

It’s crazy to think about how many meals you ate in an entire year.
Let’s break it down.
We all have 365 days in a year, and many of us eat somewhere around 3 meals per day.
That’s 1,095 meals in a year!
So out of the possibility of 1,095 meals, I went through my archives of food and chose 21 of the most epic meals I ate in 2013.
I’ve listed them in chronological order, beginning 2013 in India and ending in the United States.
What amazing meals did you eat this year?

1. Pork in Bamboo and Chili (Nagaland, India)
I had the chance to visit a friend in Nagaland and attend a wedding. Pork cooked with dry bamboo shoots and chilies is a favorite Nagaland food and it was outstanding!

2. Kolkata Street Food (India)
Kolkata was one of my favorite cities I visited this year, mainly due to their amazing street food scene.
Watch the Kolkata street food video.

3. Darjeeling Home-cooked (Darjeeling, India)
Singalila restaurant was the first place I ate as soon as I arrived in Darjeeling, and it was so good, I ate there 4 days in a row.
Watch the Darjeeling comfort food video.

4. Saag Mutton (India)
It may not look all that appealing, but this hunk of mutton simmered in spices, pureed spinach, and butter, from Bhape Da Hotel, was nothing short of heavenly.
Watch the Bhape da Hotel video.

5. Dal Bhat (Nepal)
This was my first meal after completing the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. Perhaps it was so good because I had just come off the mountain after 5 days!
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6. Chinese Meal (Nepal)
Coming to Nepal from India, myself and especially my wife, was ready for some Chinese food. Man Tang Hong didn’t disappoint.

7. Newari Food (Nepal)
Being in Kathmandu gave me the opportunity to sample Newari food and a dish called samay baji for the first time, and I absolutely loved it!
Watch theNewari food video.

8. P’Aor Tom Yum (Bangkok, Thailand)
Tom yum is a soup that ubiquitous with Thai cuisine, and at P’Aor they make tom yum noodles that stand out as incredible.
Watch the best tom yum in Bangkok video.

9. Paste (Bangkok, Thailand)
Paste is an upscale modern Thai restaurant, and they serve some incredibly complex and innovative Thai dishes.
Watch the Paste restaurant video.

10. Goong Ob Woon Sen (Bangkok, Thailand)
Glass noodles, jumbo prawns, a few herbs and spices, and a sauce, is all that makes up this wondrous Thai dish from Somsak Boo Op.
Watch the goong ob woon sen video.

11. Khao Gaeng Jake Puey (Bangkok, Thailand)
This Thai curry stall sets up in Bangkok’s Chinatown at around 4 pm, and there’s always a crowd already waiting.
Watch the Thai curry video.
12. Isaan Food (Bangkok, Thailand)
For years, one of my favorite Isaan (northeastern Thai) restaurants has been Som Tam Boo Maa. It seems like they can’t do anything wrong.
Watch the Thai Isaan food video.

13. 1.1 Kg Lobster (Hua Hin, Thailand)
We had no intention to eat lobster that night, but after seeing it, I couldn’t resist. From Lung Ja Seafood restaurant.
Watch the 1.1 kg lobster video.

14. Biryani and Pilau (Zanzibar)
Two things that Zanzibar does extremely well is biryani and pilau, and both Lukmaan and Passing Show Hotel make stellar versions.
Watch the Lukmaan restaurant video.

15. Nyama Choma (Tanzania)
Every time I visit East Africa, nyama choma, or roasted goat meat is one of the first things I must eat.
Watch the nyama choma video.

16. Tanzanian Meal (Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania)
In a small kiosk in Dar Es Salaam is where I had the best Tanzanian meal I’ve ever had. It included beef pilau, a fried fish, spicy soup, beans, green vegetables, and a heap of tomato kachumbari on top.
Watch the Tanzanian food video.

17. Ethiopian Mahaberawi (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
I had dreamed of traveling to Ethiopia to eat, and 2013 was the year that it happened. This mahaberawi (a mixed meat platter) was so good I could hardly contain myself.
Watch the Ethiopian food video.

18. Kitfo (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
One of the most beloved Ethiopian foods is kitfo, raw minced beef mixed with butter and spices. It’s mind blowingly delicious.
Video and article coming soon…

19. Seafood Feast (Mahachai, Thailand)
Mahachai, about 1 hour from central Bangkok, is known for seafood, and we enjoyed an excellent meal at Ran Ahan Pi.

20. Thai Muslim Meal (Bangkok, Thailand)
Yusup Pochana is the name of the restaurant, and they serve an array of Thai Halal food that will have you crying for joy.
Video coming…

21. Poke (Hawaii, USA)
Poke, or cubes of raw fish marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, chilies, and sweet onions, is one of my favorite foods ever. The poke from Kahuku Superette is always good.
I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to enjoy so much delicious food, knowing that having a choice of food is a privilege not to be taken for granted.
Thank you for following Migrationology.com, and Happy New Year 2014!
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High Rated Gabru
2 years ago
Great job Mark. Keep it up!!
Vishal
4 years ago
Keep it up guys. Big thumb up✌✌✌
Anna
6 years ago
Hi Mark,
We love your videos! You recommended restaurants and local eats. We’ve troed 2 restaurants you recommended and they’re so awesome! We live in Europe and we will be watching more of you and your awesome wife! Thank you so much!!!
Paris Baten
8 years ago
absolutely love your posts on youtube, i actually tries to find some of the places you visited in Thailand, and managed to find a few, thank you.
latha Menghrajani
8 years ago
I Love watching your videos from India. I’m an Indian and I loveeeeeee indian food. U must visit chennai south of India. Must must must visit for the food to die for. . I can suggest u some if the best food joints. Take care & keep traveling. Enjoy food like u always do. . God bless
Mark Wiens
8 years ago
Thank you very much Latha, really appreciate your support. I would love to visit Chennai and more of south India in the future. Thank you!
Ash
9 years ago
Hey Mark,
I just want to say that you are an absolute legend for making this blog and for sharing all types of different food to many, many people. I watch your videos regularly when I’m over here in London at work eating my boring sandwiches dreaming of travelling and eating all these kinds of foods just as you do. My mum was born in Singapore and my dad was born in Malaysia so I have been brought up eating excellent food and travelling very often so I know exactly how it feels, just as you do, to be passionate about food and travelling. Too many people stick with their usual food and never go to explore many many wonderful places in the world, just as you have seen. I think you hit the nail on the head in one of your videos when you said that you just go out and explore instead of asking people as you want to figure it out on your own. That for me, is such a cool philosophy to live by when travelling and just wanted to say massive respect for that.
Anyway, your videos have definitely inspired many people and I for one look forward to every video you upload with the hope that one day in the future, I can go travelling extensively just as you do. You are an absolute hero!
Mike Pratt
9 years ago
Awesome list, Mark! Those dishes look delicious and yes, epic!
Also, I have to say your photography is getting better and better. The images are excellent.
Happy new year.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
I really appreciate it Mike! Happy new year to you as well!
john
9 years ago
most of eat looks great except for the uncooked stuff. i just can not eat anything uncooked i am probally missing out on some good food
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
That’s alright John, plenty of awesome cooked food too!
tomosaigon
9 years ago
India, Nepal, and Thailand no doubt have delicious and photogenic dishes, but good to see some variety in countries represented here. Many of these look like they were eaten by the street for cheap.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Thanks a lot Tomo!
Andreas Ratz
9 years ago
Great pictures Mark, if possible i like to try all those kind of foods, we are only right now back from Vietnam and we miss the cusine there already, especial the different kind of fishsauce…….if you like i can send you some pictures too
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Andreas, thank you for taking a look. Good to hear you enjoyed the food in Vietnam, I really hope to go back sometime to enjoy the food as well. Yes, would love to see your photos!
JAMES MBUGUA NJUGUNA.
9 years ago
Its unfortunate you did not have a chance to taste any Kenyan meal.
Make a point of trying any Kenyan meal in the year 2014.
Nyama choma is typical kenyan not Tanzanian.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey James… yah I really wish I would have been able to visit Kenya this year… but hopefully next year. Happy new year!
HK
9 years ago
Mark, you have to experience a South African eating adventure.. we have world standard food produced locally and the most amazing and beautiful country…
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey HK, I would love to visit South Africa and sample all the cuisine, can’t wait. Are you from South Africa, what part?
Kevin
9 years ago
Nice job again.
I wish you a happy 2014 with a lot of nice food
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Thank you Kevin, happy new year to you as well!
Mansur
9 years ago
Of your selected list of 21 items…. I say that # 3 (and not #4) tops the lot !
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Great picks Mansur!
Lindsay
9 years ago
Surely you fit some durian into you stomach too! Where’s your epic durian meal?
We just made a list of our favorite durians of 2013 – so you check out what you missed out on 😉
http://www.yearofthedurian.com/2013/12/our-favorite-durians-of-2013.html
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Lindsay, thank you for sharing your durian post, looks incredibly good! I had durian a few epic times, but this year I traveled outside of SE Asia so much that I didn’t get nearly as much as I would have liked!
Mike | Earthdrifter
9 years ago
If anyone ever tries to tell me that Indian and Thai food are not the most photogenic on the planet, I’ll refer them to this article. 🙂
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Thank you Mike, happy new year!
Binti
9 years ago
Now you know Nyama Choma is Kenya’s claim 🙂 And I’m with Franca on the vegetarian dishes … none made the list!
Ps – love the mobile site!
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Binti, yes I can’t argue… and I was so sad I didn’t have time to make it to Kenya this year, even when I was so close in TZ… but hopefully Kenya coming again soon!
Franca
9 years ago
Thanks and Happy New Year to you too but there aren’t Vegetarian dishes included in your epic list or did I miss it? Did you have any good ones?
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Franca, yah not too many this year, but I did eat some few vegetarian meals in India and Nepal. #2 is pure veg and it was my favorite vegetarian meal of the year! Happy new year!
Zara @ Backpack ME
9 years ago
Isaan Food and Poke for the win!
I never had poke but it looks delicious! Is it similar to ceviche? Looks similar, but probably much spicier..
Here’s to wishing 2014 is even yummier! 🙂
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Zara, poke is a little similar, but without the lime juice and with soy sauce and sesame oil instead. I’m sure you’d love it. Happy new year!
Mal Milligan
9 years ago
Spectacular photography, nicely done again Mark. I’ve only been to Thailand for 3 days and I can tell I need a few months just to get started with the huge array of foods. I have some Thai friends in the US and they always seem to be eating and never get fat – like you Dude. I don’t have it figured out yet. I’ve got a lot more traveling to do and your blog is always making me hungry to travel. lol
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Mal, great to hear from you, thank you so much. Hah, yes lots of Thai people I know too eat lots and lots and snack all the time – it’s a wonderful culture!
Gerard ~ GQ trippin
9 years ago
So much goodness here.. We’re looking forward to #16 for sure!
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Gerard, great to hear from you. When will you guys be going to East Africa!?
Linda Plyem
9 years ago
I urge you to try Ruen Mai restaurant in Krabi. It is the best in every respect…..they even have hand-woven napkins. Go for the three-season mango fruit drink to accompany your meal. I ate there at least five times during my recent trip to Thailand.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Linda, I just mentioned Ruen Mai to my wife (she’s from Krabi), and she said we ate there a few years – I remember it was excellent. I will definitely go again the next time we’re in Krabi. Happy new year!
Ray
9 years ago
Thats just awesome! That Kolkata dish looks like to die for!!
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Thank you Ray, happy new year!
ajv64
9 years ago
Lovely food surprised no malaysian food on the list though,
happy new year.
Andy
ajv64
9 years ago
Just realized this list is for 2013 DOH!!!!
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey, no problem. I really wish I would have made it to Malaysia this year, but hopefully next!