Here's the Best Dish to Order in Every State (According to One Source)

PureWow has made a study of the best single thing to eat in every state of the U.S., and there's a lot of variety on the roster. When in South Caroline, one should order shrimp and grits. Find yourself in Pennsylvania? Then order a piece of tomato pie (forget the cheesesteak). New Jersey gets Disco Fries, and Kentucky boasts Burgoo.

Nothing wrong with lists like this one, of course, and I will venture that many people might be unfamiliar with Burgoo or Disco Fries. If so, this is a great time to find out what they're all about. They are delicious, especially if the fries are crisp and the meats in the Burgoo is rich and cooked well.

And what about the Lone Star State? What is the best dish to order in Texas? Tacos, you say? No. Queso? Negative. How about barbecue? Not this time. No, the people at PureWow chose fajitas, that Tex-Mex staple of tortillas and chicken or beef (mainly). They have their fans, but I must disagree here, because I think that tacos, done well, are far better than fajitas, which I have stopped ordering after being disappointed so many times by tough and stringy steak and bland seasoning.

No, tacos are to me what you should order in Texas. Looking for a few great ones? When in Houston, head to food truck Tierra Caliente and get a couple of barbacoa and carnitas. Do not skip cilantro and onions. Gerardo's, also in Houston, is another excellent choice. Sweetbread and chorizo — plus barbacoa — shine here. In Dallas, run to Trompo. I did that very thing recently, and can't wait for my next visit. Great bistek tacos, wonderful poblano and paneer tacos, and one of the best quesadillas I've ever put in my mouth.

OK, for you fajita fans out there, I give you this, a fine recipe for chicken fajitas from Robb Walsh's The Tex-Mex Cookbook. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Here is PureWow's complete list.

— Image of fajitas courtesy flickr/Elisa Arteaga