What Is The Most Famous Restaurant In Every State?

Before you've even driven into South Dakota, you're going to see signs for Wall Drug at least 1000 miles before you've arrived in the state, advertising free ice water. In addition to the maple donuts and hot beef sandwiches up for consumption, you can check out a big T-Rex and a huge Jackalope.  

Katz's Deli keeps locals and tourists flocking to it so frequently, not just because Meg Ryan faked an orgasm there and prompted an old woman to have what she's having. No – they're renowned for their mammoth sandwiches and its longevity – Katz's has been there for roughly 100 years.  

The birth place of the New Haven-style pizza and the white clam pie, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napolentana (also known as Pepe's) has been open since 1925 and is one of the oldest, most well-known pizzerias in the country.  

This Miami Beach located seafood place attracts hordes of hungry visitors that come for the famous stone crabs (the ones that gave the restaurant its namesake) and its famous key lime pie. There are a few more Joe's located across the country, but this Florida establishment is the original.  

Kansas is often considered the barbeque capital of the world and Joe's is cited as one of the best in the state, despite opening as recently as the 90s. The original Joe's location is in a gas station in Kansas City, serving its patrons delicious BBQ cuisine since 1996.  

The Drover has developed a fantastic reputation for its whiskey-marinated steaks that have kept patrons returning for 40 years. That famous marinade is a combination of whiskey, soy, garlic, and pepper.  

Originally conceived as a bar in 1902, St Elmo's turned into a steak house during the Prohibition era. This landmark restaurant is Indianapolis's oldest steak house and it's earned national acclaim and a reputation for its cuisine.  

You could throw a stone just about anywhere in New Orleans and hit a restaurant that opened 100 years ago that's considered one of the most iconic in the city, but Commander's Palace is a very strong contender for most famous restaurant in the state. Commander's Palace has a beautiful turquoise façade and is located in the Garden District. It's become the go-to destination for Creole cuisine since it opened its doors in 1880.  

Salt Lick is renowned as the most quintessentially Texan BBQ spot in the state. Located on a huge ranch estate and cantered around a huge circular smoking that has been producing incredibly smoked meats for nearly 50 years.  

This Maine-based staple is a picnic-style restaurant that lets patrons chose their lobster from a huge tank. Not only does Young's Lobster Pound provide delicious lobster dishes, but it also offers spectacular views of the Penobscot Bay from its outdoor patio.  

The Peppermill is a must-stop destination on the Vegas strip. It doesn't matter what time you roll up to this Las Vegas icon, you'll be in for a dining experience that is the encapsulation of the gambling capital of America.  

Tops Diner has made a ton of lists that have ranked it as one of the best diners in America. It's a New Jersey stalwart that is home to a fully stocked bar and two bakes that produce some of the freshest cheesecake you're likely to find in the state.  

Nashville's Pancake Pantry (there are actually two Pancake Pantrys in Tennessee but the Nashville one is said to be the best) has people lining round the block from the early hours of the morning to get their hands on some scratch made pancakes.  

Birmingham's most iconic restaurant, Highlands Bar and Grill, first opened in 1982 and has been serving French-influenced Southern fare for more than 30 years. The menu is adjusted daily to incorporate seasonal ingredients and the dishes are complemented by wines from France and California.  

Boasting over 200 tequilas and claiming to serve some of the best Mexican cuisine in the country, Barrio Café is home to Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza's iconic and celebrated dishes. This colorful, beautifully decorated restaurant serves up some amazing versions of regional Mexican dishes.  

Waterbury's Prohibition Pig serves up delicious smoked meats, classic cocktails and its own beer, because this restaurant doubles as a brewery. Fill up on pig meat and sample the bespoke beers on tap.  

Snake River Grill has become a firm favorite on the Wyoming dining scene over the last 20 years, serving American cuisine and over 300 wines.  

Located in the Greenbrier resort in White Sulpher Springs, the Main Dining Room has been serving upscale fare for over 100 years. This dining experience is refined and guests are encouraged to dress to impress.  

Roy's opened in Honolulu in December of 1988 by the titular Roy – a Tokyo-born graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Roy's has been serving the people of Hawaii delicious traditional mixed plates for nearly 30 years.  

"Denver's original steakhouse" is Buckhorn Exchange, and it offers its patrons huge prime steaks and oysters that are sure to satisfy the hunger of everyone in your party. But it's just not just steak this place serves; there are more exotic menu items on the trading post like elk, game hen, alligator tail and buffalo sausage.  

Is there anything more ironically American than a drive-in? How about hot dogs? You can load up on both at Superdawg, which is renowned for its beef dogs and crinkle-cut fries. Superdawg started off as a hot dog stand in 1948 in Chicago, before becoming the beloved drive-in it is today.  

If it isn’t the home of the Garbage Plate, Frank's Diner certainly popularized the dish; patrons of this Wisconsin mainstay can tuck into a healthy pile of hash browns, grilled peppers, onion, meat, and cheese and they have been since Frank's opened its doors in 1926.  

Maryland's residents are all about their seafood, and one of the place the state's citizens go to show their love of this cuisine is Phillips. Since the original Ocean City restaurant opened in 1956, it has become a number one destination for its renowned Maryland Steamed Crabs.  

Club Paris is located in a former funeral parlor and has the distinction of being the oldest steak house in Alaska. Its most iconic dish is the 14oz filet and it has been serving its delicious steak and seafood to locals and visitors alike since the 1950s.  

Ruth's Diner is built in an actual trolley car that used to roll through Salt Lake City in the early 1900s. While the trolley car aesthetic remains, the purpose of this establishment is serving fantastic all-American diner food and beautiful views of the creek thanks to its huge patio.