Looking at the weather forecast for the coming week you’d think summer is already in full swing, but you’ve still got plenty of time to plan that summer vacation and beat the scorching heat that will inevitably hit us in a couple of months. Everyone has their own reasons to travel, some for nature, others for the activities, but as a big bunch of foodies, our numero uno reason for travelling is the eating!
Photo by Rawpixel via Unsplash
We always knew that limiting this to just a few cities would be tough but we’ve tried our best and listed six of the best food cities around the world for you to plan your next food-venture abroad.
London
Photo by Joanna Boj via Unsplash
When you think of Britain, ‘amazing food’ probably doesn’t spring to mind but if you know where to look then you’re in for a scrumptious surprise. Borough Market stalls vend everything from freshly caught fish to artisanal cheeses and baked goods or tuck into some traditional fare such as fish and chips or a full English breakfast at one of London’s traditional pubs or cafes. Still not a fan of British cuisine? Take a trip to Brick Lane for some of the best curries outside of India, or try your way through the 69 Michelin starred restaurants scattered across the city.
Tokyo
Photo by Emran Yousof via Unsplash
Not only is the early morning fish markets enough to get the belly rumble going but with over 160,000 restaurants throughout Tokyo, it’s a foodies paradise. As well as being able to tuck into some incredible local cuisine including Unagi (eel) at Obana restaurant, there are hundreds of great international cuisines to enjoy at Michelin starred French, Spanish and Italian restaurants.
New York
Photo by Andre Benz via Unsplash
Apart from enjoying a classic Rueben sandwich at the world-famous Katz’s Delicatessen, New York is a city of global tastes. Take a trip to Manhattan’s Murray Hill for some authentic curries or grab a slice of The Classic at Dom DeMarco’s pizza joint, Di Fara Pizza. If you’re looking for something a bit more rustic and late night then New York offers a variety of cheap eats through the form of food carts parked across the city.
Shanghai
Photo by Alexander London via Unsplash
In case work or other commitments require you to stay in the middle Kingdom throughout the summer then Shanghai has more to offer than the rest of the country combined. The addictive soup filled xiao long bao dumplings are not to be missed, and if you’re taking a morning stroll stay alert for the streetside jian bings, the classic version filled with egg, bean curd paste, chili sauce, coriander and a crispy wafer is going to be a great start to the day. In case you want a break from all the Chinese cuisines Shanghai has to offer, there’s plenty of fantastic western restaurants that are tough to compete with.
Bangkok
Photo by Lisheng Chang via Unsplash
With a bearable plane journey of fewer than 5 hours from Shanghai, Bangkok is famous for its street foods such as the famous pad thai (stir-fried noodles) or som tam (spicy green papaya salad) making it a cheap eats galore for any foodie on a budget. If you’ve got a bit more time and money to spend then get a seat at Nahm where chef Pim Techamuanvivit puts a modern twist on some classic Thai dishes.
Rome
Photo by Kevin Bosc via Unsplash
Some might say France is the capital of great food but Italy has always been a foodie favourite when it comes to amazing eats. Head to the epic Testaccio Market in Rome where you can have a culinary journey of prepared foods representing the whole of Italy. If it’s a hearty roman meal you’re after then head to the 19th Century archetypal gourmet restaurant, Checchino Dal 1887, for tonnarelli pasta lavished with thick oxtail sauce.
What do you think? Don’t agree with our choices? Let us know your favourite food city in the comments below!