Later ethnic and immigrant influence

Mass migrations of immigrants to the United States came in several waves. Historians identify several waves of migration to the United States: one from 1815–1860, in which some five million English, Irish, Germanic, Scandinavian, and others from northwestern Europe came to the United States; one from 1865–1890, in which some 10 million immigrants, also mainly from northwestern Europe, settled, and a third from 1890–1914, in which 15 million immigrants, mainly from central, eastern, and southern Europe (many Austrian, Hungarian, Turkish, Lithuanian,Russian, Jewish, Greek, Italian, and Romanian) settled in the United States.

Together with earlier arrivals to the United States (including the indigenous Native Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, particularly in the West, Southwest, and Texas; African Americans who came to the United States in the Atlantic slave trade; and early colonial migrants from Britain, France, Germany, Spain, and elsewhere), these new waves of immigrants had a profound impact on national or regional cuisine. Some of these more prominent groups include the following:

· Irish Americans - Irish cuisine

· Italian Americans - Italian-American cuisine

· German Americans - German cuisine (the Pennsylvania Dutch, although descended from Germans, arrived earlier than the bulk of German migrants and have distinct culinary traditions)

· Scottish Americans - Scottish cuisine

· Greek Americans - Greek American cuisine, Greek cuisine, Mediterranean cuisine

· Portuguese Americans - Portuguese cuisine

· Romanian Americans - Romanian cuisine

· Polish Americans - Polish cuisine, with particular impact on Midwest

· Russian Americans - Russian cuisine, with particular impact on Midwest

· Lithuanian Americans - Lithuanian cuisine, with particular impact on Midwest

· American Jews - Jewish cuisine

· Indian Americans - Indian cuisine

· Pakistani Americans - Pakistani cuisine

· Japanese Americans - Japanese cuisine, with influences on the Hawaiian cuisine

· Polynesian Americans - Hawaiian cuisine

· West Indian Americans - Caribbean cuisine, Jamaican cuisine

· Cuban Americans - Cuban cuisine

· Chinese Americans - American Chinese cuisine, Chinese cuisine

· Vietnamese Americans - Vietnamese cuisine

· Arab Americans, particularly Lebanese Americans (the largest ethnic Arab group in the United States) - Arab cuisine, Lebanese cuisine

"Italian, Mexican and Chinese (Cantonese) cuisines have indeed joined the mainstream. These three cuisines have become so ingrained in the American culture that they are no longer foreign to the American palate. According to the study, more than nine out of 10 consumers are familiar with and have tried these foods, and about half report eating them frequently. The research also indicates that Italian, Mexican and Chinese (Cantonese) have become so adapted to such an extent that "authenticity" is no longer a concern to customers."

Contributions from these ethnic foods have become as common as traditional "American" fares such as hot dogs, hamburgers, beef steak, which are derived from German cuisine, (chicken-fried steak, for example, is a variation on German schnitzel), cherry pie, Coca-Cola,milkshakes, fried chicken (Fried chicken is of Scottish and African influence) and so on. Nowadays, Americans also have a ubiquitous consumption of foods like pizza and pasta, tacos and burritos to "General Tso's chicken" and fortune cookies. Fascination with these and other ethnic foods may also vary with region.