For many of us, discovering new cuisines is one of the most important and exciting aspects of travelling.
Trying local delicacies, experiencing different traditions and learning new ways to appreciate food and drink is one of the best ways to discover a foreign culture.
But when the world is your oyster, your laksa and your arepa, where do you start?
Lonely Planet has ranked 500 culinary experiences from around the globe to help foodies decide where to travel next.
Coming in top of the Ultimate Eatlist is eating pintxos (Basque tapas) in San Sebastián, Spain.
The guide recommends spending a night hopping from bar to bar tasting as many of the small bites – which originated as small open sandwiches piled high with toppings – as you can.
The list was compiled by top chefs, food writers and Lonely Planet’s “food-obsessed authors”, including contributions from the likes of chefs Monica Galetti, Mark Hix and Curtis Stone.
In second place is enjoying rich, creamy laksa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The experts advise either heading to one of the little hawker centres hidden in the shadows of the capital city’s skyscrapers, or venturing to Madras Lane.
Experiencing a sushi masterclass in Tokyo took third place.
Here are the top 20 food experiences from around the world:
- Pintxos in San Sebastián
- Curry laksa in Kuala Lumpur
- Sushi in Tokyo
- Beef brisket in Texas
- Som tam in Bangkok
- Smørrebrød in Copenhagen
- Crayfish in Kaikoura
- Bibimbap in Seoul
- Pizza margherita in Naples
- Dim sum in Hong Kong
- Ceviche in Lima
- Pastéis de nata in Lisbon
- Oysters in Tasmania
- Cheese in France
- Jerk chicken in Jamaica
- Lamb tagine in Marrakech
- Chilli crab in Singapore
- Moules frites in Brussels
- Peking duck in Beijing
- Pho along the Hau River in Vietnam
The highest ranked UK food experience was revealed to be eating fish and chips (31st in the list), and the Lonely Planet team recommend enjoying it on a pebble beach in Stonehaven, on the northeastern coast of Scotland.
