Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Yes, I am one of many food travelers, there I admit my obsession and my secret is now out in the world. I can’t pass by a farmer’s market without dropping in. A food truck is my happy place, and I can’t resist trying new food. Food and travel or culinary travel is our idea of heaven and we wish we could do more of it. Travel and food go hand in hand and most travel writers I know are obsessed with trying new foods and even weird food that no one else will try.

Food travel exploring markets all over the world

Travelling for food is a key theme on many travel websites and most travellers are foodies on the hunt for new international food favourites.  

A favourite saying is “I travel for food” and compiling lists of their favourite world foods keeps many travellers drooling at the thought of trying something new. This post is a collaborative effort from those travelling for food and they share their stories of food and travel around the world.

What is food travel and food tourism?

Food tourism and culinary tourism are buzzwords these days and growing segments of tourism. The World Food Tourism Organization says this: “Food tourism is the act of travelling for a taste of place in order to get a sense of place.”

New food experiences enrich any travel experience – trying unique local dishes creates memories that live with you forever.

What is Agritourism?

Agritourism experiences are where you get to stay and be part of local agricultural movements such as wine growing, cheese making, learning about local agriculture and working on farms or food growing small ventures.

Visiting farms and farmers’ markets and buying locally – these kinds of food tourism experiences help to connect us to the land where the food comes from and supports the local community.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

I have wonderful memories of all the foods I have tried whilst travelling. From elotes, the Street Food of the Yucatan, a full Irish breakfast, Doolin crab on the Wild Atlantic Way tapas in Andalucia the list could go on forever. There are so many international foods that I haven’t yet tried in their home countries and some intriguing foods that I never would have suspected would be so good.

27 Food travel favourites

Ceviche: Peru

If you want to discover Peruvian culture through food, there is no better Peruvian cuisine to try than the Peruvian ceviche. Peruvian ceviche encompasses different aspects of Peruvian culture and geography.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Peruvian ceviche is a dish made primarily with raw fish and Peruvian lime. The dish is served with sweet potatoes (camote in Spanish) and choclo, or Peruvian corn. The ceviche uses ingredients from all different regions of Peru: fresh fatty fish from the Pacific Ocean, Peruvian limes filling choclo grown in the Peruvian Andes, and camote, one of the 4000+ varieties of potatoes grown in Peru.

Ireland: Boxty

My personal favourite is Boxty. A simple Irish pancake of a sort boxty is a dish that has been around in Ireland for hundreds of years. It has many names including, boxty, farls, poundies, potato pancakes, and fadge and is often confused with potato bread but it is simply not the same.

Traditional Irish potato pancakes Boxty with sour cream

Boxty is made with freshly grated potatoes soaked to remove some of the starch or with leftover mash. Flour, water and salt are added with no leavening agents and then the resulting dough is flattened into a round and cooked on the griddle a sort of flatbread. These rounds are then cut into 4’s and served with a full Irish breakfast. The boxty soaks up the flavours of the bacon, sausage and beans and is perfect for mopping up your egg yolks.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Since I am a true foodie at heart I decided I wanted to hear from my fellow travel bloggers about their food favourites that they had encountered around the world. Some of them found deep food contentment in dishes at home and others tried things new to them and as a result, have added them to their food favourites.

Canada: Poutine

I have to say it isn’t my favourite Canadian food, I’m just not sure about cheese and gravy. Anyways, poutine is served all over Canada but it originated in Quebec. The hand-cut fries need to be perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside the cheese curds have to be squeaky very squeaky and the beef gravy must be rich, thick and tasty.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

I think that poutine would be considered the National Dish of Canada. Created in the 1950s in Quebec it has become a firm favourite right across the country. There are not many Canadian Food dishes that you can also find stretching from Hong Kong to Europe, but poutine is there.

Cyprus: Dolmades

Dolmades also called Koupepia, are grape leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice seasoned with mint, onions and spices. I have to say here that literally, the most amazing Dolmades or as Irene called them, our lovely next-door neighbour in Cyprus made Koupepia. Irene couldn’t speak English and we couldn’t speak Greek but one day she arrived at the house with a plate piled high with dolmades that she was making for a celebration. I have never tasted such divine little treats. I have no idea how she made them but they will remain in my memory forever.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Thailand: Laab

Move over Pad Thai. We have no idea why people are so obsessed with you when there is so much more incredible Thai food around. Trying to narrow it down to one is nearly impossible, but high up there in our list of amazing Thai food is laab. We had only tried Thai food once before we moved to Thailand in 2006, and looking back, it wasn’t at all authentic. Trying it in Bangkok when we first arrived was mind-blowing. What flavours! What range of food.

traveling for food, Laab

We first tried laab in Luang Prabang in Laos, in a traditional restaurant on the main street. The dish is usually made with pork or chicken mince, mixed with dried rice powder to give it a crunch, fish sauce, lime juice, thinly sliced shallots and fresh herbs, usually mint. It’s served with a selection of fresh vegetables including cabbage, cucumber and baby aubergines. It also often comes with sticky rice. It’s so simple yet so delicious.

We were delighted to discover when we returned to Thailand, that laab is a popular dish there too, due to the link between north-eastern Thailand and Laos. Since then we eat it both in Thailand and when we go to Thai restaurants abroad. We’ve even learned to cook it in Chiang Mai so we can make it at home.

Thai laab foodie favourites

So next time you go to a Thai restaurant, give the pad thai a miss and try laab. by WhatKateandKrisDid 

Spain: Tostada con Aceite y Tomate

Andalucian cuisine calls for a very light breakfast. A tostada is simply a toasted bun or pitufo that has been drizzled with olive oil, the bun is then topped with pureed fresh tomato and if you want you can add queso (cheese) or Jamon (ham). You can order a media which is a half order or a full order. The pitufo is an oblong-shaped thin crusty roll that is around 7-8 inches in length.

traditional Andalusian breakfast tostada con tomate

England: Toad in the Hole

Toad in the Hole: Warning contains no toads and no holes unless you count the deep ditch in your pan of Yorkshire pudding that the sausages nestle in. I know I complained about battered sausages above but Yorkshire pudding is not mere batter. Yorkshires are cooked in hot fat and roast juices and rise on the edges like a heavenly pillow. Served with good gravy, mash and cabbage my family’s favourite English dinner – say no more.

toad in the hole great British foods Yorkshire pudding with sausages

Thailand: Northern Sausages

Thai cuisine is divided into many regions like that in Italy and France and the flavours of the Northern part of the country differ greatly from the South. Sausages are commonplace in Thai cuisine and various regions’ seasons, marinate and stuff them differently. I tried these Northern sausages in Chiang Mei, a typical street food.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

These strings of sausages that look like cartoon illustrations of intestines are called Sai Ua in Thai, common street food in Northern Thailand. The name itself comes from the Thai words sai (intestine) and from ua (to stuff). Tied together by string and served on leaves, the fillings of these sausages were pork and glass noodles with a delicious complex marinate grilled over charcoal. They are both savoury and tart, with hints of fish sauce and lime juice.

I was told by my Thai friends that there are many variations of stuffings mostly pork and chicken. Seasoning range from aromatic Thai herbs like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and curry paste to the pork and glass noodles I had, always cooked over a charcoal grill streetside.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

They are served on their own as a snack or appetiser or sometimes with sticky rice. from Juliana Loh of Chicken Scrawlings

Turkey: Çılbır

As I’m sure many of us agree, the travel experience is never complete without culinary indulgences. One thing I always find interesting, besides local food, of course, is trying my favourite types of cuisine in different cities and countries. One of the countries that I hunt down when it comes to food is Turkey. (Partially because I can never get enough of fresh yoghurt and paprika!)

a dish of Çılbır food travel

While I have a few favourite Turkish restaurants around the world, one quickly got bumped because of one dish: Çılbır (pronounced almost like “chill-bor”). This is essentially made of poached eggs placed on a bed of classic, soft, plain yoghurt with melted butter. It is then enhanced with various spices, paprika being a prominent one.

On the side, you get freshly baked bread to dip in the bowl of dairy deliciousness. This was love at first bite, just the kind of flavour I like for breakfast, which typically includes dairy and spices. While it sounds like a fairly simple dish to make, the combination of flavours left me wanting more. For bonus points, I mentioned it to one of my Turkish friends and apparently by doing so reminded him of his mother’s cooking, so I’ll take that as a sign of Çılbır being a dish worth trying out during my future hunts of Turkish restaurants. by Maydi Diaz of flyinggalleon

Switzerland: Fondue

There’s a childish pleasure in eating Fondue; gooey hot melted cheese, the option to dip various condiments in it, and then that cheesy taste which if done right will leave just a subtle hint of wine as an aftertaste.

Swiss fondue I travel for food

The first time I had Fondue was on a cold, snowy, gloomy winter afternoon in a small restaurant somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Even though my love for cheese has no bounds I didn’t like it much, primarily because of the excessive wine content in it.

Over the years I’ve had Fondue at various places around the world, but it wasn’t till last summer when I had it once again, in Switzerland, at the home of a friend, that I appreciated the very nuances of this devilishly tasty Swiss offering.

The perfect texture and consistency so it sticks to whatever it is that you dip into it, the right temperature – not too hot or cold – and of course, the taste – more cheesy than winey – and the charm of Fondue is a dish that brings together friends and family for you just cannot have it on your own, makes this one of my favourite food experiences ever.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Oh! And before I go, a word of caution; it is advised to either drink something warm or bubbly after consuming Fondue for at least a couple of hours afterwards to avoid it solidifying in your stomach. So remember no cold water with Fondue! by Raghav Modi at tickereatsworld 

Finland: A Burger

Oh well! If I think of an actual best food experience, there is one thing that definitely stands out. There have been so many awesome places and different food I tried during my trips. But surprisingly, the best one happened to be a small food truck owned by a Venezuelan guy in Helsinki, Finland.

Norwegian burgers my fave world food

I was returning from a trip, which I have spent together with a couple of vegetarians. I needed the nastiest burger I could find, when I saw the food truck. I have found out that Venezuelans don’t have any problem with putting all kinds of meat in one burger. In this bad boy, there is beef, chicken, chorizo sausage, bacon, and eggs. After almost two weeks of the vegetarian diet, this was the best thing I have ever tasted!

Later, I talked to the owner. He told that his beef patties are made from minced meat with his special spices and garlic. For chicken, there is a real chicken breast marinated with spices. And there is a lot of stuff added: tomatoes, fried onions, small fries, cabbage and melted cheese. It is XXf***gXL size and is the only food sold at late-night Helsinki, that can make a big man like me full!

PS: it may not look large for the US but here in Nordic countries, this burger really stands out. by Alexander EngineeronTour

Iceland: Black Rye Bread

Iceland is known for its waterfalls, impressive landscapes and hot springs. When we visited the island in February, the lava fields and the enchanted atmosphere blew our minds. But there was something else that I loved: BREAD!

After I got this juicy black bread in several restaurants as a side dish, I was speechless. I made my boyfriend Chris stop at the next supermarket to fill up our snacks with Icelandic Rúgbrauð and ate it all the way around Iceland.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

The Icelandic Rúgbrauð is dark, crustless rye bread with a slightly sweet taste. And since Iceland is full of hot springs due to its geothermal activity, Icelanders use the ground to bake their delicious bread. We had the chance to experience this baking method in person, so here is what they did:

First, the dough is safely packed into a closed pod. After digging a small hole into the steaming ground, they put the pod into the ground and covered it with mud. As the ground temperature is only around 100° Celsius / 212° Fahrenheit, the baking process takes about 24 hours. The mild temperature is the reason why the bread will turn out crustless, which is good for me, as I don’t really like crust.

If you have the chance to taste warm Icelandic Rúgbrauð next time you are in Iceland, do so with some fresh salmon or salted butter, which I liked the best. And don’t forget to stock up on Rúgbrauð before heading back home – as the bread is made in the geothermal active ground, you probably won’t have the chance to bake one yourself.

As I have eaten all of mine, I definitely need to visit Iceland again soon. It’s truly magical! by Isa ofPenguinsandElephants 

Japan: Ramen

The Japanese love their ramen. Not the $0.25 instant ramen you get in any supermarket. I am talking about real ramen! Never had real ramen before? Picture fresh-cooked noodles, rich, savoury broth, the perfect amount of spice, and if you want, a few slices of pork and a half-cooked egg.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

After 7 weeks in Japan, I can say I found my absolute favourite ramen place. It’s the ramen at Ichiran. 

Ichiran is a popular ramen chain that specializes in Tonkotsu ramen, which is a pork-based broth. It is not a fancy restaurant as orders are made at a ticket machine and your seating is a chair in a little booth with little dividers. No joke.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

But in the end, it’s all about the food, right? And the ramen is utterly delicious. What makes Ichiran so special is that you get to customize the ramen to be exactly how you like it. Want a richer broth or softer noodles, no problem. Want it mild or spicy, extra garlic or green onions – go for it. They make their own flour-based noodles and their own signature red spicy which adds a special flavour to the broth (the recipe has been a top secret since the ’60s).

How do I customize my Ichiran ramen? I like a rich, creamy broth, firm noodles, extra red sauce and spring onions. The final product is highly addictive and totally warms you from the inside. Ramen I could have every single day and never get tired of. Ramen I don’t mind waiting in line for an hour for. By Wiebke Siemering MissAbroad

Turkey: Islak Burger  

When you go to Istanbul it’s a logical step to try some of the delicious food bore up by the Ottoman Empire. That’s what I did – and many other tourists will do. After trying a different kind of Kebab, Börek and Pide my Turkish friend suggested eating some “wet hamburgers”. “Yes sure, let’s eat some…. What?”

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Never have I heard of something like this to eat before. Still surprised we went to the Taksim Square where they sell the “Islak Burger”. The place is called Kızılkayalar and is surprisingly famous in Turkey. Now it was too late to run away – the pressure was on me. One burger only costs two Turkish lire, so I even bought three of them. To be honest the burger made an awful first impression: A wet bun and something that looked like meat. One bite later my opinion had changed drastically.

Yes, the bun is wet! However, it is delicious with its garlic-tomato sauce. I would love to tell you why exactly I liked it, but I can’t. You can imagine that you try a burger that looks disgusting and is wet – and in the end, you still like it. It’s kind of like Istanbul itself: magic.

Admittedly the “Islak Burger” is fast food and not a gourmet dish. Yet this is what it’s made for. Most natives of Istanbul love to eat some wet burgers after going to a party as it is open 24/7 and offers a great taste for a cheap price. If you visit Istanbul you definitely have to try it out. by Michael of mscgerber 

Indonesia: Nasi Goreng

Eat as the locals eat, and you’ll never spend more than a couple of dollars per feed. While in Yogyakarta, the creative heartland of Java, we were on a major money-saving mission. We stayed in a homestay about 15 minutes from the centre of Jogja. There wasn’t much around aside from a little family-run food cart at the end of the street. The set-up was humble; a wooden cart with a small worktop for preparation and a giant wok set atop an open flame. A small pink, plastic fan kept the fire alive. The food stall offered a small menu – all in Indonesian.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

On our first visit, we ordered the most popular Indonesian dish of Nasi Goreng – fried rice. Watching Agus whip up two delicious meals in less than ten minutes was mesmerising. Throwing together eggs, rice, soy sauce and a few secret ingredients, he made meal after meal as hungry locals arrived to place their orders.

The rice was soft and salty and fulfilling. Agus and his wife sprinkled each dish with fried onions and a side salad, adding texture and a coolness to the meal. We ate in Mas Agus night after night after night. At less than $3 for two hearty and delicious meals, you just can’t go wrong – especially when it’s combined with an awesome yet humble display of culinary prowess. by  Shannon and Adam ourtasteoftravel

Cuba: Ropa Vieja

Ropa Vieja in Spanish means old clothes and it is one of the national dishes of Cuba. It is made from a flank steak that is cooked to tenderness and then shredded and mixed with a sauce. The sauce contains onions, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and other spices that are cooked in olive oil with the broth used to cook the meat, allowing the mixture to thicken together. The meat is shredded, added to the sauce, and simmered slowly at a low temperature prior to serving.

Ropa Vieja is traditionally served with white rice and sweet plantains and of course black beans.

Ropa Vieja a favourite Cuban dish

Rome Italy: Cacio e Pepe

The Italians are masters at turning simple ingredients into delectable dishes, dishes unencumbered by elaborate sauces or dizzying arrays of spices – a fact that also makes them more accessible to average cooks like me.  One of our favourite dishes in Rome is a modest one with humble origins:  Cacio e Pepe is an ancient Roman dish first prepared and eaten by shepherds in the Apennine Mountains.  For all of its simplicity – and it consists solely of cheese, pasta, water, and black pepper – it represents the very best of uncomplicated Italian fare.

What to eat in Rome traditional Cacio e pepe a simple plate of spaghetti with pepper and cheese

Somalia: Cambuulo

Cambuulo or ambulo as it is known in Somalia is a dish made from azuki beans which are mixed with sugar and butter or oil. It is quite similar to Koshari an Egyptian dish but without the macaroni. The dish requires the azuki beans to be well cooked and mixed in with white boiled rice. This is then served with oil and or butter and a sprinkling of sugar.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Ghana: Waakye

Waakye is a rice and bean dish that is very popular as street food in Ghana. It is usually served for breakfast or lunch with a typical Ghanaian spicy pepper sauce. It can be a meal in itself or it can be eaten with boiled eggs and/or with a stew of fish, chicken, beef, or vegetables.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Malaysia: Laksa

Out of all the countries, we’ve travelled to (over 30), our favourite cuisine has to come from Malaysia. The South-East Asian nation not only has some of the tastiest dishes in the world but also offers them at an incredibly low cost. On the streets of Malaysia, you can eat for as little as $1 a meal!

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Our favourite Malaysian dish is Laksa, a spicy (sometimes) coconut milk soup dish which consists of rice noodles or rice vermicelli with chicken, prawn or fish. It has a curry-like flavour but with a soup consistency. The soup is rich, fragrant and a bit spicy, and loaded with all the essential classic Laksa toppings such as boiled egg, bean sprouts, chilli and coriander. One eatery even threw in some pineapple for some added sweetness but that’s not the usual thing to do.

You can find Laksa pretty much anywhere in Malaysia from street stalls and shopping mall food courts to proper restaurants. The best place to try Laksa is in Malaysia’s foodie capital, Penang Island. The number of dishes originating from this region of Malaysia is overwhelming and the streets of George Town old town are filled with food stalls serving Laksa and many other local treats. Visiting George Town on Penang Island is a real highlight of a trip to Malaysia. By Shelley from  Finding Beyond

Antigua & Barbuda: Fungee

The national dish of Antigua and Barbuda fungee is served with the same consistency as mashed potatoes.  Fungee is usually served for breakfast, with an accompaniment of saltfish, which is usually stewed.  Fish was, in years gone by, salt to aid in preservation with a lack of refrigeration technology.  This method still happens today and salted fish is available in many Antiguan food stores.  The salt is soaked out of the fish prior to it being added to the dish.  It’s a savoury and rather interesting start to the day.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Australia: Anzac Biscuits

Anzac biscuits are so much more than a cookie – they are a stark reminder of the country’s past. During World War 1 the wives and mothers of soldiers used to make these biscuits for their men to see them off to war with. For the soldiers, they were a taste of home. The cookies are made up of rolled oats, sugar, golden syrup, flour, butter, desiccated coconut, bicarbonate of soda, and water, which means they keep for a long time. You’ll find that they are popularly eaten on ANZAC day on April 25th. A day to commemorate the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) members who fought in World War 1.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

Hong Kong: Chau Dau Foo

Take a stroll down Burrows Street, a narrow lane in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and you will encounter a small unobtrusive stand selling an array of Cantonese snacks. What makes this stand unique is that it is one of the last places in Hong Kong to sell Chau Dau Foo or ‘smelly’ bean curd which is a fried, fermented, bean curd that has a strong, slightly pungent smell and it is absolutely delicious. Its deep-fried, crunchy outer shell surrounds an almost impossibly moist centre.

The sweet sauce generously poured on top is made from a mixture of soy and hoisin. There is a meme that it’s incredibly smelly and sadly many avoid trying it for this reason. In reality, the smell is minimal (certainly not as strong durian) and is never so strong that locals don’t want to eat it.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

The first time I tried Chau Dau Foo I purchased it from a street vendor in Victoria Park (Hong Kong Island’s large urban park in Causeway Bay). Families with small children were strolling past and I watched as many of them held their noses and exclaimed at the smells emanating from the cart. Never one to not try something because of how it looks or smells, I approached the cart curiously and ordered. What I received was a savoury, crunchy, moist piece of happiness on a stick. By Mary at thelifelongadventures

India: Vada Pav

Vada pav, also known as Wada pao, is a delicious Indian street food made of fried potato dumplings sandwiched between two soft buttered bread/bun slices. It is best eaten with a green chutney made of coriander, chillies, lime juice and garlic, a dry coconut garlic chutney and fried green chilli.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

South America: Patacones

Patacones, also known as tostones, tachinos, or Fritos Verdes – we just call them delicious – are green plantains that have been peeled, sliced, squashed, and twice-fried in vegetable oil. Long considered a staple food in many Latin American countries, patacones can be compared to french fries.

If you eat food in South America, Central America, or the Caribbean, sooner or later you will eat patacones. They’re affordable, easy to make, and, most importantly, tasty! It’s no wonder they can accompany almost any dish: fish, pork, beef, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free.

tostados, patacones international foods

To make patacones, you first must buy the correct plantains. Whether you visit the supermarket or the outdoor market, you want to be on the lookout for green plantains, not yellow ones. I made the mistake of trying to make patacones from yellow plantains and it was a disaster. Yellow plantains are much riper than their green counterparts and thus sweeter, making them wonderful for baking and other sweet treats. To make patacones, you need starchy, green plantains.

Got your green plantains? Good. Use a paring knife to slice shallow slits along the ridges. This allows for easier peeling since plantains don’t peel as easily as your average banana. In a pan of your choosing, pour about an inch (roughly 26mm) of oil and heat it up.

Once the plantains are peeled, slice them in 1 inch (roughly, 26mm) thick slices. Fry them in the oil for about 3 minutes or until they turn golden. Once they’re golden, remove them from the oil and place them on paper towels to remove excess oil. Keep the oil in the pan hot.

Using wax paper and a solid base, flatten the golden disks with the bottom of a firm glass to about ¼ inch. Once they’re all flattened, place them back in the hot oil until both sides are golden brown (2 minutes or so). Season with salt and serve immediately. Lime wedges on the side add a nice taste. by Scott and Hayley of InternationalHotDish  

Malaysia: Nyonya Laksa  

I hate to sound overly enthusiastic but this bowl of Nyonya Laksa is literally bursting with flavours. The creamy and rich coconut milk blends with the distinct taste of red curry paste, the citrus punch of lemongrass, plus a little bit of spicy kick, and your taste buds enjoy a glorious feast.

I discovered Nyonya Laksa during a long layover at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The humidity I subjected myself to while exploring the popular Jungle Boardwalk made me really hungry and I was craving a hot bowl of Asian noodle soup. It so happened that Old Malaya Kopitiam was situated at the mezzanine right next to the boardwalk so I went there to peruse the menu. The curry and coconut description for the Nyonya Laksa was all it took for me to order a bowl of this Malaysian dish and it didn’t disappoint.

Nyonya Laksa I travel for food

It turns out that Nyonya Laksa is a dish that transcends a very interesting history of a marital union between two regions.

History has it that during the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor of China betrothed her daughter to the Sultan of Malacca as a form of strategic ties between the two regions. The couple settled in the Malayan Peninsula and eventually, the royal entourage wed the locals and formed the first permanent settlement and the first generation of mixed Chinese-Malay race. During the settlement, the Nyonyas developed their unique cuisine which combines Chinese traditional cooking and local Malay ingredients.

Nyonya Laksa is the signature dish of the Nyonyas or the female descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the Malayan archipelago between the 15th and 17th centuries. by Noel of  tenthousandstrangers

France: Crepes and Galettes of Brittany

Here in Brittany crêpes are sweet super thin pancakes made from all-purpose flour and mostly served with traditional things like lemon and sugar, fruits and cream or with the perennial French favourite Nutella. Hubs of course adds Maple Syrup to his (Canadian naturally) but I do like the lemon and sugar option.

Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world

So there you have it from Laksa two ways to Swiss fondue travelling for food is a great way to see the world. If you are a foodie at heart you may like these posts. Interested in more foodie travel favourites?

What are some of your favourite foods from around the world? Where will your food travels around the world take you?

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Author

  • Faith was born in Ireland raised in Canada and has lived in over 10 countries in Europe including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales, along with Mexico, Antigua, the US and has slow travelled to over 40 countries around the world. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Women's Studies Faith is a student of history, culture, community and food and has written about these topics for over 40 years.

32 thoughts on “Food and Travel: 27 food experiences from around the world”

  1. A truly wonderful list and thank you for letting me a part of it. I’m a real foodie at heart and love to read and find out about local specialties and this is extremely helpful.

  2. Loved reading about everyone’s favorite dishes! Thank you so much for the opportunity to collaborate. Great compilation!

  3. Great article and list! And thanks for having me with the Islak Burger from Istanbul. Next weekend I will be there again so I definitely look forward to try Çılbır!

    It was also funny to read how a foreigner likes fondue – because I am Swiss 😀

  4. I’m curious about the Islak burger. I also am not a fan of less glamorous food but I’ve also had a lot of unpleasant-looking but delicious dishes.

    And thanks for including mine in this collaborative post.

  5. What a delicious post! I have tried some of these but still need to keep going. Glad the patacones (we call them tostones in Puerto Rico) were included. We have them with mojo de ajo or mayo ketchup.

  6. Food is such an integral part of travel for us, so it was hugely interesting to see so many others have the same obsession! Laksa is also one of our faves, so much so that there’s a little shop that sells it at Klia2 and we head there regardless of time of day if we’re there! Thank you for sharing so much deliciousness with us!

  7. What a great post. So informative and mouth watering! I knew places within Asia had some awesome dishes but wow so many of my favourites make me need to travel there now.

    Thanks for the travel inspo!

  8. I am so hungry after reading this post! I love checking out the local food when I travel, I’m planning a trip to Japan next year so will definitely keep an eye out for Ichiran!

  9. These look delicious!! In particular the Malaysian dishes. I hear such good things about Malay & Singaporean foods! Hopefully I can try some soon. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  10. I *so* wish I hadn’t discovered this post after dinner – my tummy is grumbling again, my mouth drooling, I’m not going to be able to go to bed without a snack (alas, nothing I can concoct in my kitchen will compare to anything on this list!). I’m also really grateful that there are a few gluten-free options (and dishes that are easily modified to GF) here! It’s one of the big bugbears of my life that food is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE parts of travelling (second only to sampling new drinks and bars), and yet I’m so limited by my crappy genetics and defective digestive system (coeliac). Luckily, with the laab, Çılbır, laksa, and several others, I’ve got plenty of options here. Thank you for sharing!

    1. I notice the same thing when travelling but at least gluten free options are more readily available, hmmm I feel another post coming on about that for traveling folks. Got any ideas?

  11. It’s so rare you see Helsinki on a food list!! Thanks for including us 🙂 another great burger place here is Naughty Brgr….absolutly amazing!

    1. I may have to do another post like this as I have had quite a few people asking about Baltic foods and my friends are huge fans of Swedish food. Interested in sending in a piece?

  12. Nicola | suitcase and wanderlust

    I am such a non-foodie! Although I love good food I really have problems trying exotic food. I think it’s great what you do and try everything!

  13. I remember the first time I had Nasi Goreng in Malaysia. Oh, what an explosion of flavours, how delicious that dish was! It was my last day in KL and I regret not having it earlier in my trip.

  14. What a fabulous list! I’d count laksa among my faves too; as a coeliac it’s reliably safe for me to eat. That’s my excuse for eating way too much of it anyway. I’m really looking forward to getting my dose of plantains when we eventually make it to South America.

  15. These all look SO delicious! Especially the Nyonya Laksa and Ramen as it’s chilly here in Ontario now! One of the best things about travelling is being able to try so many delicacies.

  16. I love boxty too, although I don’t eat it that often. The last time I had it was two years ago at the Galway Food Festival, there was a trailer selling boxty with different toppings. I had the Indian boxty and it was just delicious. The black rye bread from Iceland looks delicious!

    1. I think it must be an Irish thing, I am obsessed with all the lovely breads and I can’t pass up a fry up but only with boxty it’s a childhood thing I think, we always had it on special occasions.

  17. You’ve got me drooling! I love that you’ve put together a list comprising of such diverse dishes – clever thinking. I can literally taste the fondue, the ramen and the laksa. I particularly like that each dish has a memory attached to it, that too by such a distinct bunch of bloggers.
    Supriya

  18. This is a special list and all those photos look delicious! Can’t wait to try Chau Dau Foo in Hong Kong, when traveling there in February. Thank you for including me, Faith!

  19. Great, now I want to eat all the things. All of these dishes look fantastic. I think the Black Rye Bread from Iceland is so unique. I remember trying some the last time I was there. It still boggles my mind that it is cooked in the ground. Also, ramen from Japan. YUMMMM!

  20. Ohhh so much good food! I think tasting the local food is a must when traveling! The best food I think is found in Singapore or Malaysia because they have a mix culture of everything and we can really taste that in the cuisine!

  21. This is a great article, but made me hungry! Loved the idea of getting travel bloggers to collaborate with this post. You were able to obtain a lot of different foods from all over the world. For me I have to say, chocolate- from anywhere!

  22. I noticed there is a lot of Asian food on here! haha. I’m not that big of a fan of Asian food. I do love cheese fondue but I get so full very quick with that dish. I had no idea about the drinking part after. Good to know for next time!

  23. Great post! I’m definitely one of the foodies out there. So far my favorites have been Italy, Greece and Japan what comes to travel and eating. Big cities like San Francisco or New York are also great for food since you can find every cuisine from there.

  24. You had me at the mention of Fondue in Swiss Alps! Being a foodie myself I cannot resist myself from rushing to the kitchen right now. Sad that I cannot find anything lol. I’d love to try Malayasian and Thai cuisines for sure !

  25. We are totally on the same vibe! I travel first for food then experiences which involve more food!

    Love your photos and sharing your experiences!

  26. Absolutely love these types of post where there are multiple opinions and choices!! Food is one of the most important parts of travel for me! Planning to go to Malaysia next year and glad to see it has made this list twice. YUM!

  27. Hey!! Thanks ,its very informative.Totally love these sorts of post where there are different suppositions and decisions!! Food is quite possibly the main pieces of movement for me!

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