By Andrew Bender

Sure, it's hard to find an American who doesn't love a good slice, but depending on where you're from, your hometown pie might be a pizza, or egg custard served in a tiny crust amid Chinese dumplings. Pie is just one variety of surprise you'll find on a drive across our nation. It's a regular cook's tour out there, so spin the globe as you spin your wheels.

Village Walk Apartments, India Street, Little Italy District.
© Richard Cummins. Lonely Planet Images.

As New England as Pizza

The very words "New England" conjure up images and aromas of clam bakes on the beach, lobsters with drawn butter and all that chowdah. But ask residents of New Haven, Conn., what their favorite food is, and they'll likely say "pizza." They'll also tell you it was invented there, in a historic Italian neighborhood called Wooster Street. New Haven–style pizza is wood-oven baked and deliciously thin yet still chewy, and a "large" spills over the edge of the serving tray. Even pizza-proud New Yorkers have been known to drive up for it.

Eating for Efficiency Experts

Interstate 95 takes you into Pennsylvania, where Philadelphia is synonymous with the cheesesteak sandwich. With a side of fries, it's a belly buster that's hard to beat. But head west on I-76 to Pittsburgh, at the other end of the state, where Primanti Bros dispenses with the formality and puts the fries (along with coleslaw and tomato), directly inside your tuna, capicola or pastrami sandwich. It's as tasty as it is efficient.

Hand-painted sign in field. Central Valley, California
© Thomas Winz. Lonely Planet Images.

La Bella Ohio

Cleveland, a couple hours' drive from Pittsburgh, has a thriving Little Italy in the Murray Hill district. When you're done with one of the more than 20 trattorias, pizzerias and cafés, visit the Little Italy Historical Museum or just stroll the old world architecture. Another Little Italy where you might not expect it: San Diego. Quizzically, the main drag is called India Street, but the tastes are authentic in its sun-dappled cafés and bakeries.

Wisconsin: cheese curds. Bratwurst. Beer. Fondue. Fondue? The tiny town of New Glarus, about 30 minutes from Madison, calls itself "Little Switzerland." You can still hear people speaking Swiss German as you dive into a raclette appetizer or dip your bread or steak into cheese or meat fondues. Try to time your visit to catch a Swiss festival or a performance by the New Glarus Männerchor(men's choir), which occur throughout the year.

"Hong Kong on the Range ..."

BBQ is king in Texas, and Tex-Mex runs a close second, but look closer and you'll find cuisines that Sam Houston couldn't have imagined. Houston has not one but two Chinatowns, an "Old Chinatown" settled early in the last century near the Convention Center, and another called "Chinatown" in the Alief neighborhood. You could spend half a day browsing Asian markets before plunking yourself down for dumplings and noodles. Or try Vietnamese and even Chinese-Mexican specialties. The Dallas suburbs of Richardson and Plano also have sizeable Chinatowns.

America’s Basque Country

From south to north, California is a foodie's paradise, whether it's burritos by the beach in San Diego or Los Angeles, the fresh, local ingredients that distinguish Californian cuisine, or artisan cheeses in the state's far north. Then there's inland Bakersfield, hub of a farming region known for grapes, almonds, pistachios and ... Basque cuisine, from around the French–Spanish border. Concentrated in the Old Town Kern neighborhood, Basque restaurants are typified by roast lamb, loaded with another local crop: garlic. Dinners here are so hearty — with over a half-dozen side dishes — that you may not need breakfast the next day.

Bio: Andrew Bender writes about food, travel and the arts. He's written Lonely Planet guidebooks for Los Angeles and Southern California, Cape Cod and more.