There are a lot of great dishes worldwide. If we could travel and taste all of them, we definitely would.
Traveling is one of life’s biggest pleasures. Taking in the sights and experiences of places you’ve never been to is just one part of life that you cannot miss. Aside from your eyes and your mind, another part of you that gets satisfies during a trip abroad is your tummy as you get to feast on the local specialties.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make while traveling is not tasting the local cuisine. It’s not always that you get to visit another foreign land so you need to make the most of the trip. If you are journeying to these foreign countries, then here are the dishes that you must definitely try.
South Korea – Jajangmyeon
When we think of Korea, common dishes that come to mind include the funky but flavorful kimchi and their amazing fresh-off-the-grill barbeque. However, there’s more to this small nation than meets the eye. One dish that you should definitely try out is Jajangmyeon.
This is a rice noodle dish comprised of black bean sauce, cubes or radish, strips of scrambled egg (or a runny egg), and a choice of protein. It’s a savory dish that can be messy when eaten but trust us, the effort to eat this dish is well worth it considering how good it is. Jajangmyeon is usually eaten as a snack but it can be a full meal as well because it’s so filling.
You don’t have to go far for good Jajangmyeon in South Korea. There are already many great restaurants in the capital of Seoul that serve good variations of this noodle dish. Like most dishes in Korea, this is best served with kimchi!
Italy – Neapolitan Pizza
You’ve probably eaten pizza more than once in your life but let’s be honest, who hasn’t? However, have you eaten a truly authentic pizza that serves as the essence of Italy’s amazing cuisine? If that’s what you are looking for, you need to try a slice of Neopolitan Pizza in Italy.
It’s the simplest pizza you can find but that doesn’t mean it’s far less delicious. An authentic Neopolitan is usually made with a few ingredients – dough, various types of tomatoes, and basil. That’s it. Don’t let the simple recipe fool you. When done right, a bite of a Neopolitan will certainly be memorable.
Unlike the pizzas you’ve been used to, the Neopolitan is a lot simpler. There’s not even an ounce of meat in it.
China – Mooncakes
Mooncakes are a popular treat in China. They’re usually eaten during the mid-Autumn festival. They are sweet, filling, and most definitely what one would consider as a guilty pleasure. Traditional mooncakes are filled with a white or red lotus paste, or a red bean paste.
However, more flavors of mooncakes have been made in the past years and we have some creative chefs to thank for that. If you want something unique with a touch of exoticness, then you might want to try a durian mooncake for the mid-Autumn festival instead. It’s the pure taste of durian minus that odor that it’s infamous for.
Mozambique – Piri-Piri Chicken
Fried chicken is definitely delicious but if you want something more flavorful and strong, you should try Piri-Piri Chicken instead. This dish has become popular because of food chains that try to recreate the amazing smokey chicken dish. However, if you want to taste authentic Piri-Piri, you need to visit Mozambique.
Mozambique is chicken that’s cooked with lime, pepper, garlic, coconut milk, and the world-renowned Piri-Piri sauce. The result is a succulent and juicy chicken dish that might make you forget about fried chicken as a whole. Serve this dish with a cup of steaming rice and you’ve got yourself an amazing meal.
Japan – Tsukemen
Everyone knows what ramen already is. Japan is famous for many dishes including sushi and sashimi. Aside from those and ramen, one dish that you must try is Tsukemen – a very unique noodle dish.
Basically, you can think of Tsukemen as ramen. Once ordered, you’ll be served a generous serving of noodles and a separate soup or broth. Dip your noodles in the soup and eat it for an amazing explosion of flavors. Don’t confuse ramen with this dish as it has its own unique taste and experience.
Philippines – Sinigang
If you’re a big fan of hearty soup dishes, then it’s a must that you try Sinigang when you’re in the Philippines. This famous dish has been dubbed as one of the best soup dishes in the world. It’s best served with rice but even on its own, Sinigang is definitely a food to die for.
Sinigang is a soup dish that’s sour, tangy, and sometimes, a bit spicy. The soup’s base is often made of tamarind and tomato which gives the dish that sour kick. The soup can be served with various proteins such as milkfish, shrimp, and beef. However, the most popular variation of the dish uses pork belly.
Beyond the protein, sinigang is also filled with various vegetables such as okra, radish, water spinach, eggplant, and string beans. It’s a hearty soup that you’ll be craving on a rainy day. Honestly, though, it’s a dish that you’d want to eat whatever the weather is.
Canada – Poutine
French fries are a staple nowadays. There’s not a lot of people who can say that they don’t like fries. If you want an upgraded version of this favorite snack, then you need to try Canada’s famous Poutine! Make sure you bring a fork as this dish is not really suited as finger food.
It’s french fries that’s loaded with gravy and cheese curds. It’s a match made in heaven if you ask those who’ve tasted the dish already.
There are a lot of great dishes worldwide. If we could travel and taste all of them, we definitely would. However, it’s these dishes that you should focus on eating first as they’re simple to die for. Here’s to hoping that you get to travel to one of these nations soon as these dishes are going to be waiting for you.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
