Food is more than just sustenance; it’s an experience, a story, and a gateway to different cultures. If you love to travel and eat, this bucket list of 15 must-try meals from around the world will take your taste buds on an unforgettable adventure.
15 Must-try Meals Around the World
Here are 15 must-try meals from around the world:
1. Paella (Spain)
Paella is a vibrant, comforting, and colourful dish known worldwide and is considered the ultimate reference to Spanish cuisine. It’s become one of the world’s most iconic dishes and is synonymous with Spanish culture, family, and festivities. Let’s dig into one of the world’s most famous dishes.
Popular places to try from:
- La Pepica, Valencia
- Restaurante Casa Roberto, Valencia
- El Palmar, Valencia
- La Barraca, Madrid
- 7 Portes, Barcelona
2. Sushi (Japan)
Sushi is a traditional Japanese dish made with vinegared rice, typically seasoned with sugar and salt and combined with a variety of ingredients such as seafood, vegetables, or meat: raw seafood is the most common, although some may be cooked. While sushi comes in numerous styles and presentations, the defining component is the vinegared rice, also known as shari or sumeshi.
Popular places to try from:
- Sukiyabashi Jiro, Tokyo
- Sushi Saito, Tokyo
- Daiwa Sushi, Tokyo
- Sushi Dai, Tokyo
- Ginza Kyubey, Tokyo
3. Poutine (Canada)
Poutine is a dish of French fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. It emerged in Quebec in the late 1950s in the Centre-du-Québec region, though its exact origins are uncertain, and there are several competing claims regarding its invention.
Popular places to try from:
- La Banquise, Montréal
- Poutineville, Montreal
- Chez Ashton, Quebec City
- Smoke’s Poutinerie, Toronto
- The Flying Pig, Vancouver
4. Biryani (India)
Biryani is a mixed rice dish popular in South Asia, made with rice, meat (chicken, goat, lamb, beef) or seafood (prawns or fish), and spices. To cater to vegetarians, the meat or seafood can be substituted with vegetables or paneer. Sometimes, eggs or potatoes are also added.
Popular places to try from:
- Paradise Biryani, Hyderabad
- Karim’s, Delhi
- Buhari Hotel, Chennai
- Kolkata Biryani House, Kolkata
- Lucky Restaurant, Mumbai
5. Peking Duck (China)
Peking duck is a dish from Beijing that has been prepared since the Imperial era. The meat is characterized by its thin, crispy skin, with authentic flavours
Popular places to try from:
- Quanjude, Beijing
- Da Dong Roast Duck, Beijing
- Siji Minfu, Beijing
- Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant, Beijing
- Made in China (Grand Hyatt), Beijing
6. Tacos al Pastor (Mexico)
Al pastor is a preparation of spit-grilled slices of pork originating in the Central Mexican region of Puebla and Mexico City, where it remains most prominent; today, though, it is a common menu item found in taquerías throughout Mexico. The method of preparing and cooking al pastor is based on the lamb shawarma brought by Lebanese immigrants to the region.
Popular places to try from:
- El Huequito, Mexico City
- Taquería Los Cocuyos, Mexico City
- El Califa, Mexico City
- El Tizoncito, Mexico City
- Pancho’s Takos, Puerto Vallarta
7. Ramen (Japan)
Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish. It includes Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a broth. Common flavors are soy sauce and miso, with typical toppings including sliced pork (chāshū), nori (dried seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), and scallions. Ramen has its roots in Chinese noodle dishes and is a part of Japanese Chinese cuisine.
Popular places to try from:
- Ichiran, Tokyo
- Ippudo, Fukuoka
- Ramen Street, Tokyo Station
- Ganko Ramen, Osaka
- Menya Musashi, Tokyo
8. Goulash (Hungary)
Goulash is a soup made of meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Originating in Hungary, goulash is a common meal predominantly eaten in Central Europe but also in other parts of Europe. It is one of the national dishes of Hungary and a symbol of the country.
Popular places to try from:
- Kéhli Vendéglő, Budapest
- Hungarikum Bisztró, Budapest
- Café Kör, Budapest
- Rosenstein Vendéglő, Budapest
- Gettó Gulyás, Budapest
9. Empanadas (Argentina)
Filipino empanadas usually contain ground beef, pork or chicken, potatoes, chopped onions, and raisins (picadillo-style), in a somewhat sweet, wheat flour bread. There are two kinds available: the baked sort and the flaky fried type.
Popular places to try from:
- La Cocina, Buenos Aires
- El Sanjuanino, Buenos Aires
- La Morada, Buenos Aires
- La Querencia, Buenos Aires
- El Hornero, Mendoza
10. Shakshuka (Middle East)
Shakshouka, also spelled shakshuka or chakchouka, is a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion, and garlic, commonly spiced with cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Shakshuka is a popular dish throughout North Africa and the Middle East.
Popular places to try from:
- Dr. Shakshuka, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Azura, Jerusalem, Israel
- Hashem Restaurant, Amman, Jordan
- Baladna, Cairo, Egypt
- Babel, Beirut, Lebanon
11. Ceviche (Peru)
Ceviche, cebiche, sebiche, or seviche is a cold dish consisting of fish or shellfish marinated in citrus and seasonings. This dish is made of chunks of raw fish marinated in freshly squeezed key lime with sliced onions, chili peppers, salt, and black pepper. Corvina or cebo (sea bass) was the fish traditionally used.
Popular places to try from:
- La Mar, Lima
- Pescados Capitales, Lima
- El Mercado, Lima
- Canta Rana, Lima
- Punto Azul, Lima
12. Tagine (Morocco)
A tagine is very similar to an Indian curry, except ras el hanout takes a slightly different approach than garam masala. It is one of the historical dishes to try.
Popular places to try from:
- Dar Moha, Marrakech
- Nomad, Marrakech
- La Maison Arabe, Marrakech
- Le Foundouk, Marrakech
- Café Clock, Fez
13. Lobster Roll (USA – New England)
A lobster roll consists of chunks of tender, sweet, and cooked lobster meat. Then the meat barely napped in a thin coating of mayonnaise. It is then all stuffed into a top-split, white-bread hot dog bun, lightly toasted in butter.
Popular places to try from:
- Red’s Eats, Maine
- Neptune Oyster, Boston
- Eventide Oyster Co., Portland
- Luke’s Lobster, New York City
- The Clam Shack, Kennebunkport
14. Meat Pie (Australia)
A meat pie is a hand-sized pie. It contains diced or minced meat and gravy. Sometimes with mushrooms, onion, or cheese and is often consumed as a takeaway food snack.
Popular places to try from:
- Harry’s Café de Wheels, Sydney
- Bourke Street Bakery, Sydney
- Pie Face, Melbourne
- The Rolling Pin, Victoria
- Tully’s Corner, Queensland
15. Baklava (Turkey)
Baklava is a layered pastry dessert. It is made of filo pastry, filled with chopped dry fruits, and sweetened with chocolate syrup or honey. It was one of the most delicious sweet pastries of Ottoman cuisine.
Popular places to try from:
- Karaköy Güllüoğlu, Istanbul
- Hafiz Mustafa, Istanbul
- Koska, Istanbul
- İmam Çağdaş, Gaziantep
- Zeki İnal Baklava, Gaziantep