33 Foods Worth Traveling Across the World Just to Eat

By Mark Wiens 273 Comments

“He that has never traveled thinks that his mother is the only good cook in the world”Kenyan proverb.

And while mother is the best cook, how many mothers exist in this world?

After returning from any trip I’ll often reflect, browse through my photos, and realize that by far the most memorable experiences I had all revolved around food.

And that’s no surprise…

Not just because I’m a food obsessed individual, but because food is an essential ingredient of human life – survival, culture, tradition, lifestyle, festivals, relationships, comforts – food plays a part in everything.

To tackle this meaty list of 33 foods worth trekking the globe to hunt down, I decided there was no better way than to ask other jet-setting food passionate bloggers to share their thoughts.

So grab a spoon, and get ready to dig in…

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Poke (Hawaii, USA) - Cubes of tender raw fish
Poke (Hawaii, USA) – Cubes of tender raw fish (also pictured with octopus poke)

1. Poke (Hawaii, USA)

My pick

Freshly cut cubes of raw Yellowfin Tuna (Ahi) combined with soy sauce, sesame oil, sea salt, chili pepper, sweet onions, and limu seaweed is one of the great culinary creations of this world.

The fish (which should be caught locally and never frozen) is the texture of ripe papaya – so smooth and tender I sometimes can’t help myself from chewing with my lips instead of my teeth.

A chilled piece of poke combined with a proportional amount of steamed rice in the same bite is a sensation that’s so divine, it’s hard to believe you’re still on earth.

Aguachido (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)
Aguachido (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)

2. Aguachido (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)

Ayngelina from Bacon is Magic

Playa del Carmen is known for its seafood and while you can get great options everywhere, all the locals go to a restaurant called Aguachiles.

Here you can find aguachido: shrimp marinated in lemon juice with clamato and fresh vegetables. Unbelievably fresh and while it is only a few dollars it rivals anything I’ve eaten at high-end restaurants.

Khao Soi Curry Noodle Dish, Thailand
Khao Soi (Thailand)

3. Khao Soi (Thailand)

Paul from Walk Fly Pinoy

It’s soft and yellow egg noodles bathed in a thick curry broth. Not soup. Broth. It is then topped with deep-fried, crispy egg noodles, and eaten with pickled greens on the side. The broth is coconut milk-based and the curry can either be cooked with chicken, pork, or beef. Beef is my favorite kind of Khao Soi, especially the ones prepared by the Thai Muslim women in Chiang Mai’s Muslim area along Chang Klan Road.

Poulet Yassa
Poulet Yassa – Heaven-sent!

4. Poulet Yassa / Chicken Yassa (Senegal)

Phil from Phil in the Blank & Sick on the Road

Yassa is a heaven-sent marinade of lemon, onion and chile, often taken to the next level with a touch of dijon mustard and some freshly grated ginger. Chicken is slow cooked in this flavorful mixture before it is served over rice.

“I can eat plates of it.”

Arcaro and Genell, Old Forge Pennsylvania
White Pizza – it’s heartwarming, heaven in the mouth

5. White Pizza – Old Forge Pizza (Pennsylvania, USA)

Juno from Runaway Juno & Mastertravelphoto.com (Mastering Art of the Travel Photography)

The White pizza is the one. It’s not a regular pizza you know; Old Forge White Pizza is a creamy-cheesy-and-even-heartwarming heaven in the mouth. The white pizza has a double crust, on the botton and the top, with cheese filling. I don’t know what they do to the cheese, but it’s heavenly soft.

You’d want to travel around the world to eat that; I literally did.

Kobe Beef
Kobe Beef – mouthwatering goodness

6. Kobe Beef (Shin Kobe, Japan)

Jeremy & Shirlene from Idelish

Melt-in-your-mouth, mouth-watering-goodness is how we’d describe Kobe beef! Unlike regular beef, if prepared past medium rare, like steak, the fat would liquefy – that’s how melt-in-your-mouth it is. Read more about the dish we’d travel all the way to Japan for here.

Eggplant Satsivi - so simple, yet so satisfying
Eggplant Satsivi – so simple, yet so satisfying

7. Eggplant Satsivi (Georgia)

Anil from Fox Nomad

It’s a simple Georgian dish of pureed walnuts, eggplant, and spices eaten chilled. An appetizer so simple yet satisfying, my only regret is not having known it existed sooner.

Gujarati Thali - India
Gujarati Thali – so delicious, you may not even get a photo until you’ve licked your plate clean!

8. Gujarati Thali (State of Gujarat, India)

Derek from Wandering Earl

Just imagine – a large, circular tin plate filled with up to ten wildly flavorful and addictively sweet vegetarian curries sitting alongside servings of dhal (lentils), spicy vegetables, salad and a guaranteed-to-be-yummy dessert. And with a steady flow of fresh rotis and rice delivered to your table throughout your meal, you’re free to devour those dishes however you prefer (and devour you will, just as I did above before I was able to take a photo!).

Of course, the best part is that the waitstaff walk around the restaurant constantly scooping more curries onto your plate, refusing to let you stop eating until you’ve had at least three servings of every dish!

Nghêu Hấp Xả
Nghêu Hấp Xả – before you know it, the dish will be gone

9. Nghêu Hấp Xả / Steamed Clams w/ Lemongrass (Vietnam)

Barbara from The Dropout Diaries

Plump baby clams, cooked in a little pot with lemongrass and delivered steaming to your table. The clam shells are too hot to pick up at first, and you always burn your fingers because these clams are too good to wait for.

Each clam is a spoon and a tiny meal – you scoop up some lemongrass broth and some sweet chilli sauce in the half of the clam that contains the meat and deliver the taste explosion to your mouth. FABULOUS. One pot never lasts long, so keep an eye on the waiter so you can order another.

nasi lemak
Nasi Lemak – no other meal quite cuts it

10. Nasi Lemak (Malaysia)

Mei and Jo from ccfoodtravel.com and Cikipedia

One of the dishes that I would travel across the world just to eat, is the Nasi Lemak. Somehow, this combination of rice cooked in coconut milk, chili sambal anchovies, half a hard boiled egg, deep fried chicken, sambal squid, peanuts and cucumbers really gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

No other meal quite cuts it, like the Nasi Lemak does.

The best way to serve Nasi Lemak is wrapped in or served on a banana leaf, as it lends an aromatic fragrance to the rice. When used to pack the steaming hot coconut milk rice, you just need to unravel the green, conical package and let your nostrils be assaulted by the most heavenly aroma on earth.

Bibim Guksu
Bibim Guksu – perfect on summer days

11. Bibim Guksu (South Korea)

Sook from Heart, Mind & Seoul

Bibim Guksu is a popular Korean noodle dish that perfect for hot Summer days. The noodles are cold and mixed with a spicy and sweet gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) sauce.

Panang Curry with Chicken
Panang Curry with Chicken – all the best flavors, combined into perfection

12. Panang Curry with Chicken (Thailand)

Dave from Go Backpacking

A thick, coconut cream-based Thai curry with a peanut flavor. Red peppers add spice, however the heat level will depend greatly on whose preparing it (and whose eating it). Chicken can be substituted for beef, tofu, or vegetables, and it’s typically served with jasmine rice.

Karakoy-Fish-Market
Turkish Hamsi – head to the market for the perfect street food

13. Turkish Hamsi (Turkey)

Julia & Barry from Turkey’s For Life

As the hamsi (anchovies) swarm the Black Sea towards the Bosphorus Strait each winter, Turkish fishermen drop their nets. On any winter arrival in Istanbul, the first thing we do is head for Karaköy fish market for the perfect street food, Hamsi Ekmek. The anchovies are deep fried and served with rocket leaves and thinly sliced onion in a fresh, crusty bread.

Reuben Sandwich
Reuben Sandwich – simple dishes done exceptionally well

14. Reuben Sandwich (Sherman’s Deli, California, USA)

Kent and Caanan from No Vacation Required

Choosing a favorite food was not an easy chore. We have had some truly amazing meals in some once-in-a-lifetime restaurants and in some distant locations. However, sometimes it’s the really simple dishes done exceptionally well that stand out – a perfect Caesar salad or a spot-on bowl of fettuccini alfredo, for instance.

The Reuben sandwich at Sherman’s Deli in Palm Springs, CA is one of those simple wonders we keep coming back to (literally and figuratively). They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think this picture is worth 10 amazing mouthfuls.

Chashumen - Shoyu Pork Noodle
Chashumen – Shoyu Pork Noodle – ramen from the heavens

15. Chashumen – Shoyu Pork Noodle (Ginza District, Tokyo, Japan)

Pomai from The Tasty Island (Honolulu Food Blog)

I have yet to come across a broth, chashu, menma and noodles as special and OISHII as the bowl of ramen “of the Heavens” from this shop. Earthy, aromatic, deep and complex immediately splash my memories.

The closest authentic Japanese ramen to it I’ve been able to find here in Honolulu is the Shoyu Ramen from either Goma Tei (Ward Center) or Ramen Nakamura (Waikiki).

Pastel de Nata / Pastéis de Belém
Pastel de Nata / Pastéis de Belém – velvety cream encased in a flaky caramelized pastry crust

16. Pastel de Nata / Pastéis de Belém (Belém Bakery, Portugal)

Sarah from Food Bridge

Portugal’s legendary egg custard tarts– a full bodied, velvety cream encased in a flaky caramelized pastry crust, were one of the highlights of my visit to Lisbon. My friend had another way of describing them, “It’s disgusting how good these are”.

The original egg custard tarts were first made in Lisbon almost two hundred years ago by the nuns of Jeronimos Monastery. The nuns opened a bakery in the Belem neighborhood of Lisbon using a secret recipe passed on from the monastery. Eventually the pastries as well as the shop became known as Pastéis de Belém and their popularity quickly spread to other areas of Portugal. Outside the Belem Bakery the pastry is known as pastel de nata (plural, pasteis de nata).

Jalebi
Jalebi – Indians love their food and they love their sweets!

17. Jalebi (India)

Arti from My Yatra Diary

Indians love their food and they love their sweets! Amongst the hordes that they have on their platter, one that I personally am madly in love with is the round and round, Jalebi!

Jalebis are made up of flour dough and are crisp, soft and plump at the same time. The dough is rolled out into hot ghee in a specific round shape/pattern and then deep fried till they become crusty and crunchy. These are then finally dipped in a special kind of sugary syrup called the chashni to give it the desired sweetness and taste. Served either hot or cold, are best had as a breakfast snack with hot milk or as a dessert after completing the full course of a meal.

So the next time you are in India, do not forget to stop by the streets of India and grab this Indian flavor! Because, yes… it’s totally worth it!

Foodies Delight!  Turkish Meze
Meze – it’s the perfect social dining cuisine

18. Meze (Turkey)

Cameron & Nicole from Traveling Canucks

Meze is a selection of small dishes served typically before a larger meal or, in our case, it’s THE meal. We love Turkish meze because it allows us to sample a wide variety of foods over a longer period of time – it’s the perfect social dining cuisine!

We love the combinations of fresh cheeses, cured meats, pureed dips, pickled vegetables and grilled seafood, and nobody does it better than the Turks. I’m getting hungry just talking about it!

A Georgian Feast of Khingkale
Khinkali – may look simple, but packed with complex flavor

19. Khinkali (Republic of Georgia)

Daniel & Audrey from Uncornered Market

Khinkali may look like simple dumplings, but the combination of herbs and spices with the freshly minced meat that creates a delicious broth inside makes them anything but simple.

Each dumpling is stuffed and then twisted over 20 times to get a little knob at the end. To eat, sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and pick up by the knob. Take a small bite and then suck out the broth (or else you can get burned!); then you eat everything else but the knob. At the end of the meal you can count how many khingale you’ve had by the knobs on your plate.

Potato Wedges
Potato Wedges – slightly odd dipping sauce, but intensely good

20. Potato Wedges w/ Sour Cream & Sweet Chill Sauce (Australia)

Cailin from The Taste of Travel & Travel Yourself

Served either as an appetizer or side to a meal, potato wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce is exactly what it sounds like it is, seasoned potato wedges that you dip in a mix of sour cream and sweet chilli sauce, sounds slightly odd but so delicious!

Dolsot Bibimbap - It's by far my favourite my meal in South Korea.
Dolsot Bibimbap – It’s by far my favourite my meal in South Korea.

21. Dolsot Bibimbap 돌솥 비빔밥 (South Korea)

Sam from Nomadic Samuel & Smiling Faces Travel Photos

Dolsot Bibimbap is a special variation of bibimbap (Korean mixed rice) that is prepared in a sizzling stone pot where the rice nestles with various mixed vegetables, raw egg and spicy red pepper paste. The stone pot is so hot that the raw egg is cooked against the side of the bowl while the bottom section of rice is coated with sesame oil rendering it a lovely crispy golden brown.

It’s by far my favourite my meal in South Korea.

Not only is it equally amounts delicious and healthy but more important it is a budget conscious meal. A bowl should cost no more than $4-6 USD and comes with a generous serving a side dishes and soup that can be refilled frequently upon request.

Fugu "Puffer Fish" Sashimi
Fugu “Puffer Fish” Sashimi – This is not your average piece of sashimi

22. Fugu “Puffer Fish” Sashimi (Shimonoseki, Japan)

Erica from Kizzling Around

(I included the city since it really does taste the best there)

“This is not your average piece of sashimi.”

Pieces of boiled skin and thin green onions are wrapped in a thinly sliced and slightly transparent piece of fugu sashimi, which is then dipped in soy sauce with either lemon juice or vinegar and momijioroshi (ground daikon and red chili peppers). This dish is delicate and the flavors subtle with a variety of textures for additional enjoyment.

Truffle Extravaganza Meal
Truffle Extravaganza Meal – makes us salivate even now

23. Truffle Extravaganza Meal (Tuscany, Italy)

Akila & Patrick from The Road Forks

After hunting for truffles with Giulio the Trufflehunter and his beautiful dog Edda, we were treated to a feast based entirely on this delicacy. Though all of the dishes were delicious, the one that makes us salivate even now was the perfect gnocchi that melted like clouds on our tongue, topped with a thick shaving of freshly found truffles.

Salteñas
Salteñas – worth traveling across the ocean for

24. Salteñas (Bolivia)

Stephanie from The Travel Chica

This savory baked pastry gives Bolivia the prize for the best style of empanada in Latin America. The dough is thick like a pot pie crust in order to hold the hearty filling. There are two styles, and the salteñas de caldo filled with a chopped beef stew, lots of spices, and a little sweetness are the ones I would travel across an ocean for.

Sichuan Hot Pot
Sichuan Hot Pot – your tongue goes numb and your eyes pop open

25. Sichuan Hot Pot (China)

Dave & Deb from The Planet D

We had the Sichuan Hot Pot in Sichuan Province itself in Chengdu, China. It is an eye sizzling array of thinly sliced meat and fresh vegetables displayed on a table surrounding giants sunken pots of spicey boiling water and oil. You cook it yourself and that is half the fun. The other half is biting into the most flavourful mouthful of food you will ever have in your life.

Biting into the Huajiao pepper is a unique moment in dining as your tongue goes numb and your eyes pop open as you embrace the heavenly sensation of the deep burn.

Pylsur
(photo by Samer)

26. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (Reykjavík, Iceland)

Jen from Savory Simple

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is a small hot dog stand in the middle of Reykjavík, Iceland that always has a line down the block. These hot dogs are like nothing you’ll find in America; they’re made with native Icelandic lamb and served with an assortment of condiments including fried onions and a mayonnaise-based sauce.

We’ve joked about taking a weekend trip back to Iceland just for the hot dogs. They’re that good.

Samoosas
Samoosas – tastier than samosas in other countries

27. Samoosas (South Africa)

Heather from 2Summers

South Africa has the largest population of Indians outside of India, and South African Indians have developed their own unique interpretation of Indian food. Samoosas (spelled with two ‘o’s, not one), the ultimate South African Indian snack, come in a wide variety of flavours and are far tastier than samosas in other countries.

The best samoosas in Johannesburg are at World of Samoosas, a take-away counter tucked between fabric shops in the sprawling Oriental Plaza. My favourite samoosa varieties are spinach and feta and cheese and onion, washed down with a Styrofoam cup of sweet masala tea.

Aioli
Aioli – the results are much greater than the sum of its parts

28. Aioli (France, specifically Provence)

Matt from Matt Bites & Matt Armendariz Photography

And while it’s nothing more than eggs, garlic, great oil and technique, the results are much greater than the sum of its parts. Maybe because we just can’t seem to do it the same way here, or maybe because I’ve always enjoyed it in France with tons of chilled wine, great company, and a sunny late afternoon view like no other.

It’s easy yet so satisfying.

It’s basically just an emulsifcation of oil and eggs with tons of garlic. It’s enjoyed with whatever vegetables are around, even some slices of bread. And you dip and eat. It couldn’t be easier. Or enjoy on fish or other types of meats. I’m no purist but I do appreciate the real deal.

Troll King Salmon
Troll King Salmon – baked to perfection on an alderwood plank

29. Troll King Salmon (Seattle, WA, USA)

Gerard and Kieu from GQ trippin

We’ll fly to Seattle, Washington in a heartbeat for Elliott’s Oyster House and their Troll King Salmon baked to perfection on an alderwood plank. Finished with a side of market vegetables and smoked tomato-onion beurre blanc sauce – it is quite possibly the best fish dish we’ve ever had.

Hamsi Tava
Hamsi Tava – fried to a gorgeous crunch in a slope-sided skillet

30. Hamsi Tava (Black Sea coast, Turkey)

Robyn from Eating Asia and photo by David Hagerman Photography

In northern coastal Turkey hamsi (anchovy in Turkish) season runs from September through March or so. These cold water beauties are rich and oily, so much better than hamsi pulled from the Marmara, and anchovy love is an indelible part of Black Sea culture.

For this dish the fish are cleaned and the head is removed but they’re otherwise left whole — then they’re dipped in cornmeal and fried to a gorgeous crunch in a slope-sided skillet called a tava.

Madagascar Vanilla Millefeuille
Madagascar Vanilla Millefeuille – the real magic begins when they pull out the dessert cart

31. Madagascar Vanilla Millefeuille (Chateau Richeux, Brittany, France)

Andi from Misadventures with Andi

Any meal in the restaurant at Chateau Richeux is a culinary delight, but the real magic begins when they pull out the dessert cart.

Chef Olivier Roellinger feels that you should never stop being a kid and you can have whatever you want, as much as you want, as many times as you want from his fully loaded cart. The highlight being the millefeuille of the day made with vanilla from Madagascar, it will have you driving the three hours it takes to get there from Paris on a regular basis, or at least planning the trip!

Ethiopian food
For a single evening-time feast, I find this meal impossible to beat.

32. Mahaberawi (Ethiopia)

Joel – food and travel lover

Although it may be a cuisine you have never heard of, that does not change the fact that Ethiopians have some of the best food on this earth.

Using a slightly sour, soft flatbread made from the Teff grain as a base, everything is eaten by hand. A communal dish is served with healthy sections of roasted meat, earthy spiced curries, and plenty of vegetables both raw and cooked. For a single evening-time feast, I find this meal impossible to beat.

Tagine
Tagine – It also just happens to be absolutely delicious.

33. Tagine (Traditionally from Morocco)

Jodi from Legal Nomads

The tagine is both the name of the dish and the name of the conical clay pot that houses it. I chose this dish because of the sheer volume of possibilities that it offers: chicken and vegetables, beef, prunes and sesame, an omelette steamed to perfection and more, all simmered in the earthenware tagine. Each option is different in taste because of the spices and condiments used to build it.

There are many other meals I’d travel to eat, but tagine is permanently connected to the history and food culture of Morocco as a whole. From the Atlas Mountains, where I saw hundreds of clay cones in a line, bubbling up toward the sky, to cooking tagines under the sky in the Sahara, it’s a dish that can be found and enjoyed from all walks of life in the country. It also just happens to be absolutely delicious.

And just because your mouth is still watering…

Chuanchuan
Chuanchuan – it makes my mouth water just thinking about it

34. Chuanchuan – Chengdu Hot Pot (Chengdu, China)

Steph from Twenty-Something Travel

I love spicy food and a traditional hot pot from the Szechuan Province of China fits the bill perfectly. Picture a boiling cauldron of hot oil and chili into which you dip strips of lamb, tiny sausages and all sorts of vegetables until they are cooked and tender.

The meal is messy and will leave your eyes streaming, but it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Bao Zi
Bao Zi

35. Bao Zi 包子 (China)

Michael from Art of Backpacking

These steamed filled buns can be easily found as a breakfast meal on the streets in China. I ate them nearly every morning for breakfast in Xi’an, China. They can be filled with lamb (my favorite), beef, or vegetables and can be dipped in a sauce made with vinegar and spicy sauce.

©2012 Jerry Redfern
Num banh chok (©2012 Jerry Redfern) – This is the dish I crave in Cambodia!

36. Num Banh Chok (Cambodia)

Karen from Rambling Spoon and photo by Jerry Redfern

This is my comfort food: lemongrass fish curry over tiny rice vermicelli and shaved banana flower, rich with coconut and slightly sweet, balanced with a sour twist of lime and the pungent saltiness of prahok (fermented fish).

Every dish is slightly different, topped with available vegetables and herbs—long beans, cilantro, chile, basil and a variety of local leaves that run a full range of flavors, from light and minty to mouth-puckering bitter or sour.

This is the dish I crave in Cambodia.

Fresh. Simple. Local.

After compiling this article, I discovered these characteristics are the resounding answers when it comes to food worth traveling for.

It’s often not the most complex dishes worth navigating the globe to consume, but rather the dishes made with simple, fresh ingredients, by experienced loving hands.

Something on this list is so incredibly delicious, it was recommended twice – did you catch (pun intended) that? Now that justifies a culinary trip.

Thank you very much for reading this article. If you enjoyed it, please share it with a friend!

Now I want to hear from you.

What would you travel across the world to eat?

Leave a comment now.

273 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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  • Airport To Atlantis

    1 year ago

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  • Salalah tours

    3 years ago

    you missed Arab dishes

  • Susan

    3 years ago

    Reading through the article just made me hungry 😀. I am living in the U.S soi have tried the dishes here, but not trvaelled outside the States, but maybe one day. Thanks for the amazing article.

  • Moon

    3 years ago

    Good Stuff for Delicious Foods
    Also See https://www.wfwiki.ga for All Foods informations of the world..

  • سایت کاسب باشی

    3 years ago

    اگر می خواهید در زمینه کسب و کار از بقیه جلو بزنید و به گونه ای متفاوت عمل کنید، راهکارها و ایده های جالب تولید ثروت را در سایت کاسب باشی دنبال کنید

  • James

    3 years ago

    Thanks for the article.
    https://restaurantthatdeliversnearme.website

  • Dan Sells

    6 years ago

    It’s amazing how every country and region has so many must-have foods to try.
    If you ever get a chance, you’ve GOT to try the Chicago hot dog. The combination of the ingredients and flavors is seriously THAT good.

  • Roman Scott

    6 years ago

    Excellent and inspiring article with many new things I didn’t know about. Another lesser known Asian chained worth travelling for is Sri Lanka, with their unique Hoppers- a bowl shaped pancake eaten w egg at breakfast, a black pepper and lime dry tuna curry called ambulthiyal in the south, amazing simple sambols eaten w local soft bread call pol (coconut) sambol and seeni sambol ( caramelised onion), kiribath ( milk rice), and undoubtedly the best crab curry in the world. A famous restaurant called the ministry of crab in Colombo is a must visit. For the rest, find small places or best of all get invited to someone’s home.
    Keep it up.

  • Ram Roj Pier

    7 years ago

    Oh la salteña de Bolivia! Una empanada popular, cuya preparación demanda una esmerada repostería. Muchos salteñeros lo han sido desde generaciones anteriores y preservan su recetas caceras como secretos de cocina, tanto en la preparación del jigote, como en la masa del horneado. Ahora se exporta, vi salteñas congeladas en supermercados de Alemania.

  • Tasha G.

    7 years ago

    You’re missing a lot of really good food! I would travel back to Indonesia for all the food on this list LOL http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/24/foodanddrink/40-indonesian-foods/
    Padang, soto ayam, lontong sayur, ayam mbok berek, rendang, nasi uduk etc. Wash it all down with Es Kelapa (coconut pandan drink) sweet Jasmine iced tea or Jus alpukat gula melaka (avocado smoothie with palm sugar, creamy and delicious). I’d also travel to Singapore for oyster omelets (drool), chili crab, carrot cake and roti prata (curry with ano out of this world dipping bread), as well as Es Durian and Es kacang (shaved ice sweet dessert drinks). I’d then go to Taiwan for fried taro duck (drool). Just thinking about all that Asian food makes my mouth water. Make sure you go with a true local to get the best. And hop over to Belgium for their beer, liege waffles (dense, chewy, caramelized best eaten hot), vlees kroketten (meat croquets: crispy, crunchy with gooey creamy shredded meat filling), fries with mayo or andalouse sauce. And over to Croatia for their black squid ink risotto. I’d then go to Tasmania Australia for their scallop pies (flaky pastry, plump morsels in creamy filling mmm). I’m a huge foodie and traveler! Love it! Keep it up with your list, keep on traveling and trying new foods!

  • Jeremy Cooke

    7 years ago

    I would travel back to Vietnam for the hai san and oc in a heartbeat. In Nha Trang I had the most perfectly cooked oysters in butter and chilies, spicy stir fried frog legs with vegetables, and hands-down the best catfish I have ever tasted. Then there are all the wonderful soups and sandwiches available throughout the country.

  • Leandro Cummings

    8 years ago

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  • Zoey Richards

    8 years ago

    Those are yummy foods! I really like the white pizza and the kobe beef.

  • Yusuf

    8 years ago

    Chingri Malai Curry.

  • Aidan

    8 years ago

    Singapore’s chilli crab is actually quite good! and the website ieatishootipost is nice!

  • muhammed khaiz

    8 years ago

    you should have kerala one of the popular street food topiaco with beef…its good

  • Taksim

    8 years ago

    You can eat the best Hamsi Tava in Trabzon, Turkey. Trabzon is the homeland of Hamsi fish 🙂

  • Black

    8 years ago

    Nasi Lemak! yeayyy!!

  • Mike

    9 years ago

    Spain is a great place to visit!

  • Carolann and Macrae – One Modern Couple

    9 years ago

    We are so hungry now! we haven’t yet tried all of these! we were just in Kobe, Japan and didn’t have the beef, it was just too expensive for us at the time but it looks so good! thanks for sharing!

  • Benson

    9 years ago

    Great posts. I noticed Sherman’s Deli made the list. Next time, try the Beef’N Latkas – it is corned beef, pastrami or brisket with potato pancakes replacing the bread and cole slaw. You will love it. Here are some of my suggestions that left a lasting impression.

    1. Katz Deli, New York, NY – Reuben or brisket sandwhich.
    2. Richardsons, Phoenix, AZ – Relleno platter or carne adovada..
    3. Kau Kee, Hong Kong – Brisket noodles or curry brisket noodles.
    4. Tai Cheong Bakery, Hong Kong – Egg tarts.
    5. Kam’s Roast Goose, Hong Kong – Roast goose.

    Enjoy!

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Benson, great to hear from you, thank you for these other wonderful suggestions, all sound fantastic.

  • Seb Lewis

    9 years ago

    Great List. I am from South Africa and I wholeheartedly agree about World of Samoosas, best I’ve ever had.

    Another note, I lived in Thailand for a little over a year and my favourite meal was Khoa Soi. While the Khoa Soi’s made in Chang Mai are amazing. The best Khoa Soi I have ever had was at a small restaurant in Kathu, Phuket (I am not sure of the name we just called it Khoa Soi), almost any foreigner living there knows about it! The restaurant is only open at lunch times and sometimes not at all. Its the thing I miss most about living there!!

    • Mark Wiens

      9 years ago

      Hi Seb, great to hear from you, thank you for sharing your recommendations. Wow, I haven’t heard of the khao soi in Phuket, I’ll keep an eye our for it next time I visit.

  • George

    9 years ago

    Honestly… I dont want to bash on the Anglo-cuisine, but its a bad joke that anything of US/English cuisine would EVER be considered “gourmet”, or even good food.

  • Adam @ GettingStamped

    10 years ago

    Great list! I have tried a bunch, but still a lot yet to taste. Headed to Turkey next month and will have to give a few of these a go.

  • James

    10 years ago

    You mentioned the fat melts in kobe beef. Check out Crispy Pata in the Philippines sometime. They boil a pig’s leg the day before, then cook it in a fire pit slowly over several hours. The skin ends up crispy and the fat turns into liquid gold. Amazing!

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey James, oh man, that’s sounds ridiculously good, would love to have some. Thanks for sharing.

  • Abbie

    10 years ago

    Great post! Your selection of food gives insight into your personality too..can’t wait to try all that I haven’t yet tried.. as for those I’ve tried, couldn’t agree more !:D

  • Ume Tours

    10 years ago

    Mark, I love your post so much. It’s great. I suggest you should add “Pho” – rice noodle soup with beef or chicken from Vietnam in this list. Vietnam is also a good paradise.

    Yummy! You make me hungry. Haha.

  • Bindi

    10 years ago

    I would travel to Sri Lanka to eat lampreis (pronounced “lump rice”). Just opening the banana leaf packet has your stomach growling. For a quick idea, you can see this link that came up when googled
    http://riceandcurry.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/the-battle-of-the-lampreis/

  • Mary

    10 years ago

    My mission in life: eat at all of these places that you have hear. Glad to see representation of China’s hotpot! My parents are from that region of China and it really is amazing!! Since I’m living in the USA, I should try some of the places we’ve got here too, eh?

    Thanks for all of your posts, Mark. You are awesome!

  • trish lambert

    10 years ago

    None of your reviewers travelled to new Zealand then?? We are world recognised for our tender Lamb, and,Island nation that we are- our wealth of seafood-especially mussels, huge, sweet and juicy green lipped mussels, and also crayfish- like lobsters but without claws. Then there are Whitebait fritters, seasonal delicacy to die for, and Paua fritters- an abalone like shell fish, -oh and I nearly for got our unique Bluff Oysters-huge and melt in the mouth. And what about Hangi-traditional Maori feast- Meat-pork, chickens,mutton, and vegetables steamed to perfection with a hint of woodsmoke, in an earth oven underground. For street food, try a meat pie-melt in the mouth pastry filled with various meat fillings and just big enough for a fast lunch-try steak and oysters or mushrooms, bacon and egg,or a local favourite, mince and cheese.
    Come on down, folks,

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Trish, that all sounds amazing, thank you for leaving your tips! Would love to visit New Zealand for the food and beauty!

  • Brad Bernard

    10 years ago

    Great post! My absolute favorite is white pepper crab in Singapore, I can’t think of anything I would rather eat. I go out of my way to connect there and stop by my favorite restaurant (which is filled with locals)
    I’ve also hear Shanghai crab is one of the best delicacies in the world, and only available for a few weeks a year.
    My oddball favorite is Thai fried tarantula in Cambodia. Just like soft-shelled crab… but hairy.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Brad, cool thanks for sharing… oh man pepper crab, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I haven’t ever tried a tarantula, sounds wonderful!

  • Vincent

    10 years ago

    Hey Mark! I want to start of by saying that your videos have inspired me to travel to eat! If I can recommend a food item to eat, it has to be Sizzling sisig from the Philippines! It’s made of pig’s face and liver (sounds insane. I know), but it tastes amazing! the combination of it’s tangy flavour and crunchy texture makes it a food to remember. Next time you fly to the Philippines, consider going to Pampanga, where the Sizzling Sisig was born and try the dish! Partner it with rice (or just about anything else really) and I assure you that you won’t regret it!

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Vincent, thank you for leaving a comment, and so happy to hear that you love to travel to eat as well! Yes, I’ve never had sisig from Pampanga, but it’s an amazing dish, would love to try it from there. Thank you for the suggestion!

  • Tom

    10 years ago

    This seems focused on foods largely from the third world other than USA and Japan ad maybe S. Korea. What about Italy Spain, Greece and other parts of Europe?

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Tom, yes… but mainly because this list is only 33 foods long… there are so many delicious foods to eat throughout the world!

  • Heather S

    10 years ago

    South Indian thali!!! I’ve had Gujarati, Goan, and Odishan thalis, but nothing beats a good Udupi thali. Its the perfect blend of sweet from the coconut milk and spicy with lots of fresh vegetables. Mmm.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Heather, yes, south Indian thali is amazing, thanks for leaving a comment!

  • Sand In My Suitcase

    10 years ago

    Not sure about the poke, though we like Hawaii :-). But we’d go back to Thailand just for its fragrant curries and Turkey for its mezzes!

  • Rob

    10 years ago

    Amazing list Mark 🙂 I ate SOO much Khao Soi in Chiang Mai when we last visited!

  • Alvi

    10 years ago

    Hi Mark, maybe you should add Rendang to the list 🙂
    it is one of world’s 50 best foods by CNN Travel (first rank)
    a must eat food if you visit Indonesia 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Alvi, I’m a huge fan of Rendang, would love to come back to Indonesia again soon! Which part of Indonesia are you from?

  • Alexander

    10 years ago

    It was a real treat to read your third 33 plus dishes – and I understand that you would travel around the world for each one of them! It is easy to see that you love the Turkish, Japanese and Chinese cuisine a lot. But how come that Spain, Austria and Germany for example to not seem to exist on your list?

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hi Alexander, thank you for reading, I appreciate it. For this list, I asked other travel bloggers what they thought, and this was the outcome. I know European countries have great food too, but since this list is only 33, just couldn’t include everything. I’ve spent a little time in Europe, but hoping to go in the future again to really explore the food more. Where are you from? What other dish would you add to this list?

    • Alexander

      10 years ago

      That is true, 33 dishes is a very limited number.
      To add to the variety I would suggest one of the famous fondues from Switzerland, an apple strudel from the end that in Austria, Gulyas from Hungary and Rheinischer Rimderbraten from the west of Germany.
      To answer your last question:
      IEM European, born near Hamburg in Germany. 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Excellent, thank you for your suggestions Alexander. I hope to explore more European food in the future!

  • Ross

    10 years ago

    Super list which is making me hungry. Iv had a few of them and would definitely put them on anybody’s list. (number 2 and 24)

  • Jimmy Dau

    11 years ago

    Love this! A few of them are going down on my list..

  • Claudia

    11 years ago

    At first I was disappointed that you did not include any Peruvian dish on your list (being the culinary capital of South America doesn’t mean much to you apparently). But then I remember that you have a plate of curries on number 8, so yeah… “Teach a monkey how to use a computer and you might have a list of 33 Foods Worth Traveling Across the World Just to Eat”. Lol

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Claudia, I do love Peruvian food and the mixture of cuisine available there. I’d love to visit again to do a lot more eating!

  • Fernando Lachica

    11 years ago

    Such a gigantic info that I received for this article. I love foods!!!

  • John

    11 years ago

    Two hot pot and two Georgian dishes but only one from Mexico? For shame! Could’ve used some mole or Oaxacan tamales or something.

    Great list, though!

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Thanks John! This is definitely not an exhausted list, there are just so many awesome things to eat around the world. I agree with you though, many Mexican foods are insanely delicious!

  • Fareen F.

    11 years ago

    Great read! As an avid traveller myself, (Born in Malaysia, migrated to Britain and now living in Kuwait) I’ve found too the most memorable experiences I’ve had, centred around food. Some of the ones worth mentioning:

    Boiled crawfish in Cajun spices, by the bag – Acme Restaurant, New Orleans, Louisiana

    Clam Singgang – at a small stall next to the fish market in Boracay, Philippines. You buy the fresh seafood there and the stall runners will cook them fresh for you, any way you choose!

    Seafood Tom Yum – eaten at a roadside stall in Hat Yai, Thailand

    Strozzapreti (priest choker) Pasta – at the fish market restaurant in Sorrento, along the Amalfi Coast, Italy

    And of course I have to add this: My mum’s Nasi Lemak, eaten steaming hot and washed down with a tall glass of iced ‘kopi’ (coffee). Yums! (Love the description in your article. Makes me want to make some for dinner now)

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Fareen, thank you for sharing a few of your favorite travel food experiences. I think the last one on your list sounds the best!

  • Shanta

    11 years ago

    Hi mark , love the food pics I am from trinidad lots of wonderful foods from all over the world packed into one tiny island. Just like to say thank for responding to all the comments made that is so thoughtful .Come to Trinidad, we have an awsome carnival with some incredible street food Roti , Bake and Shark just to name a few.Keep up the good work.

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Shanta, good to hear from you. I would love to visit Trinidad, the food sounds delicious!

  • Katie

    11 years ago

    Your pictures and the descriptions are making my mouth water. I’ve only tried a handful of those but the ones I have tried are amazing, Nata Tarts, Meze and I fell in love with truffle after trying a truffled egg sandwich ( i don’t remember its name) at a food festival in Italy many years ago. Scrambled eggs with truffle are now a Sunday brunch favourite.

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Thanks a lot Katie! Mmm a truffle egg sandwich sounds fantastic!

  • Lindsay

    11 years ago

    Hey Mark,

    I’ve been chilling in Southeast Asia for awhile now and I’ve realized that most restaurants dump oodles of MSG into every meal. As a food blogger, how do you deal with this? I have a pretty strong reaction to MSG and could never do what you do. Does MSG not phase you?

    This question has me stumped!

    -Lindsay

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Lindsay, yah it’s true that many vendor do use MSG – especially in the pre-made broths – for dishes that are stir fried or made to order I often tell them to omit the MSG and just use salt. That being said, I don’t have any problems eating MSG, I’ve never had any reaction. When I can, I try to avoid it, other than that eat it.

  • domrafa

    11 years ago

    – Churrasco/Parrillada, from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Grilled meat seasoned with lots of sea salt. Traditionally made by passing a steel spike trhough the meat and placing it vertically on the ground.
    – Bottariga from Sardinia (Italy): Spaghetti topped with fish roe. My favourite dish among all.
    – Acarajé from Brazil: fried buns made of black eyed peas flour, filled with shrimp, ocra and cassava paste.
    – Maybe the most exotic one – Maniçoba, from Marajó, Brazil. Rice with Poisonous Cassava leaves (must cook them for 8 days or it’s fatal) and pork meat. It is probably the ugliest plate to look at on earth, but most people who try it has a good impression. Often served with Tucupi, a plant from the Amazonian forest that leaves your mouth dormant.

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Domrafa, thank you for all these other delicious sounding additions. I’d love to try out that exotic Maniçoba, sounds very interesting!

  • Rob M

    11 years ago

    What!? No Pho, what the hell is wrong with you??

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Rob, there are lots of delicious things to eat in the world – this list includes 33 things – not everything.

    • Rob M

      11 years ago

      Hey Mark, yes agreed, I am a Pho fanatic however so very biased when it comes to this delicious warm, noodly, beef stocky Vietnamese soup.. throw in the lime, beansproats, slices of red raw onion, mint leaves, and then if so desire the fresh chopped red chilli. I usually add the spicy stuff half way down so I get a bit with and a bit without. I also must the chilli sauce/paste and Hoi Sin type sauce in little dishes separate, so to dip the strips of rare beef into from time to time, then slurp up the noodles and broth…. It’s food porn, food heaven. Number one comfort food.

      I like your videos by the way. There is just too much food out there to try in one lifetime isn’t there!

      Cheers, Rob

  • Thilina

    11 years ago

    Why you not add sri lankan koththu here?

  • Developer

    11 years ago

    I had to leave half way through reading this post to go to the supermarket to find something to eat…I was so disappointed to find nothing that could match these dishes. Great post very details! Took me a while to figure out that the image for the dish was above the titles (I would have expected it to be below), but thank god for the captions pointing me in the right direction 🙂

  • Tatiana

    11 years ago

    I love your blog and I think it’s awesome ^_^

    You write beautifully and I look forward to read more on your adventures 🙂

    More power to you! ^_^

  • Ai

    11 years ago

    Thank you so much for loving Japanese food!

  • Julia

    11 years ago

    Oh wow, I only just ate but now I’m hungry again!! That white pizza looks amazing, as do the dumplings, millefeuille and Penang curry! yum.

  • Scott

    11 years ago

    Mark, great post. The peppery Kuay Jap (spelling?) in Yarowat is superb and I’d go back just for that. The Japanese dishes you mentioned are great however I’d take a plate of Toro Tuna belly over Fugu any day. Please try Kinryu Ramen in Osaka on Midosuji. It’s worth an air ticket.

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Scott, thanks for stopping by, that kuay jab is amazing. I can’t wait to visit Japan, I’m going to sample that Toro Tuna belly for sure!

  • Kristyn

    11 years ago

    You have clearly forgotten about Venezuelan arepas! The most delicious sandwich ever must have just slipped your mind, but it’s OK…I forgive you! 😛

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hah, thanks a lot for the extra recommendation Kristyn… and I would love to travel to Venezuela in the future just to eat some arepas!

  • The Time-Crunched Traveler (Ellen)

    11 years ago

    We’re living in China now, so we’re loving the Sichuan Hot Pot and the Bao Zi! Ahh, but that Reuben sandwich looks soooo good!

    • Mark Wiens

      11 years ago

      Hey Ellen, thanks for stopping by. Mmmm, a Sichuan hot pot combined with a reuben sounds delicious right about now!

  • Gian Franco

    11 years ago

    Dude wth? what about Peru?? there are some many dishes in Peru that are WAY better than stuff u’ve mentioned….

  • InsideJourneys

    12 years ago

    This is quite a list, Mark! A lot of dishes from the east.
    I’d nearly stayed in Spain for the food and I’d get on a plane to India and Thailand for the same reason. I’d travel to Jamaica, where I’m from, for a lot of different dishes: ackee and saltfish with festival come to mind, a great bowl of “mannish water” soup, curried goat with rice and peas and definitely escoveitch fish.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thank you very much for sharing Marcia. Those Jamaican dishes you mentioned all sound fantastic – I’d love to fly to Jamaica especially for that goat curry, sounds fantastic!

  • auscanucksarah

    12 years ago

    Wedges with sweet chili and sour cream is one of my favourite things since I moved to Oz!! I miss it every time I go home to Canada for a visit! I also adore Aioli, something I was introduced to in Australia as well!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thank you for sharing, I’ve never had those Australian potato wedges – but they looks awesome!

  • Maria Pia

    12 years ago

    Love most of them! tottally agree with tagine in Morrocco and everything from Turkey, their food is great. But i have a question for you: Have you been to Peru? If not, you must try the ceviche, causa, carapulcra and lomo saltado. I’m sure you’ll love them!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Maria, thanks for sharing. I was in Peru about 5 years ago and I did thoroughly enjoy the cuisine – ceviche and especially arroz con cabrito was my favorite. I also think I had some of the best roasted chicken (pollo a la brasa) I’ve ever had in my life – I still dream about it sometimes! I think I might need to make another food traveling list!

  • Vicky

    12 years ago

    Seriously can’t wait to start our backpacking trip so I can try all these foods!!! Only 25 more days to go before I’m testing out the Japanese foods listed here!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Vicky – glad to hear it’s only 25 days away – and beginning with Japan, that’s a food paradise!

  • Cipri @Travelocafe

    12 years ago

    You got me hungry now!!! I need a restaurant, I am off…

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Cipri! Hope you find a great restaurant fast!

  • Zara

    12 years ago

    Btw all the above listed food is pure-vegetarian!! 😀

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Excellent – I think India is about the only place in the world I could be a vegetarian!

  • Zara

    12 years ago

    Hey.. You should definitely visit India..you will fall in love with the food.. If youre a fan of street food or spicy-tangy food..do try out the following .. It comes from a big foodies heart.. Pyaaz ki kachori.. Sev puri, bhel puri, pav-bhaji…choley-kulchey, chinese bhelpuri, alloo chaat ( fried potatoes mixed with indian spices) pani-puri, raj-kachori.. From south india you should definitely try masala dosa.. Idli sambhar.. With coconut chutney) and garlic chutney. I can go on and on about the food! There is no fullstop.
    Sweets : you should try kulfi-falooda, gulab jamun, rasgulla, ghevar!

    Every foreigner should try out the above listed stuff for a truly amazing indian food experience! :))

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Zara, thank you for all those wonderful recommendations. I can’t wait to travel to India, I think I may go a little crazy trying everything I can. I know India is one of the best food destinations in the world, and I’m hoping to visit soon. Again, thanks for all these suggestions, I will try all of them!

  • Pamela

    12 years ago

    I would travel to Tokyo for teppanyaki, to Slush Bajia in Nairobi, Kenya for the best vegetable samosa and the best bhajias, to any home in Kenya for fresh hot Kenyan chai, to Diamond Plaza in Nairobi for yummy Indian food, to Muhammad’s in Dar for East African BBQ and sauces, to Honolulu for Korean BBQ, poke, and delicious eats.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hmmm, I would love to travel for all those same exact things you mentioned… we must be related! I was thinking about Muhammad’s the other day, I want some of that asap!

  • Ms Traveling Pants

    12 years ago

    Great post!
    I lived in Spain for two years. I think that a good tortilla española or a paella are worth traveling for. Basically, the Spanish culture lives for food and socializing with it. Tapas tapas tapas tapas ole!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks for sharing! Spain is a country I’d love to visit, I know the seafood is wonderful!

  • Suzanne Pomeranz

    12 years ago

    For easy, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness, if I could afford the plane ticket, I’d be just now in Sanford, North Carolina where I’d go to Jackson Brothers’ Produce Market on Jefferson Davis Highway (South US 1/15/501) to buy a bushel of just-picked “Silver Queen Corn”! Only slightly cooked in boiling salted water and paired with boiled & chilled shrimp-in-the-shell, you can’t get any better for sheer food satisfaction!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Fantastic Suzanne, and precise directions to go with it! I can’t say I’ve ever had that combination, but from descriptions, it sounds delicious, simple and fresh!

  • Natasha von Geldern

    12 years ago

    Epic post Mark! I’ve had a fair few of these and now inspired to find more yum 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Natasha, glad you’ve already eaten some of these!

  • Pomai

    12 years ago

    Mark, this is such a GREAT idea! Awesome how you were able to collaborate with so many food bloggers around the globe in putting this together, and I’m truly highly honored that you included me in the set. Huge mahalo!

    Picking dishes I”m particularly interested in “traveling halfway around the globe just to eat” that others suggested, I SO wanna’ try the Troll King Salmon in Seattle, Truffle Extravagance in Italy, and the Madagascar Vanilla Millefeuille in France. I’m willing to bet they’re probably all up there as the “best things I’d ever had”.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Pomai, great to have your input in this article as well, and I’m so grateful for all the other food / travel bloggers that were willing to contribute to this article – wouldn’t have been possible without them.

      Those are some other good choices you mentioned, I’ve never had any of those before!

  • Sophie

    12 years ago

    I’ll add scallops, anywhere in Western Norway – and fish cakes from the ancient fish market in Bergen.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thank you Sophie, I can just imagine how fresh and delicious scallops would be in Western Norway!

  • A Cook Not Mad

    12 years ago

    Great list but how you were all able to narrow it down to one thing is beyond me. I can think of a food reason to return to every place we’ve been!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      I’m totally with you – it’s a challenge to choose just a single dish – each country and each city around the world has something worthy of traveling to eat. I hope this list will be inspirational for people to get out there and explore all kinds of local cuisines from around the world.

  • Victor Tribunsky

    12 years ago

    Hm… only one dish from Italy?! Are you kidding? May be you want to visit France and Italy once more to find the best cuisine in the world?

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      I was in France long ago and have never visited Italy, and Yes, I would love to return to eat! Do you have a favorite Italian food?

  • Jahnavi @ Indian Khana Made Easy

    12 years ago

    Wow, what a great list compilation of foods from around the world. My mouth was watering just looking through the pictures and reading the description. I enjoyed reading this post so much. I’m glad you enjoyed the Thali from India (never ending servings of lentils, rice, breads and curries). What a way to dine. I didn’t know they South Africans make their own version of Samoosas. That’s pretty cool. Have to try that if I ever get to go there.
    I also love to try different cuisines and cook various kinds of dishes. I’m a big foodie too. I especially love trying the desserts all around the world. I find it intriguing how every culture has their own version of a certain type of dessert like doughnuts and/or puddings. Each culture adds their own spices and ingredients into one basic recipe and makes it their own. I just love it.

    While you were traveling in India, did you try any desserts such as jalebi, payasm, halwa or sweet lassis?

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hi Jahnavi, thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, glad you enjoyed reading this post. I actually have never been to India, it’s a country I want to visit probably the most. But I know Derek, the guy who nominated thali absolutely loves India (and I know I will too when I visit). The closest I’ve come is Sri Lanka and Burma, and I was able to get some amazing thali there too, but never directly from India!

      I agree with you about desserts (even though I’m not a huge sweet tooth), I do enjoy sampling a few sweets everywhere I go. One thing that’s so interesting to me is the way people around the world eat desserts – for instance in the US desserts are often eaten as an after meal treat, they are often light and fluffy, in Thailand desserts are often eaten as a snack or even a full small meal – quite a bit denser and heavier. There are so many of these kinds of differences around the world with desserts.

      When I visit India I’ll be sure to sample all the desserts you recommend!

  • Patricia

    12 years ago

    What a great way to spend your life! Food photography is not easy, but you’ve done a terrific job. What would I travel across the world for? Last summer we went to Cornwall,UK, and I fell in love with scones and clotted cream, topped with fruit preserves. I also loved the Cornish beef pasties. You should check them out, there’s a great story and behind the pasty.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hi Patricia, I’m so glad that I was able to include so many different food bloggers who are all wonderful photographers. A fresh scone topped with clotted cream is definitely comforting, especially with some tea on the side. I’ve never had a Cornish beef pasty, I’d love to try one. Thanks for your recommendations!

  • Noel

    12 years ago

    Amazing post! It made my mouth water. Pastel de Nata and Salteñas are definitely my favourite on this list here, I would travel the world just to have them. And also I would travel the world for a grandma-styled Tortilla Española (Spanish Omelete).

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Noel, thank you so much for sharing! Glad 2 of your favorites are already included and a grandma-style Spanish omelete sounds awesome!

  • Rogel

    12 years ago

    You are missing one place in Southeast Asia, the Philippines.. You’ll be surprised on what my country has to offer to the world in terms of food.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks for checking this out Rogel. I visited the Philippines for 2 months a few years back and had a wonderful time sampling all kinds of dishes. I especially fell in love with Bicol Express, and tuyo for breakfast! Do you have a favorite Filipino dish?

  • BlogDaz

    12 years ago

    lots of variety there, I’m afraid I’m not very adventurous when it comes to sampling food, reading your list reminds me a lot of reading Thai menus, I would have to pick one of my trusted fall-backs, “Penang Curry “.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Penang curry is a great dish to fall back on, thanks for sharing!

  • Barbara

    12 years ago

    Now, can you just get me a ticket that will let me eat all those dishes? 33 meals in 33 days? You need to start a travel agency, Mark.

    Thanks for including me in this amazing post.

  • Tom Sidney

    12 years ago

    DAMN YOU!!!
    *salivates*

  • Ayngelina

    12 years ago

    This turned out to be an amazing list, and my new bucket list!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thank you Ayngelina, and so glad to have your expert food advice on this article!

  • maq203

    12 years ago

    Fantastic post! I especially love the quote that starts it all off. I’d have to agree with tagine–especially with chicken and raisins. I’d travel back to Parma, Italy, in a heartbeat for some pumpkin ravioli. Delish!!!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks! Mmm, pumpkin ravioli, I really love just about everything that includes pumpkin!

  • flip

    12 years ago

    wrong kind of post to read when you’re hungry LOL! great post mark!!! def mouth watering selections!!!

  • Christy @ Technosyncratic

    12 years ago

    Oh my word, what is this white pizza you speak of?? That sounds like carb heaven!

  • Stephanie – The Travel Chica

    12 years ago

    Lots of great stuff here (most of which I have never heard of). And glad to see the US is represented 🙂

  • Melissa- The Mellyboo Project

    12 years ago

    What!? no poutine in Quebec?! Delicious, delicious poutine!? omg…

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      I’ve never had the privilege of eating poutine yet… but I’m sure it’s worth a trip across the world to eat!

  • Caanan @ No Vacation Required

    12 years ago

    The Dolsot Bibimbap sounds absolutely amazing! That is my DREAM meal.

    Thanks for including us in this fun list!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Excellent that your dream meal is represented, and so glad to include your food input on this list!

  • Katherine | Kapcha The World

    12 years ago

    Oh yum – my mouth is watering now. I have to say thought that I think you could find some better food than wedges with chilli sauce and sour cream in Australia. You need some of the great food from New Zealand too – the lamb for example is AWESOME!! Great list though.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Katherine! I can only imagine how good the New Zealand lamb must be, I think if I visit I won’t be able to control myself!

  • Simon P

    12 years ago

    I’ve been travelling for more than five years and I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve only ever eaten seven of these foods! I’d better pull my finger out and start trying more food…

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Ha, that’s alright Simon, I know for sure you’ve sampled a lot of good things not on this list though too! That’s the beauty of the world we live in, so much diversity and such a mind blowing array of cuisine.

    • Barbara

      12 years ago

      Geeze, Simon, please wash your finger after you pull it out and before you start eating!

  • SK

    12 years ago

    Samoosas? South Africa? No really! South Africa has some excellent food…try the bunny chow or the bobotie or the malva pudding. Samoosas are nice too, but they are not as South African as the others are. Guess some more research was required into this.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks for the comment SK, I would love to visit South Africa to sample some of the dishes you mentioned, especially the bunny chow! While traditional dishes are delicious, the foods that are a result of the melting pot with a mix of flavors can also be amazing!

  • Ruth (Tanama Tales)

    12 years ago

    Super amazing post. It is incredible how mush I learned (and salivated) from reading it.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thank you Ruth, glad you enjoyed this post and thanks for checking it out!

  • Stephen

    12 years ago

    Awesome post! I’d travel for a number of these! And plenty I haven’t had yet. Good to Old Forge pizza in there…very close to my hometown in Pennsylvania.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Cool Stephen, that pizza does look outstanding! Glad to hear it’s so close to your hometown!

  • Nancie

    12 years ago

    Great list. Some I have tried, others I would like to.

    Two things I would travel the world for ….Thai green papaya salad (I have a favorite salad maker in Chiang Mai), and Nova Scotia lobster (being from Nova Scotia, they are on the top of my list anytime I head home.)

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hi Nancie, I know exactly what you’re talking about with your favorite som tam maker – and though there are so many, that one specific lady / man does it the best! Mmm, Nova Scotia lobster, that is something that should be on my to eat bucket list. Thanks for sharing!

  • Arti

    12 years ago

    You also accompany Samuel to India, Mark!! We will have a Jalebi treat 🙂 They are a must try in India 🙂

  • Arti

    12 years ago

    Mark, Jalebi’s are melt-in-the-mouth stuff!! A must try in India 🙂

  • Arti

    12 years ago

    Thanks so much for giving me a chance to be a part of such a fantastic post Mark!! Its really amazing to see all the food from so many different places around the world!! The Gujarati Thali features from India apart from the Jalebi’s 🙂
    Maybe next time you should have 33 foods to try in India, there are so many choices. I was torn between Pav Bhaji, Pani Puri, Samosa, Bhel, Kadhi Chawal, etc… But finally decided to go for a sweet 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hi Arti, I’m happy to have your Indian food expert input for this post! I’m sure in India there is an endless supply of great things to taste. I can’t wait to visit sometime in the future! I understand… it was so hard to narrow it down to just one food, but you made a great decision!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Laura, thank you for sharing your picks. All three dishes look exceptional, especially that chicken changezi, I can almost taste the spices… and my mouth is indeed watering. We just might have to do a part 2!

  • 2summers

    12 years ago

    Thanks for featuring me, Mark! I haven’t had the chance to read through the whole list yet but looking forward to it when I get back from the road. It all looks delicious 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Heather, and happy to have your delicious food recommendation on this list! Have a great trip right now.

  • Joel Bruner

    12 years ago

    Hey man, great amount of info goin on here and some unbelievable shots!!

    its awesome to see how many of the comments are about Ethiopian food 🙂 People know whats good!

    I think my all my top gotta-have-its would be from Japan, but I am scared to think of them in terms of week by week budgets of life in Thailand. It might be more than a week per meal!!

    Awesome post bro, ill share it. Stay well

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks man. I think if we take a feasting trip to Japan we’ll have to be responsible – disregard all budget, eat all we possibly can, and worry about the consequences much later on…! The food will be worth it for sure.

  • Pajaree

    12 years ago

    Make me hungry 🙂 Khao Soi and Panang curry are my favorite food too. Come visit Chiang Mai where Khao soi originally from you will love it here.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Nice that your favorites are on the list Pajaree! Yes, I’ve been to Chiang Mai just twice and each time I’ve been able to have some really good Khao Soi. Do you have any khao soi restaurant recommendations?

  • Joe

    12 years ago

    Here’s my Top 20 reasons that I’ve ALREADY left home to eat in Vietnam!!

    http://www.eatingsaigon.com

    🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Nicely done Joe, 20 justified and TASTY reasons! #4 is pretty crazy, open just 90 minutes a day and packed in like sardines in red stools… that’s the way to keep demand high!

  • Sara

    12 years ago

    Hey, what a great list you have there, and nice pictures too.

    But, I’m a little concerned about 32.

    For all the other foods, you specified the names, even though they are unpronounceable to some. Well, the “Ethiopian Meal” in the picture is actually called, “Mahaberawi”, which means a mixture, as all of the different kinds can come separately as one meal, but they’re mixed together.
    Also, why put “Kenya” as the country too? Just because you can find Chinese food in U.S.A., doesn’t mean you have to mention it, right?

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Sara, thank you for the comment and for the tip, and you’ve got an excellent point which I agree with. I went back to edit the post and only included Ethiopia. Does the term ‘mahaberawi’ include injera on the bottom and all the different dishes on top? and then if you just have a single dish (even if it’s on top of injera) is it called mahaberawi too or by the dish name?

      Thank you for your input, Ethiopian food is a cuisine I absolutely love eating and I’d really love to learn much more about. Do you have a favorite Ethiopian dish?

  • Joy (My Turkish Joys)

    12 years ago

    Hooray for Turkey! Of course, I love eating here and eaten my fair share of hamsi and mezes. Looks like there’s lots of places to visit and eat.

    I’d add: Chili Pepper Crabs in Singapore to the list. Makes you want to keep licking your fingers!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Joy, all the Turkish food representation is making me want to visit next Hamsi season! Thanks for your addition, that’s a great choice too! Are there any really good Turkish crab dishes?

  • Andre

    12 years ago

    the fact that Tanzanian Pilau/spiced rice didnt make the cut leaves alot to be desired and the focus on fish dishes challenges the need to travel so far for so little

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Andre, Tanzanian / Zanzibari pilau is one of my favorites as well. Do you have a favorite place to eat it in Tanzania? I also think Zanzibari Mix would be another thing worth traveling to Dar just to eat.

  • Erica

    12 years ago

    This post reminded me of when I went to an Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle and thinking “I need to go to Ethiopia for the food.” It’s going to happen.

    Thanks for having me, Mark!
    It was great to be on such a mouth-watering list!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      I had some really good Ethiopian food last time I was in Seattle, there’s a pretty good selection. Do you have any Ethiopian restaurants in Japan? Any good? Glad to include you on this list, I know you’re also obsessed with food!

  • Daniel McBane

    12 years ago

    I lived in Japan for three years and never tried two of the Japanese dishes on this list: the Kobe beef because I chose to have an apartment instead and the blow fish because all of my Japanese friends kept telling me it’s not worth it and I’d be better off having squid sashimi instead. I still believe they were right (the squid is amazing), but I wish I’d tried it once. And I will someday.

    As for the ramen: definitely. Personally, I prefer the tonkotsu (pork stock) version from Fukuoka, but you really can’t go wrong with any style of ramen in Japan. Unfortunately, it kind of ruins noodle soups in the rest of Asia though. After being in Japan, I was unable to eat the stale instant noodles floating in a bowl of dirty oil mixed with a bit of water they serve at most places in China.

    And while I love Bibimbap and it was my go to in Korea as well (in large part because it was the first dish I learned how to read), if I found myself in Korea long enough for just one meal, I would go with the barbeque.

    • Erica

      12 years ago

      Fugu is definitely a delicate flavor and I don’t think it’s worth it unless you eat it specifically in Shimonoseki. I know a lot of people eat it expecting it to be an explosion of foodgasm, but it’s true beauty, like many things in Japan, are on the subtle side 🙂

      And I am totally with you on the ramen thing. People here go nuts about what kind of ramen is best, and having roots in Yamaguchi Prefecture (near Fukuoka), I say tonkotsu all the way!!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      It’s just incredible to think about the passion and the expertise that goes into Japanese cuisine, and as you put it, it’s not a foodgasm but a subtle culinary pleasure – and I know for sure it’s as fresh as possible and prepared with acute precision (how it has to be given the danger of such a fish)!

      I’m 1/2 Chinese and my grandfather migrated to Hawaii when he was in teenager. He was a chef all his life and my mother tells me that he was one of the only chefs in Honolulu (at one point) that was officially certified to prepare pufferfish.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Daniel, I appreciate you sharing, I know you’ve got a lot of dining experience, especially around Asia. How does the price for a meal of Kobe beef compare to eating a meal of fugu? Though I’ve never been to Japan, I’d really like to try it, probably its part thrill?

      Thanks for your ramen recommendation. I really hope to make it to Japan myself one day and try a few of the many varieties!

  • Mark

    12 years ago

    WoW! Just made me travel the whole world JUST to eat!
    and the #32 .It is just Ethiopian food. it has nothing to do with Kenya. Ethiopian food is one of the most exotic one, and really tasty.

    I didn’t see any hungarian food. I would travel to Budapest to eat 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hi Mark! I agree with you, I originally included Kenya because of the large population of Ethiopians in Kenya and the place where I’ve eaten Ethiopian food continually. Ethiopian cuisine really is one of the world’s most flavorful cuisines and the communal eating culture is just outstanding! Do you have a favorite Ethiopian dish? Or Hungarian dish?

  • Debs @ The Spanish Wok

    12 years ago

    Amazing post, thanks for sharing but I now have you to blame for my tastebuds popping like candy LOL.

    This has given me an idea for a post on my site. If that’s OK with you? And of course I’ll be linking it back to you.

    I’d want to travel all around asia/malaysia sampling street foods and hopefully make friends with locals who invite me into their home for home cooking – we can all dream eh?

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Debs, of course that’s alright!

      Traveling around Asia and Malaysia sampling all kinds of food is a great great idea. Learning about some of the dishes and how to cook them, and learning the culture through cuisine is a wonderful passion to follow. Keep up the motivation and you can pursue your dream.

      I’m really looking forward to seeing your post!

    • Debs @ The Spanish Wok

      12 years ago

      Hi Mark,

      Thanks for the permission, will begin work on the post over the weekend. As soon as published I’ll forward a link for you to view.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Sounds great!

  • Audrey | That Backpacker

    12 years ago

    So much goodness in one post! That Reuben Sandwich especially made me hungry. We just don’t get sandwiches like that in Korea!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Cool, thanks so much Audrey! I agree with you, isn’t that sandwich spectacular looking? I think it’s been years since I’ve had such a perfect sandwich like that.

  • Mohit

    12 years ago

    Food is really Yummy…. but you must have added Indian Samasa in place of Southafrican. 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hi Mohit, glad you enjoyed this post and thanks for sharing. I know Indian Samasas are great, but have you ever tried a South African samoosa?? You might never know until you taste it!

  • paul | walkflypinoy

    12 years ago

    glad to be part of this mouth-watering post. i just bookmarked it. that way i know what to stuff my face with should i find myself in any of these countries.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks for contributing Paul, so many good things to eat by so many food loving travelers!

  • Liv

    12 years ago

    Millefeuille…hmmm! What a distracting post to read before lunchtime! There’s a few things here that I am yet to try, but since discovering new foods and tastes is one of my favourite parts of travel, hopefully it won’t be long!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Liv, thanks for leaving a comment on this post. Really glad to hear that tasting food has become one of your favorite parts of travel, and I hope you can tackle this list soon!

  • Kenji Cheow

    12 years ago

    Damn…
    I miss Nasi Lemak so badly now…

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      I understand your pain… and so many dishes are BEST from the source!

  • apol

    12 years ago

    my fave bibimpap is in the list!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Great to hear that Apol, bibimbap is such a great creation that I thoroughly enjoy as well!

  • Samantha

    12 years ago

    Momos in Nepal, for sure! Actually, anything in Nepal.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Great, thanks for sharing Samantha! I had to look up momos. Dumplings must be one of the most comforting dishes on the planet!

  • Pamela

    12 years ago

    My mouth is watering right now! I like that you included non-traditional foods… many of them I had no idea existed.

    I will add:
    -Fish tacos in Ensenada, Baja California. Mexico
    -Chicken empanadas in Salta, Argentina

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Pamela, thanks for adding your delicious choices. Baja California fish tacos sound incredible right now, as do chicken empanandas from Salta. Apart from being chicken, were they similar to #24 Salteñas from Bolivia?

  • Sara @ Off The Map Travels

    12 years ago

    love that Oz’s Potato Wedges w/ Sweet chili sauce and sour cream made the cut! I thought I was the only one obsessed with this!

    so simple, yet so delish 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Haha, well, glad you found Cailin who is also in love with these amazing potato wedges. It really is often the simple dishes cooked perfectly that are the best!

  • Nisha

    12 years ago

    Hey Mark!! Ah so yummylicious post! It’s so difficult to choose only 33. There are so many more. Glad to see an Indian thali making it here. 🙂

    Bon apetit!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Hey Nisha, thanks for the comment! I agree, 33 is a small number when talking about food on the global scale. This is merely a beginning to the diverse and wonderful range of dishes around the world. I know for sure, there are hundreds of things worth traveling to eat just in India alone! Besides thali, any other Indian dishes you’d recommend?

  • Hilarye

    12 years ago

    Ahhh food porn. These are all worthy of cashing in some frequent flyer miles!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Yes they are Hilarye! Where would you use those frequent flyer miles to go, in order to eat?

  • Taryn

    12 years ago

    This post makes me hungry! I totally agree on your Georgian selections, I had no idea how amazing Georgian food is until we stumbled into a small, local restaurant in Tbilisi and randomly ordered off the menu- everything was amazing. So was the local wine 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      That’s great to hear Taryn, thanks for sharing. Before organizing this post, I knew just about nothing about Georgian cuisine, but now I’m ready to go there and explore the delicious cuisine. Did you have any favorite dishes you ordered at the restaurant in Tbilisi?

  • Shirlene from Idelish

    12 years ago

    Now nothing I eat for tonight’s dinner will quite cut it after seeing this list!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Ha! You may just have to fly back to Japan tonight for a meaty slice of Kobe beef!

  • jan

    12 years ago

    I was feeling hungry before I read this post, but it was a little early for lunch. But NOW, I am wanting so much more than my pantry can provide. Not fair!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Haha, thanks for commenting Jan, and hope you can uncover something wonderful from your pantry!

  • Nomadic Samuel

    12 years ago

    What an incredible list of foods around the world. The funny thing is that I have actually travelled to places (or should I say back to places) for specific foods. I’d enjoy a nice plate of Jalebi right now 🙂 Thanks for the feature Mark!

    • Sara @ Off The Map Travels

      12 years ago

      probably not as far as you.. but I made the trip from NYC to Atlanta specifically for Gelato once! ..can’t beat Paolo’s Gelato (in the USA atleast).

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Nicely done Sara. That’s a pretty decent trek for some Gelato… and well worth it I’m sure!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Going back to a certain city just to eat is a GREAT thing. After that killer never-ending Korean feast we devoured in Seoul, I knew how much you enjoyed eating as well! I really want to sample jalebi, looks interesting and really good.

    • Arti

      12 years ago

      You are Welcome to India Samuel 🙂 Will treat you with the best Jalebi’s in town 🙂

  • Average Traveller

    12 years ago

    What a great list! The only item I would add is lampredotto (tripe sandwich) from the central market in Florence. If you like tripe it’s well worth the 3 euros plus the flight to Italy.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thank you for your input Ryan. As a lover of tripe, that sandwich sounds wonderful, I’d love to try it in Florence!

  • Alex

    12 years ago

    Great Post. We’ve sometimes traveled to specific towns just because they were famous for a certain dish. Some people eat to live and others live to eat. It’s a lot of fun to be the latter.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Fully agree Alex, and cool to hear that you also have traveled to towns just for the dish they do best. There’s nothing like taking a journey with food at the finish line.

  • Colleen

    12 years ago

    Any thali anywhere in South India.

    Neopolitan pizza. It really is deserving of al the praise and cannot be reproduced outside Naples, Italy.

    Veg sandwich, street side, India.

    Kinilau; marinated raw fish with chilies, Philippines.

    Durian; of course, a fruit, not a meal, but a fruit entirely worth making a meal out of. SE Asia.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      AWESOME, thank your for adding your favorites to the list Colleen – and some seriously delicious items. I didn’t have kinilau when I was in the Philippines, but sounds great, I’ll have to look more into that. What part of the Philippines is it from?

      We share a bonding obsession for durian, which easily justifies a trip to SE Asia to consume!

    • Colleen

      12 years ago

      Kinilaw (actually spelled with a ‘w’ at the end = ) originates in the Southern Visayas region of the Philippines, though I found it all over the country. It’s similar to ceviche and is comprised of raw tuna marinated in vinegar and the juice of super-sour tiny local Calamansi limes, along with finely diced red onion and finely diced tomatoes. It’s seasoned with ginger, garlic and salt plus a sprinkling of red hot chili peppers. The Philippines have amazing food courts in their many malls where you can see and try lots of different Filipino food. I was always on the hunt down for my favorite Kinilaw and found it in most food courts and on most menus wherever I went.

      Since we’re talking Filipino food I’d also like to give a shout out to my other favorite Filipino dish which is Bicol Express, an amazing stew of finely diced pork cooked in a stock of coconut milk, shrimp paste with plenty of garlic and onions. Super heavenly, deeply habit forming and so satisfying over a mound of hot rice. These days I’m vegan but for anyone still carnivorous, these two dishes are not to be missed in the Philippines.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Colleen, your descriptions make me want to catch the next flight to the Philippines. When I was in the Philippines I also fell in love with Bicol Express. Have you ever tried to make a vegetarian version of Bicol Express? I guess the sauce wouldn’t taste the same without shrimp paste, but the rich coconut cream would still be amazing stewed with mixed vegetables.

      BTW, yesterday I enjoyed high quality durian, it was magical – it was really like eating sweet butter!

  • Tawny- Captain and Clark

    12 years ago

    Oh my! I don’t know whether to shed tears of sorrow or tears of joy. This post has left me starving but also excited for what I’ll be having for dinner tonight. One of our favorite parts of traveling is eating our way around a country.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Haha, maybe a little of both! Thank for the comment and great to hear you also enjoy eating when you travel. Have a great dinner!

  • JPM (Lotus Artichoke)

    12 years ago

    Thank you. Very delicious post. I would -and well, I have- gone around the world a few times to get some of those amazing eats! Especially the vegetarian Gujarati Thali. Yes, yes, yes!

    I’m very intrigued by the amount of world travel + world food excitement going around!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Cool, thanks for sharing JPM, and vegetarian Thali is an excellent choice. I agree, seems there’s a recent and big rise in people appreciating local cuisine when they travel – which is great!

  • Juno

    12 years ago

    What an amazing recap! Wow, I’m making lunch right now and I just want to fly to anywhere in the world to have these food! 🙂 Thanks for featuring mine and my golden food: white pizza!

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Wouldn’t it be cool to buy a round-the-world ticket, just for food!? Right now I want a few slices of your pizza recommendation!

  • Gerard ~ GQ trippin

    12 years ago

    Loving it… Just woke up and now I’m STARVING! Thanks for including us.

  • Turkey’s For Life

    12 years ago

    Thanks for asking us to be part of this. I’ve just really enjoyed going through everyone’s favourites. Think we chose the best though because Robyn of Eating Asia chose the same (near enough) dish as us. THAT’S how good hamsi is. And Turkish meze in there, too – Yeahy, go Turkey! 😉
    Julia

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Turkey is well represented, definitely among the best destinations for food. Though I’ve never had it before, I’m sure Hamsi is absolutely incredible and I can’t wait to try it – hopefully in Turkey sometime!

  • Cam

    12 years ago

    Yum, Yum, Yum!
    Great post Mark – thanks for the inclusion. You’d think that this post would help me decide on dinner tonight, but now I’m more indecisive as ever! 🙂

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Cam! Haha, hope you can narrow down your dinner decision quickly!

    • Baptiste

      10 years ago

      Hi,

      Man I just admit your list is nice and mouth-watering.
      BUT… Holy BUT… I live in Nice where the Aïoli is served every friday, and what you show as Aïoli is NOT Aîoli. It is actually more a “bagna-cauda” or hot-bath, which is in that picture served indeed with what looks like an aïoli sauce. Aîoli is another dish by itself made with desalted cod-fish served with steamed vegies and a boiled egg and that comes on the side with an Aïoli sauce (home made mayonnaise with garlic).
      The real “bagna-cauda” is served with an emulsion of anchovies and olive oil whichj is put in the middle of the plate and where everyone is invited to dip its raw vegies.
      Thanks for your attention. As for me and for you, when it comes to eating, truth counts !
      Cheers, Baptiste.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Baptiste, thank you so much for sharing. Glad you love food too!

    • Manoja

      9 years ago

      I am a food lover. Thanks for this post, simply loved it. Feel much better and less guilty knowing ““He that has never traveled thinks that his mother is the only good cook in the world” – Kenyan proverb.”
      Just few years ago, I figured this out.
      I watched one of your video about Sri Lankan Cuisine, Coconut Sambol, I couldn’t find any Sri Lankan dishes on this post?? You have good taste pallet I am sure these dishes are wonderful and wait to try.
      Working on Sri Lankan Cuisine(Traditional) – Any thoughts?
      I say ” Thanks to influence of foreign invaders and neighboring countries, Sri Lankan cuisine is one of a most complex cuisine in the world”. What would you say.
      Thanks