Items That Cost Less And Taste Better Than Store-Bought, And I’m Taking Copious Notes
7.Maryland: Maryland Stuffed Ham
“Hey kids, do you want your boiled ham stuffed with greens that look like grass clippings? Then I’ve got the holiday food for you! Stuffed Ham is a southern Maryland Christmas tradition that goes back over 200 years and needs to end.”
—christopheri3
Maryland Stuffed Ham is a corned ham filled with cabbage, kale, and onion stuffing and is served cold.
8.The Midwest: Bologna Salad Sandwiches
“Ground Baloney Sandwiches are served on brioche bread with mayo and relish. Think like a tuna sandwich, but the meat is ring baloney instead of tuna. It’s a Midwestern thing, and it’s disgusting. “
—Anonymous, 25, Utah
9.Alaska: Alaskan Ice Cream
“Also known as Akutaq. This once-popular Alaskan dessert morphed from wild berries mixed with blubber or tallow to loads of white sugar whipped in Crisco with either berries or chopped candies.”
—Anonymous, 66, Alaska
Akutaq is a Native Alaskan — specifically, Athabaskan — dessert. It can also be flavored with fish or meat.
10.Utah: Funeral Potatoes
“I don’t know why these exist. It should be categorized as a hate crime against potatoes and humanity. It is almost as if the potatoes have unnecessarily died twice, and if you are able to choke it down, they died for the third time. The best way of preserving what little dignity there is left in those wasted potatoes is to toss it into the trash and set it on fire until there is nothing. Not even ashes can be found in the aftermath.”
—Anonymous, 30, Calfornia
This cheesy potato casserole, famously popular amongst Mormons, is made with potatoes (either fresh and cubed or as defrosted hashbrowns), cream of chicken soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and cornflakes.
Related: This Picky Eater Showdown Will Be Tough For People Without Refined Palates
11.Missouri: St. Louis-style Pizza
—Anonymous, 39, Los Angeles, CA
St. Louis-style pizza is made with a thin, unleavened crust that’s topped with a sweet tomato sauce and Provel cheese (which is Swiss, cheddar, and provolone cheese combined with liquid smoke). It’s typicaly served as a square rather than a slice.
12.Massachusetts: Creamed Oysters
“Creamed oysters from Cape Cod.”
—Anonymous, 48, Shoreline WA, USA
Also known as Oyster Stew, it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like: oysters in a cream-based sauce. It’s kind of like a thinner, more minimalist clam chowder. It’s described as having a more seafood-forward flavor, and rather than being loaded with potatoes or other veggies, oyster stew keeps it simple with celery (or celery salt) and is usually seasoned with pepper.
13.Pennsylvania: Scrapple
“Philadelphia: top 3 worst:
1. Scrapple
2. Scrapple
3. Scrapple”
—Anonymous, 43, Philadelphia
Hence the name, Scrapple is a meat pudding made with pork scraps (including organs), spices, and cornmeal. It’s usually pan-fried until crispy and eaten with breakfast. It originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch.
14.Georgia: Boiled Peanuts
“Tasted like, well, I can’t describe how awful it was. Why would anybody pay good money for this???”
—Anonymous, 73 Cincinnati Ohio
“I bought some at some roadside gas station somewhere between Atlanta and Augusta. They tasted otherworldly-level salty, but OK, except that within 15 minutes, I was in the throes of migraine aura, like my vision was completely ‘overexposed’ to a degree I could barely see anything. Then, I had an actual seizure during that migraine. It was the worst one of my entire life. It took me a couple of weeks to recover and feel normal again. They must put a LOT of MSG in those suckers.”
—Anonymous, 31, Canada
15.The Midwest: Ambrosia Salad
“I think it’s more of a midwestern dish, but I was forced to try it at a church potluck in Georgia. Weird texture, no taste, and is overall gross.”
—Anonymous, 30 and Atlanta, GA
While inclusions vary, it’s traditionally a whipped cream-based salad with coconut, mandarins, pineapple, and colorful marshmallows.
16.Maryland: Beaten Biscuits
“Beaten Biscuits. I have a neighbor from Maryland; he LOVED it. So awful.”
—Anonymous, 65, San Jose
The recipe dates back to the start of the 19th century. Reportedly, the name comes from the way the dough has air “beaten” into it, as yeast isn’t involved in the recipe (as it was much harder to come by back in the day than it is today). They’re described as being harder, drier, and tougher than a classic biscuit, with a more mild flavor.
17.The South: Grits
Creative Credit / Getty Images
“I’m from the North, a true Yankee, but live in the South now. Anything with GRITS has got to go!!🤢🤮”
—Anonymous
Grits are essentially a porridge made from ground-up white corn or hominy that’s been boiled.
18.Texas: Frito Pie
“FRITO PIE here in Austin. Disgusting “
—Anonymous, 32, Austin, Texas
Frito Pie is a Southwestern casserole made with — you guessed it — Fritos, cheese, beans, enchilada sauce, and seasoned beef.
19.Idaho: Fry Sauce
“Anything with fry sauce. Idahoans love to claim this. It’s basically just mayo and ketchup, arguably already the two worst condiments. Sometimes, they get wild and add seasoning salt. Disgusting. “
—Anonymous, 45, Idaho
20.New York: Pimento Cheese
“Pimento cheese, just gross.”
—laughinggoat523
Originating in New York but now popular in the South, Pimento Cheese is made of pimento red peppers (which are more sweet in flavor), cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise.
21.Nebraska: Runza
—Anonymous, 34, Texas
Considered a sandwich to some and a pastry to others, Runza is traditionally filled with ground beef, cabbage/sauerkraut, and onions. There’s a chain restaurant of the same name in Nebraska known for them.
Do you have a regional dish you think is the absolute worst in the U.S.? Tell us what it is and where it’s from in the comments or anonymous form below:
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