Food in Maryland: Here’s a list to find the Old Line State’s best bites, from crab cakes To Cow Tales.
Maryland’s Iconic Eats
In Maryland, blue crab with Old Bay Seasoning is a star dish, but there’s much more to enjoy than just seafood. You can savor pink-centered pit beef in Baltimore and indulge in rich, layered fudge cake on Smith Island. With such a variety of tasty options, you’ll definitely find something delicious. And if you end your food tour with a broiled crab cake, we totally understand. Here’s what you should try while in Maryland.
Maryland Pit Beef- Food in Maryland
Unlike Texas or Kansas City barbecue, which involves cooking meat for hours, Maryland’s barbecue is quick and easy. Lean top roast beef, lightly seasoned, is grilled over hot charcoals and sliced thin, often staying raw to medium-rare. At Chap’s Pit Beef in Aberdeen and Baltimore, these slices are served on a roll with onions and Chaps’ Tiger Sauce, a mix of mayonnaise and horseradish.
Coddies– Food in Maryland
If a knish and a codfish cake had a baby, it would be the Baltimore coddie. These handmade potato cakes are mixed with salt cod (and sometimes Old Bay seasoning) and then deep-fried. They’re traditionally served at room temperature between two saltine crackers with a bit of mustard. In the 1920s, they were popular at soda fountains and delis all over Baltimore. Today, you can find a great version at Attman’s on Lombard Street.
Rockfish– Food in Maryland
In Maryland, striped bass is called rockfish. It’s a big deal both commercially and recreationally. This white, flaky fish with a mild flavor can be prepared in many ways. At Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen, it’s oven-baked and served with Hasselback potatoes and corn-and-crab fritters. At Carrol’s Creek Cafe in Annapolis, it’s herb-crusted, roasted, and served with creamy risotto, baby spinach, jumbo lump crab, and a rich beurre blanc sauce.
Caramel Creams and Cow Tales– Food in Maryland
In 1895, Goetze’s Candy Company started as the Baltimore Chewing Gum Company. In 1917, they created Caramel Creams, a candy that looks like a bull’s-eye and became their most popular treat. These soft, chewy caramel candies have a sweet cream filling in the center and stick to your teeth in a good way. They also make Cow Tales, which are long, thin versions of Caramel Creams. You can find both candies at grocery stores in Maryland, at Goetze’s store in Hunt Valley, or online at their e-store.
Smith Island Cake– Best Food in Maryland
In 2008, Maryland’s legislature declared Smith Island Cake, a dessert with eight thin layers of yellow cake and chocolate-fudge icing, the state’s official dessert. Named after a small island in the Chesapeake Bay, this cake dates back to the 1800s, when locals made layered cakes for watermen working during the autumn oyster harvest. They eventually switched from buttercream to fudge frosting because it lasted longer. Smith Island Baking Co. specializes in this rich dessert and sells the cakes online and at its store in Crisfield, near Smith Island.
Snowballs- Top Food in Maryland
Snowballs are a unique Baltimore treat, different from snow cones, Hawaiian ice, Italian ice, or New Orleans-style sno-balls. They feature chunky shaved ice covered in sweet, bright-colored syrup and topped with gooey marshmallow cream. They aren’t fancy, but they are perfect for cooling off during hot Maryland summers. Try the rich egg custard-flavored snowball at Timonium’s Snoasis, a 30-year-old shop that serves them with a hollow indent ideal for holding marshmallow topping.
Fisher’s Popcorn- Food in Maryland
Only a few people know the secret recipe for Fisher’s caramel popcorn, which has been sold at its original Ocean City boardwalk location since 1937. What’s certain is that it’s still made by hand in copper kettles. Today, you can also get it in flavors like caramel with peanuts, cinnamon caramel, butter, white cheddar, and Old Bay. You can buy it by the tub on the boardwalk or order it online.
Lemon Stick- Must Have Food in Maryland
No one knows where the tradition of the lemon stick—a thick peppermint candy stick stuck into a split lemon—started, but it’s a big part of Baltimore’s annual FlowerMart, a springtime flower sale. The fun of the lemon stick is simple: suck on the peppermint stick as it slowly gets more lemony. You can find them at vendors throughout the market in early May or make one yourself.
Old Bay- Must-Eat Food in Maryland
Old Bay seasoning is a famous Maryland staple, but its exact ingredients are a secret. Created in 1940 by Gustav Brunn, a German Jewish spice merchant, the recipe is now guarded by McCormick. However, it’s believed to contain mustard, paprika, celery salt, bay leaf, black pepper, red pepper flakes, mace, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger. Marylanders use Old Bay on almost everything. At Miss Shirley’s Cafe in Baltimore and Annapolis, you can find it in bloody marys, on fried oysters, in omelets, hollandaise sauce, remoulade, and even on Caesar salads—basically, a lot of Old Bay.
Lake Trout- Best Maryland Food
Lake trout in Baltimore isn’t really trout or from a lake, but that doesn’t bother seafood lovers. It’s actually silver hake, a small fish from the Atlantic coast. Lake trout is best prepared by coating it in cracker meal or cornmeal, frying it until crispy and golden, and serving it hot on soft white bread. Some people like to add vinegar-based hot sauce. You can find lake trout at diners and casual eateries all around Baltimore, like Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood.
Steamed Blue Crab- Mus-Try Food in Maryland
Nothing represents Maryland like blue crab, a prized crustacean from the Chesapeake Bay known for its sweet, white meat. Although catches have decreased in recent years, conservation efforts are helping to revive this state treasure. The best way to enjoy these crabs is simple: steamed and sprinkled with a zesty spice mix (like Old Bay!). You can order them at crab houses all over Maryland, such as Cantler’s Riverside Inn in Annapolis or Costas Inn near Baltimore. They’re typically sold by the dozen and served directly on tables covered in newspaper or butcher paper. Be prepared to get messy, as you’ll need only your hands and the provided crackers and mallets—no utensils required!
Crab Cakes- Food in Maryland
If you don’t want to spend time picking apart crabs, crab cakes are a great Maryland-approved option. The best ones have big chunks of sweet crab meat with minimal filler, and you can have them sautéed, baked, grilled, or fried. While they’re often served with remoulade or tartar sauce, some locals say a squeeze of lemon is all they need. For top-notch crab cakes, try Floyd’s Crossroads Pub in Dayton, known for their fried and broiled jumbo lump cakes. You can also enjoy other Maryland specialties like crab pretzels, crab balls, and crab dip—all paying homage to the state’s favorite crustacean. Because you can never have too much crab!
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