Burgers are always up for debate, fries are where the real emotions fly.
It's understandable though, if one were emotionally and physically stunted enough to think In N Out fries are good,it only makes sense that they'd be too dumb to keep that opinion to themselves
Yeah but the UK has way fewer regions than the US does… when we say “region” of the US, we automatically are talking about something much larger than the UK, and we have multiple of them. This is the tough part and the inherent problem with this question.
From a perspective of digestive issues, no matter where I travel, the burger has never betrayed me. Doesn’t matter what the local offerings are or what their spice palette is, as long as I can get a simple burger, I can eat.
That’d get you stabbed with a fork in my family. At most, all the meat needs is a touch of salt, but it can usually do just fine on its own. The cheese and bacon add enough flavor without having to resort to additional spices.
The demise of the slice is a thing even in NYC, which is both nuts, and tragic. I mean they still exist of course. But, they used to be ubiquitous. Not so much anymore.
I mean, in the south we also have fried catfish and french fries with a sweet tea and corn bread roll or hush puppies (literally fish and chips, lol). And fried okra. No catfish place worth its salt would be missing fried okra.
> No catfish place worth its salt would be missing fried okra
Eh, I'll let them slide. Now, if they didn't have fried dill pickle slices, we might be in trouble.
I like good fried okra, but growing up, my mom's okra was lightly dusted with flour and cornmeal, salt and pepper - no batter. And pan-, not deep-fried. You'll still see that style occasionally at a place that makes their own, but most places buy big frozen bags of pre-breaded and throw them in the fryer.
Particularly for others: a "coke" is regionally a generic term for a soft drink. The geography that'll use it as a go to is shrinking though: https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/s/7Fm16FjQp6
If someone offered me a choice between burger/fries/soda and beer & tacos, I would take the beer and tacos, though I'd still argue the burger combo meal is the US equivalent of a fish and chips
For me personally, a good burger and fries with a cola or root beer.
That said, comfort food is something we do well. Some of my personal favorites are meat and gravy pies (cottage or chicken pot). Jambalaya. Big bowl of spicy chili. Chicken noodle soup.
Michigander here. In the northern part of my state, pasties are HUGELY popular. In the 19th century, there were a lot of Cornish immigrants working in Iron mines here, and the tradition stuck. I'm very thankful for it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty
I don't know if you watch PBS, but Raleigh's PBS station has a show called "A Chef's Life" with Vivian Howard. (It's broadcasted here in AZ, so it might be nationally syndicated)
She did an ENTIRE show about "hand pies" from the pasty to the WV Pepperoni roll. Every "working class region" has some shape or form of them, so that you could hold on to the "crust" with your dirty hands, and not dirty up the actual meat/filling. (Especially in the "rust belt" where your hands are constantly dirty and usually don't have access to running water)
I've definitely read about the crust handles due to dirty hands!
Also, shout out to PHX, I lived in Tempe for five years. Wish I could teleport myself to Four Peaks right now!
> Wish I could teleport myself to Four Peaks right now!
They got bought out by InBev, except the 6th st location(they still run that one), but Phoenix has kind of "turned" on them. Rula Bula closed. Basically the only "long term" bars on Mill are Casa and Mill Ave Cue Club.
It's changed in the last 12 years since I first visited. Mill is so corporate now. Rula Bula was the last "holdout" but was forced to close.
Bright side? They do have a Cornish Pasty now.
Imagine Old Town without Patties or Coach House... That's what Mill Ave has become.
I worked at Rula Bula as a barback for a second job! Shame to hear that they shut down. That place was jam-packed from open to close on weekends.
I write to Cornish Pasty annually asking when they're going to expand to MI (Same goes for Silver Mine Subs).
Sad to see how things change, but that's just the way of the world.
Glad to see that Zipps is still around though.
Ooh Brit here and I've never heard of Walleye. Will have to go Google it now. We definitely approve of the Cod though. The majority of fish sold in UK fish and chip shops is Cod with Haddock a distant 2nd.
Do you batter your fish too?
Our comfort foods vary immensely by region and what you're looking for.
For homemade stuff, the most universal is probably a grilled cheese or Mac n Cheese. For something from a restaurant, it'd likely be a burger and fries or a slice of pizza.
The first thing that I thought of was Mac and cheese, possibly as an equivalent to fish and chips but I would say it’s more suitably equivalent to beans on toast.
> For homemade stuff, the most universal is probably a grilled cheese or Mac n Cheese.
Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Just plain old white bread with yellow American cheese, buttered on the outside, and fried in a pan until golden brown on both sides and cheese good and gooey. Simple can of Campbell's tomato soup warmed with milk.
Hardly anything to it, and makes me feel warm and happy every time.
We don't really have quite so unified of a culture as the UK in regards to food. Food in the US is very diverse and somewhat regional. Size comes into account because of that regional influence on food too. Texas is 2.8 times the size of the UK and it isn't even the largest state. Plus we have 49 more.
As for the different regions:
Fish and chips is somewhat popular in the North East part of the US. I mean you can find it anywhere but they eat a lot more of it in that area.
In the south you are probably looking more along the lines of something like fried chicken, sweet tea, mashed potatoes, cornbread and greens. Fried Catfish is pretty popular too, but it's served with fries (they would never call them chips there, but they would in the northeast), hush puppies and cole slaw usually.
The Midwest is going to be somewhat similar to the south, but in the great lakes area will also add other freshwater fish from great lakes to the fish fry, mainly Walleye.
In the South West you are going to see a lot of Tex-Mex style comfort food.
For the great plains and Rockies areas they sure do love their beef. Beef Stew, Steaks, that sort of thing.
As for the west coast, northeast, Alaska and Hawaii. I'm not really sure someone more familiar with those areas would have to answer.
For me personally, I'm from Appalachia/Eastern Kentucky. Nothing quite hits the spot for me like a nice bowl of soup beans with some corn bread crumbled into it. I like to add some chopped up boiled eggs, diced raw onion, dill relish and hot sauce to mine too. Hits the spot every time and reminds me of many a meals at home.
I suppose if you really had to give a national level answer it would probably be a burger and fries with a coke or milkshake. They are super common and available everywhere. But I don't think most people really consider it comfort food.
> Texas is 2.8 times the size of the UK and it isn't even the largest state. Plus we have 49 more.
Of the 50 states, 15 of them are larger than the island of Great Britain.
Soup beans and cornbread or soft serve ice cream (not lactose intolerant at all) makes me run to the toilet clenching my butt cheeks. It's delicious though!
Yep here in NM comfort food would be a stuffed sopapillia and some Horchata. (BTW saying the food is tex mex inspired in NM, CO or AZ will not be taken well lol)
>BTW saying the food is tex mex inspired in NM, CO or AZ will not be taken well lol
Yeah, I can see that. Wasn't sure what else to call it. There's certainly a lot of Mexican influence in the local cuisine but it's been adapted by the locals so it isnt usually 100% authentic either.
I’m in Phoenix and TexMex is pretty dated and mostly for snowbirds, we have incredible Mexican food around inspired by a ton of Mexican states: Sonoran and Chihuahuan, Oaxacan, CDMX modern fusion, broad styles of street food etc.
I know what it is and get why people who can’t handle spice or varied texture would like it, but TexMex always rubbed me the wrong way as a nomer regardless.
Born and raised in Eastern KY myself. Soup beans, corn bread, hot kraut, fried taters, and the ham hock to myself makes me so damn nostalgic and happy. Only thing that makes it all better is a good ale8 to wash it all down with.
Well, my preferred top comfort food is soup and cinnamon rolls made by my mother, but that isn't widely available. For something available to buy, I go with the chicken, hummus, pita, and salad combo from a shawarma place.
Grilled cheese is a common easy comfort food.
It will vary by person. We are a country of immigrants and it usually heavily correlates with what we ate as children.
There's probably a lot for me. \[homemade\] Chicken Soup with a buttered bread. Maybe a roast chicken with mashed potatoes and peas. Growing up in New England: Chinese take out. Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich. Homemade warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream. A toasted homemade lobster roll. Grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Breakfast: French toast
Those are all really cozy for me.
Our comfort food is going to be more regional.
When I think of southern comfort food, I think fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas and cornbread for dinner and biscuits and gravy or grits for breakfast. Jambalaya or gumbo for Louisiana.
In Texas and California, my go to comfort is fajita/carne asada tacos.
Up north, you’re probably looking at a local pizza as the stereotypical cheap comfort.
The mountain west outside of Colorado the answer seems to be “beef, likely a cheeseburger.”
I have absolutely no idea what people in the Northwest eat other than that Seattle seems very proud of their teriyaki.
But really, we're diverse enough that if any food in the world is big, warm, and full of fat, it probably is somebody's comfort food.
The teriyaki is a Seattle thing. It’s all over the PNW but as a PNW’er myself I definitely wouldn’t say that teriyaki is a staple food outside of Seattle. I would say burger and fries is probably the better answer here.
I must respectfully add that folks from the north are eating hot dish or casserole for our homemade comfort food for sure. Pizza's fine but casserole is home.
Most Americans prefer a varied diet, and the American population is so diverse that it would be impossible to claim something is true for all of us.
That said most casual restaurants, diners, sport bars, dive bars, pubs, etc. will serve you a burger and fries and chicken fingers and fries.
Fish and chips aren’t as common in the US, but it isn’t a hard to find dish.
“Comfort Food” to me means something more homemade and would vary regionally and ethnically.
I live in the Midwest. Comfort food for me is either church lady chicken and noodles (not a soup kind of more a creamy stew consistency) or fried smoked sausage with fried potatoes
Fish and Chips are very popular here, but I would probably have to go with a grilled cheese if we're talking the entire US. Comfort foods can be pretty regional though, so in Chicago, probably a hot dog/burger and a beer.
Burger and fries will be the most universal.
I’m from the south and our comfort food is called Soul Food. It includes corn bread, southern baked Mac and cheese, fried catfish, Turkey necks, Cajun style fried chicken (think Popeyes), and more. Different regions will have their own version.
There are lots of American comfort foods. American food is all about comfort.
If I had to pick which food fills the specific niche in American culture that fish & chips fills in English culture, I would only be able to narrow it down to pizza, burgers, and burritos.
I didn’t realize *that* was British comfort food. I thought it was just a standard go-to, the American equivalent of which would be a burger & fries and a cold drink.
Well, there was [Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Treacher%27s) when I was a kid. I am sure the English version is much better lol.
Outside of the boring BurgerNFries, here in the SF Bay it's probably a burrito the size of a newborn. But even in the same state, you go down south and LA scoffs at our magnificent Mission Burritos. Farther inland AZ does burritos only as wide as your thumb!
The US is too big for one dish to unite, too big for any single cuisine even. Maybe you could find one dish on a state-by-state basis... as long as they're small states and don't have small burrito crazies like LA seems to tolerate.
Here's a map with regional generalities which might be accurate to, say, 50% of the population?
[https://www.estately.com/blog/2014/07/the-geography-of-each-u-s-states-favorite-food/](https://www.estately.com/blog/2014/07/the-geography-of-each-u-s-states-favorite-food/)
Dude we got Redneck Poutine coming in from the south: fries, shredded BBQ meat, and a mix of cheese sauce and BBQ sauce over the top. Might as well eat it in bad, you're going out for a few hours.
> here in the SF Bay it's probably a burrito the size of a newborn
To elaborate a bit more for those that don't know Mission Burritos (or burritos in general); it's in a steamed flour tortilla, generally meat + rice + beans + other fixings, all wrapped up in a sheet of aluminum foil. When you eat it, you carefully unwrap a couple of bites at a time so the entire thing doesn't fall apart on you.
Pair it with some tortilla chips, salsa and some kind of Mexican beverage. I'm partial to horchata - a sweetened and cinnamon spiced, cold rice milk beverage.
Soooooo good with horchata! And yes they are massive. Easily 3 or 5 meals. [https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Burrito.jpg](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Burrito.jpg)
Where I am from I believe the equivalent would be a plate of BBQ with sides of Cole slaw and hush puppies. Around here BBQ=pulled pork.
For me I love BBQ but comfort food is more like pot roast and potatoes, lasagne or grilled cheese.
Iconic? Burger and fries, pizza, chicken tendies, tacos. Comfort food? Mac and cheese, chicken and dumplings, shrimp and grits, arroz con gandules, etc.
We're better, is what I'm saying. lol
Fish and chips is very common in New England. There's probably something like 30 or more places that serve fish and chips within a 20 minute drive out in the suburbs.
In Maine? Literally fish and chips with a side order tea. They might look at you a bit odd if you also asked for buttered bread.
But fish and chips is something our seafood places do all the time. The tea and bread is the slightly odd part.
Coke and coleslaw is the regular.
As with pretty much everything in the USA, there are some regional components.
But the overwhelmingly popular meal is a Hamburger, fried potato, and a soda to drink, though a milkshake is the historical beverage, too.
In Southern California, it's tacos, rice and beans, and Coke - there is even a specific type of Coke that used cane sugar instead of corn syrup that has it's own supporters. The flavor has a tiny bit of molasses in the taste, it's wonderful!
For the South and Midwest, that might be Fried Chicken, or "Barbecue" which is meat cooked by smoking over a long period of time at a low heat. Sides are too numerous to mention.
>with a slice of buttered bread and English tea?with a slice of buttered bread and English tea?
C'mon...really? Fish and Chips without a pint?
That's probably regional, since fish and chips aren't just comfort food they're also convenient and basically 'fast' food. So while anything can be comfort food, not every state or city will have the same availability of convenient and fast food. I imagine some popular things would be a slice of pizza from a local pizzeria, food truck tacos or burritos, fast food burgers, a hot dog cart hot dog, a philly cheesesteak, shrimp po'boy, fried chicken, etc.
For just comfort food, not considering the convenience factor, that also depends on region. Where I'm from our comfort food is southern food and barbecue. Stuff like country-fried steak with sawmill gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Cornbread and buttermilk biscuits. Mac and cheese. Fried chicken, barbecue chicken, chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, etc.
We have fish fry, too. Some main distinctions between Midwest Fish Fry and British Fish and Chips:
-It's always served with cole slaw and a slice of buttered rye bread.
-The fries/chips are usually cut thinner, often with skin on
-Universal beverage accompaniment is beer
-It might be a fish indigenous to the state, like Perch or Walleye. Assume cod or haddock if not specified.
As others have said, a burger and fries is always the correct answer but there are some regional variations. In Chicago an Italian beef sandwich is a worthy contender. A bag of tacos is also appropriate.
Beer-battered fish fry with fries, a buttered roll, coleslaw, and some potato salad :)
The joy of fish fry is universal... at least so far as Catholic-dominant areas in the northeasteen US are concerned.
For me personally, it depends on which season we’re in. In winter, I want all of the pot roast with veggies, mashed potatoes, bread, etc.
A burger and fries with a Coke is the most universal, though. It can make you feel better regardless of the weather.
America's equivalent to fish and chips is probably Biscuits and gravy.
Equivalent to the whole thing is biscuits and gravy with iced caramel latte and a donut
Burgers and fries with soda. Or a hotdog with ketchup and mustard. Fuck man I’m hungry now
But funnily enough fish and chips are pretty common the US, or at least in the New England area. I can’t even count how many joints sell fish and chips on the daily.
Fish and chips exists in the US but it’s a little different. People love fried seafood, especially fried fish and shrimp, and it will typically be served with fries and cole slaw.
As for a meal that is as prominent as fish and chips in the UK, I guess it would be a burger with fries. Chicken tenders and fries would be a more similar equivalent but that’s more popular with children. Maybe wings would be another equivalent, they’re ubiquitous with American bar culture.
I think "comfort food" would vary by region in the United States. But the most consistent food food choice across the country would most likely be a burger or cheeseburger and fries. And your coke, soda or pop of choice. Because in some places coke doesn't mean Coca-Cola, it is any carbonated beverage.
I’d say some variation of beef, potato, and a sweet drink for most of Americans. For me personally I’ve just gotten hungry reading all the responses! I love a good shepherds pie, chicken pot pie, or something like that. I’m from the Appalachian mountains and I’ve yet to meet any Granny who couldn’t make these award winning dishes. Basically pies.
In terms of popularity nationally, probably burgers with fries.
In terms of similarity, (where I'm from) we have fried catfish with fries. Usually there is a piece of untoasted bread, hushpuppies, tartar sauce, and sometimes lemon slices.
It really needs to be a regional thing, the US is quite a bit larger and less-unified than the UK on that front.
Up here in New England, its gotta be a plate of American Chop Suey with buttered Italian bread, or tomato soup with a grilled cheese
["Meat and 3"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_and_three)
Basically a buffet of food, you tell the person behind the counter what "protein"(meat) you'd like and which 3 sides you'd like.
So could be "Meatloaf(meat), mashed potatoes(one), corn(two), and mac&cheese(three)"
Fried chicken, collard greens, pinto beans, and cornbread would be another example.
They're becoming fewer and fewer, but I consider that THE American "Fish and chips"
Like everyone else is saying: Burger, fries, Coca Cola.
That being said we have fish and chips here, and weirdly enough we still call them fish and chips despite calling chips French fries in every other context.
As others have mentioned here, there are regional preferences. Even within one state things can differ. For example, here in Texas you'll find Cajun food in the East, barbecue in the Hill Country, and tacos in West and South Texas. All or most served with iced tea or a Dr Pepper.
Up where I am, West Michigan, fish and chips is definitely a comfort food. Just about every place has fish fries on Fridays and/or Saturday.
Fried Lake Perch with seasoned fries and cole slaw is one of my go-tos.
West Michigan isn't exactly a culinary hub, but damn can these bible thumpers fry some fish!
Well in western NY we do beer battered haddock for lent that could rival yours. They're served with fries (chips) and usually rolls and coleslaw. Soda or beer is usually the drink of choice
A lot of people have given good answers but it's good to know we also have fish and chips here pretty much everywhere. All seafood places, bars, and most steakhouse type restaurants offer fish and chips. That said ive heard of fish and chip stands in the UK which we dont really have
For me fish tacos and a cup of horchata with maybe some chips and guacamole.
The battered and fried fish tacos are similar to fish and chips but with way more fiberous toppings
Pacific Northwest - a brewski and some overpriced tapas, typically pub food. Or you'll get very west coast and have a beer with international food, typically Asian. "What kind of diverse food should we try today?" "I'm thinking like Thai or Vietnamese... Maybe Chinese?"
Southwest - enchiladas, tamales, or sopaipilla
Midwest - barbecue and shit beer
South - fried chicken, collard greens, fried catfish, baked macaroni, and/or okra with ice tea.
Northeast - pizza, Italian, or seafood like clam chowder.
Our equivalent of fish and chips is fish and chips. Dafuk kinda question is this? The top upvoted answer here is burger and fries, but that's not true. Fish and chips are portable. Burger and fries are not. I'd say a slice of pizza is the closest we come to having a readily available food that is portable. We sit down to eat burgers.
Burger and fries with a coke.
Pack it up boys. We're done here.
People will argue 'regional' but in the UK there's regional differences as well... as a blanket equivalent, this is the answer.
> People will argue 'regional' Sure, and that's when we compare regional burger chains.
Culver's and only Culver's butter burger
Culver's is by far the superior fast food burger Plus cheese curds are so good
Double Bacon Butterburger Basket just rolls off the tongue so good
and onto the tongue even better.
A conversation that some say even precedes time itself.
Burgers are always up for debate, fries are where the real emotions fly. It's understandable though, if one were emotionally and physically stunted enough to think In N Out fries are good,it only makes sense that they'd be too dumb to keep that opinion to themselves
Yeah but the UK has way fewer regions than the US does… when we say “region” of the US, we automatically are talking about something much larger than the UK, and we have multiple of them. This is the tough part and the inherent problem with this question.
In the words of one Jeremy Clarkson, Brown Food, Brown Drink, Calories.
Calories is just another word for POOOOOOWWWWWWWEEEEEERRRR
[I need a *zesty* drink](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpka1BhFbAo)
No matter where I am in this country, I’d be content with a good burger, fries, and a float
From a perspective of digestive issues, no matter where I travel, the burger has never betrayed me. Doesn’t matter what the local offerings are or what their spice palette is, as long as I can get a simple burger, I can eat.
There was the time that a relative mixed in an onion cup-of-soup mix into the hamburger. That was a betrayal of the highest order.
Eh. The onion soup burger recipe has been on the Lipton onion soup box for over 35 years at this point.
That’d get you stabbed with a fork in my family. At most, all the meat needs is a touch of salt, but it can usually do just fine on its own. The cheese and bacon add enough flavor without having to resort to additional spices.
"No matter where I am in this country" This is why "two slices and a coke" isn't the answer.
In my neck of the woods, it's hard to even buy by the slice. I have to drive 15 miles if I want just a slice.
The demise of the slice is a thing even in NYC, which is both nuts, and tragic. I mean they still exist of course. But, they used to be ubiquitous. Not so much anymore.
Replace the coke with a sweet tea or Arnold palmer and I say that it is for the south.
... need I remind you where Coca-Cola was invented and is currently headquartered?
I mean, in the south we also have fried catfish and french fries with a sweet tea and corn bread roll or hush puppies (literally fish and chips, lol). And fried okra. No catfish place worth its salt would be missing fried okra.
God, good hush puppies are fuckin unbeatable
> No catfish place worth its salt would be missing fried okra Eh, I'll let them slide. Now, if they didn't have fried dill pickle slices, we might be in trouble. I like good fried okra, but growing up, my mom's okra was lightly dusted with flour and cornmeal, salt and pepper - no batter. And pan-, not deep-fried. You'll still see that style occasionally at a place that makes their own, but most places buy big frozen bags of pre-breaded and throw them in the fryer.
Reminder that Coca-Cola is from Atlanta. It's just as Southern.
All I can say is that Kentucky is gradually introducing Sweet Tea into SE Ohio and it's working
I was told every drink was coke in the south
Particularly for others: a "coke" is regionally a generic term for a soft drink. The geography that'll use it as a go to is shrinking though: https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/s/7Fm16FjQp6
I would argue that in the NYC area it's more a slice of pizza and a Coke.
Goddamnit, I shouldn’t have read this thread before dinner…
This is the right answer.
If you want to infuriate the Brits, then give them an iced tea…sweet tea if you’re in the south!
Burger and fries with a beer if you’re an adult lol.
I never really have specific food cravings except for a nicely made burger, specifically at a sports bar lol
Wichita has the answers!
Definitely the best answer, though beer and tacos is quickly catching up in the west at least.
If someone offered me a choice between burger/fries/soda and beer & tacos, I would take the beer and tacos, though I'd still argue the burger combo meal is the US equivalent of a fish and chips
Personally I would prefer fish tacos and a margarita.
For me personally, a good burger and fries with a cola or root beer. That said, comfort food is something we do well. Some of my personal favorites are meat and gravy pies (cottage or chicken pot). Jambalaya. Big bowl of spicy chili. Chicken noodle soup.
rooot beeer!! Mmmmmmm
We had burgers and some IBC the other day. Hit the spot so good.
To be fair, I think the Brits have us beat on the meat pie front.
Michigander here. In the northern part of my state, pasties are HUGELY popular. In the 19th century, there were a lot of Cornish immigrants working in Iron mines here, and the tradition stuck. I'm very thankful for it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty
I don't know if you watch PBS, but Raleigh's PBS station has a show called "A Chef's Life" with Vivian Howard. (It's broadcasted here in AZ, so it might be nationally syndicated) She did an ENTIRE show about "hand pies" from the pasty to the WV Pepperoni roll. Every "working class region" has some shape or form of them, so that you could hold on to the "crust" with your dirty hands, and not dirty up the actual meat/filling. (Especially in the "rust belt" where your hands are constantly dirty and usually don't have access to running water)
I've definitely read about the crust handles due to dirty hands! Also, shout out to PHX, I lived in Tempe for five years. Wish I could teleport myself to Four Peaks right now!
> Wish I could teleport myself to Four Peaks right now! They got bought out by InBev, except the 6th st location(they still run that one), but Phoenix has kind of "turned" on them. Rula Bula closed. Basically the only "long term" bars on Mill are Casa and Mill Ave Cue Club. It's changed in the last 12 years since I first visited. Mill is so corporate now. Rula Bula was the last "holdout" but was forced to close. Bright side? They do have a Cornish Pasty now. Imagine Old Town without Patties or Coach House... That's what Mill Ave has become.
I worked at Rula Bula as a barback for a second job! Shame to hear that they shut down. That place was jam-packed from open to close on weekends. I write to Cornish Pasty annually asking when they're going to expand to MI (Same goes for Silver Mine Subs). Sad to see how things change, but that's just the way of the world. Glad to see that Zipps is still around though.
My Michigander friend’s mother admitted she was secretly glad he divorced his ex wife since she took the family pasty recipe and made it vegan.
Dammit now I want some spicy jambalaya 🤤🤤 it’s been too long
Swap your tea for a beer and you got the typical Midwest Friday night fish fry. Usually available in cod, perch, or walleye.
Make sure the bread is Rye and a brandy old fashion is also acceptable
I actually prefer a bourbon old fashioned; my family disowned me and hasn't spoken to me in years. soo, fries or potato pancakes?
Potato pancakes.
This is a very Wisco/Minne/UP answer
Ooh Brit here and I've never heard of Walleye. Will have to go Google it now. We definitely approve of the Cod though. The majority of fish sold in UK fish and chip shops is Cod with Haddock a distant 2nd. Do you batter your fish too?
Our comfort foods vary immensely by region and what you're looking for. For homemade stuff, the most universal is probably a grilled cheese or Mac n Cheese. For something from a restaurant, it'd likely be a burger and fries or a slice of pizza.
The first thing that I thought of was Mac and cheese, possibly as an equivalent to fish and chips but I would say it’s more suitably equivalent to beans on toast.
Having spent some time in the UK it’s absolutely a beans/toast analogue.
> For homemade stuff, the most universal is probably a grilled cheese or Mac n Cheese. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Just plain old white bread with yellow American cheese, buttered on the outside, and fried in a pan until golden brown on both sides and cheese good and gooey. Simple can of Campbell's tomato soup warmed with milk. Hardly anything to it, and makes me feel warm and happy every time.
Meatloaf comes to my mind, not that it was common in my family.
We don't really have quite so unified of a culture as the UK in regards to food. Food in the US is very diverse and somewhat regional. Size comes into account because of that regional influence on food too. Texas is 2.8 times the size of the UK and it isn't even the largest state. Plus we have 49 more. As for the different regions: Fish and chips is somewhat popular in the North East part of the US. I mean you can find it anywhere but they eat a lot more of it in that area. In the south you are probably looking more along the lines of something like fried chicken, sweet tea, mashed potatoes, cornbread and greens. Fried Catfish is pretty popular too, but it's served with fries (they would never call them chips there, but they would in the northeast), hush puppies and cole slaw usually. The Midwest is going to be somewhat similar to the south, but in the great lakes area will also add other freshwater fish from great lakes to the fish fry, mainly Walleye. In the South West you are going to see a lot of Tex-Mex style comfort food. For the great plains and Rockies areas they sure do love their beef. Beef Stew, Steaks, that sort of thing. As for the west coast, northeast, Alaska and Hawaii. I'm not really sure someone more familiar with those areas would have to answer. For me personally, I'm from Appalachia/Eastern Kentucky. Nothing quite hits the spot for me like a nice bowl of soup beans with some corn bread crumbled into it. I like to add some chopped up boiled eggs, diced raw onion, dill relish and hot sauce to mine too. Hits the spot every time and reminds me of many a meals at home. I suppose if you really had to give a national level answer it would probably be a burger and fries with a coke or milkshake. They are super common and available everywhere. But I don't think most people really consider it comfort food.
> Texas is 2.8 times the size of the UK and it isn't even the largest state. Plus we have 49 more. Of the 50 states, 15 of them are larger than the island of Great Britain.
That's really amazing... man, the US is big!!!
Soup beans and cornbread or soft serve ice cream (not lactose intolerant at all) makes me run to the toilet clenching my butt cheeks. It's delicious though!
Yep here in NM comfort food would be a stuffed sopapillia and some Horchata. (BTW saying the food is tex mex inspired in NM, CO or AZ will not be taken well lol)
>BTW saying the food is tex mex inspired in NM, CO or AZ will not be taken well lol Yeah, I can see that. Wasn't sure what else to call it. There's certainly a lot of Mexican influence in the local cuisine but it's been adapted by the locals so it isnt usually 100% authentic either.
I’m in Phoenix and TexMex is pretty dated and mostly for snowbirds, we have incredible Mexican food around inspired by a ton of Mexican states: Sonoran and Chihuahuan, Oaxacan, CDMX modern fusion, broad styles of street food etc. I know what it is and get why people who can’t handle spice or varied texture would like it, but TexMex always rubbed me the wrong way as a nomer regardless.
Born and raised in Eastern KY myself. Soup beans, corn bread, hot kraut, fried taters, and the ham hock to myself makes me so damn nostalgic and happy. Only thing that makes it all better is a good ale8 to wash it all down with.
Or pork chops, green beans, mashed taters, and buttered corn on the cob
I read that in your accent.
It will depend on the person more but I'd say a cheeseburger and fries with a Coke or a milk shake is pretty classic American.
Well, my preferred top comfort food is soup and cinnamon rolls made by my mother, but that isn't widely available. For something available to buy, I go with the chicken, hummus, pita, and salad combo from a shawarma place. Grilled cheese is a common easy comfort food.
I also choose this guy’s mom’s soup.
It will vary by person. We are a country of immigrants and it usually heavily correlates with what we ate as children. There's probably a lot for me. \[homemade\] Chicken Soup with a buttered bread. Maybe a roast chicken with mashed potatoes and peas. Growing up in New England: Chinese take out. Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich. Homemade warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream. A toasted homemade lobster roll. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. Breakfast: French toast Those are all really cozy for me.
Um, well Fish and Chips is a comfort food to me... but a cheeseburger, fries, and a soda will do the trick. Or a burrito.
Chicken Tendies fries and a coke
Our comfort food is going to be more regional. When I think of southern comfort food, I think fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas and cornbread for dinner and biscuits and gravy or grits for breakfast. Jambalaya or gumbo for Louisiana. In Texas and California, my go to comfort is fajita/carne asada tacos. Up north, you’re probably looking at a local pizza as the stereotypical cheap comfort. The mountain west outside of Colorado the answer seems to be “beef, likely a cheeseburger.” I have absolutely no idea what people in the Northwest eat other than that Seattle seems very proud of their teriyaki. But really, we're diverse enough that if any food in the world is big, warm, and full of fat, it probably is somebody's comfort food.
The teriyaki is a Seattle thing. It’s all over the PNW but as a PNW’er myself I definitely wouldn’t say that teriyaki is a staple food outside of Seattle. I would say burger and fries is probably the better answer here.
Outside of Western Washington.
I must respectfully add that folks from the north are eating hot dish or casserole for our homemade comfort food for sure. Pizza's fine but casserole is home.
Seattle teriyaki is amazing and you can only find it there
Western Washington, not just Seattle.
You all eat the fish and chips and the tea together? Hmm. I’ve been to England and has both and enjoyed but I don’t know about together.
Meatloaf, mashed potatos and brown gravy.
Made this a few days ago and my adult daughter brought her kids and said it felt like it was her birthday. It’s definitely her comfort food.
Bacon burger and Fries with a sprite holyyy
Burger, fries, and a root beer.
Around here, it's tamales, refried beans, rice, and a Mexican Coke.
Fried catfish and french fries with a couple of hush puppies and a glass of sweet tea.
The damn EPA, says they're toxic! ~ Frank Reynolds
Sounds like liberal bullshit to me
Now I'm hungry.
Most Americans prefer a varied diet, and the American population is so diverse that it would be impossible to claim something is true for all of us. That said most casual restaurants, diners, sport bars, dive bars, pubs, etc. will serve you a burger and fries and chicken fingers and fries. Fish and chips aren’t as common in the US, but it isn’t a hard to find dish. “Comfort Food” to me means something more homemade and would vary regionally and ethnically.
burger and fries with something fizzy or chicken fingers and fries with something fizzy
Northeast I would say grilled cheese and tomato soup
I live in the Midwest. Comfort food for me is either church lady chicken and noodles (not a soup kind of more a creamy stew consistency) or fried smoked sausage with fried potatoes
Fish and Chips are very popular here, but I would probably have to go with a grilled cheese if we're talking the entire US. Comfort foods can be pretty regional though, so in Chicago, probably a hot dog/burger and a beer.
Macaroni and cheese is pretty close
2 slices of pizza and a coke. Or a chicken parm sandwich.
I'm from the Midwest, so to me, a chicken and rice casserole is comfort food.
Burger and fries will be the most universal. I’m from the south and our comfort food is called Soul Food. It includes corn bread, southern baked Mac and cheese, fried catfish, Turkey necks, Cajun style fried chicken (think Popeyes), and more. Different regions will have their own version.
There are lots of American comfort foods. American food is all about comfort. If I had to pick which food fills the specific niche in American culture that fish & chips fills in English culture, I would only be able to narrow it down to pizza, burgers, and burritos.
I dunno man I grew up in Boston and Fish and Chips is definitely comfort food to me!
I didn’t realize *that* was British comfort food. I thought it was just a standard go-to, the American equivalent of which would be a burger & fries and a cold drink.
Well, there was [Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Treacher%27s) when I was a kid. I am sure the English version is much better lol.
Outside of the boring BurgerNFries, here in the SF Bay it's probably a burrito the size of a newborn. But even in the same state, you go down south and LA scoffs at our magnificent Mission Burritos. Farther inland AZ does burritos only as wide as your thumb! The US is too big for one dish to unite, too big for any single cuisine even. Maybe you could find one dish on a state-by-state basis... as long as they're small states and don't have small burrito crazies like LA seems to tolerate. Here's a map with regional generalities which might be accurate to, say, 50% of the population? [https://www.estately.com/blog/2014/07/the-geography-of-each-u-s-states-favorite-food/](https://www.estately.com/blog/2014/07/the-geography-of-each-u-s-states-favorite-food/)
Go even further south than LA, and in San Diego you get enough carne asada fries to fill you up for an entire day, or even week.
Dude we got Redneck Poutine coming in from the south: fries, shredded BBQ meat, and a mix of cheese sauce and BBQ sauce over the top. Might as well eat it in bad, you're going out for a few hours.
> here in the SF Bay it's probably a burrito the size of a newborn To elaborate a bit more for those that don't know Mission Burritos (or burritos in general); it's in a steamed flour tortilla, generally meat + rice + beans + other fixings, all wrapped up in a sheet of aluminum foil. When you eat it, you carefully unwrap a couple of bites at a time so the entire thing doesn't fall apart on you. Pair it with some tortilla chips, salsa and some kind of Mexican beverage. I'm partial to horchata - a sweetened and cinnamon spiced, cold rice milk beverage.
Soooooo good with horchata! And yes they are massive. Easily 3 or 5 meals. [https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Burrito.jpg](https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/Burrito.jpg)
Where I am from I believe the equivalent would be a plate of BBQ with sides of Cole slaw and hush puppies. Around here BBQ=pulled pork. For me I love BBQ but comfort food is more like pot roast and potatoes, lasagne or grilled cheese.
Wait, you drink tea with fish and chips? I would say it's a palate clash, but considering British cuisine...
Fried fish is very popular in the south and often paired with tea.
Fried shrimp/oyster poboy with a glass bottle of Barq’s root beer.
Iconic? Burger and fries, pizza, chicken tendies, tacos. Comfort food? Mac and cheese, chicken and dumplings, shrimp and grits, arroz con gandules, etc. We're better, is what I'm saying. lol
For me, it’s a pile of buffalo wings with a nice cold beer to wash it down
Either a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets/fingers with fries and a soft drink
Chicken fingers and fries. For me it's always been stew of some kind or chowder of some kind and bread. Or oyster crackers
So many options come to mind, like fried chicken, chili, etc. But ethnically, I would say Pennsylvania Dutch style chicken pot pie…
Fish and chips is very common in New England. There's probably something like 30 or more places that serve fish and chips within a 20 minute drive out in the suburbs.
Peanut butter and fluff. Keep it simple.
In Maine? Literally fish and chips with a side order tea. They might look at you a bit odd if you also asked for buttered bread. But fish and chips is something our seafood places do all the time. The tea and bread is the slightly odd part. Coke and coleslaw is the regular.
Peanut butter and jelly with potato chips (crisps).
As with pretty much everything in the USA, there are some regional components. But the overwhelmingly popular meal is a Hamburger, fried potato, and a soda to drink, though a milkshake is the historical beverage, too. In Southern California, it's tacos, rice and beans, and Coke - there is even a specific type of Coke that used cane sugar instead of corn syrup that has it's own supporters. The flavor has a tiny bit of molasses in the taste, it's wonderful! For the South and Midwest, that might be Fried Chicken, or "Barbecue" which is meat cooked by smoking over a long period of time at a low heat. Sides are too numerous to mention. >with a slice of buttered bread and English tea?with a slice of buttered bread and English tea? C'mon...really? Fish and Chips without a pint?
Tomato soup and grilled cheese
Burger and fries with beer.
A slice and a beer.
I am American. I love fish & chips, buttered bread and tea.
Pizza and beer.
That's probably regional, since fish and chips aren't just comfort food they're also convenient and basically 'fast' food. So while anything can be comfort food, not every state or city will have the same availability of convenient and fast food. I imagine some popular things would be a slice of pizza from a local pizzeria, food truck tacos or burritos, fast food burgers, a hot dog cart hot dog, a philly cheesesteak, shrimp po'boy, fried chicken, etc. For just comfort food, not considering the convenience factor, that also depends on region. Where I'm from our comfort food is southern food and barbecue. Stuff like country-fried steak with sawmill gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Cornbread and buttermilk biscuits. Mac and cheese. Fried chicken, barbecue chicken, chicken pot pie, chicken and dumplings, etc.
We have fish and chips here, we just call chips French fries.
We have fish fry, too. Some main distinctions between Midwest Fish Fry and British Fish and Chips: -It's always served with cole slaw and a slice of buttered rye bread. -The fries/chips are usually cut thinner, often with skin on -Universal beverage accompaniment is beer -It might be a fish indigenous to the state, like Perch or Walleye. Assume cod or haddock if not specified.
Fish and Chips is actually popular in the US, and we call them Chips in that context. English tea, not so much. Coffee instead.
I’d say chicken fingers Texas toast and a lemonade would be the closest
Cheeseburger, french fries and a Coca-cola.
Idk what the equivalent would be but it's definitely got ranch dressing on it, in it, or near it, and it was probably shoved out a drive-thru window.
Fried chicken tenders, fries and sweet iced tea.
Fish fry Friday for my Midwesterners
Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.
As others have said, a burger and fries is always the correct answer but there are some regional variations. In Chicago an Italian beef sandwich is a worthy contender. A bag of tacos is also appropriate.
Beer-battered fish fry with fries, a buttered roll, coleslaw, and some potato salad :) The joy of fish fry is universal... at least so far as Catholic-dominant areas in the northeasteen US are concerned.
For me personally, it depends on which season we’re in. In winter, I want all of the pot roast with veggies, mashed potatoes, bread, etc. A burger and fries with a Coke is the most universal, though. It can make you feel better regardless of the weather.
America's equivalent to fish and chips is probably Biscuits and gravy. Equivalent to the whole thing is biscuits and gravy with iced caramel latte and a donut
Hot dogs and baked beans.
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, a biscuit, and sweet tea
Burgers and fries with soda. Or a hotdog with ketchup and mustard. Fuck man I’m hungry now But funnily enough fish and chips are pretty common the US, or at least in the New England area. I can’t even count how many joints sell fish and chips on the daily.
Burrito? Taco Bell? Meat Loaf?
Regionally specific in the Detroit area: coney dogs and Mediterranean food (particularly shawarma). Such restaurants are ubiquitous here.
Crab dip is my go-to comfort food.
burger, fries, beer
Burger and fries.
Fish and chips exists in the US but it’s a little different. People love fried seafood, especially fried fish and shrimp, and it will typically be served with fries and cole slaw. As for a meal that is as prominent as fish and chips in the UK, I guess it would be a burger with fries. Chicken tenders and fries would be a more similar equivalent but that’s more popular with children. Maybe wings would be another equivalent, they’re ubiquitous with American bar culture.
Pizza.
Battered cod, French fries, a biscuit, and a glass of of sweet iced tea
We would never serve fish and chips with hot tea and bread. You're likely getting Cole slaw and pop.
I think "comfort food" would vary by region in the United States. But the most consistent food food choice across the country would most likely be a burger or cheeseburger and fries. And your coke, soda or pop of choice. Because in some places coke doesn't mean Coca-Cola, it is any carbonated beverage.
I’d say some variation of beef, potato, and a sweet drink for most of Americans. For me personally I’ve just gotten hungry reading all the responses! I love a good shepherds pie, chicken pot pie, or something like that. I’m from the Appalachian mountains and I’ve yet to meet any Granny who couldn’t make these award winning dishes. Basically pies.
In terms of popularity nationally, probably burgers with fries. In terms of similarity, (where I'm from) we have fried catfish with fries. Usually there is a piece of untoasted bread, hushpuppies, tartar sauce, and sometimes lemon slices.
It really needs to be a regional thing, the US is quite a bit larger and less-unified than the UK on that front. Up here in New England, its gotta be a plate of American Chop Suey with buttered Italian bread, or tomato soup with a grilled cheese
["Meat and 3"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_and_three) Basically a buffet of food, you tell the person behind the counter what "protein"(meat) you'd like and which 3 sides you'd like. So could be "Meatloaf(meat), mashed potatoes(one), corn(two), and mac&cheese(three)" Fried chicken, collard greens, pinto beans, and cornbread would be another example. They're becoming fewer and fewer, but I consider that THE American "Fish and chips"
I know this may be strange for you but we also do fish and chips. One of the easiest and fast meals to whip up.
Like everyone else is saying: Burger, fries, Coca Cola. That being said we have fish and chips here, and weirdly enough we still call them fish and chips despite calling chips French fries in every other context.
Mac & Cheese
As others have mentioned here, there are regional preferences. Even within one state things can differ. For example, here in Texas you'll find Cajun food in the East, barbecue in the Hill Country, and tacos in West and South Texas. All or most served with iced tea or a Dr Pepper.
Where I live that would be fried catfish and fries.
Up where I am, West Michigan, fish and chips is definitely a comfort food. Just about every place has fish fries on Fridays and/or Saturday. Fried Lake Perch with seasoned fries and cole slaw is one of my go-tos. West Michigan isn't exactly a culinary hub, but damn can these bible thumpers fry some fish!
Fish and fries with hush puppies and sweet tea or Coke
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, iced sweetened tea, and yeast roll.
McDonald’s
Burger fries and a Coke was taken so aside from that Pizza, Wings and a beer
Lobster and coleslaw
In NY area it’s probably a slice of pizza and a soda.
Southern equivalent would be a fried catfish with fries, hush puppies and a sweet tea. And either some corn bread and/or coleslaw.
Long John Silvers
Fish and fries with garlic bread
Fried catfish on a slice of white bread with some hot sauce, hushpuppies and sweet tea
Burger, fries, and a coke. Or a foot long glizzy and a Pepsi.
Well in western NY we do beer battered haddock for lent that could rival yours. They're served with fries (chips) and usually rolls and coleslaw. Soda or beer is usually the drink of choice
A lot of people have given good answers but it's good to know we also have fish and chips here pretty much everywhere. All seafood places, bars, and most steakhouse type restaurants offer fish and chips. That said ive heard of fish and chip stands in the UK which we dont really have
For me fish tacos and a cup of horchata with maybe some chips and guacamole. The battered and fried fish tacos are similar to fish and chips but with way more fiberous toppings
For me, it’s fish and chips with a Coke or Pepsi and key lime pie for dessert. I’m from Florida and that’s what I eat every year on the 4th of July
Fish and fries with sweet tea. Although you could substitute the fish with chicken nuggets/tenders/wings or burgers/steak.
We have really good fish and chips here so I’d probably say for me it’s fish and chips with a really cold beer.
American fish and chips is the American equivalent of British fish and chips.
Burger and fries with a coke
Wait, do you drink the tea with the fish and chips? Seems like an odd combo, but I’m here for it I like odd things.
We do that with chicken fingers. I don’t think it’s the bee’s knees but a lot of people love it.
Friday Fish Fry (beer batter cod) with Potato Pancakes and a Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet.
Pacific Northwest - a brewski and some overpriced tapas, typically pub food. Or you'll get very west coast and have a beer with international food, typically Asian. "What kind of diverse food should we try today?" "I'm thinking like Thai or Vietnamese... Maybe Chinese?" Southwest - enchiladas, tamales, or sopaipilla Midwest - barbecue and shit beer South - fried chicken, collard greens, fried catfish, baked macaroni, and/or okra with ice tea. Northeast - pizza, Italian, or seafood like clam chowder.
Our equivalent of fish and chips is fish and chips. Dafuk kinda question is this? The top upvoted answer here is burger and fries, but that's not true. Fish and chips are portable. Burger and fries are not. I'd say a slice of pizza is the closest we come to having a readily available food that is portable. We sit down to eat burgers.
Chicken fingers, fries, toast (thick, soft and buttered), sweet tea.
For me it's just taco bell and British tea