The best foodie experiences in Asia

Asia is an expansive region packed with a diverse array of exciting food experiences. From the sultry flavors of Thailand to the exquisite creations found in Japan, here are the things you cannot miss eating adventures around Asia.

Dine with a local in Vietnam

Dining in the home of a Vietnamese host is a fantastic experience for so many reasons. Firstly, you will be treated to proper, home-cooked food, the stuff Vietnamese people eat every day. Secondly, you will have an unparalleled chance to get to know the locals to experience dinnertime the way the Vietnamese do it, and to learn about their everyday lives and culture. As wonderful as Vietnamese restaurants are, these are experiences you just cannot get anywhere else.

These dinners can be arranged with English-speaking hosts all over Vietnam, and depending on where you choose to visit, your host may even take you to the local market to buy ingredients before your meal or get you involved in cooking it.

Learn to make Banh Xeo in Hoi An

Travel to Hoi An, one of the top foodie destinations in Vietnam, and discover how to make banh xeo, one of the country’s most celebrated dishes. This tasty crepe is a marriage of French and Vietnamese cooking methods. The rice flour batter is spread paper-thin on an iron pan and cooked until crisp and light. It is filled with shrimp and a medley of fresh bean sprouts and herbs. This is a dish that takes skill and dexterity, but when you learn the art of cooking it from a local expert, you cannot go wrong.

Explore the historical morning markets of Takayama

Takayama in Gifu prefecture is at the heart of Japanese culinary history. The region is famous for producing high-altitude vegetables, renowned sake, Hida beef, and many other delicacies. The morning markets, which open at 6 a.m., date back more than 300 years, and local farmers put out fascinating displays. Visitors will find beautiful seasonal produce, unique local pickles, bags of homemade miso wrapped in leaves, preserved fish, soy bean candies, and more.

Visit the Bibimbap Festival in Jeonju

It is fitting that a city considered among the best places in Korea to sample bibimbap hosts one of the biggest celebrations commemorating this simple, delicious dish. Held each year in October in Jeonju, the festivities include cultural performances, tours, and plenty of opportunities to sample the celebrated dish. The denouement is the preparation of a giant bibimbap that is large enough to serve 400.

Experience the unique cuisine in Chiang Mai

Bangkok hogs the limelight, but Chiang Mai provides the chance to try northern dishes such spicy sausage, Burmese curry, fish curry, sticky rice in banana leaf and lovely salads of green mango and soft-shell crab. There is less emphasis on chilli, making northern dishes kinder on the tongue. Markets supply all the fruit you could ever name and there are good restaurants galore.

Browse Ningxia Night Market in Taipei

Taiwan is renowned for its snack culture, and there is no better place to sample the full range of delicacies than at the Ningxia Night Market. Although this is not the largest night market in the city, it is one of the most popular among locals, and you can bet the flavors are true to tradition. When the sun sets, wander through the many rows of lighted stalls, and dive into specialities such as oyster omelettes, deep-fried taro balls filled with salted egg yolk, and roasted sausage stuffed inside glutinous rice.

See more: Top 6 must-try food in Taipei

Source Internet