22 Best Dishes in The World You Must Try Once In Your Life

A vital part of tourism is also looking out for memorable and unique eating and drinking experiences anywhere in the world. Often termed as food tourism, this pursuit is categorized under experiential travel. In present times, food stands equal to accommodation and sceneries when it comes to deciding a place to travel. Just like there are lists of best hotels to stay in and best places to visit, there should also be a food dishes list to narrow down the best items around the world. When it comes to ranking, food and drinks can be very subjective as tastes differ from person to person.

However, here's a list of best dishes in the world suggested by experts and travellers. Ready? Let's dig in.

1. Sushi (Japan)

Sushi
Source
Prepared with vinegared rice and a wide range of ingredients including seafood, vegetables, and sometimes fruits. Sushi tastes best when served with wasabi, pickled ginger, and soy sauce. A popular garnish for this dish is Daikon radish. The type of fish in it defines a sushi's taste. However, the vinegared rice gives the dish a tangy taste overall. Tuna, eel, and Salmon tend to have a light flavour while octopus flavoured sushi is generally strong in taste.

2. Rendang, Indonesia

Rendang
Source
Often called "the world's most delicious dish," Rendang is prepared by simmering beef with coconut milk with a mixture of the best of spices including turmeric, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, chillies, and galangal. The dish is then stewed for a few hours which gives it a tender texture and exotic taste. The blast of flavours is surely one of the reasons why the dish is loved globally and is also one of the best dishes in the world. Easy to rustle up, this dish is often served at ceremonies or to honour guests.

3. Ramen, Japan

Ramen
Source
If not tried, you must have heard of Ramen at least once in your life. However, we are not talking about the packaged instant noodles. Ramen is a Japanese dish made of wheat noodles and served in the broth along with vegetables and meat. Ramen comes in several flavours, from tangy to spicy, depending on the flavour of the broth. Every region in Japan has it's own. Tonkotsu, a popular style of ramen includes pork bone broth and the miso ramen, another popular dish originated in Hokkaido.

4. Tom Yam Goong, Thailand

Tom Yam Goong
Source
A type of sour and hot Thai soup, Tom yam goong is prepared with shrimp along with a load of healthy herbs and spices?  lemongrass, lime, kaffir leaves, galangal, and red chili peppers to name a few. the soup plays around with a bit of all possible flavours? spicy, sour, salty and sweet. To add to its flavour, the soup is topped with coconut milk and cream. The dish is a local favourite all over Thailand.

5. Kebab, Turkey

Kebab
Source
A dish popular across the Middle East, Kebabs are originally from Turkey. They consist of ground meat or seafood, fruits, and vegetables in some cases and are cooked on a skewer with a big fire underneath, just like a barbeque on the grill. It is cooked with various accompanying ingredients including garlic, black pepper, and vegetable oil. Mutton or lambs are generally the traditional meats used in kebabs. Other recipes include beef, goat, fish, and chicken as well. This dish has a perfect blend of taste, ranging from tangy to spicy, making it one of the best dishes in the world.

6. Pho, Vietnam

Pho
Source
A simple yet an incredible dish, Pho (pronounced as 'fuh') is a Vietnamese dish made of rice noodles and meat (usually beef or chicken) served in broth and topped with herbs. The dish has got a great fragrance which lingers in the eater's head for a while. A popular street food item, Pho is flavourful yet balanced in nature. A perfect dish to have on a winter evening. You and this dish are certainly made "pho" each other.

7. Peking duck, China

Paella
Source
Peking duck is a dish that finds its way to Beijing. The ducks for this dish are specially bred and slaughtered after 60 days and seasoned first before being roasted in closed ovens. This gives the meat a crisp skin and thin texture. The dish is served with cucumbers, spring onion, and sweet bean sauce. The dish is cut in front of the diners and then served in three parts. First, with sugar and garlic sauce and then with pancakes. The rest of the duck is also served with broth. The taste so delightful, after completing the dish, this is the only way you would want your duck.

8. Paella, Spain

Paella
Source
Paella has got its roots in Valencia, Spain. It is an ancient dish recreated with a modern touch in the present times. There are various ways to eat Paella. The original recipe contains white rice with green beans, meat (rabbit or chicken, sometimes duck), butterbeans, snails, topped with seasoning such as rosemary and. The recipe also uses artichokes during its season. Another very common but seasonal ingredient is artichokes. Cooked in olive oil in a pan, the dish is full of flavours and hence one of the best dishes in the world.

9. Steak and Kidney Pie, England

Steak and Kidney Pie
Source
The Brits love their pies. And why wouldn't they? Steak and kidney pie is a piquant pie filled with diced beef, kidney (often of lamb, beef, or pork), brown gravy, and fried onion. It is a representative dish of British cuisine and culture. The gravy is made up of ale, flavoured beef broth, and cornstarch. There are special pastry crusts prepared for the pie such as puff pastry, hot water crust pastry, and shortcut pastry. Although quite expensive (the authentic ones), the dish is worth trying once even if you are not a pie fan.

10. Apfelstrudel, Austria

Apfelstrudel
Source
More commonly known as Apple Strudel, Apfelstrudel is a popular pastry in Austria and other parts of Europe. The dish consists of an oval strudel pastry cover with mouthwatering apple filling inside. The apple filling is prepared with grated apples, cinnamon, sugar, breadcrumbs, and raisins. This delicacy tastes best when served with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. You can experiment with vanilla sauce instead of ice cream and custard instead of cream to try new flavours. Apfelstrudel can be served any time accompanied by coffee, tea, or even champagne and is widely found at Viennese cafes.

11. Pad Thai, Thailand

Pad Thai
Source
A common street food dish all over Thailand, Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice dish accompanied with noodles. This healthy dish is made with stir-frying noodles with eggs and tofu. What brings out the flavour from the dish is the unique blend of sauces - tamarind pulp, dried shrimp and fish sauce and garnished with garlic and red chillii pepper. The dish is served along with roasted peanuts and lime wedges. There are extra ingredients that are provided on the side such as radishes, bean sprouts, and other vegetables. Pad Thai also has a vegetarian version which consists of soy sauce instead of fish sauce and doesn't include any meat.

12. Goulash, Hungary

Goulash
Source
A dish most popular in Central Europe, Goulash is stew meat dating back to 9th century Hungary. The main elements of the dish are the spices, especially paprika. Goulash is prepared from either beef, pork, veal, or lamb. The meat is cut into pieces and neatly seasoned with salt. It is then browned with oil and sliced onion. The dish is left to simmer after adding paprika to it. It is served with a variety of vegetables including carrot, parsley, celery, and potatoes. Potatoes are also added to the dish to make it thicker and smoother (because of the starch). The dish is a symbol for Hungary and also one of the national dishes. The comforting nature of the stew is what makes it one of the best dishes in the world. 

13. Lasagna, Italy

Lasagna
Source
Italy's lasagna takes over Pizza to be added in the "world's best food dishes" list because of its comeback. It is one of the oldest pasta but has become popular only in the present times. The ingredients itself sound mouthwatering - meats, pasta, vegetables, tomato sauce, and lots and lots of cheese. Lasagne (plural form for Lasagna) is loved by people of all ages and is dish ideal for any occasion or celebration.

14. Kimchi, Korea

Kimchi
Source
Kimchi is a staple Korean side dish prepared from fermented vegetables such as Korean radishes, and cabbage and topped with several seasonings, including garlic, chilli powder, scallions, and ginger. There is a huge variety of Kimchis made with different ingredients are is sold practically for free as starters in most restaurants in Korea. The dish is loved by all, especially health freaks because of its high dietary fibre and vitamin C, and low calory characteristics. Kimchi has a prominent sour flavour due to fermentation. Other flavour notes such as spicy and umami are also observed.

15. Fried chicken, United States

Fried Chicken
Source
Crunchy on the outside and juicy within, fried chicken, as the name suggests, is a dish consisting of chicken pieces deeply fried, giving it a crisp coating. The chicken is then seasoned with herbs and spices. The spicier, the better. Excess flour is used to make the crust thicker. The dish was first prepared in the 1830s, the rest is history. Fried chicken is practically the most loved dish in the United States. The trend caught on and the dish is now one of the best dishes in the world.

16. Dosa, India

Dosa
Source
India has a lot to contribute when it comes to cuisine and dosa is the best dish to represent that. To put it in simple terms, dosa is a type of pancake made from fermented rice batter. The dish looks like a crepe and the main ingredients are black gram and rice. Earlier, Dosa was prominent only in South India and Sri Lanka. It is now a well-known dish in India and all over the world. It is usually filled with various stuffings with potato being the main ingredient for the stuffing. Dosa is served along with chutneys and sambar (vegetable stew)

17. Massaman Curry, Thailand 

Massaman Curry
Source
Prepared with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, nutmeg and mace, Massaman curry is a mild, relatively rich curry of Thailand. Blended with the local spices, this tangy and not too spicy curry differs from the other regular curries of the nation and for all the right reasons. Instead of including the curry leaves in the cooking process Massaman curry uses spices and aromatics like cumin, lemongrass and galangal that helps in creating a delectable base for the dish. 

18. Pizza, Italy

Pizza
Source
Now who wouldn't be aware of this go-to dish that gives us the ultimate savouring experience. This Italian Dish consists of a usually round, wheat base dough that is garnished with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven. Pizza today has become one of the most popular fast food items in the world. Drooling already, then pick up your phone and place your pizza order now. 

19. Hamburger, Germany

Hamburger
Source
This popular dish of Germany consists of one or more cooked patties of ground meat, usually beef, that is placed right inside the sliced bread or a bun. This is then either pan-fried, grilled or smoked. Hamburgers are often served with lettuce, loads of cheese, tomato, pickles and whatnot. Condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise are frequently placed on sesame seed buns. These mouth-watering delicacy today usually features at fast-food chan and is often the go-to meal of the youngsters. 

20. Donuts, USA

Donuts
Source
This USA delicacy often leaves people with a sweet tooth gasping for more. The doughnut is popular in many countries and is prepared in various forms as a sweet snack. Donuts are usually deep-fried from a flour dough, and typically ring-shaped. Various toppings such as sugar, chocolate, maple glazing etc are used that accentuates the taste of this snack, and literally serves as an icing on the cake. Krespy Kreme, Mad Over Donuts are few of the most popular donuts chains worldwide. 

21. Biryani, India

Biryani
Source
This mixed rice dish has its origins amidst the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. It is prepared by mixing a curry, later combining it with semi-cooked rice separately. This dish is especially popular throughout the Indian subcontinent, as well as among the diaspora from the region. The presence of this rich and aromatic rice dish in the menu surely takes the dinner parties a notch higher. 

22. Poutine, Canada

Poutine, Canada
Source
All the french-fries lovers in the house, this Canadian dish is what you need to get your hands on. Poutine includes french fries and cheese curds topped with traditional brown chicken gravy. Originated in the late 1950s in the central province of Canada, the hot gravy is usually served at room temperatures and t maintain the texture, the fries are added right before serving the dish. 

Whether you are someone with a refined taste for food or you simply want to relish life through your taste buds, these best dishes in the world are worth crossing oceans for.

This post was published by Yash Saboo

Share this post on social media

Related Articles

Food & Drink

Food & Drink

18 Best Restaurants in The World to Add to the Bucket List

Adventure

Adventure

16 Most Dangerous Airports of The World for Runway Thrills!

Art & Culture

Art & Culture

12 Oldest Languages In The World Still Widely Used!

Adventure

Adventure

Best Surfing Spots In The World

Social

Social

Incredible Places to Slackline in the World

Top Places

Top Places

10 Most Beautiful Islands in The World

Adventure

Adventure

24 Travel Documentaries You Should Watch ASAP

Transport

Transport

E-Visa for Indians : Countries That Offer Easy Visa for Indians

Stay

Stay

Top 10 Best Overwater Bungalows In The World

Social

Social

Travel Bucket List Destinations To Up Your Instagram Game

Fairs & Festivals

Fairs & Festivals

Unconventional New Years Traditions Around The World

Social

Social

Unusual Natural Phenomena Around The World: Because Mother Nature Likes Getting Creative Too

Social

Social

Forbidden Places in The World: Places You CANNOT Visit

Family Holidays

Family Holidays

7 Best Family Holiday Destinations in the World To Ignite Their Wanderlust!

Social

Social

12 of the World's Most Beautiful Glamping Holiday Destinations

Adventure

Adventure

10 Of the Most Luxurious Experiences around the World to Make Your Bucket List Longer!

Social

Social

Voluntourism: How & Where You Can Travel While Making a Difference

Social

Social

Must Visit Sports Destinations: A Travel Checklist For The Lover Of Sports

Social

Social

Are you an Art Aficionado? Then this Travel Checklist is for You!

Adventure

Adventure

Adventure in Your Blood? These Countries Should be Your Next Destination

Social

Social

Travel Destinations for Book Lovers|

Art & Culture

Art & Culture

Best Cities for Music Lovers - 7 Places For Exciting Music Festivals

Art & Culture

Art & Culture

17 Cultural Tourism Destinations in the World Culture-Buffs Must Visit

Social

Social

12 Unusual Dining Customs For You To Be Aware Of Before Your Next Trip

Adventure

Adventure

These Amusement Parks Are Totally Not Just A Child's Play!

Experiences

Experiences

Strangest Museums In The World That Will Leave You Intrigued And A Tad Bit Confused

Social

Social

7 Top Filming Locations In The World For The Cinephile In You

Art & Culture

Art & Culture

City of Castles in the World For Heritage Lovers

Top Places

Top Places

7 Hottest Places In The World With Scorching Temperatures

Sightseeing

Sightseeing

Abandoned Places Around the World

Comments on this post

Browse Hotel Collections