













































See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 46 Fotos
George Washington (1732–1799)
- The first president loved hoecakes topped with honey. Originating from a Native American recipe, it was an early version of an American breakfast classic.
© Getty Images
1 / 46 Fotos
John Adams (1735–1826)
- Hailing from Massachusetts, Adams was a fan of a New England boiled dinner. The dish consists of corned beef with cabbage, and a bunch of root vegetables.
© Getty Images
2 / 46 Fotos
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
- Jefferson discovered macaroni while traveling in Europe and is credited with popularizing the food in the US.
© Getty Images
3 / 46 Fotos
James Madison (1751–1836)
- First Lady Dolley Madison popularized ice cream during her time in the White House, and the president was one of its top consumers.
© Getty Images
4 / 46 Fotos
James Monroe (1758–1831)
- The fifth president was born in Virginia and grew up eating Southern food, including his favorite spoon bread, a type of cornmeal pudding.
© Getty Images
5 / 46 Fotos
John Quincy Adams (1767–1848)
- Adams was known for his love of fresh fruit, which was unusual for the time.
© Getty Images
6 / 46 Fotos
Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
- Jackson's favorite dish was leather britches, a Southern dish consisting of green beans cooked with bacon.
© Getty Images
7 / 46 Fotos
Martin Van Buren (1782–1862)
- Oysters were a popular Southern dish in the 1800s, and they were a favorite of Van Buren.
© Getty Images
8 / 46 Fotos
William Henry Harrison (1773–1841)
- The ninth president was a fan of squirrel stew, which was a common protein at the time in a variety of dishes.
© Getty Images
9 / 46 Fotos
John Tyler (1790–1862)
- Tyler was known to have a sweet tooth, and puddings were some of his favorite desserts.
© Getty Images
10 / 46 Fotos
James K. Polk (1795–1849)
- Born in North Carolina, Polk grew up eating cornbread, which became a staple during his time at the White House.
© Getty Images
11 / 46 Fotos
Zachary Taylor (1784–1850)
- Calas-tous-chauds, which means "hot rice cakes" in Creole, were a favorite of Taylor. A New Orleans tradition, it's a fritter mixed with cooked rice, flour, sugar, and spices, which is then deep-fried.
© Getty Images
12 / 46 Fotos
Millard Fillmore (1800–1874)
- The 13th president was a fan of hearty food, including beef stew, mock turtle soup, ham with macaroni, pigeon, and larded sweetbreads.
© Getty Images
13 / 46 Fotos
Franklin Pierce (1804–1869)
- True to his New England roots, Pierce's favorite foods included fried clams, clam chowder, and apple pie.
© Getty Images
14 / 46 Fotos
James Buchanan (1791–1868)
- Buchanan had a taste for finer cuisine, including French dishes that had just arrived in the US. However, cabbage was among his favorites.
© Getty Images
15 / 46 Fotos
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
- Ginger bread cookies were among Lincoln's favorites. But he was also fond of bacon and hoecakes.
© Getty Images
16 / 46 Fotos
Andrew Johnson (1808–1875)
- Hoppin' John is a dish made from rice, pork, and black-eyed peas that's popular in the South. It was also one of Johnson's favorites.
© Getty Images
17 / 46 Fotos
Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885)
- With a soft spot for sweets, Grant loved rice pudding so much that some people described his passion for the stuff as a "mania."
© Getty Images
18 / 46 Fotos
Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893)
- Born in Ohio, Hayes' favorite food was cornmeal pancakes. He often requested this dish from his wife, Lucy.
© Getty Images
19 / 46 Fotos
James Garfield (1831–1881)
- A fan of squirrel soup, Garfield was the second president to count squirrel as one of his favorite meals.
© Getty Images
20 / 46 Fotos
Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886)
- A fan of mutton chops, Arthur's meal of choice matched his facial hairstyle, as both were called the same thing!
© Getty Images
21 / 46 Fotos
Grover Cleveland (1837–1908)
- A fan of pickled herring, Cleveland once told a friend he wished he could have "a pickled herring, a Swiss cheese, and a chop instead of the French stuff."
© Getty Images
22 / 46 Fotos
Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)
- Harrison's beginnings in Ohio and Indiana put him in the middle of the country's main corn production region, which shaped his favorite food. He likely enjoyed it in dishes such as corn muffins, stewed corn, and corn fritters.
© Getty Images
23 / 46 Fotos
William McKinley (1843–1901)
- Not much was known about the private 25th president, but it was written that he and his wife "liked plain food, in substantial quantities."
© Getty Images
24 / 46 Fotos
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)
- A fan of the outdoors and hunting, Roosevelt was an adventurous eater who enjoyed wild game and steak.
© Getty Images
25 / 46 Fotos
William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
- Known as the heaviest US president in history, Taft was a classic eater, who loved steak and potatoes.
© Getty Images
26 / 46 Fotos
Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
- Wilson was a simple eater, and a dish he would often ask for was a chicken salad made with chopped chicken, mayonnaise, and diced vegetables.
© Getty Images
27 / 46 Fotos
Warren G. Harding (1865–1923)
- The 29th president's all-time favorite was chicken pot pie, a comfort food that points back to his Midwestern roots.
© Getty Images
28 / 46 Fotos
Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
- Mrs. Coolidge's chicken chop suey, chicken chow mein, and apple pie with pork were among the president's favorite recipes.
© Getty Images
29 / 46 Fotos
Herbert Hoover (1874–1964)
- Hoover's all-time favorite, sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, can still be found on dinner tables come Thanksgiving.
© Getty Images
30 / 46 Fotos
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
- According to Henrietta Nesbitt, Roosevelt's White House housekeeper, FDR loved grilled cheese sandwiches, scrambled eggs, fish chowder, hot dogs, and fruitcake.
© Getty Images
31 / 46 Fotos
Harry S. Truman (1884–1972)
- Steak was one of Truman's favorite foods, and he was specific that it was cooked well-done.
© Getty Images
32 / 46 Fotos
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969)
- Although Eisenhower liked cooking, he didn't mind the First Lady's Million Dollar Fudge, made with chocolate, marshmallow, and nuts.
© Getty Images
33 / 46 Fotos
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)
- Like a true New Englander, JFK enjoyed seafood. His favorite was a creamy clam chowder.
© Getty Images
34 / 46 Fotos
Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973)
- In addition to Mexican food, corn bread, and grits, Texan Johnson loved a hearty chicken-fried steak.
© Getty Images
35 / 46 Fotos
Richard Nixon (1913–1994)
- Nixon's favorite food would raise eyebrows any time of day. His unusual favorite was cottage cheese and ketchup, which he enjoyed for breakfast.
© Getty Images
36 / 46 Fotos
Gerald Ford (1913–2006)
- The 38th president enjoyed a classic pot roast, followed with butter pecan ice cream.
© Getty Images
37 / 46 Fotos
Jimmy Carter (1924- )
- Hailing from Georgia, it's no surprise Carter's favorite food is grits, mixed with plenty of butter and cheese.
© Getty Images
38 / 46 Fotos
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
- Reagan, the 40th president, was well known for his love of jelly beans. At one point, he reportedly ordered more than 300,000 to be placed around the Capitol, White House, and other federal buildings each month.
© Getty Images
39 / 46 Fotos
George H.W. Bush (1924–2018)
- George H.W. Bush's favorite snack was pork rinds topped with Tabasco, which he was known to eat often.
© Getty Images
40 / 46 Fotos
Bill Clinton (1946- )
- Bill Clinton's favorite foods once included cheeseburgers and chicken enchiladas. However, following health concerns, he became a strict vegan. Today, Clinton primarily follows a plant-based diet, occasionally incorporating fish.
© Getty Images
41 / 46 Fotos
George W. Bush (1946- )
- After Bush left office, his former White House chef, Cristeta Comerford, told reporters that he loved cheeseburger pizzas, which included cheeseburger ingredients on a margherita pizza.
© Getty Images
42 / 46 Fotos
Barack Obama (1961- )
- On an episode of 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,' the former president told Jerry Seinfeld that nachos were one of his greatest vices. "That's one of those where I have to have it taken away," Obama said.
© Getty Images
43 / 46 Fotos
Joe Biden (1942- )
- Spotted in ice cream shops around the US, it's no secret that Biden loves ice cream. "My name is Joe Biden, and I love ice cream," he said at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in 2016 while vice president.
© Getty Images
44 / 46 Fotos
Donald Trump (1946- )
- From serving fast food in the White House to getting it delivered to his private plane, Trump has said Burger King and McDonald's are among his favorites. Sources: (Business Insider) (Mashed)
© Getty Images
45 / 46 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 46 Fotos
George Washington (1732–1799)
- The first president loved hoecakes topped with honey. Originating from a Native American recipe, it was an early version of an American breakfast classic.
© Getty Images
1 / 46 Fotos
John Adams (1735–1826)
- Hailing from Massachusetts, Adams was a fan of a New England boiled dinner. The dish consists of corned beef with cabbage, and a bunch of root vegetables.
© Getty Images
2 / 46 Fotos
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
- Jefferson discovered macaroni while traveling in Europe and is credited with popularizing the food in the US.
© Getty Images
3 / 46 Fotos
James Madison (1751–1836)
- First Lady Dolley Madison popularized ice cream during her time in the White House, and the president was one of its top consumers.
© Getty Images
4 / 46 Fotos
James Monroe (1758–1831)
- The fifth president was born in Virginia and grew up eating Southern food, including his favorite spoon bread, a type of cornmeal pudding.
© Getty Images
5 / 46 Fotos
John Quincy Adams (1767–1848)
- Adams was known for his love of fresh fruit, which was unusual for the time.
© Getty Images
6 / 46 Fotos
Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
- Jackson's favorite dish was leather britches, a Southern dish consisting of green beans cooked with bacon.
© Getty Images
7 / 46 Fotos
Martin Van Buren (1782–1862)
- Oysters were a popular Southern dish in the 1800s, and they were a favorite of Van Buren.
© Getty Images
8 / 46 Fotos
William Henry Harrison (1773–1841)
- The ninth president was a fan of squirrel stew, which was a common protein at the time in a variety of dishes.
© Getty Images
9 / 46 Fotos
John Tyler (1790–1862)
- Tyler was known to have a sweet tooth, and puddings were some of his favorite desserts.
© Getty Images
10 / 46 Fotos
James K. Polk (1795–1849)
- Born in North Carolina, Polk grew up eating cornbread, which became a staple during his time at the White House.
© Getty Images
11 / 46 Fotos
Zachary Taylor (1784–1850)
- Calas-tous-chauds, which means "hot rice cakes" in Creole, were a favorite of Taylor. A New Orleans tradition, it's a fritter mixed with cooked rice, flour, sugar, and spices, which is then deep-fried.
© Getty Images
12 / 46 Fotos
Millard Fillmore (1800–1874)
- The 13th president was a fan of hearty food, including beef stew, mock turtle soup, ham with macaroni, pigeon, and larded sweetbreads.
© Getty Images
13 / 46 Fotos
Franklin Pierce (1804–1869)
- True to his New England roots, Pierce's favorite foods included fried clams, clam chowder, and apple pie.
© Getty Images
14 / 46 Fotos
James Buchanan (1791–1868)
- Buchanan had a taste for finer cuisine, including French dishes that had just arrived in the US. However, cabbage was among his favorites.
© Getty Images
15 / 46 Fotos
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
- Ginger bread cookies were among Lincoln's favorites. But he was also fond of bacon and hoecakes.
© Getty Images
16 / 46 Fotos
Andrew Johnson (1808–1875)
- Hoppin' John is a dish made from rice, pork, and black-eyed peas that's popular in the South. It was also one of Johnson's favorites.
© Getty Images
17 / 46 Fotos
Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885)
- With a soft spot for sweets, Grant loved rice pudding so much that some people described his passion for the stuff as a "mania."
© Getty Images
18 / 46 Fotos
Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893)
- Born in Ohio, Hayes' favorite food was cornmeal pancakes. He often requested this dish from his wife, Lucy.
© Getty Images
19 / 46 Fotos
James Garfield (1831–1881)
- A fan of squirrel soup, Garfield was the second president to count squirrel as one of his favorite meals.
© Getty Images
20 / 46 Fotos
Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886)
- A fan of mutton chops, Arthur's meal of choice matched his facial hairstyle, as both were called the same thing!
© Getty Images
21 / 46 Fotos
Grover Cleveland (1837–1908)
- A fan of pickled herring, Cleveland once told a friend he wished he could have "a pickled herring, a Swiss cheese, and a chop instead of the French stuff."
© Getty Images
22 / 46 Fotos
Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)
- Harrison's beginnings in Ohio and Indiana put him in the middle of the country's main corn production region, which shaped his favorite food. He likely enjoyed it in dishes such as corn muffins, stewed corn, and corn fritters.
© Getty Images
23 / 46 Fotos
William McKinley (1843–1901)
- Not much was known about the private 25th president, but it was written that he and his wife "liked plain food, in substantial quantities."
© Getty Images
24 / 46 Fotos
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)
- A fan of the outdoors and hunting, Roosevelt was an adventurous eater who enjoyed wild game and steak.
© Getty Images
25 / 46 Fotos
William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
- Known as the heaviest US president in history, Taft was a classic eater, who loved steak and potatoes.
© Getty Images
26 / 46 Fotos
Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
- Wilson was a simple eater, and a dish he would often ask for was a chicken salad made with chopped chicken, mayonnaise, and diced vegetables.
© Getty Images
27 / 46 Fotos
Warren G. Harding (1865–1923)
- The 29th president's all-time favorite was chicken pot pie, a comfort food that points back to his Midwestern roots.
© Getty Images
28 / 46 Fotos
Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
- Mrs. Coolidge's chicken chop suey, chicken chow mein, and apple pie with pork were among the president's favorite recipes.
© Getty Images
29 / 46 Fotos
Herbert Hoover (1874–1964)
- Hoover's all-time favorite, sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, can still be found on dinner tables come Thanksgiving.
© Getty Images
30 / 46 Fotos
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
- According to Henrietta Nesbitt, Roosevelt's White House housekeeper, FDR loved grilled cheese sandwiches, scrambled eggs, fish chowder, hot dogs, and fruitcake.
© Getty Images
31 / 46 Fotos
Harry S. Truman (1884–1972)
- Steak was one of Truman's favorite foods, and he was specific that it was cooked well-done.
© Getty Images
32 / 46 Fotos
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969)
- Although Eisenhower liked cooking, he didn't mind the First Lady's Million Dollar Fudge, made with chocolate, marshmallow, and nuts.
© Getty Images
33 / 46 Fotos
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)
- Like a true New Englander, JFK enjoyed seafood. His favorite was a creamy clam chowder.
© Getty Images
34 / 46 Fotos
Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973)
- In addition to Mexican food, corn bread, and grits, Texan Johnson loved a hearty chicken-fried steak.
© Getty Images
35 / 46 Fotos
Richard Nixon (1913–1994)
- Nixon's favorite food would raise eyebrows any time of day. His unusual favorite was cottage cheese and ketchup, which he enjoyed for breakfast.
© Getty Images
36 / 46 Fotos
Gerald Ford (1913–2006)
- The 38th president enjoyed a classic pot roast, followed with butter pecan ice cream.
© Getty Images
37 / 46 Fotos
Jimmy Carter (1924- )
- Hailing from Georgia, it's no surprise Carter's favorite food is grits, mixed with plenty of butter and cheese.
© Getty Images
38 / 46 Fotos
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
- Reagan, the 40th president, was well known for his love of jelly beans. At one point, he reportedly ordered more than 300,000 to be placed around the Capitol, White House, and other federal buildings each month.
© Getty Images
39 / 46 Fotos
George H.W. Bush (1924–2018)
- George H.W. Bush's favorite snack was pork rinds topped with Tabasco, which he was known to eat often.
© Getty Images
40 / 46 Fotos
Bill Clinton (1946- )
- Bill Clinton's favorite foods once included cheeseburgers and chicken enchiladas. However, following health concerns, he became a strict vegan. Today, Clinton primarily follows a plant-based diet, occasionally incorporating fish.
© Getty Images
41 / 46 Fotos
George W. Bush (1946- )
- After Bush left office, his former White House chef, Cristeta Comerford, told reporters that he loved cheeseburger pizzas, which included cheeseburger ingredients on a margherita pizza.
© Getty Images
42 / 46 Fotos
Barack Obama (1961- )
- On an episode of 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,' the former president told Jerry Seinfeld that nachos were one of his greatest vices. "That's one of those where I have to have it taken away," Obama said.
© Getty Images
43 / 46 Fotos
Joe Biden (1942- )
- Spotted in ice cream shops around the US, it's no secret that Biden loves ice cream. "My name is Joe Biden, and I love ice cream," he said at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream in 2016 while vice president.
© Getty Images
44 / 46 Fotos
Donald Trump (1946- )
- From serving fast food in the White House to getting it delivered to his private plane, Trump has said Burger King and McDonald's are among his favorites. Sources: (Business Insider) (Mashed)
© Getty Images
45 / 46 Fotos
Every US president's favorite food
The list includes squirrel stew, jelly beans, and hoecakes...
© Getty Images
Presidents have tons of staff members to cater to their every need during their time in the White House. And while they've had access to some of the country's most exclusive and upscale dinners, each president has had different tastes for everyday food. From squirrel stew to cheeseburger pizza, one thing is certain: American presidents have some really eccentric food choices! But who preferred what?
Check out this gallery to discover the favorite food of every US president.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

















MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week