Culinary Courtship: Study Reveals Top Dishes Key to Winning a Man’s Heart

Relationships and food have had a centuries-long love affair, from elaborate wedding feasts to candlelit dinners. Providing someone with a lovingly crafted meal, be it a hearty main course, a decadent dessert, or even just a snack, is a universally recognized way of showing affection.

This led our team to examine the role of food in contemporary relationships. We surveyed 3,000 American men to find out which dishes make them swoon. If you’re looking to court someone with your skills in the kitchen, we’ve got your next meal idea. 

It should come as no surprise that comfort foods are some of the top-rated dishes on our list. The surveyed men favored things like fried chicken and barbecued meats. While many men can be wooed with a bit of Southern comfort, staples from across the country hold prominent places in men’s hearts. 

“Men have about 60% more muscle mass than women, and that muscle requires a lot of protein to maintain itself,” relationship expert Dr. Wendy Walsh pointed out. “Look, men are mostly taller than women, and they tend to weigh more. Blame it on the hormones. Those lucky guys can consume more calories than us.” So, bring on the meats!

Here are the top 10 dishes from our survey, covering everything from decadent desserts to snacks worth salivating over. 

This creamy dessert was developed in 1920s New York. With a filling made from cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and sour cream and a buttery graham cracker crust New York’s Cheesecake is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Baked and then chilled to set, popular variations of the classic include adding lemon, berry, or citrus toppings or covering the cake in caramel sauce. 

Famous the world over, it comes as no surprise that the Philly Cheesesteak comes in second place on this list. These meaty, cheesy sandwiches, served traditionally in a long roll, provide a favorite lunchtime meal for many men.

Philly cheesesteaks are best made with thinly sliced rib-eye beef, white American or provolone cheese, and sautéed onions, covered in tomato sauce or mayonnaise.

Detroit-Style Pizza was created in 1946 by neighborhood bar owner Gus Guerra. It was allegedly created by using a dough recipe from his Sicilian wife, Anna.

The key difference between Detroit pizza and other pizzas is actually in the pan used, a deep rectangle shape that creates a thick and chewy crust. Covered in mozzarella or Wisconsin brick cheese and typically topped with pepperoni, the corner slices are the most sought-after.

Invented by Ike Sewell and Richard Riccardo at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago in 1943, this type of pizza was made to be cooked in a pie pan or cake tin.

The dough, traditionally made with scalded milk, butter, and sugar, creates a deep crust that is then layered with thick cheese, toppings, chunky tomato sauce, or even delicious ingredients. It’s a comforting dish that is sure to appeal to any pizza lover.

This classic Southern breakfast comes in at fifth place, often reminding men of their mother’s or grandmother’s recipes.

This classic comfort food is characterized by soft, flaky biscuits smothered in rich, savory sausage gravy. Homestyle cooking at its very best, designed to warm any heart.

Originating in the early 20th century, this is a type of barbecue famous for its slow-cooked, smoky meats. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Kansas City BBQ is characterized by its sweet and sticky sauce, often covering pork ribs or chicken pieces. The robust flavors and tender textures sure are hard to resist.

Made popular in New York’s Jewish delis, this classic sandwich comes in at seventh place. It’s a simple but delicious dish featuring pastrami piled high on rye bread covered with mustard.

Often named New York’s signature sandwich, the pastrami on rye is firm favorite with many, and it’s particularly beloved New Yorkers.

Beer-battered and deep-fried, this crispy dish steals its place on our list for good reason. A Wisconsin fish fry is a great dish for a seafood lover looking to indulge.

Couples can look forward to fresh, golden-brown cod, walleye, perch, or even catfish, served with fresh homemade fries or coleslaw and a side of tartar sauce. It is best enjoyed seaside or overlooking the Mississippi River.

This hearty sandwich in ninth place takes its name from Reuben Kulakofsky, who is said to have asked for the combination of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut during a weekly poker game in Omaha.

Served with Russian dressing on rye bread, a reuben sandwich is a tangy delight that is sure to win over any partner.

Crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside, no list of comfort foods would be complete without including Kentucky’s original fried chicken which has inspired the famous takeaway chain, now popular around the world.

Rounding up the top 10, Kentucky’s fried chicken is a timeless classic that combines perfectly seasoned batter with tender, flavorful chicken.

Full Rankings:

When it comes to satisfying any man, our survey shows that you really can’t go wrong with famous regional classics like the Philly Cheesesteak, Detroit-Style Pizza, and New York Cheesecake. Simple but delicious deli favorites like Pastrami on Rye and the Reuben Sandwich also provide a fail-safe serving of happiness. 

Many of the dishes included in the top 10, such as West Virginia’s Biscuits and Gravy and the good-old Kansas City BBQ, show a significant preference for comfort foods that are hearty and filling and reminiscent of home cooking and childhood favorites.

According to Dr. Wendy, “Another reason men crave what we like to call ‘comfort foods,’ those high in carbohydrates and fat: They stimulate dopamine production. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that can trigger motivation for a reward. And that reward may just be a woman. It’s true, dopamine has been involved in reward seeking behaviors for food, drugs, and, yes, sex. It’s sometimes called the hedonistic hormone.”

That said, the list features a wide variety of modern foods and fusion flavors, such as Maine’s Lobster Roll, New Mexico’s Enchiladas, and Louisiana’s po’ Boy Sandwich, as well as delicious desserts, including Missouri’s Gooey Butter Cake, Massachusetts’s Boston Cream Pie, and Maine’s Whoopie Pies, highlighting a sweet tooth among American men.

An online panel survey of 3,000 men based on age, gender, and geography was conducted in August 2024. Internal data sources were used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.