Question for our non-U.S. Dopers who frequently visit our shores: Is there a food you always get when you visit, either because it’s unavailable or the quality isn’t as good? Or if you’ve only visited once is there something you actively sought out because you heard about it and wanted to try it?
Well, last time I was in the US, I went out of my way to get to a KFC (which we have at home) for a Double Down… but that was more because we had to try that thing that was so ridiculous, we at first didn’t believe it was real:D.
Most of the other stuff, I can get in Europe as wel… although I would definitely get some mexican food if I was in Southern California again…and go to In-N-Out.
I haven’t been back there in ages, but the two things I’m likely to get a yearning for and which are not part of Spain’s usual menus are barbecue and pancakes; you can get either one (although often it’s not particularly good) in “US-themed” restaurants, but I really should learn to make pancakes…
I’m mad at Hard Rock Café because they don’t offer baby back ribs any more, at least in Barcelona 
I’ve tried and tried and tried and I can never make pancakes like you get a good breakfast joint. For me, the best kind you want to smoother in butter and not spoil with syrup.
Don’t get me wrong, I love some real, good maple syrup. But when pancakes are good, the syrup ruins them. It would be like putting syrup on a warm, buttered piece of french bread right out of the oven.
Needless to say, I don’t have these very often. I get my monthly quota of butter in one sitting.
Goldfish crackers, English muffins, and donuts.
Pancakes aren’t hard; the only trick is you need to flip them once and only once. When the batter on the griddle starts getting bubbly is when you flip it, and then when it starts feeling spongy when you press down in the middle you take them off.
I’m trying to think of something, but I can’t think of anything USAian that I love that is unavailable in Canada. The only thing that springs to mind is Chicken McNuggets – I don’t love them, but they’re about 3 times more expensive in Canada.
My idiot husband wanted to try Taco Bell. It lived up to its reputation.
Cherry pie, and cherry flavoured things. Bagels.
Eggo waffles!!! And BBQ ribs. And bad Chinese food.
Well, I lived in the U.S. for nearly 12 years, so I know U.S. cuisine better than most Australians. One thing that I like that you can find in most of the U.S., and not in Australia, is Mexican food – and I don’t mean Taco Bell, which is imitation Tex-Mex food, but the sort of food you can buy at little restaurants where most of the customers are Hispanic. There are places that call themselves Mexican restaurants in Australia, but they are about as authentic as the average Chinese restaurant in the U.S.
This thread is making me want to send care packages. Poor distant Dopers with no donuts or Goldfish!!
I spent three years there, and there isn’t much I miss. I suppose I would say Italian Hoagies. I mean, I could probably (with effort) find the ingredients to approximate them here in the UK, but they were easy to find in PA and very tasty.
Oh, and Arby’s. Stupid, I guess, but there really isn’t an equivalent here.
Tex-Mex food. Mint Julep.
Payday candy bar for me, biscuits and gravy for the Mrs.
No fast foods, we get more than enough of that crap here. For me it’s both properly done Tex-mex (or south-west? Not really sure if they are distinguishable) AND properly done Mexican. I love the combinations of beans, shredded meats, tomato, cheeses, avocado, corn and especially the variety of chili peppers over there. Here you’re lucky to get 2 types, usually birdseye and big redchili peppers.
However, there are some significant differences between fast food in the U.S. and in Australia. For example, there’s nothing in Australia like the biscuits that you get in many fast-food places in the U.S. (such as KFC and McDonalds) (and which are nothing like what Australians call “biscuits”).
Tex-Mex.
Some of the candy I got from an Australian is probably really common there, but hard to find in the US.
I’m thinking of Cherry Ripe bars, Jaffas, and Violet Crumble. If I went to Australia I’d stock up so I could bring back a lot. Shipping and handling makes this stuff very expensive in the US.
I know my post was not like the OP because I am from the US and was talking about stuff from elsewhere. But it was still in the spirit, wasn’t it? lol
A giant, drippy, Carl’s Jr. sandwich.
Also, $100,000 bars. I’ve brought dozens back before, and been hit with the necessary duty (grumble, grumble).