10 Iconic Dishes You'll Only Find Done Right In the Midwest

Gooey butter cake, Cincinnati chili, toasted ravioli—when it comes to these delicious menu picks, a restaurant in the Midwest knows how to do it right. The region is famous for its foods that are as unique as they are iconic—where else can you find beer cheese soup and Detroit-style square pizzas? Midwesterners manage to sprinkle a bit of comfort into every dish.

Although Midwestern recipes are soul-warning, they may be trickier to find done right in other parts of the country. That's why we've put together a list of restaurant dishes that you'll (probably) only easily come across in the Midwest, along with some recommendations on where exactly to try them if you're in the region.

From Limburger sandwiches to toasted ravioli, here are 10 iconic Midwestern foods that are a must-try.

In This Article:

• Limburger Sandwich
• Chicago-Style Hot Dog
• Detroit-Style Pizza
• Slinger
• Beer Cheese Soup
• Gooey Butter Cake
• Fried Walleye
• Cincinnati Chili
• Maid Rite Sandwich
• Toasted Ravioli

Limburger Sandwich

Don't expect to find a Limburger sandwich in many places outside of the Midwest. This tasty delicacy, which is made using buttered rye bread, onions, mustard, and Limburger cheese, has been a go-to for Wisconsinites for decades. Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern, located in Monroe, Wisconsin, is said to have some of the best Limburger sandwiches around.

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Chicago-Style Hot Dog

Hot dogs are done a bit differently in the Midwest. For starters, Chicago-style hot dogs are stuffed with toppings. If you're ever in the Chicago area, be sure to try Superdawg, a popular old-school drive-in that serves up some of the best Chicago-style hot dogs around. Here, you can order pure beef hot dogs piled high with kosher dill pickles, chopped Spanish onions, hot pepper, mustard, and mouthwatering piccalilli, a relish made from pickled vegetables and spices.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Detroit-Style Pizza

If you love pizza, you may want to try Detroit-style pizza. Known for its recognizable square shape and crunchy corners, this pizza came about when the founders of Buddy's Pizza in Michigan decided to bake their pies in steel automotive plant pans. Over 75 years later, Buddy's is still whipping up this beloved dish.

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Slinger

Sure, you may be familiar with bacon and eggs for breakfast, but have you ever dug into a slinger? Featuring eggs, hash browns, ground beef, chili con carne, and cheese, this dish is a diner staple in the Midwest: The Mud House in St. Louis serves up a variation that incorporates pickled red onions and roasted potatoes, whereas Rooster, also in St. Louis, has a version that includes andouille sausage.

Beer Cheese Soup

Yes, beer cheese soup is exactly what it sounds like—a steamy soup made with beer, cheddar cheese, and milk. This unexpected Midwestern must-try dates all the way back to medieval Europe, where it was served for breakfast. Today, it's enjoyed by Midwesterners at eateries such as the Milwaukee Boathouse—a local spot that serves a homemade version of this dish featuring red pepper and hickory smoked bacon.

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Gooey Butter Cake

Forget ho-hum vanilla or chocolate cake; in the Midwest, it's all about decadent, gooey butter cake. Crafted using yellow cake mix, powdered sugar, and butter, this cake is said to have originated in 1930s St. Louis when a German baker miscalculated ingredient proportions for a traditional cake recipe. A good place to try out this sweet treat is Russell's in St. Louis, where up to nine different variations of this Missouri-born classic are served.

Fried Walleye

Walleye, a freshwater fish, appears on many menus throughout the Upper Midwest. One spot that serves this dish is Old Fashioned in Madison, Wisconsin. The eatery offers a platter of fried walleye served alongside poppy seed coleslaw, tartar sauce, rye bread, and matchstick fries.

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Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati Chili is a Midwestern classic that puts a twist on a traditional chili recipe. Loaded with Mediterranean-spiced meat sauce, spaghetti, and shredded cheese, a famous spot in the Midwest to enjoy this dish is Blue Ash Chili in Ohio. Here they offer a six-way Cincinnati Chili, complete with sliced jalapenos, that has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives.

Maid Rite Sandwich

Since 1926, Midwest-based Maid-Rite restaurants have been serving Maid-Rite sandwiches, a signature "loose meat" sandwich served on a warm bun. The dish got its start in Iowa, but today is loved throughout the Midwest.

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Toasted Ravioli

A popular dish you'll find in the Midwest is toasted ravioli, a delicious appetizer made by breading and deep-frying ravioli. Some people say that some of the best-toasted ravioli is from Anthonino's Taverna in St. Louis.