Many things in the American cuisine often came from elsewhere, with German, British, Swedish, Italian, Polish, Irish, Dutch, French, and Caribbean influences all contributing to many foods we frequently consider American. Others, like Buffalo wings or the Reuben sandwich, are purely the product of American ingenuity. Here, we have listed favorites and where to find them across Budapest. Deep dish pizza It is often reported that Chicago-style deep dish pizza was invented at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago, in 1943. However, a 1956 article from the Chicago Daily News asserts that Uno’s original pizza chef Rudy Malnati developed the recipe.The primary difference between deep-dish pizza and most other forms of pizza is that, as the name suggests, the crust is very deep, creating a very thick pizza that resembles a pie more than a flatbread, baked in a round, steel pan that is more similar to a cake or pie pan than a typical pizza pan. Where to try: i55 American Bar & Restaurant, debuted in May, their motto speaks itself „Born in Italy, raised in USA, smuggled to Budapest!” Expect huge portions! Hot dogs While Germans and Austrians disagree about who first invented the hot dog, mentions of sausages date back to Roman times, though it was German “dachshund” sausages that first caught the attention of the American public. The sausages were wildly popular at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where many say the invention of the hot dog bun occurred. Where to try: Töltő and Kishusom, both places offer funky, artisan hotdogs with a twist, expect surprises like wasabi and wild boar sausage at Töltő or tarragon mustard and merquez lamb at Kishusom. Macaroni and cheese The history: The mouthwatering combination of pasta and cheese predates the founding of America by several hundred years, but Thomas Jefferson is widely credited with introducing the much-loved dish into American cuisine. After a trip through Italy, Jefferson brought a pasta maker and Parmesan cheese back to Virginia and famously served the dish at a state dinner in 1802. Where to try: i55 American Bar & Restaurant, find it in true American style and size with gooey cheese. Reuben sandwich The history: Whether it was the creation of a man named Reuben Kulakofsky in Nebraska, or originally dreamt up by the proprietors of Reuben’s Delicatessen in New York City, the classic corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut sandwich is emblematic of 20th-century American cuisine, with Jewish, German, and Irish ingredients all making an appearance. Where to try: Bp BARbq, arrive here hungry as you will be craving for more! Buffalo chicken wings The history: One version of the story says Teressa Bellissimo came up with the Buffalo wing as a way to make use of an accidental shipment of chicken wings; another says that it was a late-night snack prepared on the spot to satiate her son and his drinking buddies. Regardless, the origin of the Buffalo wing is little disputed, and was first served in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in—where else—Buffalo, New York. Where to try: Manga Cowboy If you dare, ask for the Kill Bill chicken wings, they use capsaicin extract to make their sauce nuclear. If you can finish a 12 piece plate, you get onto their wall of fame. The hamburger The history: Though the name “hamburger” and the ingredients have strong German roots, the burger as we know it today was likely born in New York, when German immigrants combined the famous “Hamburg steak” from their homeland with two slices of bread. The burger’s popularity at Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exposition, the first official World’s Fair in the U.S., soon made it a household name. Where to try: KNRDYTheir signature beef selection will make you cry with joy, try the Classic USDA Prime Burger or the fancy Billionaire Burger with Wagyu and fois gras. Barbecue ribs The history: Barbecuing is as old as this country—George Washington even made reference to a barbecue in Virginia in 1769. Whether you’re partial to Memphis’s wet ribs, Kansas City’s hearty barbecue sauce, or the Carolinas’ pork-only menus, barbecue in America has evolved from a basic form of cooking into a highly specialized, regional art. Where to try: Hard Rock Café Budapest Fall-off-the-bone tender baby back ribs, rubbed with their signature seasonings and basted with hickory barbecue sauce. Donuts The history: The earliest origins to the modern doughnuts are generally traced back to the olykoek („oil(y) cake”) Dutch settlers brought with them to early New York (or New Amsterdam). These doughnuts closely resembled later ones but did not yet have their current ring-sized shape.One of the earliest mentions of „doughnut” was in Washington Irving’s 1809 book A History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty. Where to try: Mr. Funk Photo:123rf.com