 Cuisine of the Southern USA As the USA is a huge country with a population that comes from many different backgrounds across the world, there are a wide range of influences that have shaped the nation's cuisine. One of the most well-known regional culinary styles can be found in the Southern United States, an area that covers 16 individual states, including Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. Seoul Food, which dates back to the transatlantic slave trade, includes dishes such as black-eyed peas, pig's feet, grits, and moon pie. Elsewhere across the South, you will find many other local specialties to sample, including barbecued chicken, cornbread, pulled pork, and fried catfish.