I am currently visiting the USA, and before I leave I want to try some food that is "uniquely" american - IE, you can't really find it outside of the country.
UK stores do tend to have a "USA section" which has a small amount of sweets and other products. But I am wondering what americans specifically missed / couldn't find in other countries.
As an example - Wendy's as far as I've seen, isn't local to the UK or at least where I live. So trying that was a "unique american food", to me.
I'm also in Chicago at the moment, so I made sure to try a proper (real?) Chicago deep dish pizza (loved it, by the way).
Alternatively, any other suggestions of food to try?
Immediate edit - turns out Wendy's is in some locations in the UK. I just assumed incorrectly!
Thanks for all the suggestions!!
American breakfast cereals are unique (because they're all desserts).
If you're in Chicago get a Chicago style hotdog from a street vendor.
I'm from the South so I default to recommend (despite being a vegetarian) fresh cornbread (without the sugar), gumbo, grits, biscuits & gravy, and chicken fried steak. Chicago ain't ideal for those foods.
Thank you!
Seconding gumbo, adding etouffee.
An excellent suggestion. OP would do good overall to get a bit of Cajun exposure. I haven't seen a crawfish boil since 2020 and moving away from Texas. So I can't conjecture the availability or quality of Cajun or Creole cuisine in Chicago.
I did introduce a bunch of yankees to zydeco though.
I can't speak to the quality of these restaurants, but there seem to be several:
https://chicago.eater.com/maps/cajun-creole-mardi-gras-map
I will second the biscuits and gravy! They are my go to. If you see it on a menu I also recommend creamed chipped beef. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but very American. It’s my absolute favourite. It’s like biscuits and gravy except the gravy is made with a dried salted beef instead of sausage, either on toast or biscuits.
Have a wonderful trip!
You're more than welcome. I hope you have a good time here.
Biscuits and gravy isn't really a southern dish and when I've had it there it wasn't made right. I think the gravy they make is mostly just sausage grease with the sausage in it.