A runza is a yeast dough bread pocket with a filling consisting of beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. They are derived from the bierock, a similar dish that originated in modern day Germany. The name "Runza" was invented in the mid-20th century by Sarah Everett, an entrepreneurial immigrant. Runzas can be baked into various shapes such as a half-moon, a rectangle, a round, a square, or a triangle.
The runza is a regional cuisine of Nebraska, with some commentators calling it "as Nebraskan as Cornhusker football." It is served by the Nebraska Society of Washington, D.C. and the Nebraska Society of New York at their Taste of Nebraska events and was chosen to represent the state at Flavored Nation, an event serving iconic dishes from all fifty states.