I tend to prefer taste over texture (texture can be a negative, but the lack of flavours is a killer). I also dislike chewy food, so most meat and European style crusty breads aren't really enjoyable. Given that context, I like the non Mughlai/Punjabi style Indian cuisines, and seafood heavy cuisines.

Picking three options is hard, but

Gujarati/Rajasthani
Bengali
Malvani

Other cuisines include Chettinaad, Kerala, Goan, Parsi, Sri Lankan, Thai, Portuguese, Greek.

The three basic food groups: Buffalo wings (good ones - I'll leave it at that), pulled pork at Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que (Williamsburg), pastrami at Katz's Deli, New York.

Some famous person once said that when it comes to food there are only 3 countries in the world: France, Italy and China. I'd pick those as top 3. (Although I have to say, 2 of my best "eating trips" were England and New Zealand).

England because you had some of their most famous dishes...Peking (or Crispy Aromatic) Duck, and a good late night curry? :D

Malvani? Haven't heard of it...though judging by its geography, is it seafood-heavy? Also, what are specialties of Port Blair, if you happen to know?

I've no idea about the Andamans, sorry.

Malvani can be seafood and meat/chicken heavy, but also has plenty of vegetarian options if you like.

1. Chinese (Americanized Szechuan only)
2. Thai
3. Mexican

A strong honorable mention:

** Eastern North Carolina BBQ!!

Because my tastes change too often, I can think of my current favorites:
mexican
chinese
italian

all Americanized of course, since I’m in USA :-)
I love white and brown rice, and we know their stigmas in China!
we know that polpette (meatballs) aren’t served on pasta in Italia.

Are you considering jarred tomato sauce over pasta Italian cuisine? There are many Italian dishes that I make that I don't consider Americanized. And living in LA also gives me access to authentic Chinese or Mexican food & not just Americanized.

I can get “authentic” in sf as well but I’m fine with my Americanized standards. I really hated being in China / HK / Taiwan for fancy business meals and not having rice as part of the meal. It would have been really bad to ask for it. It makes the host look bad and it makes the guest look ungrateful.

And yes, fresh or dried pasta with truffle or jarred sauce or just pecorino cheese & pepper is fine italian cuisine. as is my own cheaper steak version of Bistecca Fiorentina, which still needs to be cooked before reaching medium.

Romanian
 

Would any FTer consider Romanian cuisine to be in their top three? Asking on behalf of my girlfriend...

surely yes and I can’t identify those FTers. There’s gotta be somebody :-)

Was in Romania in the '70s, and spent ~2 weeks on a container ship with Romanian officers catered by a Filipino cook (assisted by a Filipino mess man a.k.a. steward). Cream of tripe soup, anyone? Could be sailor fare, though.

Does this place count because I love it. I haven't been in many, many years and I am glad to see it is still in business. The garlic steak is amazing.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sammys-roum...house-new-york

I am saying that you can get both authentic and americanized versions of those 3 in many major American cities. I read your post as only being americanized.

I had to Google it. Even though I have a friend who is married to a woman who came to the US from Romania as a teenager, I'm not sure I've ever had their true cuisine. I suspect one would have to spend a fair amount of time in Romania to really understand it. It appears to be very similar to both Polish and Hungarian food?
If true, I doubt it would ever make my top 3 even though I'm sure I'd enjoy it.