12 Foods Americans Think Are Ethnic But Were Actually Invented In The States
Chantelle KincyRemember those dishes you ordered at your favorite international spot during a night out? Plot twist—they might just be as American as apple pie (which, spoiler alert, didn’t originate in America, either!).
Here’s a culinary road trip to discover the origins of some dishes masquerading as exotic imports but are homegrown heroes in the good ol’ USA.
General Tso’s Chicken – Made in NYC, Baby!
Flashback to the 1970s: a kitchen in New York City where Chef T.T. Wang whipped up a dish that now graces every Chinese restaurant menu from sea to shining sea. This sticky-sweet chicken success story only flew to China after Americans couldn’t stop licking their fingers.
According to Wikipedia, New York’s Shun Lee Palaces proudly touts itself as the trailblazer behind General Tso’s chicken, a dish credited to the innovative Chinese immigrant chef, T. T. Wang, back in 1972.
California Roll – LA’s Sushi Gift to the World
In the swinging ’60s, a Japanese chef in Los Angeles decided avocados weren’t just for toast (which wasn’t trendy yet) and cucumbers belonged in sushi. Fast forward, and you’ve got the most Instagrammable sushi roll that—surprise, surprise—isn’t from Tokyo!
Britannica states that the original sushi roll debuted in the 1960s by Chef Ichiro Mashita at Tokyo Kaikan, a hidden gem in the heart of Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
Fortune Cookies – San Fran’s Crunchy Prophets
These cookie oracles you crack open for wisdom—or just for the puns—came from San Francisco with love, baked up by Japanese immigrants who knew something about dessert destiny.
Makoto Hagiwara from San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park is credited as the first person in the U.S. to serve up the modern version of the cookie in the 1890s or early 1900s.
Tex-Mex Cuisine – Spicing It Up on the Border
Viva la fusion! Born where the Lone Star State meets Mexico, Tex-Mex is the culinary love child of the 1800s that’s been seasoning life with extra cheddar and jalapeños since before the Alamo was a rental car company.
Draper and Kramer say that Tex-Mex has its roots in the vibrant Rio Grande Valley, spanning the southern tip of Texas and the northern border of Mexico.
Fajitas – America’s Surprise
The tale of fajitas unfolds in the rugged cattle ranches of West Texas and Northern Mexico, where resourceful ranchers sizzle up skirt steak over crackling open flames.
Buffalo Wings – The Saucy New Yorker
Nothing screams ‘Merica’ like getting messy with some Buffalo Wings, invented at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY.
Who knew spicy chicken slathered in sauce would become the star of every sports bar and Super Bowl party?
Chop Suey – Stirring Up Americana
“Chop suey” roughly translates to “American dream” in… no language because it’s America’s pseudo-Chinese concoction! Born in the bustling streets of San Francisco, it’s as authentic as a cowboy at a rodeo.
According to Food & Wine, like many other timeless dishes, the tale of chop suey’s origin comes in various versions. An intriguing account suggests that Chop Suey was born in one of the earliest Chinese restaurants in San Francisco amidst the vibrant Gold Rush era.
English Muffins – Melt-in-Your-Mouth Freedom
Who Invented English Muffins? Well, brace yourself for this – a British fellow gets the credit for the English muffin, but guess where it all began? Right here in the good ol’ USA!
1874 Samuel Bath Thomas journeyed from Plymouth, England, to New York. He toiled away in a bakery and whipped up some thinner, pre-cut crumpets, sparking a new breakfast sensation!
German Chocolate Cake – A Special by an American Baker
Step back in time to 1957 when “German’s Chocolate Cake” stole the spotlight as the “Recipe of the Day” in The Dallas Morning News.
Crafted by Mrs. George Clay, a talented homemaker from Dallas, Texas, this delectable treat featured the revolutionary baking chocolate unveiled in 1853 by American baker Samuel German for the Baker’s Chocolate Company.
Philly Cheese Steak – Philly’s Cheesiest Claim to Fame
One cannot simply walk the streets of Philadelphia without paying homage to its juicy icon—the cheesesteak. Invented by hometown heroes in the 1930s, it’s the Liberty Bell of sandwiches.
Britannica mentions that the tale of the Philly cheesesteak often leads back to brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri’s flavorful brainstorm in 1930s South Philly. This sandwich has swept the nation from its humble beginnings, with tantalizing variations cropping up. Yet, the essence of a genuine Philly cheesesteak remains delightfully consistent.
Key Lime Pie – Florida’s Tangy Treasure
The perfect cure for a hot Florida day? Key lime pie, baby! This tangy treat is as homemade as it gets, with critical limes squeezed by the loving hands of Floridians looking to sweeten your life.
S’mores – Campfire Couture
These gooey desserts are stickier than a bear hug from Smokey himself and were made Insta-worthy way back in a Girl Scout manual. Yep, before hashtags were a thing, s’mores were the campfire OG.
There you have it, my gastronomically savvy friends—a dozen dishes dripping with American ingenuity like hot sauce on everything. Who would have thought so many “ethnic” favorites were born under the Star-Spangled Banner? Next time you chow down, give a little nod to the red, white, and chew.
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