Many restaurants specialize in what many consider classic American food, but even some of these dishes have surprising origins. This is why you can often find American foods on the menus of ethnic restaurants and restaurants overseas. Everyone knows about foods like pizza, which got its start in Europe, but what about other classic dishes? Here are the surprising origins of three classic American foods.

Southern Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is considered to be a southern US specialty that gained popularity throughout the country, but the roots of this dish run much deeper. When Scottish immigrants settled in the southern portion of the United States, they brought their tradition of deep frying chicken in fat or lard with them. Of course, fried chicken in different forms can be found in cuisine throughout the world, including Chinese, Italian and West African cuisines. The version Americans are used to, however, comes from its Scottish origins.

Hamburger

The hamburger gets its name from Hamburg, Germany. It was originally known as the Hamburg steak when German immigrants brought it to the United States with them in the mid-1800s. It did not originally come served with a bun, but it was still popular for how easy it was to eat with one hand. No fork or knife was required, making it an excellent street food option. The steak patty gained popularity on a bun in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair, and it wasn't long before this sandwich became an American classic.

French Fries

Despite the obvious foreign influence in the name, French fries have taken on a life of their own in the United States. Served as steak fries, crinkle-cut fries, curly fries and waffle fries, this popular side dish does not closely resemble the European counterpart. Traditional French fries, or pommes frites, are thought to originate from Belgium and not France, though this has been a major sticking point between the two countries for some time. Whether you order them in France or Belgium, you won't be able to find a bottle of ketchup nearby; pommes frites are served with a tangy mayonnaise for dipping.

American food has a long and storied tradition of taking dishes from other countries and making them unique. From pizza to hamburgers, fried chicken to French fries, American food has become its own unique cuisine that can be found throughout the world. Whether you go to a fast food joint or an upscale restaurant, you can enjoy all of these delicious dishes, often with creative twists that make them even better than the originals.