An American menu often splits into starters, burgers and sandwiches, grills or barbecue, and sides; a main may already include fries, a salad or two sides. Read the plate description first, then compare portions. These are common examples, not one national standard.
Typical menu
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Examples vary by restaurant. Confirm ingredients, portions and dietary needs with staff.
Diner, burgers and starters
- Cheeseburger — A grilled beef patty with melted cheese in a bun, usually with lettuce, tomato, pickles or onion and often served with fries. Some kitchens ask how you want it cooked, so state your preferred doneness.
- Buffalo wings — Fried chicken wings tossed in a vinegar-and-butter hot sauce, usually with celery and a blue cheese or ranch dip; sold by count and heat level, so ask how hot each level is.
- New England clam chowder — A creamy soup of clams, potato and often bacon; thick and mild, served by the cup or bowl, and a bowl with bread can be a light meal.
- Mac and cheese — Pasta baked in a cheese sauce, often with a browned top; rich and mild, sold as a side scoop or as a larger main.
Barbecue, steaks and sides
- Brisket — Beef brisket smoked low and slow until tender, with a dark crust; barbecue counters often sell it by weight and may offer lean or fattier slices, so ask which you are getting.
- Pork ribs — Pork ribs smoked or grilled with a dry spice rub or a sticky sauce; sold as a half or full rack, messy to eat, and usually mild unless the sauce is labeled hot.
- Ribeye steak — A marbled beef steak grilled to the doneness you request; rich and juicy. Steakhouses often price sides separately, so check whether potatoes or vegetables come with it before ordering extras.
- Cornbread — A crumbly cornmeal bread, sweet or savory depending on the kitchen; usually served warm with butter alongside greens or barbecue.
How to order on your first visit
For two, compare what each plate includes before adding sides: burgers and sandwiches often come with fries, and barbecue may be sold by weight. State your preferred doneness for burgers and steak, and ask for hot sauces on the side.
Different menu styles
Southern and soul-food menus, a specific African American food tradition[1], have their own guide, as do New Orleans Cajun and Creole dishes[2] and Hawaii-style plate lunches[3].
What to order
- Smash burger — thin patties seared hard for a lacy crust, cheese, pickles
- Texas brisket — salt-and-pepper beef smoked low and slow over oak
- Buttermilk fried chicken — brined, dredged, and fried crisp
- New England clam chowder — cream-based with clams, potato, and bacon
- Pastrami on rye — deli-style cured and smoked beef piled on rye bread
98 menus
Molly's Restaurant & Bar- New England Clam Chowder9
- Mussels15
American
Momma Spriggs- MOZZARELLA PLANKS10.95
- CRABBY MOMMA PRETZEL11.95
American
Momofuku Noodle Bar New York- Momofuku Pickle Plate15
- Tuna Hand Rolls21
Asian American
Mom’s Kitchen & Bar New York- Strawberry Shorty$15.00
- Cookie Stand$15.00
American
Mom’s Kitchen & Bar Queens- MAC & CHEESE PANCAKES$19.00
- BREAKFAST SANDWICH$17.00
American
My Loup- Plateau Fruits de Mer$110.00
- East Coast Oysters$4.00
American
Nopa- ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SOUP14
- LOCAL HALIBUT CRUDO25
American
Olamaie- Oysters "Rockafella"
- Crispy Boudin Balls
American
Old Ebbitt Grill- New England Clam Chowder10.99
- CHICKEN POSOLE VERDE SOUP10.99
American
Paladar 511- Tuna Crudo18
- Wagyu Beef Tartare18
New American
Potluck Club- yellowfin tuna crudo19
- jellyfish tiger salad16
Chinese American
Proxi- Heirloom Tomato Salad15
- Watercress salad15
American
Frequently asked questions
What are the main styles of American barbecue?
Texas (beef brisket, salt-pepper rub, oak smoke), Carolina (whole-hog or pork shoulder, vinegar or mustard sauces), Memphis (ribs, dry rubs), and Kansas City (everything, sweet tomato-molasses sauce).
Are sides included with an American main?
Check the plate description before adding sides. A diner plate or barbecue combination can already include fries, coleslaw or bread; ask staff what comes with your chosen main.
What should I order at an American restaurant?
Order the house specialty — the smoked meat, the burger, the chowder — rather than the longest section of the menu, then confirm portions and included sides with staff.
What background helps when reading a American menu?
American cuisine is a settler-and-immigrant synthesis organized around regional schools: Southern and soul food (fried chicken, cornbread), Texas and Carolina barbecue, New England seafood, Tex-Mex, Cajun-Creole Louisiana, and the diner-and-burger canon. Generous portions, smoke, and the grill define its restaurant culture. Barbecue alone splits into four commonly recognized regional schools — Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, and the Carolinas — each with its own cuts, woods, and sauces.
Related guides
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. Soul food. Accessed
- New Orleans & Company. Traditional New Orleans Foods. Accessed
- Hawaii Tourism Authority. Oahu Restaurants. Accessed