15 Beloved American Foods That Are From Other Countries

If someone tells you “it’s as American as apple pie,” maybe they mean it’s not really from the U.S.

Many familiar dishes served in American restaurants, including apple pie, actually trace their origins to outside the United States. Over time, these recipes have been adapted and transformed into the versions we recognize and cherish today, which may bear little resemblance to their original forms.

Fried Chicken? It’s a dish that actually originated elsewhere before it became popular in the U.S.

Cheesecake? Before being served in New York, Greece was already using it as a source of energy for their Olympic athletes.

15 Foods People Mistakenly Think Were Invented In America

Fried Chicken (Scotland)

As a movie buff and lover of all things food-related, I’ve recently discovered an intriguing tidbit: the way we Americans typically fry chicken isn’t just our own invention! It turns out that the origins of this beloved dish can be traced back to Scotland. Fascinating, isn’t it?

Peanut Butter (South America)

In the United States, peanut butter was first showcased at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, but it is widely believed that the National Peanut Board that this invention occurred much earlier. According to their site, the ancient Incas of South America may have been the first civilization to grind peanuts and produce peanut butter.

Cheese Cake (Greece)

Contrary to popular belief, the cheesecake wasn’t invented in New York. Instead, it originated from Greece where it was believed to provide energy for athletes. According to Cheescake.com, it was even served to participants during the first Olympic games held in 776 B.C.

Apple Pie (England)

The expression “as American as apple pie” might be used inappropriately, as it originated from England. Contrary to popular belief, the apple pie was initially made with apples, figs, raisins, pears, and saffron, as suggested by Smithsonian Magazine.

Ice Cream (China)

In the initial stages, ice cream as we know it today, with flavors like rocky road or cookies and cream, didn’t exist. Rather, people in ancient China savored a chilled beverage prepared from water buffalo milk. (History.com reports this fact.)

Crab Cakes (France)

Stepping away from the shores of Maryland for a moment, let me share some thoughts on crab cakes – a delightful dish that surprisingly hails from the croquette family, originating in France. These delectable treats are often deep-fried and can be stuffed with an array of tantalizing fillings, from savory meats and cheeses to, as you might anticipate, succulent seafood such as crab.

French Fries (Belgium or France)

As a passionate cinephile of the global culinary scene, I’ve always been fascinated by the tales behind our favorite dishes, and French fries are no exception. Contrary to popular belief, they didn’t originate from the heart of American fast food. In fact, their true birthplace might not even be France!

According to an article on HuffPost.com, there are two prevailing stories about where these delicious sticks came from. One suggests that they were born on the bustling streets of Paris, while another points towards the Belgians, who fried thin potato strips instead of fish as a creative alternative.

Corn Dogs (Germany)

It was German immigrants in Texas who introduced the popular American food, the corndog, to the United States. These German sausage makers innovated by using a deep-frying method to make their sausages more appealing and quickly sold to hungry Texan customers. (CBS.com found this intriguing fact.)

Grits (Native American)

Grits, a dish steeped in tradition, can be traced as far back as the 16th century. As stated by RealSimple.com, this food was prevalent among the Native American tribes of the Muskogee nation, which encompasses areas such as Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

Sloppy Joe (Cuba)

The origins of the Sloppy Joe can be traced back to the 1920s at a bar in Cuba, according to TheAwkwardTraveller.com. It’s believed that this classic Cuban dish, ropa vieja, was transformed into a loose meat sandwich there for the first time.

Cinnamon Rolls (Sweden)

In various incarnations throughout its rich history, the cinnamon bun is said to have originated from Sweden, according to SeriousEats.com. However, you might find that they substitute cardamom and pearl sugar in their local variant instead.

Cole Slaw (Netherlands)

In my perspective, as a movie-goer diving into the culinary scene, let me share an interesting tidbit: A popular side dish we now associate with American cookouts actually originated from the Netherlands. According to Mashed.com, the Dutch traditionally prepared a delightful dish they called “koosla” or “cabbage salad.” Isn’t it fascinating how our culinary traditions have evolved and crossed continents over time?

Pickles (Mesopotamia)

The New York Food Museum attributes the creation of pickling to the ancient Mesopotamians. They also suggest that not only were pickles beneficial for nutrition in the past, but they were regarded as an aid for beauty as well. It is said that Cleopatra attributed her attractive appearance to a diet rich in pickles.

Tater Tots (France)

Similar to crab cakes, another dish you’ll find here, the tater tot originates from the French croquette.

Pancakes (Greece)

Pancakes, a staple on breakfast menus across U.S. eateries and diners, have their roots traced back to ancient Greece. According to BettyCrocker.com, the earliest recorded reference to these delightful treats can be traced as far back as 600 B.C., when a poet penned about warm pancakes in his writings.

The Craziest Fast Food Menu Items Ever

Pizza Hut’s Hot Dog Bites Pizza

Pizza Hut’s Hot Dog Bites Pizza is as unconventional as they come, so wild that if it had bananas, it would be even more outrageous! You can learn all about the creation of this culinary oddity on the Pizza Hut website. It first appeared in Asia and gradually spread to Pizza Huts worldwide before landing here in 2015. The international editions often included a standard-sized hot dog inside the crust, while in America, the pizza was encircled with mini hot dogs wrapped in blankets and served with mustard dipping sauce. Indeed, it was quite a twist! This unique dish was only available in the U.S. until 2016. To replicate this experience today, simply prepare a pizza and a large platter of hors d’oeuvres for an unforgettable meal.

Tim Horton’s Buffalo Latte

It seems too outlandish to be true, but articles about a drink exclusive to Tim Horton’s in the Buffalo region that were not published as an April Fool’s Day joke are indeed genuine. As reported by Bon Appetit, this beverage is made with freshly brewed espresso, steamed milk, mocha, and a bold Buffalo sauce flavor. Despite my extensive experience sampling unusual foods for this site, I find it hard to imagine myself taking even a sip of this concoction.

Burger King’s Gooey Apple Green Slime Sauce

In the 90s, Burger King had a wild and rule-free atmosphere, especially regarding children’s meals. They took delight in making things green, such as the “Gooey Apple Green Slime Sauce” that accompanied their chicken tenders in the “Big Kids Meal.”

It’s important to note that while an adult might find the idea of eating something called “slime” off-putting, it was a different era. The 90s saw the rise of Nickelodeon and Ghostbusters, both associated with slime, as well as a general appreciation for all things gooey. Additionally, kids tend to be less discerning in their food choices.

McDonald’s McStuffins

Usually, people visit McDonald’s for familiarity and comfort. They crave classic dishes like Big Macs, Chicken McNuggets, and fries, which the chain handles quite competently. However, they often falter when attempting to be innovative or capitalize on trends, such as the introduction of the “McStuffin” – a McDonald’s version of a Hot Pocket that was introduced a decade earlier. The McStuffins were supposed to be made with freshly baked bread and filled with flavors like pepperoni pizza and chicken teriyaki, but these concepts didn’t seem to fit McDonald’s image, and the item flopped and was removed from the menu. (A fun fact: decades later, a children’s TV show based on the McStuffin concept was created – though I’m not sure how accurate that is!)

KFC’s Double Down

Wow, the Double Down! It’s a culinary creation so outrageous, you simply have to experience it at least once. This dish features two fried chicken patties serving as bread, with cheese, bacon, and sauce nestled in between. First introduced as a limited-edition offering in 2010, this audacious sandwich proved so irresistible that it remained on the menu for multiple years. KFC reintroduced it again, as a limited-time offer, in 2023. Perhaps there’s still time to make our shared dream of an all-chicken chicken sandwich come true.

McDonald’s Chicken Fajitas

Fajitas, or strips of grilled meat typically served on a hot skillet, gained immense popularity at casual dining restaurants during the 1990s. In an attempt to cash in on this trend, McDonald’s introduced their version. However, being McDonald’s, they opted for a different approach – instead of being sizzling and served on a metal skillet, they offered limp chicken pieces in cold tortillas accompanied by packets of picante sauce.

Despite my belief that McDonald’s fajitas were one of the worst things I ever ate there, they did have their admirers. For instance, a Reddit user, who was an employee during the item’s final days, claimed in a discussion about McD’s fajitas that he took advantage of his position to enjoy as many as he wanted for lunch, usually at half price. However, his manager was kind enough to let him have them without charge, which he considered a memorable moment in his life.

Sonic’s Pickle Juice Slush

Regardless of their source, frozen beverages usually come in a few standard tastes: Cherry, blue raspberry, and cola. It’s unusual to find another flavor like pickle, but that was the daring option provided by Sonic a couple of years ago.

The fast-food chain advertised the slush as blending the taste of a salty dill pickle with sweet ice for a refreshingly sour beverage reminiscent of drinking straight from the jar. Hmmm… delicious? I must admit, I enjoy a good pickle on a deli sandwich or burger. However, consuming the juice directly from the jar seems unusual to me.

Despite my initial reservations, the Pickle Juice Slush was well-received when it first debuted in 2018. So popular, in fact, that Sonic reintroduced it for a limited time in 2022.

Taco Bell’s Waffle Tacos

In 2014, Taco Bell created a stir in the breakfast scene by introducing Waffle Tacos. As the name suggests, these weren’t your ordinary tacos; instead, they used a curved waffle as a tortilla shell, stuffed with eggs and either bacon or sausage. Syrup was also provided to add a sweet touch. Currently, Taco Bell serves numerous breakfast-inspired quesadillas, burritos, and Crunchwraps, but unfortunately, they no longer offer waffle tacos.

Burger King Mac N’ Cheetos

Bravo to the creative mind behind Burger King and/or Cheetos who came up with this unusual idea: A deep-fried snack resembling a Cheeto, but filled with creamy macaroni and cheese. To make things even more intriguing, Burger King has also introduced Flamin’ Hot Mac n’ Cheetos. We certainly live in a world brimming with extraordinary culinary creations!

Taco Bell’s Naked Chicken Chips

Over the years, similar creative urges that led to the creation of KFC’s Double Down have resulted in various “Naked” menu items at Taco Bell. Instead of traditional grains, these dishes feature proteins coated and fried, giving an illusion of tortilla chips drenched in queso sauce. However, upon closer inspection, they are actually bite-sized triangles of fried chicken.

Taco Bell’s Naked Egg Taco

1. If you’re a fan of food without a covering, Taco Bell has introduced a “Naked Egg Taco” where the shell is crafted from a fried egg, and the fillings consist of potatoes, bacon or sausage, and cheese.

2. Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s Chief Food Innovation Officer in 2017, stated that creativity lies at the heart of their experimentation. In my honest opinion, to hold such a title at Taco Bell, you must be among the most imaginative minds in the culinary world.

Burger King’s Whopperito

Talking about culinary creations: Let’s not forget the Whopperito! It was essentially a Whopper stuffed in a tortilla, smothered in cheese sauce instead of ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise. Originally launched as a trial in Pennsylvania, this unusual blend quickly gained popularity and made headlines across mainstream media, even becoming a topic on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (“It’s fantastic if you enjoy both those foods and have a penchant for self-deprecation.”).

McDonald’s McSalad Shakers

Over time, they’ve provided alternatives similar to what I’m asking for, but getting a salad at McDonald’s feels like ordering Mexican food at Panda Express – it’s not their usual fare. The McSalad Shaker was just a cup filled with lettuce and a few toppings, which you could shake if you wanted. However, the McSalad Shaker was merely an experiment (or a “McPeriment”) that lasted only a couple of years before being discontinued.

For years, they’ve given options similar to what I want, but getting a salad at McDonald’s is like ordering Mexican food at Panda Express – it’s not their typical offering. The McSalad Shaker was simply a cup with lettuce and some toppings that you could shake if desired. Unfortunately, the McSalad Shaker was only an experiment (or trial) that lasted for just a couple of years before being taken off the menu.

Burger King’s Yumbo

Although they’re known as Burger King, this fast-food titan has occasionally veered from their classic recipes throughout the years. For instance, did you realize they served a veal parmigiana sub in the 80s? But the Yumbo takes the cake for its unique name alone: it was essentially a hot ham and cheese sandwich. The Yumbo graced Burger King’s menu in the 70s, but the story of this distinctive item became so legendary that Burger King revived it in the 2010s. (Yumbo!)

Taco Bell’s Triplelupa

In the late ’90s, Chalupas were added to Taco Bell’s menu. Since then, the company has continuously created new versions of this idea. One of their most unusual creations was the “triplelupa” – a three-part chalupa shell with three distinct fillings (nacho cheese, chipotle, and cheesy chipotle). Taco Bell marketed it as “the longest shell in Taco Bell history,” but given that fast food is usually chosen for its speed and convenience, a large shell might not have been the most attractive feature.

McDonald’s McDLT

A few years prior to the debut of “Seinfeld”, Jason Alexander promoted McDonald’s innovation, the McDLT burger. This burger had a unique packaging system where the beef and toppings were kept separate in a large styrofoam container with multiple compartments. Essentially, it was an ordinary burger that produced more environmental waste. However, if you recall Jason Alexander enthusiastically discussing “hamburgers with lettuce and tomato that don’t quite make it yet” and singing about “The beef stays hot! The cool stays crisp! Put it together, you can’t resist!” you’d likely never forget the advertisement.

Little Caesars’ Big! Big! Bucket of Spaghetti

In the 1980s and ’90s, Little Caesars experienced significant growth primarily due to their catchy “Pizza! Pizza!” slogan and an attractive deal that gave two pizzas for the price of one compared to other pizza chains. However, can this philosophy be applied to other foods? Perhaps a colossal tub of spaghetti could be an option. During the 1990s, Little Caesars even offered such a massive container filled with pasta and breadsticks for $8.88. Such a concept certainly seems unusual!

Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer

1. The Sloppy Joe isn’t a common dish in fast food establishments. However, that’s essentially what Taco Bell offered with their Bell Beefer, an unsuccessful effort to tap into the sandwich market and attract customers who weren’t in the mood for tacos or burritos.

2. The concept of a Taco Bell sandwich might seem unusual, but the enthusiasm some fans have shown in trying to bring back the Bell Beefer – even organizing protests like “Stank Festivals” in San Francisco Taco Bells (confirmed by Snopes!) – is rather surprising. The protesters labeled their actions as “Stank Festivals.” To be honest, if someone were to stage a “Stank Festival” in my restaurant, I’d probably give them whatever they want just to maintain peace.

McDonald’s Hula Burger

Legend has it that McDonald’s aimed to cater to Catholic customers abstaining from meat during Lent by introducing a vegetarian option. The Filet-O-Fish eventually filled this role, but prior experiments included a unique creation they referred to as the “Hula Burger.” Unlike its name suggests, this wasn’t a traditional burger; instead, it was a grilled pineapple slice sandwiched between a burger bun, with melted American cheese on top. However, I’m not entirely convinced about the appeal of a pineapple-cheese sandwich as a main dish.

Taco Bell’s Chocodilla

As a movie-goer reviewing the latest culinary blockbuster, I must say Taco Bell’s innovative spirit has taken an enticing turn towards dessert with their ingenious creation – the “chocodilla”. Essentially, it’s a quesadilla reinvented, replacing traditional cheese with gooey, mouthwatering chocolate. They’ve even concocted variations infused with beloved candy bars such as Kit Kat and Butterfinger, leaving me craving for more. Taco Bell, my friends, you’re on to something delicious here! Make it available nationwide!

2025-01-14 03:45