Washington, D.C., has been identified as the city with the most adventurous eaters in the United States, according to a recent survey by meal kit delivery service HelloFresh. The study analyzed Google search data to gauge public curiosity and willingness to try unusual culinary items.
Residents of the nation's capital averaged 14,370 searches per 100,000 people for unique dishes. Among the foods that D.C. residents are reportedly seeking out are balut, a Filipino delicacy consisting of a fertilized duck egg with a nearly developed embryo; casu martzu, a Sardinian sheep milk cheese containing live fly maggots; and surströmming, a Swedish fermented herring known for its potent odor.
Other adventurous foods searched for in D.C. include kimchi, a Korean fermented vegetable dish, and khash, an Armenian soup made from boiled cow feet and tripe. Japanese natto, fermented soybeans with a distinctive texture and smell, also features in searches from the capital. Chicken feet and sea urchin were also noted as popular searches in other regions with adventurous eaters.
The survey ranked Hawaii second, with 8,447 searches per 100,000 people, where residents showed interest in beef tongue and sea urchins. Washington State followed in third place with 7,305 searches per 100,000 people, with a particular interest in pho, a Vietnamese broth-based noodle soup, and Korean BBQ. California ranked fourth with 7,053 searches per 100,000 people, indicating a broad interest in international cuisines.
Nevada secured the fifth position with 6,915 searches per 100,000 people, while Colorado and New York followed in sixth and seventh place, respectively, with 6,207 and 6,025 searches per 100,000 people. New York residents showed interest in Scottish haggis and West African egusi soup, which can include ingredients like seafood, snails, and cow skin. Oregon came in eighth with 5,972 searches. Massachusetts and Virginia rounded out the top ten, with 5,678 and 5,539 searches per 100,000 people, respectively.
At the other end of the spectrum, West Virginia was identified as the state with the least adventurous eaters, with only 1,790 searches for exotic foods per 100,000 people. Mississippi, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Kentucky also ranked near the bottom, suggesting a preference for more traditional comfort foods.
Michelle Doll Olson, Head Chef & Senior Culinary Development Manager at HelloFresh US, commented on the findings, stating that the interest in dishes like pho, Korean BBQ, and fermented foods signifies a broader shift in American culinary habits, moving beyond novelty to genuine interest in diverse cooking styles.