One of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of travelling is trying new food in the places you go. In fact, for some, food is so essential they plan their whole holiday around going to the best places to eat. For those people and those who aspire to be more like them, here’s our list of the best cities for foodies to visit.
Bangkok – Thailand
See, hear, smell, touch, taste—Bangkok is a city that hits every sense. Sounds of heavy traffic and the smells of fresh Thai street food dominate the atmosphere in this Asian metropolis. Give your wallet a break and enjoy one of their famous Thai curries for just 60 to 90 baht (about €1.50 to €2.00). But your options aren’t just limited to curry, Bangkok is known for their endless options of exotic street foods—try everything from shrimp and noodles to mango sticky rice.
While Bangkok has legendary Thai street food, we always recommend using caution when purchasing food from street vendors. Use your best judgement to find one that looks sanitary, these are typically the ones with the longest lines and from vendors that specialize in one type of food.
Hanoi – Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam is certainly one of the best cities for foodies to visit! Enjoy the endless array of classic Vietnamese food such as pho bo (beef noodle soup), gỏi cuốn (spring rolls) and bahn mi (baguette sandwich). Each dish is characterized by a distinct balance of salty, sweet and savoury flavours that work in ways a western food pallet may not expect. The staple item for any Vietnamese dish is rice, a perfect ingredient to showcase this balance. Almost every dish in Vietnamese centres around the grain: it is used to make the noodles in pho, the paper in spring rolls and also shines on its own in a traditional xoi xeo (sticky rice) dish.
Mumbai – India – The best cities for foodies
Mumbai is known as one of the most diverse cities in India, so it’s no surprise that in this one city you are able to sample staple dishes that originate from all over the subcontinent. With hawkers on every corner vying for your business, you’ll have your pick of the best food at low prices at one of the best food cities in the world.
Even with the vast amount of street vendors, we caution against eating meat from the street, unless you are getting it from a place that is reputable and very busy. Although you may not even be tempted to eat meat since Indian cuisine is famous for some of the most flavourful and unique vegetarian options: malai kofta, palak paneer, chole, and hara bhara kabab are just a few in a long list of dishes that could catch your eye in Mumbai.
Sao Paulo – Brazil
As one of the largest and most internationally diverse cities in Latin America, Sao Paulo’s reputation as one of the best food cities in the world has grown substantially in recent years. Fusing together Portuguese, Italian and Japanese flavours with traditional South American flair, the cuisine found in Sao Paulo is like none other. In this city, there is something to satisfy any craving. From pizza to sushi to barbecue, they truly have it all.
Buenos Aires – Argentina
Argentinian food in one word: grilled. In Argentina, steak is king and nowhere does it better than Buenos Aires. The heart of Argentine cuisine is asado, an array of grilled meats, this dish and the social atmosphere that surround it is regarded as a way of life for many Gauchos. What goes better with a perfectly prepared asado than a glass of world-class red wine? Argentina is the fifth largest producer of wine in the world and their claim to fame is Malbec. With food and drink like asado and Malbec as dietary staples, it’s no surprise that Buenos Aires is one of the best food cities in the world.
To balance out the decadence of asado and Malbec, don’t forget to try out a more casual, but still iconic dish, empanadas. From sweet to savoury, and everything in between empanadas is the go-to staple snack to round out an Argentine diet. You won’t have to look far for this dish either as it can be found on nearly every corner in Buenos Aires.
Travel Health
To avoid illness overseas, travellers are strongly advised to book an appointment at one of the many TMB clinics and find out about the vaccinations they may require.