30 editor picks across United States.
30 street food worth the trip across United States, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All United States guides.
Franklin Barbecue in Austin is Aaron Franklin's 2009 East 11th brisket pilgrimage, the James Beard-winning shop that codified central Texas barbecue.
OrderSmoked brisket
TipQueue from 09:30am or pre-order online for pickup; the brisket sells out by 14:00 on most days.
Ricky Moore's counter-service seafood shack on Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. NC fish, no reservations and the Hush-Honeys, the most celebrated snack in the city.
The Frontier on Central Avenue in Albuquerque has a takeout side window for the green chile breakfast burrito, open from 05:00 to midnight every day.
OrderGreen chile breakfast burrito
Saw's BBQ counter in Homewood near Birmingham serves the Mike Wilson pulled-pork sandwich with Alabama white sauce slaw out of a residential barbecue shack.
OrderPulled pork sandwich with white sauce slaw
La Michoacana Premium in Chicago is the Pilsen paleteria on 18th Street with fresh-fruit paletas, elote in a cup, raspados and mangonadas at a painted.
OrderPaletas, elote in a cup, raspados
TipOrder the elote in a cup with Tajin and butter; pair it with a tamarind paleta for the after-walk down 18th.
Eli's BBQ on Riverside Drive in Cincinnati's East End is the picnic-table smokehouse counter, with pulled pork and cheddar grits from one pit.
OrderPulled pork sandwich and cheddar grits
Steve's Gyros inside the West Side Market on West 25th Street, the Steve Bistolarides counter since 1989, runs Cleveland's definitive gyro with daily early.
OrderHand-shaved beef and lamb gyro, jumbo size carries two pounds of meat
Supino Pizzeria on Russell Street in Eastern Market sells walk-up slices in Detroit, alongside its full pizza menu. Open tue-fri 11:00-21:00, sat 10:00-22:00.
OrderSlice of wood-fired pizza
TipLunch slices on weekdays come out fastest; the bismarck cheats a little for breakfast.
Maguro Brothers Hawaii in Kekaulike Market in Chinatown Honolulu is the lunch poke counter brothers Junichiro and Ryojiro Tsuchiya stock from the Honolulu.
OrderSashimi-grade poke bowl
TipLunch-only counter inside the market; sells out by 13:00. Closed Sunday.
Tacos Tierra Caliente in Houston is the West Alabama taco truck in Montrose, with al pastor from the trompo, carne asada and the West Alabama Ice House next.
OrderTacos al pastor
TipThree al pastor with pineapple and a side of consomme is the canonical order. Bring tacos into the ice house for beers.
Raul Ortega's Mariscos Jalisco in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles has fried the LA shrimp taco dorado from the same Olympic Boulevard truck since 2001.
OrderShrimp taco dorado
Romulo Acosta's Carnitas El Momo slow-cooks Michoacan-style carnitas in a copper pot, now at 1470 Monterey Pass Rd in Monterey Park. Sells out early.
OrderCarnitas mixto taco
Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar at the Minnesota State Fair has scooped warm chocolate-chip cookies in the Twin Cities since 1979. Buckets overflowing.
OrderBucket of warm chocolate-chip cookies
Tacos Sinaloa runs the food truck dynasty Guadalupe Bueno started in 1999. International Boulevard at 22nd, suadero and adobada tacos to a 1 a.m. close.
OrderSuadero and adobada tacos
John's Roast Pork in Philadelphia is the 1930 South Philly counter at Snyder and Weccacoe, James Beard America's Classic 2006 with the city's defining roast.
OrderRoast pork sandwich, cheesesteak
Matt Vicedomini's pit-smoker on N Mississippi at Prost Marketplace in Portland, central Texas-style brisket sold from a cart since 2015. Booking recommended.
OrderCentral Texas brisket and ribs
TipArrive by 11:30 or risk a sellout. Cash and card. Sides are sized smaller than the brisket.
The Holy Donut on Commercial Street is the Portland waterfront takeout counter for Leigh Kellis's Maine potato donuts in rotating seasonal flavours.
OrderMaine potato donut
TipSells out by mid-afternoon. Take to the wharves for an Old Port walk.
The 1946 hot wiener counter in Olneyville Square, founded by Greek immigrant Anthony Stevens and his son Nicholas. James Beard America's Classics winner 2014.
OrderHot wieners 'all the way'
Midtown Farmers Market on 20th Street, midtown Sacramento, runs Saturday year-round with 30 to 50 prepared-food stalls turning out walk-and-eat plates.
OrderPrepared-food stalls from the 200-vendor Saturday market
El Chile Toreado is Santa Fe's popular Mexican food truck, run by the Medina family since 2005; breakfast burritos and Polish-sausage hot dogs are the order.
OrderBreakfast tacos and burritos with green or red chile
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
OrderThe Godmother sub, takeout counter
TipOrder the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is Daniel Contreras's James Beard America's Classic 2018 Sonoran hot dog flagship, started as a cart in 1993.
OrderSonoran hot dog
El Modelo on Second Street SW in Albuquerque is the heritage Barelas takeaway counter since 1929, wrapping carne adovada burritos in butcher paper.
OrderCarne adovada burrito on butcher paper
Ashleigh Shanti's Good Hot Fish upstairs at Burial Beer's South Slope campus runs counter-style as a Black Appalachian fish fry. Catfish, hush puppies, slaw.
OrderFried catfish basket, hush puppies
TipOrder at the counter upstairs, take the basket to Burial's beer garden below. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
La Barbecue in Austin is Ali Clem's Cesar Chavez post-oak barbecue, a Michelin-recognised shop with a James Beard-recognised owner, sliced brisket.
OrderSmoked brisket and house sausage
TipThe kitchen runs Wednesday through Sunday only; order online ahead to skip the queue at 11am open.
Veracruz All Natural in Austin is Reyna and Maritza Vazquez's Webberville Road taco truck, a Food Network Top 5 tacos pick and the Austin migas.
OrderMigas breakfast taco
TipOrder the migas taco on a homemade corn tortilla; arrive before 09:30am to dodge the office-worker rush.
InterStellar BBQ in Austin is John Bates and Brandon Martinez's North-side smokehouse on RR 620, a Michelin Star 2024-25 BBQ shop in the former Noble Pig.
OrderSmoked brisket and house sides
TipThe smoked-prime-rib special on Sundays sells out by 13:00; pre-order online for pickup.
Distant Relatives in Austin is Damien Brockway's modern African American BBQ trailer at Meanwhile Brewing's South Austin yard, a James Beard semifinalist.
OrderModern African-American barbecue
TipSit at Meanwhile Brewing's beer garden and order the BBQ to the table; the kitchen runs to 17:00.
Mum Foods in Austin is Geoffrey Ellis and Travis Crawford's pastrami smokehouse on Manor Road, a Michelin-recognised deli serving the city's award-winning.
OrderPastrami sandwich and brisket
TipThe Rachel sandwich made The Infatuation's 18 Best Sandwiches in America list 2024; order it as the entry point.
Faidley's stand inside Lexington Market serves the city's benchmark crab cake since 1886, almost all jumbo lump, eaten standing at a counter off brown paper.
OrderJumbo lump crab cake
TipOrder the all-lump grade and eat it at the stand-up rail; it also fries a classic lake trout.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Six East Austin smokehouses in three hours, including a MICHELIN One Star pitmaster and three Bib Gourmands. Skip every line, ride in an air-conditioned van, and come hungry.
Guided tour · 4 hours
Exploring Austin's Food scene on an e-bike is one of the Best Things to do in Austin! Food restrictions? No problem! Enjoy family style, 2 stops, eat like a local. See...
Guided tour · 3.5 hours
Enjoy a brewery tour with live music, beer tastings, and a meal. Visit 3 local breweries, learn about the craft beer scene, and enjoy a small meal from a food truck. F...