The United States has many great places to sample local delicacies, foods that were once regional specialties but are now available almost everywhere: Bostonians can enjoy Mexican tacos for lunch, just as Houstonians can savor blue crab from Chesapeake Bay. However, there are still some places you absolutely must visit for truly authentic flavors. Here are a few of the best choices to indulge in:

　　Delicious hot dogs

　　1. Chicago hot dogs

　　Chicago is the home of the pizza bowl, and many will tell you it's a must-try; the local hot dog is another famous dish—a Viennese sausage or small bun to be savored while strolling through a garden (you can top it with onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pepper, pepperoncini, and sweet sauce, or a variety of sauces besides tomato). We recommend trying both: a hot dog and a pizza bowl. These delicacies are readily available throughout this hospitable city.

　　Thick okra soup

　　2. Okra soup from New Orleans

　　A spoonful of steaming okra soup is part of New Orleans life, just like their jazz, zydeco, and swamp blues, and their chewy beignets. Okra soup is a Louisiana favorite; it's actually a thick soup made with seafood or bacon, thickened with okra or roux (a mixture of wheat and fat).

　　People pour the prepared okra soup over rice. New Orleans locals have taken okra soup and created countless variations, from the classic Creole style to a spicy Cajun-style version. New Orleans, known as Big Easy, hasn't been exactly comfortable lately, but it certainly boasts one of the world's most comforting and delicious cuisines.

　　Mustard Museum

　　3. Wasabi Museum

　　This is a tiny building in the small town of Mt Horeb, Wisconsin (no worries, nobody else has heard of this place either), but it displays more varieties of mustard than you can boast about—4,600 bottles to be exact. There's horseradish mustard that will burn your nose hairs, peeled, orange-red coffee-flavored mustard (it'll make your corned beef sandwich even more delicious), and sweet, sparkling champagne mustard that will make your pork chop sizzle.

　　Classic tin bottles and other items that play an important role in the history of wasabi are lined up on the shelves. In the wasabi bar at the back of the museum, "spicy condiment consultants" will show you various samples.

　　Soft and delicious ring cookies

　　4. New York's round cake

　　While ring tortillas were invented by Europeans, they were popularized by New Yorkers in the early 19th century. In New York, you'll see just how popular ring tortillas are in America. You can find ring tortillas that taste better than anywhere else in the US at any corner store, and in Jewish-run shops, they're still handmade.

　　The ingredients for rings are very simple: flour, water, salt, and a little malt to add sweetness; the key to making them is that they must be boiled first and then baked. You can order a ring and remember to ask for schmear (thick cream cheese) and smoked salmon—it will make you look like a connoisseur. If you don't like rings, you can get a fritter with meat, cheese, and fruit.

　　Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory

　　5. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory

　　You can pretend you're just here to learn how a socially responsible company produces its products (their products contain only natural ingredients, and all materials are sourced from family farms). But let's face it, you're here in Waterbury, Vermont, and your real purpose is to taste the ice cream of your dreams.

　　It contains large chunks of fudge, strips of toffee, chopped chocolate chips, and chocolate chip cookies. Isn't ensuring the quality of up to 55 gallons of fudge per tub, or precisely mixing peanut and butter biscuits with a vanilla malt base, the best job in the world? Ice cream fans would be thrilled to tears.

　　Mouthwatering clam stew

　　6. Boston Clam Sashimi

　　This is the most important part we're going to talk about. You can ask ten Bostonians which clam chowder is the best, or as they say, "clam chowder." You'll likely get ten different answers. Every Bostonian has their own way of cooking this delicious dish made with chopped clams, tomatoes, and clam chowder, along with milk and cream.

　　You can also order other New England seafood specialties, such as clams, mussels, and tender cod, and of course, don't forget Boston's famous "longha".

　　BBQ

　　7. BBQ in Kansas City

　　With over 100 BBQ restaurants in the city offering smoked brisket, pork, chicken, or ribs infused with parsley and pecans, this is a must-visit for meat lovers. The Kansas City-style BBQ is pit-smoked and coated in a thick layer of spiced vinegar sauce. The ribs there are absolutely fantastic!

　　Soul food of the deep south

　　8. Soul Food of the Deep South

　　No region has more reason to be proud of its food than the South. Classic dishes include shredded pork and fried catfish, and perhaps the most legendary of all is Southern fried chicken.

　　You'll find a wide variety of ingredients, including the usual kale leaves, cowpeas, mashed potatoes, and sweetened yams, and that's just a small part of it. Fried chicken with sweet iced tea brings a sense of home.

　　Montana steak

　　9. Montana steak

　　In Montana, the ratio of people to livestock is 1:12, so it's no surprise that you can find some of the best steaks in Big Sky Country. The all-naturally raised Angus beef is exactly what we're looking for, and hey, if you don't like it, you're missing out!

　　The menu not only boasts about the size of the steak but also emphasizes its red meat characteristics—the "bloodier," the better. If you prefer your steak medium-rare, they might tell you, "We don't do that here." Absolutely!

　　Green chili sauce

　　10. Green chili sauce from Albuquerque, New Mexico

　　Green chili sauce is as essential as breathing for New Mexico residents. Even McDonald's in the region offers it. It's an ingredient in almost every dish on their menu.

　　Green chili sauce stew: This dish refers to raw rice rolls filled with chili and meat, soaked in a spicy sauce; pick one up and get ready for a fiery kick to your taste buds.