Holidays and travel offer the opportunity to experience a range of international cuisines, but sometimes you don‘t need to go halfway around the world to get an authentic taste. An online discussion among seasoned travelers revealed their favorite cuisine in different parts of the world. So here, we’ve compiled 15 places around the world where you can enjoy foreign cuisine that is arguably better than home:
1. Toronto, Canada
According to a surprising number of people, there is better Chinese cuisine in Toronto than in China itself! Canadians are not shy about boasting about this fact, and thanks to them, I’m now daydreaming about Canadian-Chinese dumplings.
2. London, England
Indian cuisine lovers, rejoice: you don’t need to travel to India (or Kenya, for that matter) to enjoy some delectable Indian dishes. London is home to plenty of restaurants serving quality Indian food. It’s a testament to the diverse population of the U.K., and the fact that the country is a haven for top chefs worldwide makes it seem more plausible.
3. Batangas City, Philippines
If you believe the United States is the only place to eat a fantastic hamburger, think again. “I’m American, and the best hamburger I have ever had in my life was a tiny restaurant with a dirt floor in Batangas City, Philippines,” one seasoned traveler reveals. While I question the general sanitation standards of this tiny restaurant, I can never say no to a burger that can be called the best burger of someone’s life.
4. Berlin, Germany
If you consider ramen one of your favorite meals, consider visiting Berlin, Germany! That’s right; Eastern European countries offer more than meat, potatoes, and techno music. It’s also low-key known for some delectable ramen dishes.
5. San Diego, California
Southern California locals know the truth: the best sushi in the world is located right off the coast of the Pacific Ocean. “Californian sushi is the best,” admits one world traveler. “It has a big Japanese population and access to great fresh seafood. Plus, inventive substitution with local ingredients like avocado.” (Excuse me while I drool just a little bit.)
6. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Even though it has a reputation as a tourist hotspot, Amsterdam is more than just a progressive paradise – it’s also the place for some of the best Indonesian food you’ve ever had. Amsterdam’s envious and easygoing culture seems to draw some top-notch Indonesian chefs to the city.
7. Bali, Thailand
More than a few travelers rave about the quality of pizza in Bali, of all places. They point to the abundance of fresh, local ingredients and a cheap price point combining to make any person feel like they’re having a steal of a meal – and I can’t blame that logic at all.
8. Los Angeles, California
Something about California lures some of the best chefs from around the world to set up shop in Los Angeles. One local is convinced he’s never had better. “Thai-style pad thai at Uncle Chai in Rancho Mirage, CA is the best pad thai I’ve ever had,” he says. “While I’ve never been to Thailand, I’ve eaten Thai food for 20 years at different places and never tasted this.”
9. Nairobi, Kenya
Believe it or not, this African city is home to some of the best Indian food in the world – despite Kenya being approximately 3,000 miles away from India. Although a few travelers admit to scratching their heads over this turn of events, most accept the reality of the situation and imbibe in some curry dishes whenever they visit Nairobi.
10. Key West, Florida
Sometimes life doesn’t make sense, and that’s quite alright for many food lovers. The best Philly cheesesteak I’ve ever had was from a conch restaurant in the Florida Keys,” confesses one woman. Of course, I don’t understand it either, but as a Philadelphia Eagles fan, I love that the cheesesteak is well-represented in Florida.
11. Venice, Italy
Although I don’t blame any traveler for wanting to load up on pasta, meats, and cheeses while staying in Italy, a few people confess to having the best Chinese cuisine of their life while visiting Venice! Who knew, right?
12. Washington, D.C.
One traveler admits he was blown away by the quality of Ethiopian food in the Washington, D.C. area, noting that it was a pleasant surprise during a recent business trip. We can all add “eat delicious foreign cuisine” to our itineraries (in addition to visiting the historic national monuments) the next time we visit America’s capital city.
13. Warsaw, Poland
People have plenty of amazing stories that lead them to discover surprising cuisine. One traveler shares a tale that a lot of people are jealous of! “About 11 years ago, I backpacked Thailand and Laos for a couple of months,” he says.
Thai food in Thailand is amazing, and after I returned home to Chicago, USA, I no longer found Thai food to be of that same quality- the flavors were just off.
I went to Warsaw once and saw this Thai restaurant, so I looked it up, and the reviews were incredible, so I went- it was so authentic and full of flavors that whenever I went back to Warsaw, I had to eat there.” Whenever a restaurant becomes a must-visit during repeat visits to a country, you know the food is fantastic!
14. Copenhagen, Denmark
Although 1,500 miles separate the two countries, Denmark and Spain share one shocking similarity: both proudly serve some of the best Spanish tapas in the world! So Copenhagen must be doing something right; as countless travelers point out, Denmark arguably makes better Spanish tapas than Spain.
15. Paris, France
Paris and tacos aren’t words usually found in the same sentence – until now. One traveler raves about the Mexican-style tacos he ate at a hole-in-the-wall (her words, not mine) restaurant in Paris’ city center. It doesn’t matter where great food comes from; delicious cuisine is delicious cuisine.
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