Why do we travel? Our passion for food drives us. Each country, as big as China to as small as Tuvalu, has developed it’s own unique cuisine based on their identity, history, and people. These dishes are picked to define entire nations, and you can learn so much from them. Food is the most simple gateway into understanding and experiencing other cultures.
To date, we have had National Dishes in 25+ different countries. Below you’ll find them ranked from our favorite to least.
1. Carbonade Flamanade – Belgium
On the cobbled streets of Brussels we sat outside the small restaurant of Nuetnigenough. Our waitress suggested their Carbonade Flamanade, “The best meal in the world” as she said. A hearty, rich, aromatic sauce covered tender beef. We paired it with a Belgian Bitter, the same type that the sauce had been made with. There was no resistance from the beef, each rich bite melted in our mouths. It was an incredible, comforting meal.
2. Pad Thai – Thailand
Eating Pad Thai in Thailand made me realize my whole life was a lie. It’s completely different to what is served in American Thai restaurants. Emily put it perfect when she said, ‘It tastes like peanut butter in the States’. Over here it was a whole new culinary experience. It was light and fresh. Squirting on some lime juice added tang and acidity. Peanuts were placed on the side of the dish if you wanted for a little crunch. We had two amazing Pad Thais from two different restaurants: Thipsamai and Pad Thai Fai Ta Lu. It’s too hard to choose which was better, both were delicious.
3. Carbonara – Italy
“If you want to have the best Carbonara in Rome. Come with me”. You don’t question when a local Roman tells you this. We ended up being led to a hole-in-the-wall cafe, Maccheroni Express. A single room with just 2 tables and a chef. Since we were in Rome, we went with two of the famous Roman Pastas: Carbonara and Cacio e Pepe. Each dish was made with a few simple ingredients, yet they tasted incredible. Both were rich and creamy, with a little bite from the pepper. What I loved most about the Carbonara was saltiness from the Guanciale which brings it all together, and to this day, Carbonara is our favorite dish to cook.
4. Haggis – United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a couple different National Dishes, however, we decided to go with the most surprising of all. On paper, sheep heart, liver, and lungs mixed with oatmeal and wrapped in stomach doesn’t sound too appetizing. We wandered down a cobbled alley in Edinburgh and ended up at Arcade Bar Haggis & Whisky House where we had the most expectation blowing meal of our lives. Haggis sat upon a pile of Neeps & Tatties and lay in a bed of Whiskey sauce. It was absolutely so tasty, much more than we were expecting. The hearty, gamey flavor of the Haggis was perfectly complemented by the buttery potatoes and rich Whiskey sauce. Even my parents loved it, so that’s a big win for Haggis.
5. Pho – Vietnam
Walk down the streets of Hanoi at any time in the day and you’ll see people sat on tiny stools eating up Pho. During our week in the old town, we ate Pho almost every day and had all different kinds: Chicken Pho, Duck Pho, Meatball Pho. However, our favorite was Beef Pho at Phở Gia Truyền. On the busy Vietnamese streets, as motorcycles whizzed by, we walked up to a tiny hole in the wall, with a couple of tables and tiny plastic chairs. A man at the counter took our order, not making eye contact as he continued to slam his cleaver through a hunk of raw beef. A couple minutes later our Pho arrived. A big bowl of broth filled with cilantro, basil, green onion, beef, and noodles. We discovered more with each spoonful. The herbs add so much freshness. The broth brings warmth and depth. The beef is tender and meaty. The noodles chewy and soft. Amazing dish and experience.
6. Asado – Argentina
The Argentinians are serious about their beef. Every restaurant you go to it’s beef, beef, and more beef. So it’s no surprise that their National Dish is Asado, a traditional barbeque style of grilling meats over open flame. Asado is sacred in Argentina. It’s not just food, it’s a cultural and social experience meant to be digested over the course of a couple hours. So to get the true experience, there was only one place for us, Don Julio in Buenos Aires. We were sat at our table with many others, ordered a bottle of Malbec, some Provoletta, Roasted Beets, and the main event, the Entrecot (Tomahawk). Probably the greatest dining experience we have had.
7. Pot Au Feu – France
French food has a reputation of being one the best cuisines in the world. The food we ate in Paris was extraordinary and the Pot au Feu we had at Le Roi du Pot au Feu was no different. Tender meat, onions, potato in a rich, hearty broth. Our waiter gave us toast and salt and indicated to scoop out the bone marrow, spread it on the toast, and sprinkle with coarse salt. The bone marrow was gooey, fatty, and a great complement. The meal felt comforting and savory, and the free wine at the table certainly made the experience better.
8. Pepian – Guatemala
Guatemalan cuisine was such a pleasant surprise. We weren’t expecting much, but each meal blew our minds with how much care was placed into developing their flavors. Throughout Antigua, we’d been told about Pepian and how good it was. At the colorful restaurant of Arrin Cuan, we were able to see what the hype was all about. In a large clay pot sat a thick stew made from tomatoes, chiles, onions and spices with tender chicken and plantains. The depth of flavor from the broth was incredible. Rich, earthy, and a strong taste of chili, you could tell just how much spices had been added, mixed, and left to marinate together. I guess we like our soups.
9. Tacos – Mexico
If you’re a living, breathing human, you know that Tacos are amazing. You can go anywhere in the world, and there will be a Mexican restaurant with banging tacos. The Mexican border town of Tijuana is very proud of its cuisine, and we ate some very special Tijuana-style taco while we were there. One of them, the Taco Adobada at El Doradito was our favorite. Situated in a small tent on the streets of Tijuana, we were able to watch as these tacos were prepared in front of us. They were packed with heat and flavor. Marinated pork, peppers, chilis, lettuce, lime, and onions. It was smoky, tangy, spicy and everything we wanted from a Mexican street stall.
10. Fish Amok – Cambodia
This is one of those dishes we would never have heard of if not for this little mission we have. The words ‘Fish Amok‘, had never left our mouths until a week before we entered Cambodia. While in Siem Reap, we stopped by The Sugar Palm with some friends to try this Khmer favorite. The menu here stated that Fish Amok requires a minimum of 30 minutes wait, as each one is individually prepared. It came wrapped in the banana leaf that it was cooked in. Various herbs and chilis sat on top of an almost custard-like concoction. The main base of coconut milk and spices gave a sweet and aromatic taste. The fish was light and fluffy. It was really unlike anything we have ever eaten, each bite gave new flavor discoveries.
11. Machboos – Qatar
Rice and meat, no way to go wrong with those two ingredients. We arrived at our hotel in Doha at midnight after a long day of travelling. As soon as we arrived, we ordered Mutton Machboos from Majboos Al Walaida in Doha. We were given a heavy container filled to the brim with rice and chickpeas with two massive hunks of mutton in the middle. Each grain of yellow rice was packed flavor. The mutton was so tender it could be cut with a plastic spoon. Very, very good.
12. Burger – United States of America
The good ole USA is filled with many different National Dishes. However for us, it doesn’t get more American than a Burger. Meat, lettuce, and cheese on bread. America baby. Our favorite one we’ve had was a collaboration between our favorite burger, Black Out Burger, and favorite sandwich spot, Cold Shoulder Gourmet. A burger with Salami Cotto, Toscano Salami, Truffle Cream, Truffled Hot Sauce and Honey, Marinated Mushrooms, Micro Onions, and Parm. Decadent and delicious.
13. Adobo – The Philippines
I know, it isn’t the most appetizing photo. This room-serviced Pork Adobo was our last chance to try the Filipino favorite, and despite being tired and already full, it was still tasty. Really tender pork in a rich, peppery gravy. My only regret is that I wish we had the opportunity to eat it at an actual restaurant. Maybe one day.
14. Fettuccine alla Papalina – Vatican City
Vatican City is the only country in the world that doesn’t have its own official National Dish, which makes sense, considering there are no restaurants in the country. However, people have made Fettuccine alla Papalina (The Pope’s Fettuccine) as the unofficial National Dish. The story goes that Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli asked his chef to create a dish for a group of special guests. His chef essentially made a Fettuccini Carbonara with onions, cream, and prosciutto added to the mix. It became the Cardinal’s favorite dish and he continued to have it made when he became the Pope, hence ‘The Pope’s Fettuccine’. It was tasty. More creamy and rich compared to a Carbonara but we liked the texture the onions added.
15. Meat Pie – New Zealand
Everyone loves a good pie. If you’re from the US, this usually means something sweet, like an Apple Pie. New Zealand, however, is known for their Meat Pies. Every store, gas station, cafe, restaurant has them. They are everywhere and we ate them almost everyday of our trip. Steak and Cheese, Butter Chicken, Venison and Plum, Bacon and Egg are some of the variations we ate however it was the simple Mince and Cheese which was our favorite and the most well known. The Mince and Cheese we had from Kai Pai Bakery in Wānaka was the best of the best. A buttery, flaky crust filled with grass fed ground beef and a thick gravy. It’s a quick fix bursting with rich flavor.
16. Kjötsúpa – Iceland
Iceland isn’t particularly known for its cuisine. In fact, it’s so cold there that most ranches can’t keep cows alive, making Lamb the go-to meat. This is one of those instances that really show how a cuisine is developed from the culture and environment around them. We had been outside all day in the snow and the hearty Kjötsúpa (Lamb Soup) we had at Gullfoss Cafe gave us that much needed warmth from the freezing Icelandic air. It was a very solid soup. A lot of flavor in the broth, the vegetables were soft, and lamb is always great. We also had another one of Iceland’s National Dishes while we were there, Hákarl. However, I’ll let you read our article on Iceland and you can guess where that would rank if we had chosen it.
17. Hainanese Chicken Rice – Singapore
Hawker Centers are a massive part of Singapore cuisine. All over the country are complexes filled with little storage containers where locals set up their shop. The most famous of these is Chicken Rice which we ate at Ah Tai in Maxwell Food Center. The plate is composed of 3 main components: some slightly brown rice, sliced chicken with a brown glaze over it, and a dollop of sambal. After hearing Bourdain and Ramsay gush about it, we couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Is it tasty? Yes of course it is. The glaze is sticky and a little sweet, the chicken is tender, and the rice was rice. The sambal gave a good spice kick, which we think was needed. Overall, it was pretty good, but nothing special.
18. Judd mat Gardebounen – Luxembourg
Beans on Ham with Boiled Potatoes. Doesn’t sound too great, but the Judd mat Gardebounen we ate at Restaurant Um Dierfgen in Luxembourg City was a pleasant surprise. Just look at that smile from Emily, she’s so happy. The potatoes were tender but didn’t really taste of much, and the ham was ham. The best thing about this dish, however, was the creamy, buttery sauce that came with the beans. It added much needed richness and flavor. Paired with a Luxembourgish beer, it was a good comfort meal.
19. Dhall Puri – Mauritius
Mauritius was the country of our very special honeymoon. But even our honeymoon wouldn’t stop us from our mission for national dishes. Luckily, a bartender at Shanti Maurice who we had become friendly with, had overheard our search for Dhall Puri and offered to bring us some of his Grandma’s homemade Dhall Puri. This was as authentic as food could get. The curried chickpea blend inside was tasty, but overall it was a little dry. But for a cheap, on the go snack, it succeeds.
20. Sopa Paraguaya – Paraguay
Paraguay isn’t a country that comes to mind when you think of the best cuisines of the world. In fact, before coming here, I’m not sure I could name a single Paraguayan dish. Our first bite of Paraguayan food was actually their National Dish, Sopa Paraguaya at El Café de Acá in Asuncion. The dish is simply cheesy cornbread. That’s the only way it can be described. And that’s not a bad thing, but it is just cheesy cornbread.
21. Poutine – Canada
Oh, Canada. We were really excited to try Poutine. Fries, gravy, and cheese sounds like a guaranteed banger of a meal. While in Toronto we went to Smoke’s Poutinerie to get our hands on some Poutine. Gravy and big chunks of cheese curds covered a large amount of fries in takeout box. It tastes how you’d expect: Fries, gravy, and cheese in a box. Not much cohesion or depth of flavor and a little salty. A great hangover meal, but not much more than that.
22. Chivito – Uruguay
Colonia del Sacramento is a beautiful, peaceful, colonial village in Uruguay. This made it surprising that the best Chivito’s in town came from a food truck that looked like it belonged in New York City. Here at Mi Carrita we ordered Uruguay’s National Dish: a sandwich loaded with beef, ham, cheese, peppers, mushrooms, peas, corn, cauliflower, tomatoes and mayonnaise. Yeah it’s a lot. The beef, ham, and cheese were grilled together giving them a smoky flavor. The veggies gave a sourness which was a good contrast to the beef, and the egg added a little creaminess. It was hearty and full, but just felt like a bunch of random ingredients in between two slices of bread.
23. Pastel de Choclo – Chile
Sat at the base of the Andes Mountains on a cool night in Santiago, Chile, the location was primed for Pastel de Choclo to be a memorable meal. Looking over the menu at Galindo, we laughed. Another South American country making cornbread. But this was different from cornbread, it was actually more like a corn casserole. Inside, ground beef, chicken, onions, egg, raisons, and olives. We each took a spoonful and had similar neutral reactions. It was okay. The corn flavor was overbearing and the bottom was watery, which was a little strange. It was fun to get different surprises inside, like a bite of chicken or onion, but overall it was a letdown.
24. Nasi Lemak – Malaysia
In Johor Bahru, our guide Han led us to Restoran Kin Hua, a bustling little store where we would try Nasi Lemak. We were given a banana leaf, which was folded up like a little gift. After unwrapping and eating the insides, we weren’t too sure of it. Coconut flavored rice, sambal , and anchovies are all strong conflicting flavors that we just couldn’t seem to enjoy. While we can see the potential, this specific one was not for us.
25. Harees – United Arab Emirates
Our time in Dubai was during the holy month of Ramadan, where Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset. As soon as the sun began to set we headed over to Al-Fanar to experience their Ramadan menu. To break fast, they usually start with Harees, which is made by boiling wheat and mixing it with meat over a long period of time. The result is a concrete like substance that tastes like thick, meaty hummus. Not for us, unfortunately.
26. Ambuyat – Brunei
Oh boy, this was a fun one. Most people haven’t heard of Brunei, let alone their National Dish, Ambuyat. We pulled up to Nadi Utama Restaurant to try this strange and unique meal. The first thing we were told, “don’t chew it, just swallow.’” Apparently if you chew, the texture becomes glue like and you can actually choke on it. To eat, you stick in the special chopsticks (Chanda’s), twirl them around until you have a small amount, stick it into your mouth, and swallow immediately. There’s no other way to describe the taste other than flavorless, warm, jelly. If anything, it’s definitely the most unique thing we’ve ever eaten.
The Hungry Voyagers 