10x the most delicious dishes in the world
Right now, dreaming about the most delicious dishes other countries have to offer is exactly that: a dream, because they’re temporarily out of reach. But someday! Someday we’ll walk through narrow cobbled streets or along broad, busy boulevards again, from one eating experience to the next, and I’d start planning your future vacations around food right away…
Lonely Planet (the people who know everything about travel and faraway countries) put together a list of the ten most delicious dishes in the world that truly make our mouths water. Take a look and drool, and hold on to the thought that this will surely be possible again in the future!
1. Pintxos in San Sebastian
Pinxtos (or pinchos), in other words tapas, may well be the best way to get to know Spanish/Basque food culture. A few bites and a drink at every bar, then on to the next; that’s how you really get to know a place!
2. Laksa in Malaysia
If you’re in the capital Kuala Lumpur, you can’t miss it (and you don’t want to miss it—you want to head straight for it): a bowl of creamy, hot laksa curry. An incredibly delicious broth packed with spicy flavors and herbs, from which you slurp noodles with chicken, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Get it at a hawker’s centre or from a street stall, and simply choose a different stand with a long queue every day.
3. Sushi in Tokyo
We thought this one was a bit of a given, although Lonely Planet does offer the extremely useful tip that, if you eat sushi omakase (the style in which the chefs choose what they make and serve in front of you), you are not supposed to pick up the sushi with your chopsticks. You pick it up with your hand, and you don’t ask for extra soy sauce or wasabi. That’s insulting, because the chef has seasoned it perfectly for you. And you only use those chopsticks between courses to eat the pickled ginger. Educational!
4. Beef Brisket in Texas
In the South of America, they barbecue like no one else, and Austin, Texas is said to be home to the absolute masters. People will happily stand in line for four hours (!) for the smoked beef brisket at Franklin Barbecue, which, according to the late Anthony Bourdain, was the best he had ever tasted.
5. Som Tum (green papaya salad) in Bangkok
There aren’t many salads that really get people cheering, but som tum does, and understandably so. A flavor bomb of sour, salty, sweet, and incredibly spicy, with the crunch of unripe papaya and chopped peanuts, plus the umami of shrimp and tomatoes. Delicious! You can of course also make som tum yourself.
6. Smørrebrød in Copenhagen
Calling these creations next-level sandwiches doesn’t do them justice; they’re truly wonderfully topped slices of rye bread that also require a certain etiquette. If you eat more than one (and you will), start with the fish-topped one, then move on to meat, and finish with the cheeses. That way, you calmly guide yourself through the intended flavor experience. No problem!
7. Crayfish in New Zealand (South Island)
On the east coast of the South Island lies the fishing village of Kaikoura, and several seafood food trucks sell their fresh catch nearby. The grilled crayfish at Nin’s Bin is said to be especially good, enjoyed at a picnic table overlooking the sea (and hopefully some dolphins and seals, and perhaps even whales!). Strict rules apply to opening periods in order to regulate and make fishing more sustainable, so check carefully before making the trip here.
8. Bibimbap in South Korea
Once again, wonderfully spicy comfort food in a bowl; this time, bibimbap from South Korea. Stir-fried vegetables and meat on perfectly steamed white rice with an egg, fermented soybean paste, and hot chili sauce on the side. All the colors in the bowl have a meaning (red for your heart, green for your liver, yellow for your stomach, black or dark for your kidneys, and the white of the rice for your lungs), so take a good look at the beautiful picture before mixing everything together deliciously.
9. Pizza in Naples
The birthplace and home of pizza margherita: the world should be grateful to Italy! (And we are). Whether you sit down to eat it or fold your pizza up a little and eat it while walking, all of Naples practically joins in. Di Matteo is a very popular place, but if the line there is too long, there are plenty of other options!
10. Dim sum in Hong Kong
We love dim sum, and we understand all too well that the frozen dumplings we fill our freezers with don’t really compare to the fantastic fresh bites and snacks that are part of ‘the world’s best brunch’. So we’ll have to go there someday! From budget restaurants and street stalls to ultra-posh Michelin establishments: you’ll find dim sum everywhere in Hong Kong.
Read also:
- When you go on vacation to eat; the struggle is real
- Top tip: this holiday home in England actually has its own pub, beer taps included
- Europe’s most notorious dishes to avoid during your vacation
Source: The Lonely Planet
