Top 10 Best National Dishes

National dishes are a part of a nation's identity and self-image. A national dish is strongly associated with a particular country for several reasons:
1. It is a staple food.
2. It is made from a selection of locally available ingredients, sometimes considered exotic.
3. It is served as a festive culinary tradition that is part of a cultural heritage.
4. It is a part of a religious practice.
5. It has been promoted as a national dish by the country itself.

It wasn't easy to make this list because:

On one hand, a country may have more than one national dish, especially large countries with diverse traditions and cultures (e.g., the USA and India).

On the other hand, two or more countries may claim the same national dish. For instance, both Peru and Ecuador claim ceviche as their national dish.

I ranked the dishes according to my personal taste, and as you know, taste is highly subjective. I did not rank the countries, so nobody should feel offended.

The Top Ten

Poutine - Canada

Poutine is a Canadian dish that originated in the province of Quebec in the late 1950s. It consists of French fries topped with cheese curds and smothered in light brown gravy.
While it is the most iconic dish of Quebec, poutine has become popular throughout Canada and parts of the northern United... read more

Call me biased, but I really like it.
But a British guy wrote something in an article about dishes that can't be called biased because he isn't Canadian:
"I tried this one very recently after my Canadian roommate very patriotically wouldn't stop raving on about it, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. This is food for addicts, pure and simple. You have greasy chips (or fries, as you people over the pond call them) that are then loaded with cheese curds and topped off with a generous slathering of rich gravy. When I tried this dish, the world faded away around me, I dived in and totally forgot my friends, my manners, my name..."
Yup, don't forget to write your name on a sheet of paper before you try poutine.
Hamburger - United States

Cheeseburgers are so good. I prefer them homemade, as they are healthier that way.
Pizza - Italy

I didn't do research, but I have a feeling that this might be the most popular food internationally.
Pasta - Italy

Contenders: Polenta, Pizza, Risotto.
Pizza is probably the most popular Italian dish worldwide, but in most sources, pasta is considered their national dish more often than pizza.
Gyro - Greece

Gyro (or gyros) is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Often, several types of meat are placed on the spit (lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, veal), and they may be grilled for as long as a day. The resulting taste is incredible. It can be served on a plate or as a wrap. Gyro is like shawarma or döner kebab.
I like this type of meat preparation.
Contenders: Moussaka, Souvlaki
Yorkshire Pudding - England
Apple Pie - United States

I definitely like it!
Wiener Schnitzel - Austria

I tried it and I loved it.
It is a very thin, breaded, and pan-fried cutlet made from veal.
Dumplings - China

In Montreal, Canada (where I live), many varieties of dumplings can be found in grocery stores, and I like most of them.
Borscht - Ukraine

Soup made with beetroots as one of the main ingredients, which gives the dish its distinctive red color. Borscht may include meat or fish, or be purely vegetarian.
It is typically made by combining meat or bone stock with sautéed vegetables, which usually include beetroots, cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.

The Newcomers

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Brownies - United States

This probably doesn't need a description.
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Macadamia Nut Pie - Marshall Islands

I think I would like this. In our grocery store, there are Macadamia Nut Cookies, which I like.

The Contenders

Dolma - Azerbaijan, Iraq, Armenia

Dolma is stuffed veggies - usually tomato, pepper, eggplant, onion, zucchini, garlic.
Pelmeni - Russia

Pelmeni, also known as pierogi, are dumplings or ravioli called pelmeni in Russia, vareniki in Ukraine, and kalduny or kolduny in Belarus.
Pirog - Russia

It's a baked case of dough with a sweet or savory filling.
There are many different fillings as well as complex combinations (chicken, eggs, onions, fish, and many more).
Fish and Chips - United Kingdom

According to Wikipedia, Fish and Chips are traditionally wrapped in white paper and newspaper.
Belgian Waffle - Belgium

Almost irresistible.
Tacos - Mexico

A taco is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. Common fillings include beef, pork, chicken, seafood, beans, vegetables, and cheese. Tacos are often garnished with condiments such as salsa, guacamole, and cilantro.

Very popular in North America (US, Canada), not only in Mexico.

Whenever I hear Mexico, this is the first thing that comes to mind for me.
Roast Beef - England
Crêpe - France

A crêpe (or crepe) is a very thin pancake.
Souvlaki - Greece

That is pretty good - small pieces of meat and sometimes vegetables grilled on a skewer.
Fried Rice - China

Chinese cuisine became very popular outside China, and many people tried it.
Sushi - Japan

I like most of the sushi varieties.
Roast Lamb - New Zealand

New Zealand lamb, particularly the leg, is prized for its flavor and tenderness.
Contenders: Bacon and egg pie, Pavlova
Kimchi - South Korea

A traditional side dish made from salted and fermented vegetables.
Tabbouleh - Lebanon

Tabbouleh is a salad with a lot of parsley.
I like it a lot. You can find it in almost every grocery store in Canada.
Stegt Flæsk - Denmark

A fried pork and potato-based dish.