24 FOODIE TRAVEL BLOGGERS SATISFY YOUR VACATION HUNGER

We’re in the midst of a foodie revolution. Gluten-free this, all natural that. Kale has not only taken the salad scene by storm, but now it’s a vital component of smoothies. Ten-year-olds are becoming Master Chefs while home cooks are getting famous on YouTube. And there are more food bloggers than ever before, offering up unique recipes, tips or just #foodporning all over your Instagram feed.

Any culinary connoisseur knows that the perfect dish is all about pairing. One pair that’s always been in sync? Food and travel. The two passions go together like spaghetti and meatballs. Like chicken and curry or farmers’ markets and fresh produce. It’s a match made in heaven, and hardcore travelers will tell you that trying a destination’s cuisine is one of the most enhancing experiences of a trip.

At TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals, we agree. In fact, food plays a large role in choosing a rental over a traditional hotel or resort. It’s well known that renting a home offers guests a more authentic experience – the native location, insider guidance from your resident host and, most notably, a fully equipped kitchen at your fingertips. Imagine hitting a local market, street vendor or boutique grocery store and buying the region’s most renowned ingredients. Try your hand at cooking a dish on your own, learn recipes from local artisans or simply keep the fridge stocked with indigenous snacks and treats during your stay. While eating out still has its merits, at least you aren’t forced to do so every meal.

 

Don’t take our word for it, though. Listen to the pros. The gastronomy gourmands. The effervescent foodie bloggers leading the culinary charge.

We’ve rounded up 24 of the best food and travel bloggers on the web and asked them one specific question:

“In your travels, which country had the best food and why?“

Warning: the following answers may induce severe hunger.

 

1. CANADA

– Lindsay Anderson & Dana VanVeller, FEAST: An Edible Road Trip

“One of our favorite countries to eat in is Canada, an unsung culinary hero, and that’s not just because our blog began here! Its cultural and geographic diversity is astounding, and so is the food, by extension. In our travels we’ve eaten everything from bannock made in a roadside shack to pierogis in Saskatchewan and amazing Lebanese food at the farmers market in Fredericton. It’s all here, whether you’re after seafood, haute cuisine, diner fare, gorgeous pastries, foraged plants, First Nations food, or every kind of ethnic food imaginable. In fact, sometimes it’s overwhelming knowing where to start!”

A Canadian pastry shop.

2. JORDAN

– Matthew Long, LandLopers

“Jordan is one of my favorite foodie destinations not only for the dishes themselves, but for the passion with which Jordanians enjoy food. The cuisine is similar to other areas in the Middle East with hummus, falafel, grilled meats and sweet pastry desserts. But in Jordan, food is such an important part of everyday life that it’s impossible to ignore as a visitor.”

3. VIETNAM

– Kim Pham & Phil Shen & Terri Phillips, Behind the Food Carts

“We spent two months in Vietnam for our honeymoon. We went to explore the street food and with that much time, you can intimately experience what a country has to offer. We really fell in love with the variety and how each place we visited specializes in a single dish and nothing else. It also didn’t hurt that amazing meals could be had for just a couple of dollars!”

 

4. THAILAND

– Dee de los Santos, Gastrofork

“With Thai cuisine, the flavors are always bright and full of punch! If you’re a fan of mixing tastes like sweet and sour and love a little heat, Thai food is definitely for you. I’d encourage everyone to be a little adventurous and try other dishes outside of your pad Thais and curries!”

Thai noodles.

 

5. INDIA

– Amber Hoffman, With Husband In Tow

“One of our favorite cuisines is Indian, hands down. When we travel all over the world, and are tiring of the local food, we always track down Indian as our comfort food. There’s just something about the smell when you walk inside a restaurant that awakens the nose. And I love that we can find our favorite dishes on Indian menus all over the world. My idea of finding the familiar in the unfamiliar is dunking a warm piece of naan into a creamy, spicy curry.”

Image: Amber Hoffman, from her post “Traditional Indian Cooking Class in Delhi.”

6. THAILAND

– Aileen Adalid, I Am Aileen

“From all my travels, I have yet to encounter a cuisine that beats the complex yet harmonic flavors of Thailand! They have surely perfected the mixture of bitter, salty, sour, spicy, and sweet — add their amazing hospitality and warmth to the mix and you’re definitely in for a treat. My top 3 favorites? Tom Yum Kung, Pad Thai, and Massaman Curry.”

7. TURKEY

– Katie Parla, Parla Food

“The country is absolutely huge, with varied terrain and microclimates that conspire to create a really interesting biodiversity and a seemingly infinite number of regional cuisines. The food of the Aegean, rich in vegetables and olive oil, is so different than the spice-infused lamb-based diet of Southeastern Anatolia. Istanbul is the melting pot where Ottoman dishes mingle with Anatolian ones. The sheer variety of regional dishes is what keeps me returning to Turkey again and again – especially in different seasons to enjoy highly seasonal specialties.”

 

8. VIETNAM

– Jodi Ettenberg, Legal Nomads

“I love eating Vietnamese food. As a celiac, many of the dishes are safe for my stomach – lots of rice, tapioca, and mung beans, which have no gluten. But the real reason is the artful way that each dish is balanced between hot and cool foods, grilled meats and fresh herbs and thin noodles. Plus the many provinces of Vietnam make a huge variety of dishes all with very different flavors. I never get bored of Vietnamese food because there is always something new and exciting to try.”

 

9. VIETNAM

– Nicolas & Gabriella, The Funnelogy Channel

“Here’s why – Vietnam is the hot belly, the fiery stomach, the Mecca of street food. The place to walk down an alley, follow your nose, pick a dish and pull up a red plastic stool. Squat with your knees bent at your waist and dig in. Street food does not require a guide. It is an independent and proud promoter of itself. It is an expert of its art, usually only one dish is chosen, perfected. All laid out for you to see, there is less guessing involved, less risk to calculate, what you see is what you get. And what you get anywhere in Vietnam is very, VERY good.”

10. THAILAND

– Nathan Agin, Travel. Eat. Thrive

“My favorite country food-wise to visit has been Thailand. It’s cliché and true: the food is utterly delicious, the soups and broths are so complex, and the spices are fantastic. It doesn’t hurt that as a Western traveler, you can often have a feast for a very little amount of money. It’s fun to discover how food changes from region to region (much like in the US). What’s also great to know is that at many of the Thai restaurants in the US, the Thai food tastes similar to what you experience in Southeast Asia, and so you know you’re eating authentic dishes!”

 

11. SOUTH AFRICA

– Rachelle Lucas, The Travel Bite

“If I had to pick just one, it would be South Africa.  One of my favorite comfort foods is barbecue and a fat glass of red wine – and South Africa does both exceptionally well.  Give me some biltong, braaibroodjies (a toasted cheese sandwich), and a glass of pinot noir and I’m a happy girl. Plus, they have some Southeast Asian influence too with Cape Malay desserts like koeksisters, a coconut dusted sweet donut.”

Braaibroodjies, South Africa’s version of a toasted cheese sandwich. Image from The Travel Bite.

 

12. THAILAND

– Laura Siciliano-Rosen, Eat Your World

“The explosion of flavors present in a Thai meal – and the sheer variety offered in soups, salads, noodles, curries, and rice dishes – is just outrageously good. We’re due to revisit Thailand in the near future, but in the meantime we’re very lucky to have a burgeoning “Little Bangkok” neighborhood right around the corner from us in Queens. We try new dishes nearly every week!”

13. TAIWAN

– Erin De Santiago, Our Tasty Travels

“I am completely obsessed with specific regions like Emilia Romagna in Italy and Costa Brava in Spain, while countries like Taiwan and Belize have underrated food scenes that have left me absolutely smitten. If I had to list just one, I’d probably say Taiwan. The street food scene is so iconic and filled with such rich traditions and history, while high-profile international chefs are now recognizing Taiwan’s potential and are opening new restaurants there. After four years of living in Taipei, I feel that I barely scratched the surface on local cuisine and the cultural influences at play. I also have a lot of respect for the work that goes into many of the dishes. I have tried to replicate some of my favorite eats from my time there, and they are tricky and require a lot of technique that can only come from years of practice and a true love for the dishes they create.”

14. JAPAN

– Sini, My Blue&White Kitchen

“I was totally fascinated by the food in Japan. Their understanding of flavors, texture, and aesthetics is pretty unique.”

A Japanese sushi spread.

 

15. FRANCE

– Anneli Faiers, Delicieux

“I have to admit that French food is my favorite, it is part of the reason that I moved here to live! The French are able to do rustic, honest, great value food just as well as they do the Michelin starred cuisine. The daily ‘Menu du Jour’ served in family run bistros for a few Euros with wine is a way of eating out that I think should be universal. Seasonal food simply prepared but with great care is the best.”

An open-faced sandwich, called a ‘Tartine’ in France, with bacon, goat cheese, red onions. Image from Delicieux.

 

16. US – NEW ORLEANS

– Gwen Pratesi, Bunkycooks

“There’s delicious food everywhere we’ve traveled.  Nothing compares to the spicy dark gumbos in New Orleans, the fragrant white truffles in Italy, and the seafood stews prepared with local fish caught along the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland.  Those foods are memorable because it’s about the whole experience of dining with a sense of place; surrounded by the people, the history, the culture, and the sights and the sounds.”

17. ETHIOPIA

– Sabina Trojanova, Girl Vs Globe

“I’m normally a big fan of slow travel but it only took me two days in Ethiopia to fall in love with its cuisine. All dishes are served on top of injera, a spongy sour flatbread used to scoop up food, and washed down with a cup of chocolatey coffee. If you can find an Ethiopian restaurant, definitely go in and order shiro. This chickpea stew is warming, vegan and extremely moreish. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

 

18. MEXICO

– Ayngelina Brogan, Bacon Is Magic

“While many people often think of tacos or burritos, the food in Mexico is quite diverse and so much more than just those. One of my favorite cities is Oaxaca which was the first to receive UNESCO culinary heritage status.”

19. JAPAN

– Beth Kirby, Local Milk

“In all my travels, nothing can quite compare to the culinary experience of Japan. Japanese food has long been my favorite because of its finesse and delicacy. I love the umami flavors of dashi and miso, and fresh seafood will forever be my obsession…so for all of those reasons, Japan hands down. There is a built-in culture of local, seasonal eating – it’s largely taken for granted that what is being served is fresh and local, and I absolutely love that.”

A farro avocado breakfast bowl with sumac miso vinaigrette. From Beth Kirby, Local Milk Blog.

20. ITALY

– Kerstin Rodgers, MsMarmiteLover

“Italian food varies from village to village, town to town. What is a specialty in one town is virtually unknown a few miles away. Their food culture is fascinating.”

21. JAPAN

– Nyssa Chopra, The Cultureur

“I could consume sushi for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Beyond that, I love the diversity in the Japanese cuisine, from the curries to the sushi to the ramen. It can be great comfort food, but it can also be the most perfect fine dining experience. While I’m a purist when it comes to sushi, I appreciate the rich tapestry of Japanese flavors that have fused with other cuisines and redefined the idea of modern Japanese cuisine.”

 

22. US – NEW YORK CITY

– Mayssam, Will Travel For Food

“I would say that New York is probably my favorite eating city. It’s like my second home and I go back often because its energy inspires and drives me. I also keep going back for the food, of course. The diversity of its food scene is endless and often overwhelming. From the very best fine dining restaurants to great street food, coffee, pastries and farmers markets, New York has it all. I have an ever growing list of New York restaurants I want to try out, from Michelin-starred elegant affairs to the latest Korean tapas bar.”

A dish at Obika Mozzarella Bar in NYC. Photo from Mayssam, Will Travel For Food.

 

23. MEXICO

– Danielle Rubi-Dentzel, The Trail Of Crumbs

“We love Mexican food because of the vast variety of regional dishes on offer throughout the country. Most people think of tacos and burritos when it comes to Mexican cuisine, but when you dig deeper and visit a specific area, you will discover countless complex and delicious meals that have never had a chance to be recognized or experienced outside of Mexico. For example, the Mexican town of Puebla was occupied by the French for 7 years during the turn of the century, and impacted the cuisine by adding rich cream sauces and other French traditional culinary traditions…making up a very unique style of food in that region. Also, in Oaxaca, there is a different mole (pronounced mole-ay) for every day of the week. Some dishes are so profoundly prepared that you could easily picture them at a Michelin-starred restaurant!”

24. SINGAPORE

– Jeanne Horak-Druiff, Cook Sister

“Packed into one small island is such a massive cultural and culinary diversity that anybody can find something they like, from chilli crab or popiah to rich, spicy laksa or amazing dim sum. There is also an incredible range of prices – at the hawker centers like Lau Pa Sat you can have a huge meal, freshly prepared for under $5 – but there’s also fancy restaurants like the Tippling Club or Wolfgang Puck’s CUT. Whether you eat cheaply or expensively, both will leave you impressed and satisfied.”