There's one American city that most folks associate with cheesecake: New York, famous for its classic creamy cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. However, there's another kind of cheesecake that is famously tied to an American city, and that's the Chicago-style cheesecake — this is the big difference between the two.

According to Epicurious, what makes a New York-style cheesecake authentic is that it has a firm, dense texture and is served cold. Most recipes use full-fat cream cheese and call for mixing the batter until it has a glossy texture, and while a graham cracker crust is most popular, NY cheesecake can also have a sponge cake base.

Meanwhile, Chicago-style cheesecake is firm outside but soft and fluffy inside, and the critical difference is the amount of cream cheese in each recipe. Chicago cheesecake uses about eight ounces more cheese than the average New York cheesecake, creating a softer texture, though recipes often use a similar graham cracker crust.