The Philadelphian icon known as Philly cheesesteak is an extremely popular sandwich consisting of thinly sliced pieces of steak and tender, melting cheese in a long and crusty hoagie roll. It was invented in the 1930s in what is now a Philadelphian institution called Pat's King of Steaks.

Pat's started as a regular hot dog stand in South Philadelphia, and one day Pat had decided to make himself a sandwich consisting of thinly sliced rib-eye steak and cooked onions placed into an Italian roll. When a hungry cab driver stopped by and smelled the beef, he forgot about the hot dogs, and Philly steak sandwich was born. 

Despite the name, Michigan hot dogs are practically unknown in Michigan. They are traditionally produced in New York State and Québec. This tasty street food staple consists of a long steamed roll and a steamed hot dog sausage in natural casing, and the whole thing is topped with a meaty sauce called Michigan sauce, chopped onions, and occasionally, yellow mustard.

The sauce is thick and chunky, typically made with tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and cabbage, while the onions may be ordered with or buried (under the sauce).

Regularly served at clam shacks throughout New England, fried clams are a delicious appetizer made with clams which have been dipped in milk and corn flour, then deep-fried. The appetizer is typically prepared with whole soft-shell clams, which have a fuller flavor than regular clams.

Although clams have been fried since 1840, the modern version of deep-fried, breaded clams is credited to Lawrence Henry Woodman from Massachusetts, who supposedly created the first version of the dish in 1916.

Hoagie has been declared the official sandwich of Philadelphia in 1992, consisting of an Italian roll that is sprinkled with oil and vinegar, then layered with onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, provolone cheese, and different types of meat according to the customer's preference.

The authentic Philly hoagie is complete only after the addition of oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Pickles and mayonnaise are strictly forbidden. There are many theories about its origin, but the one that sounds most likely involves a jazz musician turned sandwich shop owner called Al De Palma. 

According to a legend, pretzels without eggs have been invented in 610 A.D. by Italian monks, as a way for people to consume them during Lent. Word of the pretzel delicacy quickly spread to Germany, and the Germans, who adored these soft and crunchy treats, brought them to America in the 1700s.

From then on, pretzels had made their way across America and came to the streets of New York, becoming a staple food of factory workers and day laborers. Today, some claim that there is nothing better on a rainy day than a soft, steamy pretzel that is sprinkled with coarse salt and dipped in bright yellow mustard. 

Knish is Jewish soul food, a soft pillow of baked or fried dough that is usually stuffed with onions and mashed potatoes. This comfort food was brough to New York City's Lower East Manhattan and Brooklyn around 1900, when Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe first started selling it from their street carts.

Round knishes are baked, while square knishes are typically fried. Today, these flavorful snacks are found throughout New York's shops and delis, and there isn't a bar mitzvah party that doesn't include knishes. As the dish gained popularity throughout the years, various unusual fillings started to be added to it, such as broccoli, cheddar cheese, corned beef, and sauerkraut. 

Bagel dog is a variety of a hot dog consisting of a regular or small-sized hot dog sausage wrapped in bagel dough. Visually, it is quite similar to pigs in a blanket. This street food staple is especially popular in New York City, Cincinnati, and Chicago.

Bagel dogs are commonly topped with poppy seeds before baking in order to enrich the dish with new flavors and textures, but other ingredients such as cheese, onions, and garlic can also be added to these tasty hot dogs. It is believed that the dish was invented in 1980 by Milan R. 

Spiedie is a culinary icon of Binghamton, New York, a sandwich consisting of an Italian roll or slices of white bread that are filled with cubes of marinated chicken, pork, or lamb. The sandwich gained popularity during the 1940s, but its exact origins are still shrouded in mystery.

The name comes from the Italian word spiedo, which refers to a kitchen cooking spit. Not unusual, considering that the meat is grilled on a metal skewer before it gets placed in a sandwich. It is believed that Augustine Iacovelli, the owner of a restaurant called Augies popularized the sandwich. 

Clam cakes are a summer tradition throughout New England, most commonly found in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. It is a deep-fried combination of chopped clams (usually quahog clams) and batter, usually consisting of flour, milk, clam juice, eggs, and a leavening agent.

The cakes are crispy and golden brown on the exterior, with a light and fluffy texture on the interior. They are especially popular during the clamming season, when clams are in abundance and must be used quickly so they do not spoil over time. Clam cakes are served throughout coastal New England, at restaurants and roadside stands, typically consumed as finger food and accompanied by a bowl of clam chowder for dipping.