The Most Popular Food in Every State

Thursday, April 07, 2016

GoLocalProv Lifestyle Team & Graphiq

Food

Despite peaking in popularity in the early 2000s, low-carb diets remain a staple of the fitness and nutrition industry. However, these diets have not abated America’s love of carbohydrates.

The health of the country hurts because of it — obesity rates are still rising — but the data shows that the country’s most popular foods continue to be the most carbohydrate-laden.

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From pizza to sandwiches and baked goods, we can’t get enough.

Using the most recent 2014 estimates from the American Community Survey and Dun and Bradstreet, the experts at FindTheHome discovered the most popular food in every state. The food type with the highest density per 100,000 people is considered the most popular. Pizza is the fan-favorite in most states, with baked goods and Mexican food taking the lead in many others. Previously, FindTheHome used the same data providers to find the pizza capital and bakery capital of every state.

Advocates maintain that government subsidies of crops like corn, wheat and feed grains enable the production of processed food. Add in the demand from the American public, and it’s unlikely that the food industry will slow the pizza production line. However, looking at current obesity rates and the ineffectiveness of national health policies such as Healthy People 2020, a federal initiative to eliminate preventable diseases, like obesity, it’s clear that what we’re doing isn’t working.

Mississippi

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 2,984,345

Louisiana

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants

Population: 4,601,049

Utah

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 2,858,111

Alabama

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 4,817,678

Oklahoma

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries

Population: 3,818,851

Hawaii

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Chinese Food Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants

Population: 1,392,704

Georgia

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 9,907,756

South Carolina

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries

Population: 4,727,273

Washington

Arkansas

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 2,947,036

Nebraska

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants

Population: 1,855,617

Wyoming

Nevada

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 2,761,584

New Mexico

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 2,080,085

Arizona

North Carolina

Idaho

Tennessee

Alaska

Wisconsin

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Ice Cream Shops

Population: 5,724,692

California

Virginia

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Chinese Food Restaurants

Population: 8,185,131

North Dakota

South Dakota

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Steak and BBQ Restaurants
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries

Population: 834,708

Missouri

Kansas

Oregon

Maryland

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Chinese Food Restaurants

Population: 5,887,776

Minnesota

Colorado

Kentucky

Illinois

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants

Population: 12,868,747

Montana

Maine

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Seafood
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 1,328,535

Texas

West Virginia

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Ice Cream Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries

Population: 1,853,881

Vermont

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Chinese Food Restaurants
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: American Food

Population: 626,358

Indiana

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Mexican Food Restaurants

Population: 6,542,411

Iowa

Michigan

Florida

Delaware

New York

New Jersey

Ohio

Connecticut

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bagel and Donut Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Chinese Food Restaurants

Population: 3,592,053

Rhode Island

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bagel and Donut Shops
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops

Population: 1,053,252

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Pennsylvania

No. 1 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Pizza Restaurants
No. 2 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Bakeries
No. 3 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Sandwich Shops
No. 4 Most Popular Restaurant Type: Chinese Food Restaurants

Population: 12,758,729

Research The States on FindTheHome

Related Slideshow: Rhode Island’s Best Comfort Food

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Breakfast in a Jar, Bistro 22, Cranston

The relatively new Bistro 22 is part of the re-birth going on in Garden City, in Cranston. Many new shops and restaurants have opened in the last year and this may be the best of the lot. Bistro 22 is an American style bistro featuring local ingredients and creative dishes. It is the perfect stop to re-fuel while shopping or it is worth its own trip. The dish we chose has become a staple of our visits: Breakfast in a Jar. Slowly braised beef short rib is served along with diced potato, bacon, a poached egg and a little truffle juice. The whole thing is served in a small jar and accompanied by buttery, thick cut toast. Combine all the ingredients on the toast and it is a pretty perfect bite. 22 Midway Rd. 383-6400

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Boeuf Bourguignon, Pot au Feu, Providence

If you are looking for the latest fad or newest dish in town, Pot au Feu is not the place for you. Owner Bob Burke likes to say that if a recipe isn't 300 years old, they're not interested. There is no more representative dish of French cuisine than Beef Bourguignon. A humble cut of beef is seasoned and slowly braised until tender and flavorful. The Pot's version features large chunks of beef braised with red wine and herbs until tender. It is served with their potato gratin and all that delicious broth makes for perfect French bread dipping. And hey...it was Julia Child's favorite! 44 Custom House St. 273-8953

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French Onion Soup, Chez Pascal, Providence

There is something comfortable about a perfect bowl of soup. On a chilly afternoon or evening, it can be the perfect partner to a good read or your favorite TV show. On cool, October nights, we like to head over to Hope Street, in Providence, and check out the perfect French onion soup at Chez Pascal. This bistro classic features slowly braised onions with beef and chicken broth, sherry, a French bread crouton and melted cheese. It is baked in the oven and is served bubbly and melty and satisfying. Chez Pascal uses Gruyere as their cheese of choice...and we totally agree! This cheese has the perfect combination of flavor and melt. 960 Hope St. 421-4422

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Cottage Pie, Buskers, Newport

Don't let the name fool you...this is a delicious Shepherd's Pie. Buskers is that perfect Irish pub you've been searching for and more. A "Busker" is a street musician or performer and we would happily sing for this supper! This is comfort on a plate: ground beef is combined with medley of vegetables including carrots and corn and peas and topped with their delicious house mashed potatoes and gravy. It is all baked until the top is crisp and brown. These flavors are classic and comforting and executed very well here. It will take the chill out of your bones for sure. 178 Thames St. 846-5856

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Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese, Siena, Smithfield

As much as the Cottage Pie spoke to the Irish in us, the Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese speaks to the Italian in us. Too often Bolognese has been reduced to a homogeneous dish that falls short of what the creators intended. Not so at Siena. This is everything Bolognese should be. The Tarro brothers, long ago, brought their delicious interpretation of Tuscan food home to Rhode Island and this was the dish that hooked us. Sirloin steak, pork and pancetta are all cooked together in a tasty tomato sauce until the truly become part of the sauce. It is then tossed with tagliatelle pasta and topped with the classic Parmigiano Reggiano. Mangia! 400 Putnam Pike, 349-4111

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The Most Popular Food in Every State

Mississippi

Louisiana

Utah

Alabama

Oklahoma

Hawaii

Georgia

South Carolina

Washington

Arkansas

Nebraska

Wyoming

Nevada

New Mexico

Arizona

North Carolina

Idaho

Tennessee

Alaska

Wisconsin

California

Virginia

North Dakota

South Dakota

Missouri

Kansas

Oregon

Maryland

Minnesota

Colorado

Kentucky

Illinois

Montana

Maine

Texas

West Virginia

Vermont

Indiana

Iowa

Michigan

Florida

Delaware

New York

New Jersey

Ohio

Connecticut

Rhode Island

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Pennsylvania

Related Slideshow: Rhode Island’s Best Comfort Food

Breakfast in a Jar, Bistro 22, Cranston

Boeuf Bourguignon, Pot au Feu, Providence

French Onion Soup, Chez Pascal, Providence

Cottage Pie, Buskers, Newport

Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese, Siena, Smithfield

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