Sometimes, tucking into a cheesy burger or rack of saucy ribs helps relieve the blues and provide a smidgen of comfort. Whatever your fancy — from spicy tacos to a sweet dessert — you’ll find it somewhere. It’s time to look at some great U.S. venues and see examples of outstanding comfort food.
Pizza
When it comes to comfort food, pizza is the go-to choice for many, and New York City is an excellent destination for pizza lovers. The city’s Una Pizza Napoletana’s reputation makes it the perfect place to start. Rated the world’s top pizzeria in 2024, Italian native Anthony Mangieri’s cozy original U.S. Neopolitan pizza spot is a must-visit if you’re in The Big Apple.
Other recommended U.S. pizzerias include:
- Tony’s Pizza Napoletana: San Francisco, California
- Pizzeria Beddia: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Chicken and Waffles
When chicken’s savory crispiness intermingles with the delicate sweetness of a soft waffle, you get an uplifting taste sensation. Adding a smattering of maple syrup to the mix is bound to comfort you in even the most forlorn of moments.
Herb Hudson founded Los Angeles’s Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles in Hollywood in 1979. It’s been a Californian culinary institution ever since, expanding to eight L.A. locations that have welcomed patrons including ex-President Barack Obama, Stevie Wonder and Snoop Dogg. Whether you find comfort with a traditional syrup topping or savory gravy and onions, Roscoe’s will solve your craving.
Other traditional U.S. chicken and waffles restaurants include:
- Screen Door: Portland, Oregon
- Early Bird Diner: Charleston, South Carolina
Burgers
A burger is easy to eat and makes you feel much better when biting into its juiciness, and there’s no shortage of phenomenal burger joints across the nation. Sampling an award-winning burger in a unique setting makes Atlanta, Georgia’s Grindhouse Killer Burgers stand apart in just one of many ways. With various behemoth specials to try, it’s every burger lover’s dream.
Other highly rated U.S. burger spots include:
- Nancy’s Hustle: Houston, Texas
- Familyfriend: Seattle, Washington
Ribs
Nothing beats the comforting scent of basted ribs cooking on the barbeque. The smell alone invokes reminders of family or social get-togethers filled with happy memories.
Pork ribs or beef ribs? The choice is yours, but if you’re keen on the former, Oklahoma Joe’s in Kansas City, Kansas, will keep you more than satisfied. They’re pork experts in Kansas, so you’re bound to find comfort in the presentation on the plate and the succulent taste that follows.
Other U.S. rib venues worth trying include:
- The Salt Lick: Driftwood, Texas
- Archibald’s: Northport, Alabama
Tacos
Tacos are readily available, quick to order and spicy enough to warm the cockles of any heart. Many Americans rank this fun-to-eat Mexican staple high on their list of comfort foods, likely due to its tasty blend of texture and utter dining decadence.
Ed Fernandez Restaurant Birrieria, located deep in the center of San Diego, California, was named Yelp’s top taco spot in America in 2022. Visitors flock to try its Quesataco Extremo, a taco made with Mexican birria stew, crisped onion and melted cheddar and infused with aromatic cilantro. It’s Ed’s signature and worth a memorable trip for the gastronomic comfort celebration it provides.
Other top-notch U.S. taco restaurants include:
- Aroma Latin American Cocina: Henderson, Nevada
- Austin’s Granny’s Tacos: Austin, Texas
Dessert
A sweet dessert will do the trick for those who need an extra dose after finishing their main comfort course. Taking yourself on a little dessert date now and then is also a great way to boost your confidence and self-love.
Prime dessert locations fill the U.S. — every city and most country towns pride themselves on these after-meal treats. You won’t go wrong stopping in Florida’s Key West for one carrying original bragging rights, though. Kermit’s Key Lime Shop is only one home to the city’s famous key lime pie, and the shop’s apt name makes it a perfect place to sample this tasty delicacy.
Other notable U.S. dessert shops include:
- Café du Monde: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Matsumoto Shave Ice: Haleiwa, Hawaii
Feeling Better with Comfort Food
No matter what the reason, certain foods can lift your mood and provide some solace after a hard day at the office or on a tough anniversary date. Burgers, ribs, tacos, chicken and waffles and pizza are all comfort foods renowned for providing a pick-me-up at precisely the right time. With your choice of dessert ready to back up your meal, you will feel better soon!
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