Here's Everything You Should Eat When Traveling To Asia — As Recommended By Locals Across 20+ Countries
If you're like me, you've definitely laid in bed watching shows of food tours around the world, whether on Netflix or YouTube, all while mentally making a list of places to hit up when you *eventually* travel to these countries. Lately, I've been watching a bunch that are based in Asia.
Mark Weins / Via youtube.com
How do I become Mark Wiens?
Naturally, I was then super curious when u/nirzhor_cyclonite asked, "What food should someone try if they visit your country?" on Reddit.
Many locals from Asian countries responded with their favorite dishes, so here are their recommendations (that I'm obviously bookmarking for future travels):
1.Korea: Haejangguk, a hangover soup consisting of dried napa cabbage, vegetables, and meat with a hearty beef broth made from boiled ox bones.
This soup above is a haejangguk made with pork.
There's also doenjang jjigae, handmade kimchi dumplings, naengmyeon, and seed hotteok.
Suggested by: u/red_violets
2.Iran: Gheimeh, a beef and split-pea stew made with saffron potatoes and served over white or aromatic rice that's sprinkled with a Persian rice spice blend.
Don't forget to try ghormeh sabzi, too.
Suggested by: u/FlyingWhale80
3.Vietnam: Pho, a noodle soup in beef bone broth with thinly sliced beef, bean sprouts, onions, and herbs.
Beyond the classic pho, there's banh mi and bun cha (especially if you're in Hanoi).
Suggested by: u/blackmagic999
4.India: Panipuri, round and hollow puri (which are like a crisp, deep-fried flatbread) typically stuffed with flavored water (imli pani), tamarind chutney, chaat masala, potato mash, onion, chickpeas, and chili powder.
Suggested by: u/Tactical_Nuke_
5.Syria: Shawarma, a thinly sliced marinated meat (usually chicken, turkey, or beef) shaved off of a slow-roasted rotisserie.
Suggested by: u/dracarys240
6.Myanmar: Mohinga, rice noodles in fish broth with cilantro, crispy fritters, and (optional) chili powder.
Suggested by: violetphwe
7.Japan: Udon, thick noodles made of wheat flour served in a lightly flavored broth, typically with vegetables and a protein (like beef, tempura, or tofu).
Plus, some wagyu beef and yakisoba.
Suggested by: u/nevaehhhhhhhh
8.Lebanon: Tabbouleh, a fresh herb-and-bulgur salad with finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, onion, and mint.
Also add hummus, balila, shawarma, bed ghanam, fweregh, lamb tongues and brain, kabab, labneh, mujaddara, and fattoush to your list.
Suggested by: u/removeyourmask
9.Taiwan: Beef noodle soup, which consists mainly of tender beef, noodles, bok choy, suancai (Chinese sauerkraut), scallions, cilantro, and red chilies.
Also, look out for popcorn chicken and stinky tofu!
Suggested by: u/JuiicyJC
10.Singapore: Chicken rice, poached chicken and rice that's been cooked in chicken fat and chicken stock, along with garlic, ginger, and pandan leaves, and served with red chili and soy sauce.
Suggested by: u/Saturnaiden
11.Pakistan: Mutton karahi, fresh and crisp lamb curry made with tomato, ginger, and garlic.
Suggested by: u/try-bi-sum-cum
12.Philippines: Crispy pata, crispy and deep-fried pork leg served with a spicy soy-vinegar dip.
If you can, try it from from Ana Lisa's Take Home Crispy! And also, try cebu lechon and carabao mangoes while you're in the country.
Suggested by: u/dikonaalamkungbakit
13.China (Northern): Xinjiang lamb skewers, four to five smaller pieces of lamb grilled on five-inch skewers separated by small chunks of fat and marinated in salt, cumin, white pepper, chili powder, and Sichuan peppercorns.
You can also try laghman, another Uyghur cuisine.
Suggested by: u/thisredditorisnoone
Though some call these "old Beijing skewers," the dish originated in Xinjiang, officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a large autonomous region in China, wherein a majority of the people are ethnically Uyghur and religiously Muslim.
14.Indonesia: Nasi goreng, a fried rice dish made primarily with meat, vegetables, and a fried egg, and flavored with kecap manis (a sweet soy sauce), and terasi (an Indonesian shrimp paste).
There's no one recipe for nasi goreng, so there are countless variations out there. Also recommended? Martabak and nasi uduk.
Suggested by: u/JeremyJRP
15.Malaysia: Nasi lemak, rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, topped with crispy, fried anchovies and served on a banana leaf.
You should also check out assam laksa, char kway teow, penang hokkien mee, KL hokkien mee, rendang, nasi kandar, kolo mee, hainanese chicken rice, and yee sang.
Suggested by: u/_TadStrange
16.Bangladesh: Khichuri, a one-pot dish of rice, lentils, and mixed vegetables.
Heads up, there are various types of khichuri. Plus, you can also try dim bhuna, fried hilsa, kacchi biryani, and tehari.
Suggested by: sabrinaalmgr
17.Hong Kong: Dim sum, small plates usually consisting of steamed and fried buns, dumplings, and rolls.
You can try fen guo and custard buns dim sum, amongst many others.
Suggested by: u/CultureDTCTV
18.Laos: Kua mee, a stir-fried, dry rice noodle dish made with eggs, herbs, vegetables, and (sometimes) pork, topped with bean sprouts.
There's also lao herb sausage, khao piak, and Lao beef jerky. There's also dipping sauce for many things in Laos that you can easily try with sticky rice.
Suggested by: u/DuasBatatas
19.Saudi Arabia: Kabsa, a primarily chicken and long-grain rice (like basmati) dish made with spices such as black lime powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, and cloves.
Different meats and vegetables can also be used to make kabsa.
Suggested by: u/TheRedditJedi
20.China: Hot pot, a communal meal made by cooking meats and vegetables in a large pot filled with simmering broth that is then dipped in sauce for extra flavor.
Most hot pot ingredients include thinly sliced meat, vegetables, bean products, egg dumplings, tofu, and/or seafood.
You can also check out Shanghai soup dumplings and egg/tomato scramble over rice.
Suggested by: u/JayCee1321
21.Thailand: Khao soi, a soup-like dish consisting of a curry-like sauce (with coconut milk) and made with a blend of crispy, deep-fried egg noodles and boiled egg noodles, along with pickled mustard greens, lime, shallots, and fried ground chillies.
If you're in Chiang Mai, you should especially try khao soi.
Suggested by: u/thisredditorisnoone
