# Foods you like that others may think are inferior **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [November 3, 2025, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511 "2025-11-03T00:24:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/21 "2025-11-03T01:59:15Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > For example, I like canned tamales. I know they aren’t like homemade but all you have to do is heat them up. No. > [@Baker](#): > > Fake crab meat is not like real crab I’m OK with surimi, though I prefer real crab meat. > [@sunacres](#): > > Oat groats. I can’t understand why they’re not a staple I like steel-cut oats (Irish oats). Much better than ‘oatmeal’. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Ramen noodles. I love ramen, but it’s not on my diet. > [@Smapti](#): > > Dinty Moore beef stew is my guilty pleasure when it comes to canned food. Used to like it when I was a kid, but I don’t like it now. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > American cheese food! Even real American cheese, American cheese (pasteurised process cheese) is a staple. ‘Pasteurised processed cheese food’ is an abomination. > [@romansperson](#): > > Hebrew National I love Hebrew National hot dogs. They’re my go-to hot dog. But I have a joke name for them that would not be acceptable. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’d argue these are not inferior if comparing to rolled oats. They are vastly superior. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/22 "2025-11-03T02:17:14Z")
Earl Campbell’s Red Hot Links are the best dogs on the planet. And they are also dirt cheap. And I am a connoisseur. I’ve tried every dog my local grocery store has to offer. Earl Campbell’s beats all the high end ones in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/23 "2025-11-03T02:21:02Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Other back country favorites? Japanese curry with dehydrated veggies is one of my backpacking favorites. Curry is great to cover up the flavorlessness of packet or dried chicken (or vegetable protein ‘meats’). I don’t usually get too fancy with backcountry cooking as I already care too much medical and self-rescue gear but some garlic pepper or ‘Mediterranean’ spices certainly help make white rice or couscous more palatable. I put together my own meals so I’ll dry some onions and peppers for flavor, and mushrooms for bulk and umami, but protein is usually packaged chicken, tuna, or salmon, which chocolate and Irish whiskey for desert. If I’m overlanding, I’ll bring steak or chicken for kabobs (easier than dealing with full cuts) and vegetables to roast, or I’ll bring a rocket stove and pizza oven if there is a small group. For a larger group I’ll make stew or do a shrimp boil. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > …with butter and **our home made maple syrup** ,… \*_jealous_\* Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/24 "2025-11-03T02:24:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I love Hebrew National hot dogs. They’re my go-to hot dog. I tend to alternate between Hebrew Nationals and the Nathan’s quarter-pound dogs. Heat ‘em in the microwave for just long enough that they kinda start to fry in their own rendered fat, pop it on a bun with some Hormel no-bean chili, yellow mustard, chopped onion, and jalapeno slices or canned whole serranos. Easy late-night dinner with a side dish of coleslaw that my work sells in single-serving cups for 98 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/25 "2025-11-03T02:30:57Z")
Another guilty pleasure of mine: Cincinnati chili. I’ve never been to Cincinnati (I went to Cleveland once. I wouldn’t recommend it), but every now and then I’ll order a case of canned Gold Star chili off Amazon and make four-ways with spaghetti and onion and as much shredded cheddar as I can pile on top of it before it starts falling off the plate. There’s a 100-year-old greasy-spoon / dive bar in Seattle that makes a Cincinnati-esque chili and has chili spaghetti on the menu, but I prefer to order their chili straight in what they call a “big-ass bowl”, with cheese, onions, and chopped jalapenos on top. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/26 "2025-11-03T02:32:43Z")
IIRC, Bob’s Big Boy’;s spaghetti was spaghetti with chili on it. I remember when I was a kid (about ten years old) that I thought it smelled like cat food. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/27 "2025-11-03T02:40:54Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > IIRC, Bob’s Big Boy’;s spaghetti was spaghetti with chili on it Looks like “Bob’s Famous Chili Spaghetti” is still on their menu! It comes with garlic bread and a dinner salad for $15.49, which is a pretty good price these days. > **[Lunch/Dinner - Menu](https://bobs.net/pages/lunch-dinner)** > > Starters Veggie Quesadilla Grilled tortilla with cheddar cheese, green peppers, onion, tomatoes, side of salsa, guacamole and sour cream 10.49 Chicken Fingers Golden brown chicken tenders with choice of sauce (Ranch, BBQ, or Honey Mustard) 11.99 BBQ... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/28 "2025-11-03T02:48:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Looks like “Bob’s Famous Chili Spaghetti” is still on their menu! Nevertheless. While I do (did) like chili on spaghetti, I could never forget that Bob’s smelled like cat food. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/29 "2025-11-03T02:53:41Z")
I go for Hebrew Nationals now because Nathan’s used to be my favorite until I heard that Nathans owner is a Trump contributor. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/30 "2025-11-03T03:06:42Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I go for Hebrew Nationals now because Nathan’s used to be my favorite until I heard that Nathans owner is a Trump contributor Ugh. Of course, Hebrew National is owned by ConAgra, which also donates lots of money to Republican candidates. No ethical consumption under capitalism and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/31 "2025-11-03T03:09:30Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Looks like “Bob’s Famous Chili Spaghetti” is still on their menu! It comes with garlic bread and a dinner salad for $15.49, which is a pretty good price these days. Sounds like Cincinnati chili. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/32 "2025-11-03T03:15:58Z")
Ketchup! Some look down their noses at it but I like it. It’s like tomato wine. It goes with almost anything, including, _gasp_ 😲 a hot dog! Any of the canned tomato sauce pastas. Beef-a-ronie, Chef Boy Artie (that’s what I thought his name was as a little kid.) Franco American. I love ‘em. Put a slice of buttered bread on a plate or in a bowl, pour some Spaghetti O’s over it and heat in the microwave. Eat with a spoon like an open faced sandwich getting S.O’s and a little piece of bread in each spoonful. Mmm boy. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/33 "2025-11-03T03:16:40Z")
I love me some Ashkenazi soul food. Once I stopped off at my favorite local kosher-style (definitely not actually kosher) deli - I was sick as a dog and waiting for a prescription to be filled, it’s near my doctor’s office and on the way to Costco to pick up the prescription. I knew I was going to be down for the count for a few days so decided to stock up on easy deli food, including a tub of pickled herring. Mentioned to the counter guy that my husband didn’t understand my affinity for preserved fish, to which he answered “you married outside the tribe, didn’t you?” And indeed, I did. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/34 "2025-11-03T03:18:06Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > I love me some Ashkenazi soul food. I wish we had a proper Jewish deli here in Olympia. Nearest one I know of is in Seattle. When I went to Chicago last year I made a point of going to Manny’s and getting a pastrami sandwich and a latke with applesauce and a bowl of kreplach soup. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/35 "2025-11-03T03:21:56Z")
Little Caesars pizza. It’s better than the authentic / homemade / independent pizzeria stuff. So are thin crust with half cheese Domino’s and Pizza Hut. The bougie independent pizzerias all seem to be of the same “let’s load up our pizza with cheese that is the greasiest, oiliest, stringiest, texture as close to snot as we can make it” school of thought. The cheap stuff is a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/36 "2025-11-03T03:24:39Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > My usual beverage with dinner is diet ginger ale mixed with fruit juice I am very, very similar. Usually not diet ginger ale, but other diet sodas with just a little splash of tart cherry or cherry/cranberry juice. It’s that or some version of iced tea most of the time. I drink wine and beer pretty rarely these days, though I usually have some around. Plain water occasionally. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > real American cheese I don’t do the Kraft cheese-food singles anymore, but I do still much prefer real American cheese on burgers, breakfast sandwiches and even grilled cheese like I made when I was twelve. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Ramen noodles. Once in great while, though I’ve moved towards the very slightly fancier spicy Korean varieties. But I’ve had the Sapporo original in the past year. Like Johnny\_LA I lost my taste for Dinty Moore, a camping staple when I was a kid, some time ago. But I still enjoy Hebrew National hot dogs (always mildly preferred them to Nathan’s) and will still very occasionally a quick and easy meal out of those and Bush’s canned baked beans another camping staple from long ago when the trout weren’t biting. Also, also in terms of canned camping junk from your youth - Mary Kitchen’s corned beef hash (now owned by Hormel). Yes, it looks and smells like dog food and given my druthers I’d rather whip up a real version with leftover wagyu corned beef, cabbage and new potatoes. But a fried egg or two and canned corned beef hash still works for me in a pinch 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/37 "2025-11-03T03:30:16Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Also, also in terms of canned camping junk from your youth - Mary Kitchen’s corned beef hash (now owned by Hormel). Yes, it looks and smells like dog food and given my druthers I’d rather whip up a real version with leftover wagyu corned beef, cabbage and new potatoes. But a fried egg or two and canned corned beef hash still works for me in a pinch 🙂. Same here. When I have made it and friends are around they usually tell me it looks like dog food. But, once made, they usually ask to try it and, without fail (so far) they like it despite not wanting to. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/38 "2025-11-03T03:31:03Z")
Oh, this was [Kaufman’s](https://kaufmansdeli.com) in Skokie; it’s not an eat-in place, just takeout (although they do usually have a few tables outside, weather permitting). ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/39 "2025-11-03T04:21:00Z")
Y’all are too healthy. My secret vice is Twizzlers. But only the strawberry ones, mind you! The cherry ones are an abomination. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511/40 "2025-11-03T04:24:27Z")
I can’t eat a yam or sweet potato without thinking it would taste a lot better covered in brown sugar and melted marshmallows. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-you-like-that-others-may-think-are-inferior/1024511.md?page=3)