Food made in all countries and regions worldwide has its own characteristics—from spicy Asian cuisine to avant-garde dishes from Spain, pizzas, and pasta of Italy to French patisserie. As an avid traveler and food enthusiast, I’ve been to some of the top culinary destinations in the world. I love celebrating food and the different cultures that influence it.

Here are some of the top cuisines that would inspire you from around the world.

Italy

From pizza to pasta and creamy gelato, Italian cuisine is the epitome of comfort food, and people worldwide would agree with that. Italy has been at the forefront of satiating millions of food lovers for centuries. What makes their cuisine so delicious and unique isn’t a complicated preparation process but simplicity and freshness. They are clever with their ingredients and use them in a way that enhances each flavor profile, leaving you in awe.

Here are some of the things you must try when you go to Italy

  • Neapolitan Pizza – No other pizza can beat this mind-blowingly simple yet delicious dish. They create magic using simple toppings of cheese and tomato sauces
  • Ragu all Bolognese (spaghetti bolognaise) – Everyone’s go-to comfort food in Italy
  • Focaccia – It’s one of the most popular bread that you can enjoy on its own or as a side
  • Panzanella Salad – A must-have summer salad that’s healthy and delicious

China

China has a deep-rooted history of delectable flavors and unique cuisine. This place is heaven for intrepid food lovers, with some of the craziest yet most delicious dishes. Their food goes way beyond traditional noodles and rice and features all kinds of meat dishes. Pork, duck, chicken, pigeon, beef, and mutton, are some of the main highlights in Chinese cuisine. Besides meat and noodles, they also have fruits and vegetables like tree fungi, Pomelo, yard-long yams, and bitter cucumber.

Another thing that makes China popular is its rich gastronomical culture. Each region’s cuisine is different from another. In Northern China, you’ll find salty and simple food such as dumplings and noodles. Central China is known for its spicy food and extraordinary seasonings. Western Chinese food features lamb as its main meat used in hearty halal food, and Eastern Chinese food is sweet and light.

Here are my 5 top picks for Chinese cuisine

  • Sweet and Sour Pork
  • Gong Bao Chicken
  • Wontons
  • Dumplings
  • Peking duck

France

French cuisine goes beyond croissants and coffee— it’s known as a gourmet capital and for good reasons. No one does pastry quite like the French, from scrumptious Bagguete to pain au chocolat, raisin brioche to Madeleines. Besides pastry, their savory dishes such as pot au feu, cassoulet, and steak Frites are also great.

People here get two-hour long lunch breaks and enjoy elaborate three-course meals. You can explore many combinations of wines and cheeses all over the country. Here are my top picks for French food that you must try:

  • Macarons
  • Baguette
  • Croque – Monsieur – a toasted sandwich with egg, ham, and melted cheese
  • Bouillabaisse – fish soup

The choice of wine is also important to enjoy your meals. Have red wine with meat, white with fish, and rosé pairs well with brunch.

Mexico

You can never get bored of Mexican food, no matter how many times you have it. Mexican cuisine has so much variety and flavor, from classic tacos to quesadillas, enchiladas to Tamales. It also offers nutritional superfoods such as avocado, lime, tomato, garlic, beans, and of course, chilies. Despite being nutritional, it doesn’t taste healthy because of all the heat you get from the spices.

Mexican cuisine cleverly uses the best of different worlds, such as rich Indian curry, spicy Thai food, and zesty Greek salads, making it a perfect foodie destination. Here are some things you should try:

  • Tamales – masa cooked in a leaf wrapping
  • Mole – ancient sauce made with spices, chili peppers, and chocolate
  • Garlic Beef Enchiladas
  • Steak tortillas
  • Turkey burritos with fruit salsa
  • Taco-filled peppers – a unique take on tacos with an excellent flavor of meat, pepper, bean sprouts, and spice mixture

Spain

Spain is known for its hedonistic food culture and is arguably one of the top culinary destinations. The Spaniards munch on snacks throughout the day and have big hearty meals. The country is home to many flavorful dishes with recipes dating back hundreds of years. From the Pyrenees spoils to Mediterranean fruits, cumin, and saffron notes of the Moors to legendary Ferran Adria’s molecular experiments, Spanish cuisine is timeless yet exquisite.  

Here’s what you should try when you visit Spain:

  • Pulpo a la gallega – an octopus dish with flavors of Paprika and olive oil
  • Tortilla Española – the tortillas in Spain are not what you think. It’s a name for the Spanish omelet
  • Bean Stews
  • Paella – a combination of seafood and rice

Read more: The Best Foodie Destinations in Spain

Japanese Cuisine

Japanese cuisine is simple and wholesome; it comes from Japan’s native traditions and cultures and delivers some of the best flavors. Get a lavish multicourse meal featuring culinary poetry or grab a set at a revolving sushi conveyor— eating food in Japan is a one-of-a-kind experience. That’s not all; you can also pick up some of the most delicious (also healthy) food from their convenience stores.

Here are my top picks:

  • Miso Soup – ahealthy, wholesome soup prepared with simple ingredients like crushed soybean paste (Miso) and hot water
  • Onigiri – sushi rice covered with dried seaweed, and in the middle is shrimp, chicken, umeboshi (fermented fish), salmon, and tuna
  • Soba – a kind of Japanese pasta
  • Tempura
  • Sushi and Sashimi

India

Boasting 8000 years of history, Indian food is one of the most-loved cuisines worldwide due to its unmatched flavors, fragrant spices, and wide variety of dishes, from sweet to savory.

When it comes to Indian food, there are no rules for spices. The same spice adds flavor to sweet and savory dishes or can be eaten on its own.

No country manages to make vegetarian food taste as delicious as India does. Their vast varieties and flavors would leave you in awe, and each region has something unique to offer. Here’s what you should try:

  • Daal – A boiled lentil dish packed with flavor
  • Masala Chai – Not your regular caffeinated drink
  • Briyani
  • Butter Chicken
  • Bhapaa Aloo – A dish of potato, coconut paste, and panch phoron

Thailand

Known for its street food, Thai cuisine is a delicious combination of various flavors and textures, such as spicy, salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy, and slippery. Thai geniuses combine complex herbs and spices in every dish that come together like harmonious music compositions. This cuisine takes its influence from Malaysia, China, Myanmar, and Indonesia and its own royal culinary culture.

The simplicity of people combined with the sun, beach, and good food offers some of the most wholesome life experiences.

Things to try in Thailand:

  • Massaman Curry
  • Tom Yam Goong – a soup that combines lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, and chilies
  • Pad Thai
  • Som Tam – spicy papaya salad

Greece

Greece has a lot to offer, from blue seas to white buildings, colorful salads, feta, and roast meats. Olive oil is the best gift Greek gods have given to the world— soaked up by bread, drizzled on food, or cooked in many ways.

Traveling and eating in Greece is like consuming ancient history. From their dolma to lentil soup, everything gives a taste of ancient Greece culture. It’s influenced by Mediterranean and Balkan cuisines and shows similarities with Turkish and Anatolian cuisine.  

  • Tomatokedtedes – Tomato pastries featuring zesty cherry tomatoes from Santorini
  • Taramasalata – Scallop made from fish buns and blended with lemon and olive oil
  • Greek Salad
  • Lamb Kleftiko – Slow-cooked lamp with vegetables and herbs
  • Spanakopita – Spinach with feta and flaky pasty

Korea

Although Korean food has recently gained a lot of attention, its unique cuisine has been around for hundreds of years. For Koreans, harvesting, preparing, and eating food is considered a social event.   

Korean dishes taste like a fiesta in your mouth and are made with flavorful ingredients like sesame oil, pepper flakes, soy sauce, and fermented red chili paste. Here are some must-try dishes from Korean Cuisine

  • Kimchi – The national dish of Korea that you can eat as a side or on its own
  • Bibimbap – A mixed-rice dish
  • YangnyeomTongdak – A sweet and spicy chicken dish
  • Hoeddeok – Korean pancakes
  • Bulgogi – A spicy meat dish

United States

You can find all kinds of cuisines in the US, from traditional American to other Western dishes. American food takes its inspiration from different countries and modifies it accordingly, such as pizzas, fries, hamburgers, etc. Every cuisine offers a unique flavor loved by food lovers worldwide.

Besides these, the delicious homegrown American dishes include key lime pie, clam chowder, Cobb salad, and slow-cooked Barbecue meals.

Here are some of the dishes that I love in the US

  • BBQ Sauce Ribs – nothing says America quite like ribs and barbecue sauce
  • Tex-Mex Foods – a combination of Texan and Mexican food
  • Mac and Cheese
  • Apple Pie – a hearty comfortable people you can’t say no to

It’s almost impossible to decide which cuisine is most delicious; I’d suggest you try them yourselves. If you want to know more about foodie destinations or my incredible travel experiences, follow my food blog at Irina Bukatik. Or you can contact me to talk about any travel or food-related. I’d love to hear from you.

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