North American Snacks

The first, original plate of nachos consisting of tortilla chips, melted cheese, and jalapeños was made for a group of military officers' wives in 1943 in Piedras Negras, Mexico. The ladies of the US Army Air Force base went over to a resta... READ MORE

Quesadilla is a simple Mexican snack consisting of a flour or corn tortilla filled with cheese that melts well. It is commonly folded in half and consumed. A quesadilla can also have some other ingredients on the inside such as meats, beans, or po... READ MORE

Even though its name stems from the French boudin—a word that usually refers to the pudding-like fillings of sausages—this soppy treat originating from the French Canadian province of Quebec consists of french fries drowned in... READ MORE

Onion rings are a popular American side dish item that is usually served alongside burgers or other fast food varieties, and they are usually accompanied by ketchup, mayonnaise, or some other dipping sauce. These crispy rings are commonly found in... READ MORE

Corn on the cob is an American snack made by steaming, roasting, grilling, or boiling sweet corn. Ideally, it should be freshly picked, while its kernels are tender. The corn can be grilled in its husk or without it. Once done, the corn is placed ... READ MORE

American-style cinnamon rolls are characterized by the pillowy, soft dough and their much larger size and softer texture when compared to their European cousins. They are made with yeasted dough that is rolled into a rectangle, spread with butter,... READ MORE

Avocado toast is a dish consisting of a piece of toasted bread topped with a combination of mashed avocados, salt, pepper, and (sometimes) citrus juice. There are many varieties of this dish, so it can be enriched with ingredients such as salmon, ... READ MORE

Mozzarella sticks are one of America's favorite cheesy snacks consisting of battered, breaded, and deep-fried pieces of mozzarella cheese. Although they are traditionally served as an appetizer with marinara sauce, these cheesy sticks can also be ... READ MORE

Garlic knots are a traditional American type of garlic bread that's believed to have originated in Brooklyn or Queens. They're most commonly found in New York City's pizzerias. These soft and chewy knots are usually made from bread or pizza dough ... READ MORE

Esquites is the name for popular Mexican street food that is usually consumed as a snack on the go. It is made with mature corn kernels, epazote, and salt. Corn is either grilled and shaved, or cooked with epazote, and it is then typically served ... READ MORE

Gorditas are thick tortillas from Mexico, made from masa corn flour and stuffed with a variety of ingredients such as meat, cheese, beans, nopal cactus, and salsa or guacamole. Due to their thickness, they can withstand some ingredients that a reg... READ MORE

A corn dog consists of processed meat on a stick that is dipped in corn meal batter and deep-fried. It is a wildly popular snack (and hot dog variation) throughout the United States of America. Corn dogs are typically found at county fairs, carniv... READ MORE

Chicken fingers is an American invention consisting of strips of white poultry meat that are coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried in hot oil. They are often served as an appetizer or a snack, although they can be consumed as a main meal, preferabl... READ MORE

Although elote is a Spanish word for corn, it also signifies a popular Mexican street food consisting of corn on the cob that is coated with lime and mayonnaise, then rolled in crumbled cotija cheese and chile powder. Th... READ MORE

An egg roll is a Chinese-style snack consisting of diced meat and chopped vegetables that are wrapped in an egg-based dough, and then deep-fried in hot oil. Although Andrew Coe, the author of Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in th... READ MORE

Chile relleno is a Mexican dish with origins in the city of Puebla. It consists of chili peppers stuffed with ingredients such as cheese, nuts, cinnamon, and diced meat. Once the peppers are stuffed, they are usually dipped in eggs and flour, then... READ MORE

Tostones is a traditional side dish that's popular throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in Puerto Rico. Unlike platanos fritos, where only ripe plantains are used, tostones are made with unripe, hard, very green plantains. They a... READ MORE

Home fries is a popular American side dish made by frying larger chunks of potatoes in butter or oil until they are crispy and golden in color. The potatoes might sometimes be unpeeled, and they are often shortly boiled or steamed before frying. H... READ MORE

Sopes are small, thick disks of fried corn dough under a topping that usually consists of beans, meat, cheese, and a sauce. Every state in Mexico makes its own version of the dish and calls it differently. In Puebla, it's pellizcada (from... READ MORE

Frito pie is a cheap, hearty, and highly caloric dish consisting of chili, crunchy corn chips (especially the Fritos brand variety), cheese, and onions. It is a popular meal in Southern and Midwestern parts of the United States, and can b... READ MORE

Although pies filled with meat are popular in many countries throughout the world as a great way to turn cheap cuts of meat into savory bites and making sure that no food goes to waste, Jamaican meat patties are enhanced with unique African and In... READ MORE

A local delicacy in the cuisine of the Midwestern United States and Canada, deep-fried cheese curds are made from curds that form before cheeses like cheddar are formed into blocks or wheels and left to age. Fresh curds have a rubbery texture and ... READ MORE

Butter tart is a humble food that achieved iconic status in early 20th-century Canada. The filling is traditionally made with a combination of walnuts, eggs, brown sugar, butter, and white vinegar, and it's then placed into small, flaky, deep or s... READ MORE

Panucho is a Yucatan specialty consisting of a tortilla topped with refried beans, acting as the base of the dish. Other toppings are left for the cook or the customer to decide according to preferences. It can be anything from cabbage, tomatoes, ... READ MORE

The technique of frying oysters is traditionally associated with the coastal areas of the United States, namely the West and the Southeast. It is said that pan-fried oysters were initially a frugal dish, but by the 19th century they became a well-... READ MORE

Spam musubi is a Japanese-American dish hailing from Hawaii. In its most basic form, it consists of a fried slice of Spam that is placed on top of a rectangular wedge of rice, and the whole concoction is then wrapped in nori seaweed. This snack ca... READ MORE

This nacho dish is easy to prepare, but things can get quite messy when consuming it. Pulled pork nachos are made by combining nachos with pulled pork, shredded cheese, beans, corn, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. In order to prepare the dish, t... READ MORE

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 Ea... READ MORE

A staple of Southern fried food in the United States, hushpuppies are an extremely popular snack consisting of deep-fried cornmeal batter. The batter is sometimes enriched by the addition of onions, garlic, corn, and peppers. Regarding the origins... READ MORE

Antojitos (lit. little cravings) refers to a variety of Mexican foods that are prepared in market stalls and on the streets. Due to the fact that formal, substantial meals are consumed in the mid-afternoon, most antojitos are eaten either in the m... READ MORE

Sincronizadas are Mexican snacks consisting of two corn or flour tortillas, cheese, and slices of ham. Optionally, beans and chorizo sausage can also be added to the dish as a filling. Quesadillas sincronizadas are commonly cut into wedges and ser... READ MORE

Papadzules is a Mexican dish with Mayan origins consisting of egg-filled tortillas drenched in a sauce made with pumpkin seeds and epazote. The dish is usually consumed for breakfast on the streets of Yucatan, although it is also found in... READ MORE

Fried green tomatoes are a staple of Southern United States. The dish is made with firm, unripe, and tangy green tomatoes that are sliced, dipped in seasoned cornmeal, then deep-fried. Ideally, the tomatoes should have a crunchy crust and a succul... READ MORE

Pepperoni roll is a specialty of West Virginia consisting of a baked white bread roll filled with pepperoni sticks or slices. The roll is sold throughout the state at numerous gas stations, diners, and convenience stores, often paired with mar... READ MORE

An iconic staple food of South Carolina, boiled peanuts are a simple snack consisting of raw, semi-mature peanuts in their shells that get boiled in salty water for a long time, with the optional addition of a piquant spice mixture. Peanuts arrive... READ MORE

A bear claw is a sweet pastry originating from the United States. Believed to have been invented during the mid-1920s, it is usually prepared with flour, butter, eggs, and milk, while the filling is typically prepared with a combin... READ MORE

Beaver tails are sweet, flat, and thin Canadian pastries made from whole wheat flour. The dough is hand-stretched and shaped to look like a beaver's tail - unsurprisingly, one of Canada's national symbols. The shaped dough is fried (a technique re... READ MORE

Ham biscuits are traditional snacks/sandwiches from Virginia consisting of a thin slice of country ham that's placed in a buttery, flaky biscuit. The biscuits are usually made with flour, baking powder, butter, fat or lard, buttermilk, and Virgini... READ MORE

Chocolate covered potato chips is an American invention that is commonly consumed as a dessert snack. Just like the name suggests, these snacks consist of thin potato chips that are simply dipped in melted chocolate. The chocolate may be regular m... READ MORE

Memela (or tetela) is a popular street food dish originating from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is made from masa flour with the addition of refried beans, pressed together into a (usually oval-shaped) tortilla, then cooked on a hot gri... READ MORE

Dungeness crab cake is a specialty from Washington that features the succulent meat of the Dungeness crab, a crustacean inhabiting the waters of the Pacific Ocean on the West Coast of North America. This dish is typically made by combining Dungene... READ MORE

Entomatadas is a Mexican specialty dish consisting of filled tortillas doused in a rich tomato sauce. Tomatoes, onions, and garlic are the main ingredients of every tomato sauce recipe and can be enriched with various other ingredients, spices, an... READ MORE