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See also:
Famous chefs - Kitchens - Meals Wikibooks: Cookbook

See California Cuisine for the style of cuisine identified with some famous Californian chefs.

The Cuisine of California is the local cuisine of California. It blends influences from Mexico, Asia, and the Pacific Islands in addition to that of the United States.

Contents 1 Ingredients 2 Burgers and fast food 3 Asian influences 4 Mexican and South American influences 5 Techniques 6 See also

Restaurant cuisine may make greater use of ingredients uncommon outside of California. Some locally grown produce that are less common in other parts of the country include:

• Avocados
• Artichokes
• Fresh figs
• Fresh dates
• Persimmons
• Sprouts

In the northern coastal regions of the state, Dungeness crabs, salmon and oysters are in abundance during their seasons.

California is home to fast-food chains such as Carl's Jr., Jack in the Box and Taco Bell. In-N-Out, Del Taco, Original Tommy's and Fatburger are also California natives.

Regional fast food menus differ, generally depending on the ethnic composition of an area. In Southern California, smaller chains like Jim's, The Hat, Baker's, Tom's, Tam's, Tomy's, and Rick's feature hamburgers, Mexican food, chili fries, pastrami, and occasionally, teriyaki or fried chicken.

As one of the U.S. states nearest Asia, and with a long-standing Asian American population, the state tends to adopt Asian foods fairly liberally. The American sushi craze no doubt began in California; the term 'California roll' is used to describe sushi with avocado as a primary ingredient. These days, items like mochi ice cream and boba are popular.

In addition to traditional and/or commercialized "Mexican" food, California restaurants serve up Honduran, Oaxacan and nearly every other variation of South American food there is. For example, Pupusarias are common in areas with a large population of Salvadorians (Pupusas are somewhat like a stuffed tortilla from El Salvador).

Of late, "Fresh Mex" or "Baja-style" Mexican food, which places an emphasis on fresh ingredients and sometimes seafood, is highly popular. El Pollo Loco ("The Crazy Chicken"), a fast food chain that originated in Northern Mexico, is a common sight. Baja Fresh, Rubio's Baja Grill, Wahoo's Tacos, Chipotle, Qdoba and La Salsa are examples of the Baja-style Mexiamerican food trend.

The state's somewhat health-conscious lifestyle means that frying or battering foods is rarer in California than elsewhere, although there are exceptions: fish tacos and tempura being two examples.

• Cuisine of the United States
• Organic food