I recently read an article titled 9 Reasons You Should Never Eat Mac and Cheese and with each reason I became more offended and more confused. How could someone despise, in my opinion, the best thing to ever happen to the food world?
No matter how old I get, nothing makes my heart flutter more than having a bowl of mac placed in front of me. The soft noodles layered with a cheesy, creamy mixture of flavor is always enough to bring tears to my eyes. Everyone should be able to experience the comfort, joy and pure happiness that a simple bowl of classic mac brings me.
But it is clear that some people need a little more convincing than the rest of us #maclovers, and so, I started my research. I hunted down some of the most drool-worthy, crazy, unique mac dishes across the country that step up the mac game…and everyone, I mean everyone, needs to know about them. Stop the mac hatin’.
The Pie Hole: Los Angeles, CA
Photo courtesy of @tryitordiet on Instagram
Step aside apple pie because you’ve got nothing on Pie Hole’s mac n’ cheese pie. It seriously doesn’t get much better than ooey, gooey, cheesy mac inside a crisp, flaky pie crust. This place is so good it was featured in 50 of the Best Things to Eat in LA Before You Die so book your trip now.
Arrogant Swine: Brooklyn, NY
Photo courtesy of @monpetitfour on Instagram
The Arrogant Swine takes mac n’ cheese to a whole new level, turning it into one of the most unique mac n’ cheese dishes out there. This place is serving a mac n’ cheese waffle with queso on the side. Double the cheese, double the fun.
Like the combo of queso and mac? Make this fun mac n’ cheese queso dip at home.
Morning Glass Coffee & Café: Honolulu, HI
Photo courtesy of @dougtheslug on Instagram
Located in Honolulu, this place is continuing the breakfast and mac theme and making everyone’s dream brunch dish. Morning Glass Coffee & Café is turning mac into pancakes and I’m officially booking my trip to the islands. Doesn’t get much better than Hawaii, pancakes and mac.
Homeroom: Oakland, CA
Photo courtesy of @homeroom510 on Instagram
At a restaurant completely dedicated to mac n’ cheese, you get the chance to play chef and make your own mac. With just about 30 possible add-ins, I’m daring you to make the most epic mac dish you can think of.
Not feeling creative? Choose one of Homeroom’s creations like the jalepeño popper mac n’ cheese. This joint even offers a vegan mac made with soy milk and tofu so no one misses out on this mac experience.
Delicatessen: New York City, NY
Photo courtesy of @eatingnyc on Instagram
Delicatessen’s menu features the “Macbar,” which should give you enough of a reason to check this place out. With nine creative mac n’ cheese dishes, you can’t skip out on ordering something with mac n’ cheese in the name.
Indulge in the Mac Quack — mac n’ cheese with duck confit, white cheddar, fontina and caramelized onions. Or try out the Mac Reuben — mac n’ cheese with braised corned beef, pickled sauerkraut, swiss cheese and rye croutons.
Rockit Burger Bar: Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy of @erinsinsidejob on Instagram
The Rocket Burger Bar serves up the “Mac & Cheese Attack,” which happened to be featured on the Today Show and Good Morning America, and for good reason. This isn’t your typical mac n’ cheese burger. Instead, it’s two black Angus patties served between two fried mac n’ cheese buns. Enough said.
SHOR American Seafood Grill: Clearwater Beach, FL
Photo courtesy of @jsf90210 on Instagram
Located in the Hyatt Regency in Clearwater Beach, Florida, SHOR American Seafood Grill is known for its fresh lobster mac n’ cheese. Deemed one of its specialties, this lobster mac features Maine lobster, oven dried tomatoes and baby spinach that all melts together in a white cheddar cheese sauce. BRB, drooling.
The Publick House Beer Bar: Brookline, MA
Photo courtesy of @bostoneatz on Instagram
The Publick House offers mac n’ cheese with more than 20 add-ins. Orecchiette pasta with a five-cheese sauce can be mixed in with extras including braised short ribs, prosciutto or…*drum roll please*…truffle cream. Truffle anything is to die for, but truffle mac?? Seriously doesn’t get better than that.
HOPS Culture: Aspen, CO
Photo courtesy of @mdoughw_eats on Instagram
What’s better than hitting the slopes all day? Getting to indulge in mac n’ cheese after. At HOPS Culture, treat yourself to some mac after all those cals you burned off on the mountain. Their miso mac is the most unique…With creamy tofu, peas and shiitake mushrooms all you vegan and gluten-free people can get your mac on.
Za: Arlington and Cambridge, MA
Photo courtesy of @dmbosstone on Instagram
Pizza is every college kid’s weakness, but add mac n’ cheese to it and you’ve stolen our hearts. Za’s mac n’ cheese pizza features elbow macaroni, caramelized onion, cream sauce and four kinds of cheese with toasted bread crumbs.
This place was rated by Zagat as Boston’s #1 Best Cheap Eats so it’s got the stamp of approval. Cheap and yummy, all you Boston college kids need to make this your go-to place.
Our House Bistro: Winooski, VT
Photo courtesy of @roxybroadway on Instagram
An entire section of the menu at Our House is dedicated to crazy types of mac n’ cheese AKA a mac lover’s dream. The wildest mac dishes on the menu include: Breakfast mac which consists of bacon and cheddar mac topped with a fried egg, chicken pot pie mac n’ cheese, and peanut butter and jelly Thai-style mac with a spicy Thai peanut sauce and a jalapeño jam that adds a spicy kick.
Cheesie’s Pub & Grub: Evanston, IL
Photo courtesy of @culinarymojo on Instagram
With a name like “Cheesies,” there’s gotta be good mac n’ cheese on the menu. Try out “The Mac,” a grilled mac n’ cheese sandwich served on Texas toast with a cup of tomato soup for dipping. Match made in mac heaven.
Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen: Brooklyn, NY
Photo courtesy of @kittynoms on Instagram
The menu at Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen features a mac n’ cheese grilled cheese and a mac n’ cheese side dish that comes with Cheez-it bread crumbs. Cheese on cheese on cheese.
The Clarkston Union: Clarkston, MI
Photo courtesy of @mattuntapped on Instagram
The Clarkston Union is known for the “most macked mac n’ cheese,” featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, with special guest Kid Rock leading the tour. Have you always wondered what it would be like to be Guy Fieri for a day? Well, now is your chance.
Check out Clarkston Union’s original mac, what Guy tasted, or you can test out the lobster mac or gluten-free mac. If this place was featured on Triple D, you definitely can’t go wrong.
Boston Burger Company: Boston, MA
Photo courtesy of @bostonburger_co on Instagram
Boston Burger Company was also featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for its infamous “Mac Attack” burger. Watch Guy Fieri try it out here, but PSA, mouth-watering will occur. As the Massachusetts folks would say, it’s “wicked” awesome, even Guy deemed it “ridiculous in the burger world.”
Great Northern Pizza Kitchen: Rochester, NY
Photo courtesy of @greatnorthernpizzakitchens on Instagram
Can’t decide between mac or pizza? What if you don’t have to? Great Northern Pizza Kitchen combines everyone’s two favorites for a mouth-watering slice of heaven. Layered with four different kinds of cheese, you can’t go wrong ordering this bad boy.
The Chimes Restaurant: Baton Rouge, LA
Photo courtesy of @ashsappetite on Instagram
For a southern taste of mac, The Chimes Restaurant adds in crawfish and located in Louisiana, you know it’s fresh. Named one of the best spots for mac n’ cheese in Baton Rouge, you can’t miss out on a mac that incorporates a must-try Louisiana staple. Step aside lobster, crawfish and mac are the new perfect match.
The Cheese Shop: Des Moines, IA
Photo courtesy of @alweidman on Instagram
With cheese in the name, obviously this place knows how to do mac n’ cheese right. Served in a cast-iron skillet, cheeses like fresh gouda and cheddar are combined with a mornay sauce to make a mac that’ll melt in your mouth #alliteration.
The Smith: New York City, NY
Photo courtesy of @sofiaeatsnyc on Instagram
With four locations, you have no excuse to miss out on this NYC hot-spot. The mac, served in a skillet, comes sizzling straight from the oven to your table. Photos of this epic mac dish are featured all the time on your favorite foodie Insta accounts.
The Mac Mart Cart: Philadelphia, PA
Photo courtesy of @themacmart on Instagram
This mac food truck in Philly offers dishes like Buffalo chicken mac, chicken and gravy mac, jalapeño chicken mac and chicken parm mac. The Mac Mart has received tons of attention for being one of the best food trucks in the country.
For mouthwatering pics of their mac and cheese creations, be sure to follow them on Insta…You won’t regret it.
The Big Cheeze: Bloomington, IN
Photo courtesy of @spoon_iu on Instagram
With a mac n’ cheese grilled cheese named the “Mac Daddy,” you know you’ve got a big meal coming your way. At The Big Cheeze food truck, you can also create your own sandwich, and mac and cheese is an optional add-in, so go big or go home.
Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese: Manchester, NH
Photo courtesy of @burritim on Instagram
Everything at Mr. Mac’s is made-to-order and you have the chance to pretend you’re Mr. Mac yourself and create your own. Mr. Mac’s was named “Best of NH” by New Hampshire Magazine and named “The Meal Worth Driving To” by Phantom Gourmet, AKA you should hit the road ASAP.
The Mac & Gold Truck: Pittsburgh, PA
Photo courtesy of @micah_eats on Instagram
The Mac & Gold Truck features customized mac n’ cheese with a menu that changes year-round to keep the fans coming back for new creations. Try out mac topped with bacon roasted Brussels sprouts or take Thanksgiving to a new level by adding it to your mac and cheese. Anyone would be #thankful for that and trust me, this food truck is gold.
The Attic on Broadway: Long Beach, CA
Photo courtesy of @theatticonbroadway on Instagram
You can’t miss this Flamin’ Hot Cheetos laced mac from The Attic on Broadway. They also have breakfast mac with chorizo, jalapeño and candied bacon, and short ribs if you’re over the #college mac.