I had the best tzatziki of my life from a restaurant in Milos island last year. It was so good that I went back to that restaurant multiple times throughout my stay in Milos and got the tzatziki and fresh warm pita bread take away to snack on
I didn't expect someone to post about my favourite gyro hole in the wall. I discovered this place on one of my previous greek adventures. Kostas is the best place hands down.
I went to a Champion's League soccer game at FC Porto's stadium in Porto and they hardly sold anything at the concession stand, but they did have a pastel de nata and espresso combo for like €3.
Having a pastel de nata with fresh espresso while watching professional sports was the life. Completely ruined American sports for me
You have lived my dream, friend. Holy moly. There were no matches while I was in Portugal back in Nov, but the daily pastel/espresso ritual was amazing. Can only imagine pairing it with a football match. 🤌
The whole experience was wild. The cheapest seats were... the very first row. Like $20. We were right behind the goal, literally 10 feet from the players. Couldn't see super well and had to duck whenever someone tried a shot, but as an American who is used to the front row costing $$$$, it was so cool
Came here to say this. I had them for one glorious week 18 years ago and I still think about them all the time. I wanted to get married near Lisbon (I live in the US) just to be able to have them.
I literally just baked them yesterday, jaime oliver has a great recipe if you remove the orange from it. It literally takes 5 minutes of work and 16 minutes of baking and they are done. It tastes just like the ones in porto and lisbon.
If you can’t find it online I will check the name of the cookbook in the morning. I would post a picture of it, but the cookbook is in Croatian.
Thanks, now I can't keep my head out of the Konbini. Let's be real though, the best shit is at Lawson's and when your Japanese is good enough to order from the Oden spread then you are really eating like a king.
Edit: it is Oden, not Onden
Melon fanta for me. I have paid obscene amounts to have bottles shipped to my small hometown, and while I have moved to a larger city since, I haven't been able to find it locally.
Ugh, when we landed in Tokyo we were really hungry but couldn't face the new culture just yet, so we went to a taco bell and they had the melon Fanta. It was SO GOOD, I couldn't stop thinking about it all the way to our Airbnb. Just outside the apartment was a vending machine with something called Gabunomi in it, which was melon cream soda.
So within hours of landing in Japan, I'd become totally addicted to two things that would be an absolute nightmare to import.
Japanese conbini is life. I got addicted to Kirin's Salty Lychee drink. It just hits so nice on a hot day after walking around a ton. (Also. There was a bag of kakigori that was silly but I loved it.)
I always warn people when they ask me for travel tips to Japan. Ramen in Japan will ruin any ramen in America for you forever. Doubly so if you have it in Sapporo.
I think it depends where you live in the US. The big cities have really good ramen and sushi. Ramen specifically I think Americans do well since it's "junk fast food" with high calories that is the American specialty.
Finding curry, udon, and okonomyaki that is as good as Japan mainland is harder though.
Sushi for me. The price and atmosphere of a kaitenzushi bar are so much better than what's available in the US. I just want to shovel cheap nigiri into my face while I bs with the chef.
Oh Vietnam. That country ruined me. Pho, Banh Mi, fresh Vietnamese coffee while waiting out a rain storm, matcha everything, broken rice, Secret Garden resteraunt, the egg pancake thing, the dumplings I never found out what was jn but were glorious, spring rolls beautiful and light..... I loved every meal.
ETA : banh xeo! Not egg at all, I was tiredly misremembering ingredients. Delicious.
Banh xeo!
Probably made that dish even bigger and more awesome in my memory because of how difficult it is to get here. I know this Vietnamese lady who runs a pretty authentic restaurant and even she's like 'that's too much work too make'. So only ever had it in Hue and Hoi An etc. Man I miss Banh xeo.
I’m taking this comment to throw Vietnamese green papaya salad into the mix. I’ve thought about this salad almost every day since I first had it in Vietnam 8 years ago. I can’t find any version of it in the US that comes close 😩
In Japan there are two types of Okonomiyaki: Osaka style and Hiroshima style. Both are to die for and best eaten in their respective cities. If you don't visit Osaka or Hiroshima, Tokyo will be alright, too, I guess. But of it's different from what you had, it's probably the other style.
Oh man, the Oaxacan cheese!* I was just in CDMX. I live in Europe, so the average exposure to Mexican food is like Old El Paso kits. I would love to go to Oaxaca now.
*just the mention of Oaxacan style made me think of that, I guess the tamales don’t necessarily have cheese.
Omg now all i can think about is hamburgasa. Just the shittiest cheesiest take on american burgers made from a cart. Better than anything you can find north of the border
Freaking suppli from Rome. I can’t stop thinking about them, and all we got nearby are Arrancini which is not the same thing. Making it is a bit of a hassle at home too 😕
Same! We have a place with suppli nearby but they are both way more expensive and not as good, so it's somehow more offensive than not having any at all.
Seriously. There are a couple of shawarma places near me (which is the closest I can get to the takeaway kebabs here) they don’t even come close to scratching that itch.
Plate of iberico ham in Spain plus Spanish wine
Port in Lisbon
Bun cha Hanoi in Hanoi
Laarb and pretty much anything in Thailand lol
Anything in India even though it tries to kill you with Delhi belly
Jerk chicken
Lamb soup in Beijing Peking duck in Beijing street meat skewers in Beijing
Anything dai pai dong jn HK
Durian in Malaysia
Stinky tofu in Taipei night markets
Outdoor Korean bbq in Seoul
Anything in Japan lol
Food in Bologna
Food in Seville
Anything in Greece and Crete
I lived there for six months almost 20 years ago, and I still crave some of my favorites from that time! I’ve become pretty good at making Indian food, but it’s just not the same.
I can appreciate that. Obviously it is an insane place sometimes, but, on the other hand, you’ll have some of the most amazing experiences that this world can offer. I just feel like people focus too much on the negatives. I was in the wildest places in the North and I can’t even say that the touts were that bad compared to some other places. Scams are fairly easy to avoid if you have common sense and do research. I have to imagine people who travel there are also willing to deal with crowds and pollution, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise. All in all, I had a fantastic time and I can’t wait to go back.
The people are also so warm and open and welcoming. Yeah, maybe on the metro in Delhi, they don’t share our ideas about personal space, and perhaps for practical reasons, they don’t mind jostling you, but in any other situation, they are so inviting and genuinely interested in you. It was so refreshing.
I thought they were alright, until I tried a praline filled one in the French Market. That one was crispy on the outside and filled with sweet warm praline caramel
When I was an Au Pair in France I worked in a boarding school during the day. The kitchen staff would make the boarders pain au chocolat every morning, and eating a fresh-out-of-the-oven pain au chocolat has permanently ruined me for all other pastries.
Recency bias here too; I was in San Diego last weekend and drunkenly demolished a street dog. Bacon, onion, peppers, mayo, mustard.. It was so good and I want two right now.
Probably so. The American version of a lot of things aren't as good. American Lindt milk chocolate from Walmart and imported German Lindt milk chocolate from the German deli was night and day. Tasted like good chocolate ice cream in bar form.
Turkish food is delish! I have fond memories of grabbing cig kofte for a quick snack on the go. Vegan wrap made with bulgur "meat" and pomegranate molasses. Easy to find in any Turkish city, tasty and cheap.
Also simit.
Simit and the Turkish yoghurt drink that I can't remember, while on a train to Selçuk. Oh the memories. When I find my way back to Turkey, I know I'll head straight to Dürümzade in Istanbul and get three dürüms and a bottle of coke, all for myself.
Splitting cig kofte, lahmacun, and a cheese pide with my wife was our dinner about 3-4 times a week when we lived in Turkey. Really difficult to find where I live now.
Hilariously, I went to a nearby breakfast nook in Madrid with local friends (had been to Spain many times) and asked for pan con tomate even though it wasn’t on the menu - seemed simple enough.
What came back was quite literally a slice of tomato on a piece of dry toast. We later found out the owners were Costa Rican and still die laughing. 🤣
I've never been to Spain, but I used to get this at a Spanish restaurant in my hometown and I still dream of it. I should go to Spain and try the real deal. Spanish food seems fantastic, but I'm a vegetarian, so there probably won't be heaps for me.
Iceland is actually pretty good all-around with ice cream, but [Cafe Loki](https://loki.is/menu) is where we stopped on a food tour to try their ice cream they make with their day-old rye bread. Their in-house rye bread is also (unsurprisingly) very tasty, and if you’ve got a hankering for fermented shark, you can get it all in one go there (I did not, thank you very much).
We don't gatekeep here so I'll try and link out all the places on Google Maps
* Khao Soi at [that one parking lot stall](https://maps.app.goo.gl/W9vz5qeZgFLgdTy39) in Chiang Mai, Thailand
* Spleen sandwich [from the market](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GTBSbcsy8kfANtLv9) in Palermo, Italy
* Fresh roasted lamb from the market in Marrakesh, Morocco (I can't find this one on maps, but it's the stall with the lamb heads on the jars)
* [Dipping noodles](https://maps.app.goo.gl/PqU6jSD59ufBeRvNA) from a machine stall in Tokyo, Japan (pro tip ask for rice after you're done)
* Bread pudding from [Willy Mae's](https://maps.app.goo.gl/N7DipMrAWXH8JkGr6) in NOLA, USA
* Poke from [Pau Hana](https://maps.app.goo.gl/f6iA7wEwKG8Vp4pj9) in Kona, USA and Ube tarts from [Super J's](https://maps.app.goo.gl/X5MEvXtUoaS5hUKs7) (although I am told they don't have it anymore so Paradise Bakery is a good alternative)
There's probably dozens more but those are off the top of my head that I still think about even years later
I had some duck-apple pierogies in Krakow a few years ago and I *really* wish I could have those regularly.
I also have regular cravings for this roasted goose leg with potato dumplings dinner I had in Brno. I just looked up the restaurant. It was called Stopkova Plzeňská Pivnice and it was fantastic.
Tarte flambée in Alsace, France
The tomatoes in the Greek Isles. Literally anything they are in. They are especially delicious.
The butter from the Netherlands and just any bread from Albert Heijn. Why does the bread there melt in your mouth? How is the butter so different from the butter in America?
I know exactly what you're saying.
It's not the exact same, but try kerrygold (irish), president (french), and beurre d'isigny (french).
I find a huge difference with these and love them
When I was a few months pregnant with my youngest I had the greatest asparagus of my lifetime in Bergen op zoom, Netherlands. When I left I suffered for months with cravings that’s couldn’t be fulfilled, as every attempt fell short. That baby, now tween, loves asparagus and when I have gone back to that restaurant since it still is that damn good.
Peking duck in Beijing
Fried fish from a stand on the side of the road in Amsterdam
Stroopwaffle from Albert cuyp market in Amsterdam
Guinness beef stew in Dublin
A mango from Brazil (have not found a mango taste that good since being there and I’ve given up looking)
Definitely some others I’ve taken photos of that I would remember if I saw them again but those 4 off the top of my head I’ve been chasing for a while.
The peruvian dish called Lomo de saltado, it's a peruvian stir fry with lamb and fries in it. I couldn't get enough of eat for the whole month I was backpacking there!
Quite a few standouts:
- Fry bread tacos in Phoenix, Arizona
Okonomiyaki in Paris, of all places
- Breakfasts (enchiladas) at the Red Tree House - B&B in CDMX
- Bruschetta (homemade bread, freshest tomatoes and straciatella) at Babae (which happens to have a wine window) in Florence
- Lou Malnatis deep dish in Chicago
- a halloumi/vegetarian sandwich at a doner kebab place in Berlin
- Phenomenal solo lunch I had (during a work trip in 2012 - inclusive of caramelized heirloom tomato with manchego and romescu sauce - at The Green Goddess in New Orleans (RIP)
- Bread pudding at Craig’s in Los Angeles
I had these tiny little pancakes at a random café in Amsterdam and i've been chasing that high ever since.
Also Icelandic meat soup.
And street empañadas in Peru
And I crave poutine 24/7 even though I have easy access to it
Are “poffertjes” what you’re referring to in Amsterdam?! I see your location says Canada & idk if they have Trader Joe’s there, but TJ’s has a version of poffertjes that are actually pretty good!
Prekmurska gibanica from Ljubljana, Slovenia
It's this layered pastry cake with poppy seeds, apples, nuts, cinnamon. I had it only once, late at night in a cafe along Ljubljanica River. It was actually the last one in the case. I thought it would be available throughout our travels through Slovenia, but alas it only was available in Ljubljana. So that one slice remains the one and only time I've tasted it, and it resides gloriously in my memory. I've even looked into trying to make it, but it is beyond my baking capabilities.
On the other hand, I also had a Lake Bled Cream Cake, which is much more famous, and thought it was meh.
Eggie
On a small river boat cruise on the rhine, I had a hard time at breakfast most mornings because I’m vegetarian with lots of food allergies. I had the same waiter every meal and he suggested an eggie. I asked him what that was and he said egg, cheese, tortilla, and herbs. A whisked egg is poured in a skillet, topped with cheese and herbs, tortilla on top, flip and fold when the egg is cooked so the tortilla gets crispy on the outside, similar to a quesadilla. He always served it with blueberries and had them cut a fresh melon (melons were otherwise mixed with other fruit that I’m allergic to). I now make it at home at least once a week.
Lángos in Budapest
GOOD masala chai in India
Very specific, but there was this pizza place in Prague that I went to pretty regularly when I studied abroad there. They sold by-the-slice pizza with pepperoni and (what I assume) were Hungarian wax peppers. It was so good. I’ve tried to make pizza similarly at home, but haven’t captured the exact flavor.
yes! this is the exact type of stuff i'm curious about. those little shops all over the world that have that one version of that one thing that nests itself in your brain forever like a little brain worm of deliciousness.
Cheese stuffed focaccia in Cinque Terra - I ate it 4 days in a row. I bought extra and then forgot them in the apartment fridge when we left. I was so sad!
When I was in Korea they had little coffee machines all over the place where you could just put a coin in and get the most fantastic tasting coffee. Also the yogurt drinks and a soda called Demi soda really delicious.
Lasagna at a restaurant at Lake Garda in Italy.
Beer batter halibut in Alaska.
Pork fried rice at basically any Chinese restaurant in America.
A hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard from a cart in Central Park in New York City.
I know it’s a drink but when I studied abroad in London I was obsessed with the Strongbow Dark Fruit ciders and they’re literally nowhere in the US. I check the cider section in every liquor store I go to 🥲
If we are counting snack items: oregano lays potato chips from Greece. My god. The best potato chip I've ever had. I hate that they are ridiculously priced on Amazon.
I had the most delicious chocolate custard-y pastry in Nice, France about 10 years ago. I haven’t found another as good, and I try all the pastries while traveling.
Cacio e Pepe in Rome- random restaurant I walked into that I couldn’t find again.
Not me, but a close friend who visited Mexico became obsessed with the "[costras](https://file.adomicil.io/califa.tr3sco.net/_files/images/product/975043866-1525141176-0347605655597339.png)," which are a kind of taco where the meat is wrapped in a bunch of grilled cheese. So between the tortilla, the amount of cheese, your favorite meat, some lime and salsa, you're in heaven. He's always craving them.
not anymore because it's been years, but after my first backpacking trip to Europe:
1. Jambon & cheese sandwiches from madrid
2. pain au chocolat
At least i can find acceptable pain au chocolat here at home. But after 25 years i STILL can't find a good substitue for the Jambon & cheese sandwiches i would get while exploring Madrid.
Some foods that stick out in particular for me is pandebono from Colombia, and all of the amazing fresh fruit and fruit juices available everywhere you’d go in Colombia. Some other favorites that I think about a lot are pastel de nata from Portugal, and sea urchin pintxos from San Sebastián, Spain. I think that was my first time having sea urchin before and it was so, so good. I also loved the cider in San Sebastián.
I also often think about how affordable a high quality bottle of wine is in places like Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal.
Gyros in Athens
Yessss and tzatziki 24/7
When I die, bury me in tzatziki
It is very easy to prepare. If you can find a good yoghurt, you can do it at home.
I had the best tzatziki of my life from a restaurant in Milos island last year. It was so good that I went back to that restaurant multiple times throughout my stay in Milos and got the tzatziki and fresh warm pita bread take away to snack on
I was in Athens a couple weeks ago and I can’t stop thinking about the gyros I ate there. It’s three or four times more expensive in the UK 😭
Also shite compared to the random gas stop in Greece
God yes. Kostas to be specific. Love that tomato sauce and oregano.
I didn't expect someone to post about my favourite gyro hole in the wall. I discovered this place on one of my previous greek adventures. Kostas is the best place hands down.
And bougasta for dessert
And when they put French fries in them 🤤
And the lukumades with cinnamon and honey! With a tiny Greek coffee on the side – oh, god…
Gyros is shaggable
My kingdom for a gyro
Pastes de nata in Lisbon
I went to a Champion's League soccer game at FC Porto's stadium in Porto and they hardly sold anything at the concession stand, but they did have a pastel de nata and espresso combo for like €3. Having a pastel de nata with fresh espresso while watching professional sports was the life. Completely ruined American sports for me
What a beautiful stadium too.
Best museum of any stadium I’ve been to (7 or 8, big famous ones mostly)
You have lived my dream, friend. Holy moly. There were no matches while I was in Portugal back in Nov, but the daily pastel/espresso ritual was amazing. Can only imagine pairing it with a football match. 🤌
The whole experience was wild. The cheapest seats were... the very first row. Like $20. We were right behind the goal, literally 10 feet from the players. Couldn't see super well and had to duck whenever someone tried a shot, but as an American who is used to the front row costing $$$$, it was so cool
Came here to say this. I had them for one glorious week 18 years ago and I still think about them all the time. I wanted to get married near Lisbon (I live in the US) just to be able to have them.
My friend is getting married this fall in Lisbon. I can’t wait! 😋
I literally just baked them yesterday, jaime oliver has a great recipe if you remove the orange from it. It literally takes 5 minutes of work and 16 minutes of baking and they are done. It tastes just like the ones in porto and lisbon. If you can’t find it online I will check the name of the cookbook in the morning. I would post a picture of it, but the cookbook is in Croatian.
Aah yes , I had almost 5-6 a day throughout my trip.
🏆please take this award Those pasteis are still on my mind. The big ones they sell in Belém, Lisbon are one of those one-of-a-kind life experiences
Ughhhh yesssss
Very specific but the B-12 Morinaga vitamin jelly drinks from Japanese 7-11 😂 I had to cut myself off when I was there, had almost 2 a day
Japanese Daifuku with the strawberry. My sweet tooth is screaming. I miss Japan 😂
I had one of those every day as well 😂 luckily my local Japanese grocery store carries them, but they’re not the same 😭
Ugh, I loved all the desserts at the Japanese 7-elevens. Never tried what you’re talking about, but it sounds good.
Not the spicy chicken cutlet from 7/11 Japan?
Or the egg salad sandwich on milk bread!?!
That’s what I came here to say. I was eating 2-3 a day. Luckily walking 25k steps a day to balance it out
Tamago sando and a Mt Rainer iced coffee ends up being like max 400 yen. My breakfast every day in Japan
I had two a day on my entire duration in Tokyo 😅
Thanks, now I can't keep my head out of the Konbini. Let's be real though, the best shit is at Lawson's and when your Japanese is good enough to order from the Oden spread then you are really eating like a king. Edit: it is Oden, not Onden
That much vitamin B, your pee must have been fluorescent like a glow stick
Melon fanta for me. I have paid obscene amounts to have bottles shipped to my small hometown, and while I have moved to a larger city since, I haven't been able to find it locally.
Ugh, when we landed in Tokyo we were really hungry but couldn't face the new culture just yet, so we went to a taco bell and they had the melon Fanta. It was SO GOOD, I couldn't stop thinking about it all the way to our Airbnb. Just outside the apartment was a vending machine with something called Gabunomi in it, which was melon cream soda. So within hours of landing in Japan, I'd become totally addicted to two things that would be an absolute nightmare to import.
We don't have enough melon flavored products in the U.S. If I do find them, it's when I'm shopping at Asian grocery stores.
I would do terrible unspeakable horrors for a bottle of gabunami and a chicken katsu curry from coco's
I am currently writing this from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo. Thank you, I will immediately go and purchase 10 of these
Not famichiki?
Japanese conbini is life. I got addicted to Kirin's Salty Lychee drink. It just hits so nice on a hot day after walking around a ton. (Also. There was a bag of kakigori that was silly but I loved it.)
I never thought of trying that while I was there, but I will next time now!
definitely wasn't expecting a supplement to make this list, good on you!
It’s really a grapefruit-flavored jelly drink 😂 but as a vegetarian, the B-12 was an added benefit
Those are crack. I have like 4-5 of the blue ones everyday.
>B-12 Morinaga vitamin jelly drinks Better than me, I usually had between 4 and 6 a day. They're really tasty.
Legit ramen in Japan. My first experience with it was life-changing.
I came to say this. I already knew ramen was good, but having it in Japan changed me. I think about it constantly.
I always warn people when they ask me for travel tips to Japan. Ramen in Japan will ruin any ramen in America for you forever. Doubly so if you have it in Sapporo.
I think it depends where you live in the US. The big cities have really good ramen and sushi. Ramen specifically I think Americans do well since it's "junk fast food" with high calories that is the American specialty. Finding curry, udon, and okonomyaki that is as good as Japan mainland is harder though.
Japan has the best food in the world
Sushi for me. The price and atmosphere of a kaitenzushi bar are so much better than what's available in the US. I just want to shovel cheap nigiri into my face while I bs with the chef.
Banh Mi's in Vietnam. GOAT-tier sandwich, could eat multiple per day for weeks straight
Oh Vietnam. That country ruined me. Pho, Banh Mi, fresh Vietnamese coffee while waiting out a rain storm, matcha everything, broken rice, Secret Garden resteraunt, the egg pancake thing, the dumplings I never found out what was jn but were glorious, spring rolls beautiful and light..... I loved every meal. ETA : banh xeo! Not egg at all, I was tiredly misremembering ingredients. Delicious.
Fuck me up with some bun cha
Exactly! Bun cha is life changing. Loved all the food in vietnam tho.
Vietnamese cuisine is my favorite! It's delicious and I can eat a ton of it and I don't feel like shit after. They use so much fresh ingredients
Banh xeo! Probably made that dish even bigger and more awesome in my memory because of how difficult it is to get here. I know this Vietnamese lady who runs a pretty authentic restaurant and even she's like 'that's too much work too make'. So only ever had it in Hue and Hoi An etc. Man I miss Banh xeo.
I ate an average of 1.2 banh mi per day in Vietnam. It’s since become a regular part of my diet. Especially the pork ones with pate 🤤
I’m taking this comment to throw Vietnamese green papaya salad into the mix. I’ve thought about this salad almost every day since I first had it in Vietnam 8 years ago. I can’t find any version of it in the US that comes close 😩
I still think about that chicken banh mi I had in Hoi An almost 9 years ago!
One of the best products of colonialism, *by far.*
Pastel de nata in Portugal Jamón ibérico in Spain Tacos al pastor in CDMX Okonomiyaki in Japan
Okonomiyaki, I can't wait to try some in Tokyo soon. The gf and I were obsessed with the one we tried in Little Tokyo, LA.
In Japan there are two types of Okonomiyaki: Osaka style and Hiroshima style. Both are to die for and best eaten in their respective cities. If you don't visit Osaka or Hiroshima, Tokyo will be alright, too, I guess. But of it's different from what you had, it's probably the other style.
If you're headed to Tokyo and like okonomiyaki you might try monja (monjayaki). It's similar to okonomiyaki.
Jamón Ibérico!!
Omg tacos al pastor 🤤
tlacoyos, tamales oaxaqueños, and really most other street food from mexico city
Oh man, the Oaxacan cheese!* I was just in CDMX. I live in Europe, so the average exposure to Mexican food is like Old El Paso kits. I would love to go to Oaxaca now. *just the mention of Oaxacan style made me think of that, I guess the tamales don’t necessarily have cheese.
Do it. Food in Oaxaca is incredible. Best single locale in the world for eating imo. Mole from a market stall in Oaxaca will absolutely fuck you up.
My favorite food cities are: 1. Bangkok 2. Lima 3. Oaxaca City
I still wake up regularly in a cold sweat craving tacos al pastor from Mexico City
Mole negro from Oaxaca is legendary. Banana leaf tamales, pork or chicken - no matter. Delicioso!
Tacos al pastor with the pineapple flicked from the top of the spit. Mmm…
I came here to talk about Mexico!!! Drool
Omg now all i can think about is hamburgasa. Just the shittiest cheesiest take on american burgers made from a cart. Better than anything you can find north of the border
Freaking suppli from Rome. I can’t stop thinking about them, and all we got nearby are Arrancini which is not the same thing. Making it is a bit of a hassle at home too 😕
Same! We have a place with suppli nearby but they are both way more expensive and not as good, so it's somehow more offensive than not having any at all.
Good Kebabs specifically the ones from Berlin.
This will be what I miss most about living in Germany. You cannot get kebab/döner in the US at all.
You can, but sporadically
Seriously. There are a couple of shawarma places near me (which is the closest I can get to the takeaway kebabs here) they don’t even come close to scratching that itch.
Yeah came to say Doner Kebabs from Berlin. There are options here, but not the same!
Plate of iberico ham in Spain plus Spanish wine Port in Lisbon Bun cha Hanoi in Hanoi Laarb and pretty much anything in Thailand lol Anything in India even though it tries to kill you with Delhi belly Jerk chicken Lamb soup in Beijing Peking duck in Beijing street meat skewers in Beijing Anything dai pai dong jn HK Durian in Malaysia Stinky tofu in Taipei night markets Outdoor Korean bbq in Seoul Anything in Japan lol Food in Bologna Food in Seville Anything in Greece and Crete
Yeah, but have you ever had banana bread at work dude?
Being able to order a glass of gazpacho on a hot day in Sevilla is outstanding.
Gulab Jamun. India just ruined me for food anywhere else honestly.
I lived there for six months almost 20 years ago, and I still crave some of my favorites from that time! I’ve become pretty good at making Indian food, but it’s just not the same.
Exactly. Don’t know why people shit on India so much. It was the best trip of my life.
It's a country of huge contrasts, very easy to have bad or mixed experiences there
I can appreciate that. Obviously it is an insane place sometimes, but, on the other hand, you’ll have some of the most amazing experiences that this world can offer. I just feel like people focus too much on the negatives. I was in the wildest places in the North and I can’t even say that the touts were that bad compared to some other places. Scams are fairly easy to avoid if you have common sense and do research. I have to imagine people who travel there are also willing to deal with crowds and pollution, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise. All in all, I had a fantastic time and I can’t wait to go back. The people are also so warm and open and welcoming. Yeah, maybe on the metro in Delhi, they don’t share our ideas about personal space, and perhaps for practical reasons, they don’t mind jostling you, but in any other situation, they are so inviting and genuinely interested in you. It was so refreshing.
Bhel puri ALL DAY
Ooh yes I agree and Kulfi
I love rasmalai too
NOLA beignets.
I thought they were alright, until I tried a praline filled one in the French Market. That one was crispy on the outside and filled with sweet warm praline caramel
Oh! That sounds divine!!!!
but are you team cafe beignet or cafe du monde?
Cafe du monde, no question.
The secret is to go to the location in the Riverfront mall. There's barely ever any line and then you can eat them outside overlooking the Mississippi
The Vintage in the Garden District for either raspberry, s’mores, or matcha filled beignets. Also delicious iced coffee and a full bar
you had me at full bar and donuts
Everyone should go to du Monde once and then go to Cafe Beignet each time after.
Team morning call.
Cafe beignet imo
i'm with you on cafe beignet, no shade to du monde
Chocolate croissants in Paris. I had a small one every morning!!
When I was an Au Pair in France I worked in a boarding school during the day. The kitchen staff would make the boarders pain au chocolat every morning, and eating a fresh-out-of-the-oven pain au chocolat has permanently ruined me for all other pastries.
Pains au chocolat aux amandes are so much better if you like almonds (frangipane).
*pain au chocolat
*choclatine honhonhon
Username checks out.
France just makes every meal taste home cooked and great
- pho in vietnam - khao soi in north thailand - pizza in italy - pasta in italy - bread in france - wine in France, italy, spain and portugal
Ugh I could eat Khao Soi everyday
Currently in Chiang Mai. I can confirm that one can indeed eat Khao Soi every damn day.
Hope you're having a good time
I am. But I’ve been traveling for two months and am missing home. Headed back soon. But I will definitely miss Chiang Mai and its food.
I miss Khao Soi so much. It's so hard to get outside of Northern Thailand.
I think it’s becoming more common. There are five places within a few miles from me that serve it so hopefully more in your area soon!
Recency bias here too; I was in San Diego last weekend and drunkenly demolished a street dog. Bacon, onion, peppers, mayo, mustard.. It was so good and I want two right now.
these things are my kryptonite. nothing has any right being that fucking delicious, at 2am or ever.
Danger dog!
Street meat! I live in San Francisco and we have those carts all over. So good.
Stroopwafels
This one is so hard because I’ve had them in America and even the same brand, and I swear it’s just not the same.
Costco was selling a pretty decent stroop, the only downside is it’s a 10 pack (100 waffles) and I have no self control.
Probably so. The American version of a lot of things aren't as good. American Lindt milk chocolate from Walmart and imported German Lindt milk chocolate from the German deli was night and day. Tasted like good chocolate ice cream in bar form.
I absolutely loved the stroopwafel I had in Amsterdam, it was amazing! I can’t wait to go back and have another!
Turkish food is delish! I have fond memories of grabbing cig kofte for a quick snack on the go. Vegan wrap made with bulgur "meat" and pomegranate molasses. Easy to find in any Turkish city, tasty and cheap. Also simit.
Simit and the Turkish yoghurt drink that I can't remember, while on a train to Selçuk. Oh the memories. When I find my way back to Turkey, I know I'll head straight to Dürümzade in Istanbul and get three dürüms and a bottle of coke, all for myself.
Get ‘em durums all for yo belly. No shame. The yogurt drink is most probably Ayran :)
Splitting cig kofte, lahmacun, and a cheese pide with my wife was our dinner about 3-4 times a week when we lived in Turkey. Really difficult to find where I live now.
Pan con tomate in Spain— so simple and so good.
Hilariously, I went to a nearby breakfast nook in Madrid with local friends (had been to Spain many times) and asked for pan con tomate even though it wasn’t on the menu - seemed simple enough. What came back was quite literally a slice of tomato on a piece of dry toast. We later found out the owners were Costa Rican and still die laughing. 🤣
I've never been to Spain, but I used to get this at a Spanish restaurant in my hometown and I still dream of it. I should go to Spain and try the real deal. Spanish food seems fantastic, but I'm a vegetarian, so there probably won't be heaps for me.
…along side a perfectly sliced plate of Jamon Iberico de Bellota. Heaven!
Takoyaki
I want to go to Japan so badly, but if I'm being honest with myself I think about 70% of the reason is to eat Takoyaki.
That’s a good reason!
Worth the burnt tongue
Coconut milk coffee from Vietnam
Panzerotto in Bari with smoked provolone and mortadella. It won over my heart instantly... and probably by (cholesterol) force haha
- Döner kebab (in Berlin, specifically) - rye bread ice cream from Reykjavik (also their hot dogs) - lionfish fritters in Belize
Tell us more about rye bread ice cream pls
Iceland is actually pretty good all-around with ice cream, but [Cafe Loki](https://loki.is/menu) is where we stopped on a food tour to try their ice cream they make with their day-old rye bread. Their in-house rye bread is also (unsurprisingly) very tasty, and if you’ve got a hankering for fermented shark, you can get it all in one go there (I did not, thank you very much).
We don't gatekeep here so I'll try and link out all the places on Google Maps * Khao Soi at [that one parking lot stall](https://maps.app.goo.gl/W9vz5qeZgFLgdTy39) in Chiang Mai, Thailand * Spleen sandwich [from the market](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GTBSbcsy8kfANtLv9) in Palermo, Italy * Fresh roasted lamb from the market in Marrakesh, Morocco (I can't find this one on maps, but it's the stall with the lamb heads on the jars) * [Dipping noodles](https://maps.app.goo.gl/PqU6jSD59ufBeRvNA) from a machine stall in Tokyo, Japan (pro tip ask for rice after you're done) * Bread pudding from [Willy Mae's](https://maps.app.goo.gl/N7DipMrAWXH8JkGr6) in NOLA, USA * Poke from [Pau Hana](https://maps.app.goo.gl/f6iA7wEwKG8Vp4pj9) in Kona, USA and Ube tarts from [Super J's](https://maps.app.goo.gl/X5MEvXtUoaS5hUKs7) (although I am told they don't have it anymore so Paradise Bakery is a good alternative) There's probably dozens more but those are off the top of my head that I still think about even years later
you've done god's work here
I want fish amok from Cambodia now
I had some duck-apple pierogies in Krakow a few years ago and I *really* wish I could have those regularly. I also have regular cravings for this roasted goose leg with potato dumplings dinner I had in Brno. I just looked up the restaurant. It was called Stopkova Plzeňská Pivnice and it was fantastic.
Tarte flambée in Alsace, France The tomatoes in the Greek Isles. Literally anything they are in. They are especially delicious. The butter from the Netherlands and just any bread from Albert Heijn. Why does the bread there melt in your mouth? How is the butter so different from the butter in America?
I know exactly what you're saying. It's not the exact same, but try kerrygold (irish), president (french), and beurre d'isigny (french). I find a huge difference with these and love them
When I was a few months pregnant with my youngest I had the greatest asparagus of my lifetime in Bergen op zoom, Netherlands. When I left I suffered for months with cravings that’s couldn’t be fulfilled, as every attempt fell short. That baby, now tween, loves asparagus and when I have gone back to that restaurant since it still is that damn good.
I'm lucky to live in a multicultural city where we have so many incredible options. But man, sometimes I want some sticky rice with a fat, ripe mango.
Peking duck in Beijing Fried fish from a stand on the side of the road in Amsterdam Stroopwaffle from Albert cuyp market in Amsterdam Guinness beef stew in Dublin A mango from Brazil (have not found a mango taste that good since being there and I’ve given up looking) Definitely some others I’ve taken photos of that I would remember if I saw them again but those 4 off the top of my head I’ve been chasing for a while.
Fruit in Brazil just hits on a completely different level
Socca from Nice
Ramen in Tokyo, cheesesteaks in Philadelphia
Turkey is full of the most breathtaking food. I dream daily!!
The peruvian dish called Lomo de saltado, it's a peruvian stir fry with lamb and fries in it. I couldn't get enough of eat for the whole month I was backpacking there!
Lomo saltado is traditionally served with beef, not saying you didn’t encounter one with lamb though
Quite a few standouts: - Fry bread tacos in Phoenix, Arizona Okonomiyaki in Paris, of all places - Breakfasts (enchiladas) at the Red Tree House - B&B in CDMX - Bruschetta (homemade bread, freshest tomatoes and straciatella) at Babae (which happens to have a wine window) in Florence - Lou Malnatis deep dish in Chicago - a halloumi/vegetarian sandwich at a doner kebab place in Berlin - Phenomenal solo lunch I had (during a work trip in 2012 - inclusive of caramelized heirloom tomato with manchego and romescu sauce - at The Green Goddess in New Orleans (RIP) - Bread pudding at Craig’s in Los Angeles
Fry bread is incredible
I had these tiny little pancakes at a random café in Amsterdam and i've been chasing that high ever since. Also Icelandic meat soup. And street empañadas in Peru And I crave poutine 24/7 even though I have easy access to it
Poffertjes they are called
Are “poffertjes” what you’re referring to in Amsterdam?! I see your location says Canada & idk if they have Trader Joe’s there, but TJ’s has a version of poffertjes that are actually pretty good!
Barbacoa tacos in Mexico — I think about them all the time
NOLA fried chicken and red beans n' rice at Willie Mae's Kabobs in Istanbul Pizza in Napoli
Prekmurska gibanica from Ljubljana, Slovenia It's this layered pastry cake with poppy seeds, apples, nuts, cinnamon. I had it only once, late at night in a cafe along Ljubljanica River. It was actually the last one in the case. I thought it would be available throughout our travels through Slovenia, but alas it only was available in Ljubljana. So that one slice remains the one and only time I've tasted it, and it resides gloriously in my memory. I've even looked into trying to make it, but it is beyond my baking capabilities. On the other hand, I also had a Lake Bled Cream Cake, which is much more famous, and thought it was meh.
Eggie On a small river boat cruise on the rhine, I had a hard time at breakfast most mornings because I’m vegetarian with lots of food allergies. I had the same waiter every meal and he suggested an eggie. I asked him what that was and he said egg, cheese, tortilla, and herbs. A whisked egg is poured in a skillet, topped with cheese and herbs, tortilla on top, flip and fold when the egg is cooked so the tortilla gets crispy on the outside, similar to a quesadilla. He always served it with blueberries and had them cut a fresh melon (melons were otherwise mixed with other fruit that I’m allergic to). I now make it at home at least once a week.
Al pastor tacos in CDMX. Followed by everything else I ate in CDMX
Lángos in Budapest GOOD masala chai in India Very specific, but there was this pizza place in Prague that I went to pretty regularly when I studied abroad there. They sold by-the-slice pizza with pepperoni and (what I assume) were Hungarian wax peppers. It was so good. I’ve tried to make pizza similarly at home, but haven’t captured the exact flavor.
yes! this is the exact type of stuff i'm curious about. those little shops all over the world that have that one version of that one thing that nests itself in your brain forever like a little brain worm of deliciousness.
Cheese stuffed focaccia in Cinque Terra - I ate it 4 days in a row. I bought extra and then forgot them in the apartment fridge when we left. I was so sad!
Roti praata from the little India hawker market in Singapore. I would book a flight now just to go grab some if I could afford it
Pretty much everything I had in New Orleans. That city may be dangerous and dirty as hell, but damn can they cook!
When I was in Korea they had little coffee machines all over the place where you could just put a coin in and get the most fantastic tasting coffee. Also the yogurt drinks and a soda called Demi soda really delicious. Lasagna at a restaurant at Lake Garda in Italy. Beer batter halibut in Alaska. Pork fried rice at basically any Chinese restaurant in America. A hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard from a cart in Central Park in New York City.
Sadwinch from All’Antico Vinaio in Florence, Italy
I saw that they opened locations in Manhattan, but I can't imagine it lives up to the OG. Still going to try it.
Grilled octopus from Greece, served with copious amounts of olive oil and a little side salad Sopa de berros from the Canary Islands
I know it’s a drink but when I studied abroad in London I was obsessed with the Strongbow Dark Fruit ciders and they’re literally nowhere in the US. I check the cider section in every liquor store I go to 🥲
https://www.strongbow.com/us/en/home
If we are counting snack items: oregano lays potato chips from Greece. My god. The best potato chip I've ever had. I hate that they are ridiculously priced on Amazon.
I had the most delicious chocolate custard-y pastry in Nice, France about 10 years ago. I haven’t found another as good, and I try all the pastries while traveling. Cacio e Pepe in Rome- random restaurant I walked into that I couldn’t find again.
Al Pastor tacos from street vendors in Mexico. Being cooked on a trompo is key.
Taiwanese beef noodle soup <3 it’s the perfect in between noodle soup for when ramen is too rich but pho is too light
Pupusas from Honduras.
Macarons - France Guiness - Ireland Pasteis de Nata - Portugal
Not me, but a close friend who visited Mexico became obsessed with the "[costras](https://file.adomicil.io/califa.tr3sco.net/_files/images/product/975043866-1525141176-0347605655597339.png)," which are a kind of taco where the meat is wrapped in a bunch of grilled cheese. So between the tortilla, the amount of cheese, your favorite meat, some lime and salsa, you're in heaven. He's always craving them.
New Orleans pralines and beignets
chi frijo from costa rica. my mouth is watering as i type, lol
Good gelato in Italy
A nice suadero or campechano taco from CDMX I have not found replicated well anywhere else in the world
not anymore because it's been years, but after my first backpacking trip to Europe: 1. Jambon & cheese sandwiches from madrid 2. pain au chocolat At least i can find acceptable pain au chocolat here at home. But after 25 years i STILL can't find a good substitue for the Jambon & cheese sandwiches i would get while exploring Madrid.
Fresh aloo paratha with freshly churned amul butter in India. Also pau bhaji from a roadside stall in India (not sure that is spelled right)
Some foods that stick out in particular for me is pandebono from Colombia, and all of the amazing fresh fruit and fruit juices available everywhere you’d go in Colombia. Some other favorites that I think about a lot are pastel de nata from Portugal, and sea urchin pintxos from San Sebastián, Spain. I think that was my first time having sea urchin before and it was so, so good. I also loved the cider in San Sebastián. I also often think about how affordable a high quality bottle of wine is in places like Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal.