The 30 best food cities in the world

The best food city in the world?

Let’s start off with a contender for the very best food city in the world. Japanese cuisine is one of the most popular, and Tokyo is the place to explore all the beautiful dishes it has to offer. Tokyo has the most restaurants with Michelin stars in the world. Still, for us who prefer a bit more casual culinary experiences, there are also plenty of street vendors, sushi bars, curry shops, and the world-famous Japanese pubs called izakayas.

What to eat in Tokyo

One of the must-try dishes in Tokyo is sushi, which is made with fresh, high-quality fish and is often served at specialized restaurants called sushi-ya. Another celebrated dish is ramen, a hearty noodle soup that comes in many different variations, always with a rich broth topped with various ingredients such as pork, seaweed, and eggs. Other traditional Japanese dishes to try in Tokyo include tempura, a type of deep-fried seafood or vegetable, and tonkatsu, a breaded and fried pork cutlet. There is also a whole category of dishes called donburi, which always have a bowl of rice as the base, and then some yummy topping such as chicken, onion, and eggs.

If Tokyo isn’t enough (unlikely!), you can also visit the nearby port city Yokohama which is famous for its beef hotpot called gyunabe and its chinatown serving up world-class Chinese style dumplings.

Spicier than Tokyo

Let’s not leave Japan just yet. Osaka is also one of Japan's best food destinations due to its unique local cuisine and its abundance of excellent restaurants. Osaka's food is different from Tokyo's in that it tends to be more robust and flavorful with spicier flavors, often with a heavier emphasis on meat. Whereas Tokyo's food is generally lighter and more delicate. Osaka is also known for its unique regional dishes, some of which can almost only be found in Osaka. There is a lot of street food to explore too, especially at Dotonbori and Kuromon markets.

What to eat in Osaka

You should definitely try unique local specialties such as okonomiyaki, a savory pancake made with cabbage, pork, and other ingredients, takoyaki, a fried snack made of a wheat flour-based batter with pieces of octopus inside, kushikatsu, deep-fried skewers of vegetables, seafood, and meat, and kitsune udon, udon noodles with deep-fried tofu. Osaka is also a great curry destination thanks to both the milder brown curry and spicier yellow curry.

Osaka is easily combined with a visit to nearby Kyoto which is another one of Japan’s best food cities, as well as a truly beautiful place full of ancient temples.

Street food heaven

Bangkok is a great food destination because it has an amazing variety of cuisines from all over Thailand and beyond. There is something for everyone, from traditional Thai dishes to international cuisine. Street food is extremely popular in Bangkok and you can find anything from noodles and skewers to fresh fruit and desserts. There is even a simple noodle shop named Jay Fai, which was the first street food stall in the world to earn a Michelin star. No visit to Bangkok would be complete without trying some of the famous street food - it's a great way to experience the city, the cuisine, and the local culture. A word of advice, do not ask for spicy in Thailand if you do not want to experience the "triple burn"; it burns on the way in, while inside, and well, on the way out.

What to eat in Bangkok

Prominent dishes include tom yum, a spicy soup, pad thai, a stir-fried rice noodle dish with shrimp, peanuts, a scrambled egg, and vegetables, som tam, green papaya salad, and a variety of red, green and yellow curries that range from mild to hot as hell. The perfect way to end any meal is with mango sticky rice, a world-famous dessert with fresh mango, coconut milk and peanuts. Thai ice tea has a very distinct flavor that matches the food well and helps cool you off in this often very hot city, most people drink it with milk, but it is pretty great without as well. Last but not least, tropical fruits are delicious in Thailand so have some fresh mango and perhaps even some smelly durian.

Do you like it spicy? Thai-spicy?

A few hours from Bangkok, you find Chiang Mai, which has quite different food from that of the capital. Chiang Mai is known for its spicy Northern Thai cuisine, with bold flavors and fragrant spices. Dishes often feature ingredients like lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves, and tend to be more intensely spiced than in Bangkok.

Many Thai people say that Chiang Mai and the surrounding region are a much better food destination than Bangkok, while others say that the sheer amount of quality eateries in Bangkok and its busy street food culture is hard to compete with. Both are among the best anywhere.

What to eat in Chiang Mai

Some regional dishes include khao soi, egg noodles in a creamy curry-like sauce with pickled cabbage and shallots, the local delicacy gaeng hung lay, a pork belly curry that is rarely found elsewhere, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, a spicy noodle soup, sai ua, a herb-stuffed pork sausage, and khanom jeen, rice noodles with curried fish.

The best food in Vietnam

Vietnamese cuisine is quickly growing in popularity around the world, and more and more of the country’s dishes are getting the attention they deserve. Vietnamese food is divided into three distinct cuisines, with food from North, Central, and South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is an excellent place to try both local Southern dishes as well as food from the rest of the country. The local cuisine is heavily influenced by Chinese and French cuisine, with unique touches of its own. Often the best food is served at simple street-side vendors with small plastic stools to sit on. Even though these places feel quite temporary, many have been around for more than a decade, perfecting a single dish or a handful at most.

What to eat in Ho Chi Minh City

Dishes to try when visiting Ho Chi Minh City include phở, a noodle soup with a clear broth often served with thinly sliced beef, bánh mì, Vietnamese baguettes filled with everything from grilled meats to pickled vegetables, gỏi cuốn, spring rolls, cơm tấm sườn, broken rice with a freshly grilled pork chop and an egg sunny side up, bánh xèo, rice pancakes filled with shrimp and vegetables, and bún thịt nướng, rice noodles topped with delicious grilled pork, peanuts, and fresh herbs like basil and mint. If you want to something sweet, chè is the name for a variety of local sweet soups, some iced with jellied fruits, some warm with banana and coconut milk or ginger-filled dough balls. And for a caffeine boost, do try cà phê sữa đá, Vietnamese ice coffee with condensed milk.

Healthy and yummy Korean food

Seoul is considered a foodie paradise for its vibrant and diverse culinary scene. Korean cuisine is both popular and among the healthiest in the world, so you don’t have to feel bad if you overindulge a bit when visiting.

What to eat in Seoul

Definitely try bibimbap, a mix of sautéed vegetables and meet with a raw egg served over hot cooked rice, kimchi, a spicy fermented cabbage dish, japchae, stir-fried glass noodles, and bulgogi, a marinated beef dish. For a sweet treat, try patbingsu, a shaved ice dessert topped with sweetened condensed milk and fruit. The city also has lots of street food options like tteokbokki, spicy rice cakes, odeng, fish cake skewers, and lots of different kinds of buns. don't forget to sample some of the local drinks like makgeolli, a traditional rice wine, and soju, a distilled liquor often flavored with fruits such as tangerine, grapefruit, and peach.

Home of the dim sum

Hong Kong offers everything from traditional Cantonese dishes to modern fusion cuisine. Hong Kong is home to dim sum, which are small dishes often shared among friends and family around a round table. A bit like Spanish tapas that include everything from dumplings to chicken feet. Dim sum is normally a breakfast or brunch meal. Dim sum is normally eaten at a restaurant, for other dishes some of the best places to eat in Hong Kong are the local wet markets and the open-air food stalls called dai pai dong.

What to eat in Hong Kong

Fresh seafood is plentiful, as are dim sum and delicious street food. Some of the most beloved dim sum dishes are har gow, steamed shrimp dumplings with a translucent wrapper, siu mai, steamed pork and shrimp dumplings, char siu bao, steamed buns filled with BBQ pork, lo mai gai, glutinous rice wrapped in a lotus leaf filled with mushroom, chicken, and Chinese sausage, and jiaozi, steamed or boiled dumplings filled with pork, beef, vegetables, or shrimp.

Night market snacks

Taipei is known for its night markets offering an array of snacks and street food that should not be missed. The night markets do offer normal shopping, but honestly it feels like an excuse to walk around with a snack in hand. Apart from the night markets you will find that Taiwanese cuisine is heavily influenced by Chinese and Japanese food.

What to eat in Taipei

Must-try dishes include xiao long bao, dumplings filled with meat and broth, gua bao, buns filled with meat and sometimes something pickled, dan dan noodles, wheat noodles in a spicy peanut sauce, beef noodle soup, oyster omelets, and stinky tofu. Beware, the last one is not for everyone! Another local creation that has taken the world by storm is bubble tea, ice tea with tapioca pearls making for a refreshing drink that you can chew.

A melting pot for cultures and cuisines

Singapore is renowned for its incredible variety of cuisines, from local favorites to international dishes, making it a great food destination for both the adventurous foodie and the more traditional diner. Singapore’s multicultural population has created an amazing food scene, and it is home to both some of the world's top restaurants and thousands of simple street-side hawker stalls.

What to eat in Singapore

When visiting Singapore, visitors should try some of the local favorites, such as Hainanese chicken rice, poached chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock, chili crab, mud crabs cooked in a spicy tomato-based sauce with chili and garlic, laksa, a spicy noodle soup made with coconut-based curry gravy, satay, grilled skewers of marinated meat served with a spicy peanut sauce, and the national dish nasi lemak, fragrant coconut rice served with a variety of accompaniments such as hard-boiled eggs and fried anchovies. These dishes feature a unique blend of spices, flavors, and ingredients, and are sure to satisfy even the most discerning palate.

One of the most influential cuisines

Chinese cuisine has evolved over many centuries to become one of the most famous and influential cuisines in the world. It is known for its use of a wide range of ingredients and cooking methods, and its emphasis on freshness and balance. Dishes vary greatly in flavor, texture, and presentation, and can range from light and healthy stir-fries to rich and flavorful braised dishes. Beijing is the place to try them all.

What to eat in Beijing

Try dishes such as Peking duck, Beijing BBQ, and some of the best dumplings in the world. And save some space for some of the city’s famous snacks, such as jianbing, a savory crepe, youtiao, fried dough sticks, and lamb kebabs. Street food is incredibly popular in Beijing, with vendors selling everything from dumplings to barbecue skewers. Make sure to try some of the local favorites, such as guotie, potstickers, and jiaozi dumplings.

Spicy Sichuan cuisine

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in China and often considered to be the food capital of China. The region is world-renowned for its delicious peppers that influence its spicy regional cuisine. Chengdu is also home to some of the world's most famous teahouses, so take some time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea in one of these establishments.

What to eat in Chengdu

Hot pot, a broth simmered in a pot and is usually served with a variety of meats, vegetables, and sauces, mapo tofu, a classic Sichuan dish made with tofu and a spicy sauce made from chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and fermented bean paste, dan dan noodles, thin wheat noodles served in a spicy chili and peanut sauce, kung pao chicken, a spicy dish made with chicken, peanuts, and chili peppers, and spicy wonton dumplings. There are also plenty of delicious vegetarian options, such as vegetable-stuffed buns, stir-fried eggplant, and steamed tofu.

Explore the food of the Middle East

Beirut is the perfect place to explore the flavors of the Middle East as the city is an important cultural and culinary intersection. Lebanese cuisine features a variety of vibrant, flavorful ingredients and spices that provide a unique culinary experience and today you find Lebanese restaurants in almost every major city.

What to eat in Beirut

Dishes that everyone should try when they visit Beirut include hummus, a creamy, garlicky chickpea dip served with warm pita bread, tabbouleh, a parsley salad with tomatoes, mint, onion, bulgur, seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice, shawarma, thinly-sliced marinated meat cooked on a spit and served in a wrap with pick, falafel, fried balls of mashed chickpeas, herbs, and spices served in a pita wrap, kibbeh, ground beef and bulgur wheat mixed with spices and herbs then deep-fried and served with a tangy yogurt sauce, and fatteh, a layered dish made with toasted pieces of pita, yogurt, and chickpeas, topped with herbs and nuts. The street food is particularly delicious and varied, with kebabs, flatbreads, and grilled meats being some of the most common. Lebanese desserts, such as baklava, knefeh, and halawet el jibn, are also renowned for their deliciousness.

Connecting Asia and Europe

Istanbul sits right at the border between Asia and Europa and is a great food destination because of its unique blend of flavors and cultures. It has been influenced by its past conquerors, including the Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. Combining this with modern Turkish cuisine, you get quite a selection of dishes to dive into belly first.

What to eat in Istanbul

When visiting Istanbul, you should not miss out on kebabs, a celebrated range of Turkish dishes made from grilled meats and vegetables such as iskender kebab, a traditional dish made with sliced lamb served with yogurt and tomato sauce on top, doner, thinly-sliced cooked meats cooked on a vertical rotisserie, and adana kebab, which is a minced meat kebab made with spices such as cumin and red pepper. Other dishes to try include traditional Turkish soups such as tarhana, a thick soup made with a mix of dried yogurt, tomatoes, and bulgur wheat, lahmacun, known as Turkish pizza it is a thin pastry topped with minced meat, tomato, onion, herbs, and spices, and dolma, vine leaves stuffed with a mix of rice, herbs, and spices. And then for dessert you can try some künefe, a pastry filled with cheese and soaked in syrup.

The culinary capital of Italy

​​Bologna is an incredible food destination due to its unique combination of traditional recipes and modern interpretations. Sure you will find fantastic food all over Italy, Naples has the best pizza, Rome and Milan have a huge amount of restaurants representing all regions, Florence gathers the best of all of Tuscany, but Bologna is often called the culinary capital of Italy. No small feat considering the competition.

What to eat in Bologna

Must tries include tagliatelle al ragù, a type of wide, flat fresh egg pasta served with a meaty ragu sauce, lasagna alla Bolognese, meaty sauce between layers of pasta, cotoletta alla Bolognese, a veal cutlet coated with eggs, flour and breadcrumbs, tortellini in brodo, a type of pasta served in a rich and flavorful beef or chicken broth. Bologna is also known for its cured meats, such as prosciutto and culatello, as well as its delicious cheeses, including Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padano. Don’t forget that Italy has some of the world's best wines, so pair your meals with a good bottle of Italian vino. Normally the house wines will be pretty amazing, so no awkward selection process needed.

The food capital of Tuscany

Well the actual capital of the region too, Florence is a great food destination because of its traditional Tuscan cuisine. What really sets Florence apart from other Italian cities is its focus on fresh, local ingredients, such as olive oil and wild game. The dishes in Florence are generally a little simpler, lighter and fresher than in Bologna, additionally Florentine dishes are often cooked in olive oil, while Bologna is more likely to use lard or butter.

What to eat in Florence

Some dishes you should try when you visit include bistecca alla fiorentina, a Florentine-style grilled steak, ribollita, a hearty stew of vegetables, beans, and bread, pappa al pomodoro, a thick tomato and bread soup, finocchio alla griglia, grilled fennel, and for dessert tiramisu, ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese, flavored with cocoa. As for anywhere in Italy really, the coffee is teriffic and the espresso bars are perfect places to practice your Italian.

Not just baguettes and smelly cheese

Paris is one of the great food destinations of the world, with an incredible variety of flavors and influences from all over France, Europe and even further afield. There is something for everyone, from traditional French classics to contemporary cuisine. French cuisine has inspired chefs around the world for more than a century, and people here clearly care about what they put on their table.

What to eat in Paris

Try some of the classic French dishes like steak frites, steak and fries, croque monsieur, a cheese and ham sandwich, cassoulet, a slow-cooked bean stew, bouillabaisse, a seafood stew, coq au vin, chicken cooked in red wine, and boeuf bourguignon, beef stew in red wine. For something a bit more contemporary, sample the tartare de boeuf, raw beef tartare or the escargots de Bourgogne, snails in garlic butter.

The French are also world-famous for sweeter creations such as the paris-brest (a choux pastry filled with praline-flavored cream, crêpes, thin pancakes served with a variety of fillings, macarons, almond meringue cookies, and of course croissants.

The true capital of French cuisine

Lyon is widely regarded as the gastronomic capital of France, with some of the best restaurants and most flavorful dishes in the country. The local cuisine is heavily influenced by the abundance of fresh produce and meats available in the region, as well as its proximity to the Mediterranean coast. Unlike the traditional French cuisine of Paris, Lyonnais cuisine is marked by heavy sauces and slow-cooked dishes.

What to eat in Lyon

Lyon is renowned for quenelle de brochet, pike dumplings in a creamy sauce, saucisson Lyonnais, spicy pork sausage, gratin Lyonnais, baked potatoes with cheese and cream, tarte aux pralines, a pink-colored tart with almonds and caramelized sugar, and poulet au beurre, chicken cooked with butter and herbs. For something lighter you can try the Lyonnaise salad, lettuce, poached egg, bacon, croutons, and mustard vinaigrette.

Tapas, tapas, tapas

Even though it will upset a lot of people, Madrid made the list and not Barcelona. It seems like many travelers prefer the food in the capital even though Barcelona is the more visited destination. In Madrid a lot of the best food comes in the form of tapas. Spanish tapas are, similar to Hong Kong’s dim sum, small savory dishes or snacks that are shared. Tapas usually consist of a variety of hot and cold items, such as olives, cheeses, cured meats, anchovies, croquettes, fried fish, and other fried or grilled items. Tapas can be served as an appetizer, a light meal, or as a snack between meals. They are often accompanied with a glass of beer or wine.

What to eat in Madrid

Some popular tapas dishes include patatas bravas, spicy potatoes, tortilla española, potato omelette, croquetas, deep-fried savoury pastries, and jamón ibérico, perhaps the best cured ham on the planet. Some of the city's other iconic dishes include the gazpacho, a cold, tomato-based soup served with a variety of vegetables, chorizo a la sidra, a type of Spanish sausage made with pork, paprika and other spices cooked in cider, and calamari, deep fried octopus. For dessert, delicious churros con chocolate can be found in many cafes, while a creamy flan is a must-try.

The best food in Spain

San Sebastián, also known as Donostia in Basque, is renowned for its exquisite gastronomy and is considered one of the best culinary destinations in the world. The city is a paradise for food lovers, as it boasts a variety of restaurants and bars that serve traditional Basque cuisine and innovative dishes made with top-quality ingredients.

What to eat in San Sebastián

Pintxos, also known as pinchos, are small dishes typically served on small slices of bread. The word "pintxo" comes from the Basque word "pintxatu," meaning "to spike or pierce." Pintxos are typically made of a combination of ingredients skewered together with a toothpick and placed on the piece of bread. Pintxos are different to tapas in that they are usually served as individual portions, and often more elaborate, with a variety of ingredients and flavors, while tapas tend to be simple and rustic.

Some popular pintxos to try include tortilla de patatas, potato omelette, txistorra, spicy sausage, and bacalao, cod. Another must-try in San Sebastián is the seafood, which is fresh and abundant due to the city's location on the Bay of Biscay. Some seafood dishes to try include percebes, goose barnacles, kokotxas, hake cheeks, andmejillones, mussels. You should also be sure to try some of the region's renowned cheeses and wines. The cheese could also be tried in the form of the trendy and delicious "burnt" basque cheesecake, scorched and caramelized on the top with a smooth and rich interior.

San Sebastián is great to combine with nearby Bilbao which is another terrific food destination.

10,000 restaurants from all over the world

London is a great food destination even though British cuisine is perhaps not what the rest of the world crave for. This is because the city offers an incredible variety of cuisines from all over the world. With over 10,000 restaurants, you can find anything from traditional British dishes to exotic international flavors. For local fare we recommend the pubs that offer great casual meals, nice beer, and an opportunity to hang out with locals.

What to eat in London

For a classic British experience, visitors can try fish and chips, an iconic dish of deep-fried fish and thick-cut chips, served with tartar sauce. For something a bit more exotic, try a full English breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, and fried bread. Other must-try dishes include the classic bangers and mash, a pub staple of sausages and mashed potato, and a classic Sunday roast with roasted meat, potatoes and vegetables. Indian food is also a staple in London, and a visit to one of the city's many curry houses is a must. Top dishes include chicken tikka masala, a creamy tomato-based dish, and bhaji, a deep-fried vegetable fritter. London is also home to some of the best Chinese restaurants in the world, with dishes such as dim sum, crispy duck, and prawn chow mein. For a sweet treat, try a traditional English afternoon tea with scones.

Cuisine rich in history

Vienna is a great food destination because it has a rich culinary history and a long history of being influenced by other cultures, such as the Ottoman Empire, and this gives it a unique flavor. Many of the city's traditional dishes have been passed down for generations, and can be found in the many wonderful restaurants located throughout the city.

What to eat in Vienna

Some of the signature dishes visitors should try when they visit Vienna include wiener schnitzel, a thin breaded and fried cutlet of veal, tafelspitz, a boiled beef dish served with a variety of accompaniments, kaiserschmarrn, a shredded pancake served with plum compote, sachertorte, a chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam, and do not miss apfelstrudel, a layered dough pastry with an apple filling inside. Vienna also has a thriving street food scene, with popular items such as sausages, pretzels, and goulash soup served from food carts.

Artful combinations of local and international

A bit like London, Copenhagen manages to deliver culinary delight to visitors despite the traditional local cuisine not being world-renowned. Here the city’s chefs have long been considered experts in the art of combining traditional Danish flavors with international cuisines to create something truly special. Today the city is a hub for foodies, with some of the best restaurants in Europe.

What to eat in Copenhagen

When visiting Copenhagen, you should try traditional dishes like smørrebrød, open-faced sandwiches traditionally served with a variety of toppings such as herring, frikadeller, a type of Danish meatball typically accompanied by potatoes and gravy, and stegt flæsk, fried pork often served with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. And a visit to Copenhagen would not be complete without trying some of the city’s famous pastries, such as kanelsnegl, cinnamon rolls, and wienerbrod, Danish pastries. For drinks, sample some of the local beers or traditional Danish spirits like Aalborg Akvavit or Gammel Dansk.

Diverse deliciousness

New York is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and that diversity is reflected in its cuisine. From authentic American dishes, to traditional Italian dishes and exotic flavors from around the world. New York also has a vibrant street food culture, with food carts and food trucks offering up delicious and inexpensive meals.

What to eat in New York

A classic New York-style pizza, a pastrami sandwich from Katz’s Delicatessen, a bagel with cream cheese and lox, a hot dog from Gray's Papaya, and a slice of cheesecake from Junior's. For those looking for something more unique, there’s also the classic Italian-American red sauce dishes from Little Italy, the soul food and BBQ of Harlem, the dim sum of Chinatown, and the Latin-American specialties of the Lower East Side.

Creole and Southern European influences

In New Orleans, you will also find a mix of culinary traditions just like in New York, but the ingredients are very different here. From Creole and Cajun cooking to French and Spanish influences, the city has a unique, vibrant culture that is reflected in its flavorful cuisine.

What to eat in New Orleans

Dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, po'boys, muffulettas, and beignets are a few of the iconic dishes that capture the city's diverse history. Gumbo is a classic Cajun dish that is a thick soup with chicken or seafood, andouille sausage, and okra. Jambalaya is a hearty rice dish that is made with chicken, sausage, and veggies. Po'boys are sandwiches made with French bread and filled with roast beef, fried oysters, or shrimp. Muffulettas are Sicilian-style sandwiches made with salami, ham, cheese, and olive salad served on a round sesame loaf. Lastly, beignets are the classic New Orleans dessert, a French-style doughnut covered in powdered sugar.

Southern cuisine with a twist

Charleston, South Carolina, is a great food destination due to its unique mix of traditional Southern cuisine and the influences of African-American, French, and Caribbean cultures. It offers a wide variety of delicious dishes that have been crafted and perfected over centuries. From classic Lowcountry favorites like shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and hush puppies, to modern interpretations of southern favorites, Charleston is a foodie’s paradise.

What to eat in Charleston

For a modern take on southern cooking, head to one of the many restaurants in Charleston that specialize in farm-to-table cuisine. Here you’ll find dishes like pulled pork sandwiches topped with house-made BBQ sauce, crispy fried chicken, and fresh seafood dishes like crab cakes and shrimp and grits, this classic dish consists of shrimp cooked in a flavorful sauce and served over creamy stone-ground grits. If you are in the mood for something a bit more substantial, you should try a Lowcountry boil, this classic dish is made with shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn and is served with a tangy vinegar sauce.

The best food in South America?

Mexico City is one of the most exciting food destinations in the world! A foodie paradise, offering a wide range of flavors and dishes that will tantalize any palate. From traditional Mexican cuisine to modern fusion dishes. And Mexican cuisine is one of the most popular around the world with its tacos, nachos, and guacamole being found in almost every country today.

What to eat in Mexico City

Make sure to grab tacos al pastor, a dish made with marinated pork cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served with pineapple and onion on soft corn tortillas, chilaquiles, a dish made with shredded tortillas and cooked in a green or red salsa and topped with cheese, cream, and onion, huaraches, a thick flatbread topped with beans, cheese, and other ingredients, elote, a grilled or boiled corn on the cob served with lime, mayonnaise, chili powder, and cheese, and tacos de guisado, tacos filled with delicious stewed meats.

Zapotec + Mixtec = unique food

The cuisine in Oaxaca differs from that of Mexico City because it is heavily influenced by the native Zapotec and Mixtec cultures with many dishes featuring ingredients like corn, squash, and beans, and offering more complex flavors. Dishes such as mole negro, tlayudas, and tamales are unique to Oaxaca and not found in Mexico City. The use of chiles and spices is also more prevalent in Oaxaca, which gives its cuisine a unique touch.

What to eat in Oaxaca

One of the most famous dishes in Oaxaca is mole negro, a rich and dark sauce made with chiles, nuts, spices and chocolate. Other must-try dishes include tlayudas, a large crispy tortilla topped with refried beans, quesillo, string cheese, tamales, cornmeal filled with meat, vegetables, and spices, steamed in a corn husk, and if you are feeling adventurous; chapulines, fried grasshoppers.

The best steaks in the world

Buenos Aires offers a unique blend of flavors and ingredients that you won't find anywhere else, and the cost of dining out is very affordable, making it an excellent place to explore a variety of delicious meals. No trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without trying some of the city’s famous steakhouses and parrillas that specialize in grilled beef.

What to eat in Buenos Aires

Traditional Argentinian include choripan, a delicious chorizo sausage sandwich served on a crusty roll often topped with fresh tomatoes, onions, and chimichurri sauce, empanadas, savory pastries filled with a variety of ingredients, including beef, cheese, and vegetables, provoleta, a type of cheese that is served melted and bubbling on a hot plate, often topped with oregano and garlic, asado, a traditional Argentine barbecue, cooked over a fire and served with a variety of meats, and for something sweet; alfajores, a sweet sandwich cookie filled with dulce de leche. Buenos Aires also has some of the best Italian restaurants in the world, so a great pasta or risotto is never far away.

The best of North African cuisine

Marrakech is well-visited by foodies thanks to the traditional Moroccan food which is distinct from other cuisines, as it blends the tastes and spices of North Africa, the Middle East, and Mediterranean Europe. Dishes are often cooked slowly over charcoal and wood fire, which gives them a unique smoky flavor.

What to eat in Marrakech

Definitely try tagine, a stew-like dish made with meat and vegetables cooked in a clay pot, couscous, a steamed grain dish normally served with vegetables and meat, and pastilla, a savory pastry filled with shredded chicken and spices. Other delicious options include harira soup, a hearty tomato-based soup with lentils, chickpeas, and a variety of herbs and spices, and mechoui, a slow-cooked lamb dish marinated in delicious spices. Lastly, don’t forget to enjoy some of the city’s famous pastries and sweets such as makrout, a date-filled pastry, ghoriba, a shortbread cookie, and bastilla, a sweet pastry filled with almond and cinnamon.

Local produce on your plate

Melbourne is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, including high-end establishments, casual eateries and everything in between. The city also boasts some of the freshest and most delicious produce, from seafood caught in nearby Port Phillip Bay to locally grown fruits and vegetables. Be sure to sample some of the city’s famous coffee. Melbourne is home to some of the world’s best coffee, and you’ll find an array of cafes serving freshly ground brews.

What to eat in Melbourne

Start with the classic Melbourne dish, the anzac biscuit, this delicious oat-based treat has been a staple of Aussie cuisine since the early 1900s. Then move on to traditional aussie pies, classic fish and chips, gourmet burgers, succulent steaks, and fresh seafood. Finally, you can’t visit Melbourne without indulging in some of the city’s famous Asian fusion cuisine. Sample dishes such as Vietnamese pho, Malaysian laksa and Japanese ramen.