Special Report

Best Bar Food in Every State

coldsnowstorm / E+ via Getty Images

Bars mean drinking (unless the words “tapas” or “sushi” are appended), but the majority of such establishments also serve food. The cynical view is that bars offer things to eat — sometimes free (though peanuts on the bar and such have pretty much disappeared in these coronavirus times) — not out of any gastronomic pretensions or concern for their customers’ nutrition, but because bar food, which is usually salty, encourages patrons to imbibe more freely.

Increasingly, though, bars take pride in their food. That doesn’t mean that it’s fancy stuff. By definition, bar food is accessible, unpretentious, and not very expensive. Finger foods, often fried, are typical fare. Potatoes are frequently involved (primarily fries or tots, generously garnished), and nachos and dips are common. The definitive American bar food, though, might be Buffalo wings, said to have been invented at the 86-year-old Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. though perhaps a little better today at a few other local places. (Click here to see the oldest bar in every state we can visit when this is over.)

24/7 Tempo has put together a list of bars around the country serving excellent food, calling out  one specialty for each place — quite possibly the best bar food in every state.

Whether or not such standard menu items as burgers or pizza should be considered bar food is up for debate — but the burger at Father’s Office in Culver City, California, and the hot oil pizza at the Colony Grill in Stamford, Connecticut, to take two examples, are so iconic and such an essential part of the bar-going experience in those places that they’ve been included here. So have regional specialties like fried crab claws in Mobile, Alabama; tempura alligator in Mandeville, Louisiana; and toasted ravioli in St. Louis, Missouri.

Click here to see the best bar food in every state

You’ll find meat, seafood, fowl, and vegetables in various forms on this list, but remember that this is food meant to be consumed while you’re knocking back a beer, a shot, a glass of wine, or a cocktail or three, so don’t look here for healthier things like soups or salads. (Anyway, we’ve identified 48 salads that are worse than a slice of cheese pizza.)

To assemble this list, 24/7 Tempo reviewed listings of best bar-food venues appearing on Yelp, The Daily Meal, Thrillist, and Eat This, Not That, as well as numerous state, regional, and local review sites. Most of the bars on this list were ranked by multiple sources as having the best bar food in their respective states.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Alabama: T. P. Crockmiers
> Location: Mobile
> Specialty: Fried crab claws

[in-text-ad]

Leieng / Getty Images

Alaska: The Blue Line Pub & Café
> Location: Anchorage
> Specialty: Loaded fries

dszc / Getty Images

Arizona: Casa Molina
> Location: Tucson
> Specialty: Cheese crisp

Brandonrush / Wikimedia Commons

Arkansas: Butcher & Pint
> Location: Bentonville
> Specialty: “¿Se Hablo Delicioso Y Caliente? ” (roasted poblano, avocado, and queso dip)

[in-text-ad-2]

albertc111 / Wikimedia Commons

California: Father’s Office
> Location: Culver City
> Specialty: The Office Burger

Colorado: My Brother’s Bar
> Location: Denver
> Specialty: Cornucopia (eight mini corn dogs)

[in-text-ad]

Connecticut: Colony Grill
> Location: Stamford
> Specialty: Hot oil pizza

pabradyphoto / Getty Images

Delaware: McGlynn’s Pub
> Location: Dover
> Specialty: Philly queso dip

Maisna / Getty Images

Florida: Sloppy Joe’s
> Location: Key West
> Specialty: Conch fritters

[in-text-ad-2]

A Softer Answer / Wikimedia Commons

Georgia: Universal Joint
> Location: Lawrenceville
> Specialty: Boiled peanuts

Hawaii: South Shore Tiki Lounge
> Location: Kihei, Maui
> Specialty: Teri Tiki Fries

[in-text-ad]

knowlesgallery / Getty Images

Idaho: Sockeye Brewing
> Location: Boise
> Specialty: Smoked salmon Rangoons

ghornephoto / Getty Images

Illinois: Rosie’s Pub
> Location: Bloomington
> Specialty: BBQ bacon-glazed shrimp

Daniel Schwen / Wikimedia Commons

Indiana: The Rathskeller
> Location: Indianapolis
> Specialty: Hot wurst platte

[in-text-ad-2]

Stephen Matthew Milligan / Wikimedia Commons

Iowa: El Bait Shop
> Location: Des Moines
> Specialty: Velvet Elvis Dip (sausage, Velveeta, Rotel)

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Kansas: The Rusty Nail
> Location: Wichita
> Specialty: Kristi Approved Fried Pickles

[in-text-ad]

Davel5957 / Getty Images

Kentucky: Hammerheads
> Location: Louisville
> Specialty: Pork belly tacos

Judy Darby / iStock via Getty Images

Louisiana: Old Rail Brewing Company
> Location: Mandeville
> Specialty: Tempura alligator

traveler1116 / Getty Images

Maine: Blaze
> Location: Bangor
> Specialty: Duck gravy poutine

[in-text-ad-2]

Abhijit Tembhekar / Wikimedia Commons

Maryland: Max’s Taphouse
> Location: Baltimore
> Specialty: Taphouse Tater Bowl (tots with BBQ pulled pork, beer cheese, bacon)

MarkinBoston CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication / Wikimedia Commons

Massachusetts: The Haven
> Location: Jamaica Plain (Boston)
> Specialty: Finnan haddie croquettes

[in-text-ad]

justfuchs / Getty Images

Michigan: Brewery Vivant
> Location: Grand Rapids
> Specialty: Roasted marrow bones

culbertson / iStock via Getty Images

Minnesota: Giggles Campfire Grill
> Location: St. Paul
> Specialty: Duck bacon wontons

C5Media / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Mississippi: Hobie’s on Main
> Location: Starkville
> Specialty: Hot tamale balls

[in-text-ad-2]

f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

Missouri: The Post Sports Bar
> Location: St. Louis i
> Specialty: Toasted ravioli

akpakp / Getty Images

Montana: Charlie’s Bar
> Location: Missoula
> Specialty: Gumbolaya (gumbo-jambalaya combination)

[in-text-ad]

Ammodramus CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication / Wikimedia Commons

Nebraska: Sandy’s South Bar
> Location: Red Cloud
> Specialty: Onion rings with homemade ranch

f11photo / Getty Images

Nevada: The Golden Tiki
> Location: Las Vegas
> Specialty: Orange chicken boneless wings

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

New Hampshire: Backyard Brewery
> Location: Manchester
> Specialty: OG prime rib egg rolls

[in-text-ad-2]

pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images

New Jersey: dullboy
> Location: Jersey City
> Specialty: Arepas with chile verde braised pork

Ron Reiring / Wikimedia Commons

New Mexico: Two Fools Tavern
> Location: Albuquerque
> Specialty: Cashel blue cheese dip with Irish brown bread

[in-text-ad]

New York: 911 Tavern
> Location: Buffalo
> Specialty: Buffalo wings

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina: Lucky Lou’s Tavern
> Location: Charlotte
> Specialty: Pimento cheese fritters with smoked tomato jelly

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

North Dakota: Würst Bier Hall
> Location: Fargo
> Specialty: Bacon flight (four kinds)

[in-text-ad-2]

PapaBear / Getty Images

Ohio: The Rowley Inn
> Location: Cleveland
> Specialty: Poutine pierogi

Caleb Long / Wikimedia Commons

Oklahoma: The Tavern
> Location: Tulsa
> Specialty: Angry Mac & Cheese

[in-text-ad]

DC_Colombia / Getty Images

Oregon: Horse Brass Pub
> Location: Portland
> Specialty: Sausage roll with homemade mustard

Pennsylvania: Bier’s Pub
> Location: Pittsburgh
> Specialty: Soft pretzels with various dips

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Rhode Island: The Tavern on Broadway
> Location: Newport
> Specialty: Fried calamari

[in-text-ad-2]

Daniel Mayer / Wikimedia Commons

South Carolina: Swig & Swine
> Location: Charleston
> Specialty: Chopped prime brisket sandwich

South Dakota: Safari Bar & Grill
> Location: Renner
> Specialty: Chislic (mini deep-fried kebabs)

[in-text-ad]

Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons

Tennessee: Stock and Barrel
> Location: Knoxville
> Specialty: Duck confit fries

NicolasMcComber / Getty Images

Texas: Whip In
> Location: Austin
> Specialty: Tandoori chicken nachos

legacyimagesphotography / Getty Images

Utah: Purgatory Bar
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Specialty: Pork belly baos

[in-text-ad-2]

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

Vermont: Ruben James
> Location: Burlington
> Specialty: Corn dog basket with fries

Morgan Riley / Wikimedia Commons

Virginia: Rappahannock Oyster Co.
> Location: Richmond
> Specialty: Rappahannock River, Rochambeau, and Olde Salt oysters

[in-text-ad]

RomanKhomlyak / Getty Images

Washington: Some Random Bar
> Location: Seattle
> Specialty: Crab nachos

matejphoto / iStock via Getty Images

West Virginia: Parkersburg Brewing Company
> Location: Parkersburg
> Specialty: The Fairmont (four house-made pepperoni rolls)

Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Wisconsin: The Old Fashioned
> Location: Madison
> Specialty: Cheese curds

[in-text-ad-2]

Riderolga / Getty Images

Wyoming: Snake River Brewing
> Location: Jackson
> Specialty: WYO bison & beef chili

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.