Every state has a claim to fame when it comes to food, and many have specific regions with their own local delicacies.

Whether it's comfort food classics or local staples, Thrillist makes your next road trip easier by listing their favorite dishes...AND where you can go the get the best in each state. Dig in!

Illinois: Italian beef

Johnnie's Beef (address and info)
Elmwood Park
Deep dish and dogs are generally the first foodstuffs sought by tourists. Downstate, you'll find heart-stopping horseshoes and some celebrated BBQ. But if you want to start a real argument, especially in the Chicago area, start talking about Italian beef, sort of like an Italian riff on a French dip to the uninitiated, and much, much more than that to those who get it. Be warned: you have decisions to make. Should you get it dipped (the whole damn sandwich dunked in the rich, spice-laden pan gravy), wet (an extra ladle full poured over the ribbons of beefy goodness held together by a soft roll), or dry (what's wrong with you?). Then it's onto the peppers. Will it be sweet (grilled green and/or red bells) or hot (giardiniera, a glorious relish of spicy pickled vegetables that varies from place to place)? It's a lot to figure out, so don't sweat where to get one. Just go to Johnnie's.

Iowa: Pork tenderloin sandwich

Breitbach's Country Dining (address and info)
Sherrill
Hog farming is serious business in Iowa, and so are breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, one of the meaty fruits (sure, why not) of said farming. You can't go wrong with the version at Breitbach's (now on its sixth generation of owners dating back to the 1850s), though you might be violating doctor's orders to restrict your pork intake. You'll find a hubcap-sized serving of tenderloin, pounded thin, battered, and impossibly juicy. You'll also find a tiny burger-sized bun and smattering of fixin's that are completely dwarfed by the pork's presence. Do not be alarmed. Embrace the pork. It is your destiny.

Sounds good to me. Load up the car...I'm ready to go!

Click HERE for the state-by-state list.

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