20 Must-Eats Around the World
Here is a very informal list of the best foods that I have personally tried throughout my travels that I think should not be missed.
1. Sambal Stingray — Any market in Singapore
Easily the best thing that I have ever had the pleasure of eating. This dish came across me unexpectedly while on a trip with a good friend. We were sitting in a hawker market, and she proceeded to order for us. I was thoroughly intrigued when this blackened stingray dish arrived in front of me. Crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside, and spicy while still having incredible flavor- tied together this makes a phenomenal dish. This could be due to the fact that the dishes in these types of markets are based on recipes that they have perfected over the years, making them professionals for what they are selling.
2. Buko Pandan — Manila, Philippines
The color of this dish is intimidating to say the least, which had always been a deterrent to me. This light green colored dessert is creamy, with chunks of jello, tapioca pearls, and coconut strips immersed in sweet cream and condensed milk. It is amazing- and I am not the biggest fan of jello-type things. Something about the texture and interesting consistency, paired with the perfect blend of flavors creates a dessert which cannot be passed up.
3. Gyro —Anywhere in Greece
Okay, so while backpacking in Europe, this seems to always be one of the cheapest meals. What was great about the gyros in Greece was that they normally only cost 1 to 2 euros, and were massive! They come fully loaded with all the fixings (including fries!) and perfectly cooked meat wrapped inside a huge pita. The flavor was always consistent and hit the spot.
4. Savory Pannenkoek — Anywhere in the Netherlands
There is so much infatuation with crepes these days, for good reason, however something that will never be topped for me in the pancake category are the pannenkoeken in Holland. They are thinner and wider than normal pancakes, but not quite as thin as crepes are supposed to be made. What makes the Netherlands the best place to have these, is that they have perfected these pancakes and have a plethora of variations. The savory flavors are unbeatable, incorporating ingredients such as bacon, cheese, eggs, chilies, and the list goes on.
5. Tom Kha Gai —Bangkok, Thailand
Soup isn’t exactly what you think of when you think of Thai food, but this soup is out of this world. The marriage of coconut milk, lime juice, and lemon grass, creates the best mouth feel and taste. It can be made spicy, add veggies, or choose a type of meat. It can also be found practically anywhere, so you won’t have an excuse!
6. Arròs Negre — Barcelona, Spain
Also sometimes called Paella Negra, this rice dish is very unique, and packed full of flavor. Originally, I believed that the dish was black simply from using forbidden rice. I was shocked to find that the black is actually from using squid ink. This dish had a variety of flavors in each bite, such as seafood stock, saffron, onion, tomatoes, bell peppers, and the list goes on. In Barcelona, it was often served with a garlic sauce or dip, which helped balance the dish. You can easily follow this meal with churros and hot chocolate at a local shop- if you have room.
7. Pastel de Nata — Lisbon, Portugal
These little egg tarts did not sound like something I had to try. I quickly noticed that these little pastries were in every cafe I passed by. When I finally came around to it, I could not stop! They are flaky, but the inside is kind of sweet and savory, normally looking almost torched to perfection. If you are lucky enough to catch them right out of the oven, you are certifiably going to go back for seconds.
8. Tostones — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Simply put, twice fried plantains. If you like the mixture of salty, semi-sweet, crispiness, then this is right up your alley… but I’m pretty sure everyone loves that. I won’t go too far into it, but these are something that can be easily snacked on all day even without a dip of any sort. And you don’t feel so guilty since they are plantains.
9. Plain Ol’ Spaghetti — Rome, Italy
The biggest group on my food pyramid. When you think of Italian food, pasta is the first thing that typically comes to mind. It is really a right of passage to have a bowl of spaghetti while visiting Italy, but with good reason! Somehow, something so simple has been perfected here and is spot on every time.
10. Lomo Saltado — Cusco, Peru
Marinated sirloin. Sauteed onions. Fries. Need I say more? This dish has solid ingredients and is cooked well by anyone who makes it in Peru. It is normally only a couple bucks and served with rice! Just what you need, especially while backpacking.
11. Cronuts — New York City, New York
Originated in New York, cronuts are delicious! It’s halfway between a croissant and a donut, but filled with flavorful cream making it moist in every bite. Perfectly crispy, flaky, and sweet; New York does it best.
12. Meat Pie — Sydney, Australia
Yet another thing on this list that did not originally peak my interest, but after I tried it, I was in love. These are cute little pies filled with minced meat, gravy, and a usually a few more vegetables. You normally get them hot, and they make for the perfect to-go snack/meal.
13. Apfelstrudel — Vienna, Austria
They can be found in practically every cafe and Austria sure knows how to make a fantastic apple strudel. The thin layers of dough, sandwiched with thin slices of apple and then baked to perfection. I could eat one with every meal without thinking twice!
14. Goulash — Budapest, Hungary
For some reason I always believed goulash to be some type of pureed soup, but saw it as the main featured dish at most restaurants in Hungary. I eventually decided to try it during a cold day and, you guessed it, fell in love again! A seemingly simple soup that is made from macaroni, cubed meats, tomato, onion, and plenty of seasonings is actually very difficult to recreate. Hungarians have been making this throughout the decades, and they do it so well.
15. Clam Chowder — San Francisco, California
This is one of those items I typically can get anywhere along the coast, but nowhere will compare to the clam chowder you can get in San Francisco. I don’t know what exactly the difference is; all I do know is that it is superior to any other clam chowder I have tried. Not too creamy, not too thick, and the right amount of vegetables and clams. Just don’t forget to get it in a bread bowl!
16. Tacos Al Pastor — Mexico City, Mexico
When you see al pastor in Mexico, it looks a lot like shawarma meat rotating on a spit. Al pastor meat is pork based and is flavored with things like pineapple, chilies, and onions. The meat is immensely flavorful, and the tacos here are always delicious. Try this instead of a chicken or steak taco next time, if you haven’t already!
17. Tagine — Marrakesh, Morocco
This seemed to always hit the spot when I was in Morocco. Whether I was just walking around all day, riding camels, or whatever else was in the itinerary, I could not go wrong with tagine. There are many types, but the vegetable tagine was my go-to. It was almost stew like, but not too much liquid, and served with rice. This dish borders between sweet and savory as well, since it has your typical vegetables such as potatoes and carrots as well as things such as dried apricots to help round out the flavor.
18. Like 10 Baguettes — Anywhere in France
Bread in France is always incredible. They are firm on the outside, while remaining soft on the inside. You can have them plain, you can add meats and cheese, they can be a snack or an appetizer. They are easy to grab and super cheap. I have yet to find a baguette that compares.
19. Fish N’ Chips — London, England
This dish originated in the UK and they sure know how to make it best. The batter is always perfect, the fish is never too “fishy,” and the fries are always golden. I’m a fiend for fish n’ chips, but London is the place to get them (I could also just be a potat-hoe for the fries though).
20. Currywurst — Berlin, Germany
Currywurst is another item that I would frequently see on menus when walking through towns in Germany. It’s a fast food type of item that is a bratwurst topped with curry flavored ketchup and served with fries. Easy, delicious, and makes my mouth and tummy happy afterwards.
Do you have any dishes that you think I missed? Post them in the comments so I can drool over them!
