Food You Have to Try

Let’s be honest, one of the best parts of traveling is the food. We have so much fun trying new foods, exploring local delicacies, and just experiencing the country’s traditions through food. And wow, the places we have traveled have not disappointed. Each country has offered something unique and amazing. We always get asked about our food recommendations so we’ve created a list of: Food You Have to Try!

We still talk about, dream of, and chase replicas of the food we’ve experienced…. Like the best bowl of Vietnamese pho we’ve ever had was from this one hotel’s breakfast in Hanoi or the first dosa we ever had in Bangalore, India that turned into an obsession and double dosa days. Sometimes it feels like nothing will ever be as good as the original but when we find a dish that reminds us of the original, it’s like hitting the jackpot.

We decided to write down all our favorite food from countries to hopefully inspire you to either try something new at an ethnic restaurant near you or maybe it will inspire you to travel to the country and try it there! One quick caveat, one of us has to stick to a gluten free diet (aka Dana) so while there are some very traditional amazing foods from each of these countries, the food may not appear on this list due to the fact that it contains gluten and therefore we both weren’t able to try it. So without further ado, we present to you….. 

Josh and Dana’s List of Food You Have to Try from Countries We’ve Visited

Food You Have to Try from China 

Before we moved to China, the only experience we had with Chinese food was Panda Express or a Chinese buffet. These usually consist of battered, fried meats drenched in sauce and served with fried rice. However, when we moved to China, our eyes and taste buds were opened to a whole new palate. China is a vast country. It’s so much bigger than we expected. Therefore each region has its own unique style of cooking. This means spice level, textures, ingredients all change depending on the region. While we thoroughly enjoyed everything we ate there, we fell in love with three dishes. They became our go to! 

Yang Rou Chuan’r – Hailing from the Xinjiang region, these delicious small cubes of lamb meat are skewered raw, grilled over coals/flames, and served piping hot. The meat is always top quality so it’s delicious just as is or you can coat the meat in a cumin/spice mixture for extra flavor. These skewers get addictive, quick. There are many restaurants that specialize in this style of food. You will be able to spot the restaurants because they have a grill in the middle of the table. Fret not if lamb isn’t your style, you can also order any other raw meat to grill at your table. It makes for a really fun dinner. You’ll also see skewers on the crowded busy streets as they make a great grab and go food to walk around while eating! 

Bok Choy – we couldn’t pick just one favorite food from China so a close runner up is sauteed bok choy (green leafy vegetable that’s like a mixture between the leaves of spinach and the base of celery). Yes, you heard me, one of our favorite foods is just one sauteed vegetable but it’s so much more than just a wilted leaf. When the Chinese saute bok choy, they saute it in the most amazing sauce. It’s a combination of some oil that almost tastes like butter (but isn’t) and garlic. The aroma is incredible and with just these few ingredients, magic happens in the form of a side dish. 

Guilin MiFen – Guilin is a town in southern China. Since the south grows a lot of rice, many of their dishes revolve around rice and this is no exception. MiFen is a bowl of soup. It’s a lighter broth with thin, delicate rice noodles. The broth has a distinct taste but it’s not strong. It is usually served with fried peanuts or soybeans for texture, whatever meat you order it with, and a tangy, almost sour veggie mix. You can also add as many condiments as you want to spice it up. Most shops have a small counter with bowls of condiments so diners can add their open mix. Ranging from coriander to chopped scallions, chilis to pickled beans or radishes, you can customize the soup to your liking. We got introduced to mifen while on a trip through Guilin. We instantly fell in love and quickly started seeking it out everywhere we went. Luckily it’s loved by many so you’re bound to find a restaurant that sells it wherever you travel in China. 

Food You Have to Try from Egypt 

In my mind, Egypt is most well known for its history. But after our recent trip, we’ve come to discover they are also very well known for their food as well. We’ve had falafel all over the world but nothing compares to Egyptian falafel. While most falafel are made with just chickpeas, Egyptians mix both chickpeas and fava beans which give a light and fluffy consistency. Also they add lots of herbs like cilantro/coriander which makes the batter green. Our favorite memory is walking up to a roadside stand in Luxor, Egypt and ordering 2 dozen falafel for just a few dollars that was served to us in a plastic bag. We just sat down on the curb and started eating them fresh, piping hot out of the bag. They were so good, we went back two more times that trip to get them fresh! 

Food You Have to Try From India 

We have really enjoyed Indian food for a long time. We thought we knew a lot about it until we actually went to India and we were met with a whole new branch of food to try. And yes, we fell in love quickly. The most amazing thing we tried in Southern India is a dosa. This paper thin, crispy crepe like food is made from blending rice and lentils into a batter. Then it’s fried on a hot griddle in a circular shape. It’s served on a plate with two sauces for dipping and a small bowl of stew. Usually it’s a green coconut chutney, made with fresh coconut and spices and a red tomato/onion chutney. The sambar is a lentil-based stew that adds a tangy touch and makes the meal the perfect breakfast combo to fill you up. You do have to eat it fresh and hot. Otherwise it cools down and while it’s still good, it’s not as amazing as when it’s warm. There are so many varieties of dosas. The plain is the best in my opinion because every bite is crispy and melts in your mouth. If you want a more hearty dish, do a masala dosa which has potato mash and spicy sauce in the middle. 

While we were in India, it was pretty normal for us to each eat two for breakfast. We made up a little jingle and happy dance every time it arrived and we would have a “double dosa day.” 

Food You Have to Try From Georgia 

We’ve never been to a country where every meal, from the cheap street food to the expensive fancy restaurants were all outstanding. I’m not kidding. Every dish we had in Georgia was amazing. It felt like my grandmother’s warm cozy cooking just giving me a hug with every meal. Every ingredient felt fresh, straight from the source because Georgia grows most of their own produce and meat. 

So what should you order in Georgia? Well, start your culinary experience with fresh appetizers like cheese plates and pkhali (small balls of raw blended vegetables, walnuts, and herbs). Georgia has many varieties of cheese we’ve never tasted before like sulguni and imeretian. All of them are fresh and delicious. The country also grows an abundance of walnuts which add a richness to many of their sauces, pesto, and a beautiful addition to plated dishes. For the main course, gluten eaters will enjoy the acharuli khachapuri which is warm bread with cheese, butter, and an egg in the middle or try the khinkali or dumplings. For meat eaters, try ojakhuri which is meat, potatoes, and onions sauteed and served in a baked clay pot. 

Food You Have to Try From Vietnam 

Before going to Vietnam, I was not familiar with pho. Since it’s a staple of the country, we had it everywhere we went while traveling the country. The hotels would serve it for breakfast and I’m so glad they did because we had it at least once, sometimes twice a day! Once we were back in Chicago, we sought out this dish and found some amazing places that serve it. Still to this day, whether I’m sick (this is my new chicken noodle soup) or just craving the fresh amazing flavor, pho is our go to soup. So what is it?

Pho is the most comforting thing. It’s a large bowl of soup. The broth has been simmering for hours to bring out the flavors of the bones and meat. This clear delicious broth is served over rice noodles and thin layers of raw beef are added on top of the soup. The heat of the soup will cook the beef while you devour it. Fresh basil, mint, bean sprouts, lime, and jalapenos are served on the side for you to add to the soup. I’m a little bit of a purest so I don’t like adding all the sauces to the soup but most restaurants will provide hot sauce, hoisin and soy sauces for you to add to the broth. It’s up to you what you like to add! 

Food You Have to Try From Thailand 

Thailand excels at using fresh ingredients and herbs that burst with flavor. A lot of dishes have a richness of flavor due to the sauces that have a combination of citrus, vinegars, or soy sauces. Fresh herbs like basil and cilantro are a staple in the meals. On hot days, it’s so refreshing. One of our favorite meals in Thailand is the Pad Kra Pao Moo or Spicy Thai Basil Pork. Usually this dish is stir fried minced pork served over rice with a fried egg. The spicy complements the pork and the basil adds an extra special kick of flavor. My best memory was our first night in Bangkok, sitting at an outdoor street vendor enjoying this delicious dish surrounded by the sights and sounds of Bangkok. For dessert, we ate so much mango sticky rice. The rice is combined with a sweet coconut milk and served with fresh sliced mangos that are locally grown. It’s so refreshing and delicious! 

Food You Have to Try From Nepal

Dal bhat from Nepal is not only a national dish, but it’s also amazing! Found everywhere from small roadside stands to luxury restaurants and at every teahouse if you do any trekking, you will love this dish as it gives you so much energy to keep hiking. Served on a metal plate, a scoop of rice is always in the center. The dal or lentils are cooked in a delicious soup and served in a small bowl. Also surrounding the edges are all the other tasty things like pickled veggies, sauteed greens, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes, all seasoned to perfection. Usually a few fresh veggies like sliced raw onion, cucumber and carrot adorn the side. Traditionally it’s eaten by hand but you can eat it with silverware if you want. 

Food You Have to Try From Turkey

We thought we knew what breakfast was until we went to Turkey and realized what we were missing out on! The Turkish breakfast is an ordeal. We were in Turkey for a month and every place we stayed served some version of this meal. The best we had was in a hotel in Cappadocia where we watched the sunrise with hot air balloons and a breakfast spread fit for a king! Usually served in small dishes that take up the entire table, you get a variety of dips like jams, honey, chocolate, butter (usually like 6 dips or more), cheese, meats, olives, dried fruit, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, breads, and eggs. It’s a literal feast. Top it all off with some Turkish tea and it’s the best way to start your day. 

So there you have it, a list of some of our favorite Foods You Have to Try from all over the world. Hopefully it inspires you to take a trip and experience it for yourself. Let us know if you have any questions as we’d love to talk more about each experience and food!