Presidential Pit Stops: Where Candidates Eat On the Campaign Trail

Everyone’s got to eat, and that includes politicians. When presidential candidates are out on the campaign trail, sometimes food is just fuel crammed in between stops, but often it’s also a photo opportunity or attempt to endear yourself to potential voters. 

Here are just some of the restaurants that presidential candidates have eaten at while campaigning over the years, including some very memorable gaffes.

Des Moines, Iowa

Iowa is a key stop on every candidate’s campaign trail, and one place they all go is the Iowa State Fair. It’s a chance for hobnobbing, gladhanding, and photo ops with all kinds of delicious fair food: Bernie Sanders eating a corndog, Elizabeth Warren conspicuously not eating a corndog but using it as a prop, vegan Cory Booker biting a deep fried PB+J on a stick, and Andrew Yang gnawing on a turkey leg. Name a recent presidential candidate, and there are probably photos of them chowing down at the Iowa State Fair.

Manchester, New Hampshire

After Iowa, New Hampshire is the key next stop for stumping would-be-presidents. Red Arrow Diner is “the diner that every future president must visit,” and visit they do. It’s a slice of Americana that’s open 24/7, so there are always locals ready to shake hands. You’ll see photos of the many politicians’ visits on the walls, including Al Gore, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and even Donald Trump, who shies away from eating in public. Even the diner’s website has an email address for scheduling political visits at the top.

Fast food is a reality on the campaign trail for candidates and their crews. It’s convenient and consistent, and sometimes easier to get for large groups than food from local restaurants. Plus, it makes for a good photo op. Bill Clinton famously loved McDonald’s and ate there a lot (even after a jog), and Ronald Reagan stopped in for a Big Mac during his 1984 campaign.

Philadelphia

So many gaffes have been committed by presidential candidates while eating, and one of the most memorable was when John Kerry ordered a cheesesteak with Swiss cheese. He was at Pat’s in Philly, and instead of the usual local favorite of Whiz, American, or provolone, Swiss was his order. He got skewered for it, and well, we all know he was never president.

New York

Sylvia’s is a Harlem soul food institution, and it’s where many candidates have met with Al Sharpton while on the campaign trail. Kamala Harris did it in 2019, and she dined on chicken and waffles, while Sharpton had diet-friendly toast and bananas.

New York

Hillary Clinton had a food gaffe during her 2016 campaign for president. She went to a boba tea shop in Queens called Kung Fu Tea, and ordered a creamy tea with boba (tapioca pearls). When reporters asked her how it was, she said she enjoyed it, but added, “I've never had chewy tea before!” Needless to say the internet made fun of her for the weird characterization.

Los Angeles

In 2019, Joe Biden headed to Dulan’s, a famous soul food spot. He donned an apron and served potential voters breakfast from the buffet-style cafeteria line. Then, he grabbed a mic and started stumping, of course.

In 2019, Pete Buttegieg’s campaign team often relied on sub chain Jimmy John’s on the road. Sandwiches are easy to order and everyone likes them, they’re relatively inexpensive, and considering the chain’s motto is “freaky fast,” a whole bus full of people can get fed turkey or ham subs quickly.

The “Iowa pizza circuit” is a real thing, according to the Wall Street Journal. Candidates always make Pizza Ranch, a Midwestern chain of pizza and fried chicken buffets that’s well known for being both inexpensive and religious, a stop on their tour. Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Rick Santorum, and Donald Trump have all made stops over the years.

New York

Legendary Katz’s Deli in New York City is a popular stop for tourists, locals, and politicians alike. Back in 1976, Henry Jackson, who ran for president in 1972 as well, stopped in after an interview. He ate corned beef on rye with mustard and kept saying, “that's good corned beef.”

Chicago

When in Chicago, do as Chicagoans do and eat at Portillo’s. It’s a local chain famous for its Italian beef, Chicago hotdogs, and chocolate cake shakes. John Kasich visited in 2015 and ate a hotdog and Italian sausage. There was one gaffe, though: When a reporter asked if he spiced up his food with giardiniera, the hot pickled pepper mix, he admitted he didn’t know what that was. For shame!

Decorah, Iowa

Little Ruby’s Restaurant in a small Iowa town was known for its decadent cinnamon rolls, which are called Ronnie’s Rolls. Campaign staffers stocked lots of them, some with frosting, and some with pecans, on Pete Buttegieg’s bus for breakfast. He Tweeted about the amazing-looking buns, but he also got a lot of flack for a photo of him eating one that makes it look like he’s eating a chicken wing.

Lots of politicians have probably eaten Chipotle on the campaign trail over the years, but one of the most memorable visits was from Hillary Clinton in 2015. Her van stopped at a Chipotle in an Ohio suburb in 2015, and get this: no one recognized her. Not even the employees recognized her behind her big sunglasses, and didn’t believe it until they reviewed the security camera footage.

Pete Buttegieg’s campaign caravan ate a lot of Dairy Queen in 2019. Staffers treated the entire team and press corps traveling with them to Blizzards. Reese’s and M+Ms flavors were available, though we’re not exactly sure what vanilla and chocolate flavors are. Wouldn’t those just be plain soft serve? No matter what, it’s a treat on a never ending road trip.

Harlan, Iowa

Elizabeth Warren stopped by Milk & Honey on the campaign trail in 2019. Interestingly, she went to the restaurant twice in the same day. Once for lunch with the whole press corps, but she had already been there for a quiet breakfast without announcing anything. The restaurant posted a photo of staff and Warren on its Facebook page.

Pittsburgh

John Kasich loved to eat during his presidential campaign. One stop was the Original Oyster House in Pittsburgh, where he ordered a fish sandwich at the bar surrounded by crowds and flashing cameras. He asked the owner to put a picture of him up on the wall, saying that it would “make his life.”

New Orleans

Dooky Chase is a famous New Orleans restaurant with a long history. Barack Obama visited during the 2008 campaign and the proprietor at the time, the spunky Leah Chase, “had to slap him.” The problem? He ordered gumbo and reached immediately for the hot sauce bottle. “Mr. Obama, you don't put hot sauce in my gumbo,” she recalled saying. “So I had to reprimand him.”

New York

Hillary Clinton stopped at Juniors, a restaurant famous for its New York cheesecake, in 2016. She was presented with all kinds of desserts, but unfortunately never took a single bite. “I learned early on not to eat in front of all of you,” she reportedly said. That’s probably because she was well aware of the double standard of women enjoying “unhealthy” foods on camera compared to when men indulge.

Phoenix, Arizona

Earlier this year, both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz stopped at Cocina Adamex in Phoenix after a campaign rally in nearby Glendale. They ordered three dozen tamales, which is about as many as the restaurant serves in a day. Since then, the restaurant has had a run on tamales.

Back in 2012, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan stopped at a Wendy’s in Ohio for lunch on Election Day. "We figured because Wendy's was invented in Ohio, what better place to get lunch than Wendy's, right?" Romney said. He reportedly ate a quarter-pound hamburger, chili, and a Frosty.