It's also worth considering that American cuisine at it's best is a fusion or adoption of all the wonderful flavors brought here from other places.
I got to enjoy the revelation of Indian food then Thai when they popped up on the scene in Austin. Thank God for Texas' Mexican heritage! In my youth, it was a treat to go to a Mexican restaurant in Houston. Had to travel a bit, and it was a nice restaurant. I'm so happy it ballooned everywhere around here before the abomination of Taco Bell* had a chance to define Mexican food. I guess Monterrey House was part of that fight as well. I'm not that picky, the house was good with me.
I'd add the cheese-stuffed cheese pizza with added parmesan and the condiment syrup known as Jack Daniels sauce as stellar additions to world cuisine and health.
*If this starts a tedious argument about the proper form of the taco or which eatery is the best, I swear, I'll put a Trump Flag in my yard to speed the decline. I'm a white, heterosexual man who won't live forever. I'm sure I'll be fine.