Asian Food Bucket List: 32 Must-Eat Dishes for Travelers
One of the thrills of visiting a new country is sampling its local delicacies and iconic dishes. Asia, the world’s most diverse continent, is home not just to rich cultures and scenic landscapes but also to a culinary heritage like no other.
If you’re traveling around Asia soon or planning to embark on an Asian adventure in the future, it’s a must to try each country’s most popular dishes before you hop on another plane.
Get ready to set off on a taste adventure like no other and dive into the world of Asian cuisine by adding the following iconic Asian dishes to your must-try list:
Hong Kong
Known as a foodie’s paradise, Hong Kong highlights a fusion of traditional Cantonese dishes, international cuisine, and innovative culinary ideas.
- Char Siu
Often eaten with rice, noodles, or as an ingredient in stir-fries, Char Siu is a savory-sweet Cantonese-style barbecued pork. The meat used is usually pork shoulder or pork belly, which is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, five-spice powder, and fermented red bean curd. After marinating, it’s roasted until tender, with the glaze balancing out the juicy meat inside.
- Wonton Noodles
A bowl of wonton noodles is a comforting meal, especially on a cold and rainy day. Featuring a flavorful broth made from chicken or pork bones, egg noodles, and wontons filled with minced pork and shrimp, wonton noodles highlight a blend of textures and flavors that you can’t help but slurp, even when the soup is piping hot.
- Dumplings
Aside from the previously mentioned wontons, which is a type of dumpling popular in Hong Kong, there are two more must-try dumplings in the city: the dim sum dumplings and the pan-fried dumplings. The former features different fillings like pork, shrimp, and vegetables wrapped in translucent wrappers while the latter highlights a crispy bottom and a filling of pork and cabbage. These dumplings are served with dipping sauces like soy sauce and chili oil, and are often enjoyed as appetizers or snacks.
Thailand
Fragrant and flavorful, Thailand’s most popular dishes are known for highlighting fresh ingredients and aromatic spices that make them instant hits to tourists.
- Pad Thai
Typically prepared with rice noodles, scrambled eggs, bean sprouts, peanuts, and shrimp, pad thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish that’s also popular as a street food in Thailand. Aside from shrimp, you may also encounter versions featuring tofu or chicken. What makes this dish stand out is the sweet, tangy flavor that comes from the blend of tamarind paste, fish sauce, and sugar in the sauce.
- Tom Yum
A well-loved soup in Thai cuisine, Tom Yum is known for its distinct hot and sour flavors. Making the dish filling are ingredients including chicken, shrimp, and cilantro. What makes it special is the broth that highlights lemongrass, chili peppers, lime juice, and kaffir lime leaves.
- Khao Pad
You can’t leave Thailand without trying Khao Pad or Thai fried rice, a staple in Thai cuisine. It features cooked jasmine rice stir-fried with eggs, onions, garlic, and chicken or shrimp. It’s seasoned with fish sauce, sugar, and soy sauce to achieve a savory and sweet flavor.
Singapore
The Lion City’s culinary scene highlights a tapestry of flavors, reflecting its diverse cultural heritage. Aside from the dishes below, make sure you also try crowd favorites like chili crab and laksa.
- Hainanese Chicken
Originating from Hainan, China but popular in Singapore and Malaysia, Hainanese chicken features poached tender meat paired with fragrant rice. It’s served with condiments such as soy sauce, chili sauce, and ginger paste – allowing you to create a medley of flavors that goes well with the succulent chicken.
- Bak Kut Teh
Bak Kut Teh, which means “meat bone tea,” features pork ribs simmered in a broth made from herbs, garlic, star anise, cinnamon, and dried mushrooms, among others. A hearty and filling soup, it’s often served with rice and side dishes like vegetables and fried dough fritters.
- Kaya Toast with Kopi
Treat yourself to a traditional Singaporean breakfast with a serving of Kaya toast with kopi. Kaya is a sweet, fragrant coconut and pandan jam that’s spread onto toasted bread. It’s best paired with kopi, a strong coffee that works well with the Kaya.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia’s capital is known for offering dishes that boast diverse flavors and an exciting street food culture.
- Nasi Lemak
Considered Malaysia’s national dish, Nasi Lemak consists of rice cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaves, which is then served with side dishes like fried eggs, slices of cucumber, roasted peanuts, and fried anchovies.
- Roti Canai
Often found in hawker centers and street food stalls, roti canai is a flatbread served with curries or dhal for dipping. It’s known for its flaky texture and butter flavor which complements the strong flavors of chicken, beef, or vegetable curry.
- Karipap
Also known as curry puff, karipap is a popular snack in Malaysia featuring a crispy pastry shell filled with a savory and satisfying mixture of chicken, beef, vegetables, or curried potatoes. It’s often paired with hot coffee or tea.
Philippines
The most popular dishes in the Philippines highlight influences of Spanish, Chinese, and indigenous Filipino cuisines.
- Halo-halo
Cold and refreshing, Halo-halo is a well-loved Filipino dessert that becomes extra popular during summer. It features shaved ice, evaporated milk, and a mix of sweet ingredients like banana, sweet beans, gelatin, and jackfruit, to name a few. It’s also topped with leche flan (caramel custard), ube halaya (purple yam), and a scoop of ice cream.
- Sinigang
Ask fellow tourists about their favorite Filipino dish, and chances are, it’s a toss-up between adobo and sinigang. Sinigang is a Filipino soup known for its savory profile, thanks to souring agents like tamarind or green tamarind tomatoes. It’s made by simmering meat such as pork, beef, or shrimp, along with radish, eggplant, string beans, and water spinach. It’s often seasoned with fish sauce or salt and can be made spicier with the addition of chili peppers.
- Sisig
Originating from Pampanga, Sisig is often enjoyed as an appetizer or as a main course. It features chopped and seasoned pork jowl and ears, pork belly, and chicken liver, which are then seasoned with calamansi, onions, and chili peppers. Sisig is often served sizzling on a hot plate and can be enjoyed with rice or an ice-cold beer.
Japan
Japan’s popular dishes are known for their meticulous preparation, fresh ingredients, and diverse range of flavors that many love.
- Sushi
Renowned for its balance of flavors and textures, sushi consists of vinegared rice paired with raw or cooked seafood, vegetables, and sometimes even tropical fruits. Sushi is served with soy sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi.
- Sashimi
Sashimi highlights the freshness of seafood as you get to enjoy thinly sliced raw fish or seafood that’s served without rice. It’s typically served on a platter with garnishes like shredded daikon radish, shiso leaves, or seaweed.
- Tempura
Loved for its crispy texture, tempura features seafood or vegetables coated in a light batter and deep-fried until golden brown. Common ingredients used in tempura are shrimp, eggplants, sweet potatoes, and even onions. It’s served with a sipping sauce called tentsuyu and is best enjoyed with rice or udon soup.
- Ramen
An international favorite, ramen consists of wheat noodles served in a filling broth and topped with sliced pork or chicken, boiled egg, green onions, bamboo shoots, and nori. You have the option of choosing your preferred broth: shoyu (soy sauce-based), shio (salt-based), miso (fermented soybean paste-based), or tonkotsu (pork bone-based).
Korea
Bold flavors and vibrant ingredients complete Korea’s most popular dishes, which have also become well-loved worldwide.
- Samgyeopsal
Who can say no to slices of pork belly grilled to perfection? Samgyeopsal is best enjoyed with friends and family around the grill, cooking the pork belly and enjoying each slice with lettuce leaves, perilla leaves, sliced onions, and chili paste. To enjoy, just place a piece of grilled pork belly onto a lettuce leaf, add your chosen toppings, wrap, and then eat.
- Bibimbap
A classic Korean dish that translates to “mixed rice,” bibimbap is a bowl of rice topped with vegetables, beef, chicken, or tofu, a fried egg, and gochujang (Korean chili pepper paste). Before taking a bite, it’s a must that you mix all of the ingredients thoroughly to create a nice balance of flavors and textures.
- Ramyun
An instant noodle dish known for its spicy varieties, Korean ramyun comes in instant noodle packets with seasoning packets included. While you can easily prepare ramyun by adding hot water, you can level it up by adding vegetables, meat, or seafood to your bowl.
- Kimchi
They say no Korean meal is complete without a serving of kimchi. A side dish made from fermented vegetables like napa cabbage and Korean radishes, kimchi is seasoned with salt, garlic, ginger, chili flakes, and other spices. After mixing the ingredients together, it’s left to ferment for days or several weeks to achieve the tangy and spicy flavor kimchi is known for.
China
China is home to a rich culinary heritage highlighted by must-try regional cuisines.
- Peking Duck
Known for its crispy skin, tender meat, and savory flavor, the Peking duck is air-dried before being roasted in a closed oven to achieve golden-brown skin. It’s often served with thin pancakes or steamed buns, along with condiments like hoisin sauce.
- Kung Pao Chicken
A spicy, stir-fried dish made with diced chicken, peanuts, and vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini, and a savory sauce, Kung Pao Chicken is a popular choice in Chinese restaurants because of how it balances spicy, savory, and sweet notes.
- Mapo Tofu
This Sichuan dish is known for soft tofu cubes cooked in a savory sauce made from fermented bean paste, chili bean paste, garlic, ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns. Often enjoyed as a main dish, Mapo Tofu is garnished with chopped green onions or cilantro, and is often served with rice.
Indonesia
Indonesia boasts various regional cuisines, each reflecting indigenous culture and foreign influences.
- Nasi Goreng
Considered the national dish, Nasi Goreng is a satisfying fried rice made with sweet soy sauce, garlic, shallots, fried eggs, chicken, shrimp, and vegetables. It can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
- Chicken Satay
A popular street food, Chicken Satay features skewered and grilled chicken marinated in a blend of turmeric, coriander, cumin, and lemongrass. Often served with peanut sauce, the chicken is grilled over an open flame or charcoal to achieve a tender meat with a smoky flavor.
- Beef Rendang
A slow-cooked beef stew simmered in coconut milk and a blend of aromatic spices like garlic, lemongrass, ginger, and turmeric, Beef Rendang is cooked over low heat for several hours until the sauce thickens, and the beef is tender.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s iconic dishes are renowned for its fresh and fragrant flavours that have captivated taste buds around the world.
- Pho
Served in street stalls, restaurants, and households, Pho is a soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat. It’s simple yet flavorful, and often garnished with fresh herbs, lime, chili, and bean sprouts.
- Banh Mi
A filling Vietnamese sandwich consisting of a French baguette filled with grilled or roasted meat, pickled vegetables, cilantro, chili peppers, and mayonnaise.
- Spring Rolls
These fresh spring rolls feature ingredients such as shrimp, pork, vermicelli noodles, lettuce, mint, and cilantro wrapped in translucent rice paper. Often served as a snack or appetizer, they are accompanied by peanut or hoisin dipping sauce.
Get the latest curated content with The Beat Asia's newsletters. Sign up now for a weekly dose of the best stories, events, and deals delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss out! Click here to subscribe.
