If you’re a foodie, you’ll know that the best part of any holiday is sampling the local cuisine. But while every city has its own unique dishes and exciting flavours, there are some destinations that have food steeped in their DNA.
Whether it’s Morocco’s flavourful tagine or a bowl of comforting pho in Vietnam, here are a handful of destinations widely considered to host some of the best dining experiences in the world.
Tokyo, Japan
At the heart of Japanese cuisine, there’s Tokyo. From fine dining restaurants to casual izakayas and street markets, you’re guaranteed to find something to satisfy your taste and budget.
With thirty Michelin-starred sushi restaurants sprawled across the city, it goes without saying that it’s home to the finest and freshest sushi you’ll ever taste. Then there’s the warming ramen, soba noodles, delicious katsu curry and okomiyaki – the ultimate late-night comfort food. A thick pancake filled with whatever you want, it’s topped with mayonnaise and barbecue sauce and grilled on a hot plate on your table.
Marrakech, Morocco
Home to some of the most bizarre but beautiful culinary traditions, Marrakech transforms every meal into an experience. Defined by its Arabic, Mediterranean, and Andalusian influences, with a bit of European flair thrown in, the city boasts an abundance of local produce. Exotic spices and irresistible aromas fill every street, turning a simple stroll into a stomach-rumbling mission to track down the finest food.
If you’re feeling daring, try a sheep’s head – a popular delicacy. Or, play it safe and order a traditional Moroccan tagine dish, slow-cooked in a traditional clay pot, or try a harira – a tasty lentil soup often used during Ramadan to break the fast.
Lima, Peru
Peru’s capital city has reinvented itself in the last decade, and is now widely regarded as a global gastronomy destination to rival that of São Paulo and Buenos Aires.
You can’t visit Lima without trying the nation’s signature dish: ceviche. You’ll find variations of this zesty dish, made from fresh raw fish, everywhere you go – from street food stalls to the top restaurants.
If you pride yourself on being an adventurous foodie, there’s plenty here to sink your teeth into. Anticucho, a grilled cow heart on skewers, can be found on many street food stalls and casual snack menus. Peruvians eat guinea pig too – or cuy as it’s known locally. It’s considered a delicacy for special occasions, but you can find it in restaurants all over the city.
San Sebastian, Spain
Famous for the pintxos – Basque tapas bars that litter its streets – and its handful of Michelin stars, the small Spanish city of San Sebastián is widely recognised as one of the best food destinations in the world. The city even has one of the highest number of Michelin stars per square metre, beating the likes of New York and Paris!
However, if you’re on a tighter budget, head for the street market stalls where you’ll find some of the freshest seafood around. Pintxos are an absolute must-try – small pieces of bread topped with a variety of ingredients, from Spanish ham, prawns and anchovies to cheese, chorizo or mushrooms.
New Orleans, USA
With influences from several immigrant populations, New Orleans is a melting pot of fantastic food. Notes from Native Americans, French settlers, Africans, Southern American culture, and Caribbean, Creole and Cajun spices combine to create a forever-changing array of flavours.
Three distinct dishes you can’t miss are: the po-boy, an overstuffed sandwich of seafood or roast beef; gumbo, a West African stew; and beignets, doughnut-like squares of deep-fried dough dusted with powdered sugar – but that’s only the beginning. The real challenge is whittling down the copious options in order to taste the very best.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Balancing salty, sweet, sour and spicy flavours, Vietnam’s cuisine is a blend of the country’s French colonial past and its neighbouring Asian countries, while still managing to retain its own identity.
Foodies should head straight to Hanoi, a city famous for its street food. Cafes spill out onto the pavements, with diners perched on tiny plastic tables and chairs. Grab yourself a table and slurp up some pho, a soup dish usually consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat. Perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the versatile banh mi is another must-try: a Vietnamese-style baguette filled with egg, pickled vegetables or meat.
