Will Travel for Food: 13 Best Culinary Destinations

If eating on vacation is not just a means to an end but a downright delicious opportunity to treat your taste buds, you’re probably already aware of the top foodie destinations around the world.

You know that London has become a global culinary capital. You understand why Tokyo is home to more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world. And you can clearly see that Hong Kong is a food lover’s paradise, serving everything from cheap street eats to fine dining dishes. 

While these places are famously known for their amazing food, it’s time to lift the lid on some lesser-known foodie destinations around the world. Read on to discover 13 of the best travel destinations for food lovers (that you maybe haven’t heard of)!

• Osaka, Japan
• Lyon, France
• Italy
  • Bologna
  • Naples
  • Milan
• New Orleans, USA
• San Sebastian, Spain
• Oaxaca, Mexico
• Mendoza, Argentina
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Seoul, South Korea

Famous for sushi, sake, ramen, wagyu beef and more mouthwatering delicacies, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a country that pays more attention to detail in its cuisine than Japan. A culinary adventure awaits, food lovers!

The Dotonbori area is the place to dig into Osaka’s famous traditional dishes; the neighbourhood comes alive at night with bright lights, bustling izakaya bars and street vendors cooking up yakitori, okonomiyaki, takoyaki and more! Explore the town and follow in the footsteps of the Netflix documentary, Street Food, by getting the broiled tuna cheek at Izakaya Toyo, okonomiyaki from Fue and takoyaki from Umai-Ya.

Is it any surprise that France (aka the land of croissants, macarons, onion soup and some of the best wine on the planet) is on this list? French cuisine is the foundation of fine dining — and as such, has informed cooking techniques around the world.

Regarded as the gastronomic capital of the world, Lyon has more restaurants per head than any other city in France. It’s most famous for being the home of L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, the flagship restaurant of late chef Paul Bocuse. When in Lyon, there are endless local dishes to savour, from quenelle (a dumpling of finely chopped fish or meat) and locally-made sausages to cervelle de canut (a cheese spread/dip). 

Italy has been perfecting its delicious cuisine for centuries. As a matter of fact, the world’s oldest surviving cookbook is Roman. No wonder Italian food culture — which is anchored in tradition — is so beloved around the globe. 

Bologna, capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, is an Italian food lover’s holy grail. It’s home to 42 DOP (origin-protected) products, including Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar. As such, Bologna is one of the best places to dig into the region’s specialties. Make sure to try tagliatelle al ragù and torta di riso, a delicious rice cake flavoured with vanilla and candied lemon.

Pizza, pizza, pizza! Naples is where Italians began their pursuit of the perfect slice. While there are a few different variations of Neapolitan pizza to try, go for the classic Margherita (the OG recipe, created after Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Napes in 1889). Buffalo mozzarella, a DOP-labelled cheese from the Campania region, is the star ingredient. Many people argue that you haven’t had real mozzarella until you’ve had it here. Freshness is guaranteed, as the cheese often arrives in kitchens just 48 hours after being made.

Risotto trumps pasta here in Northern Italy, an area known for its rice. This is also the place to try Gorgonzola cheese, originally from the small town of its namesake in Milan. When travelling here, eat as the Milanese do! For lunch, that means piadina, a thin flaky flatbread stuffed with Italian meats and cheeses. For dinner, we suggest something a little heartier — either ossobuco, cotoletta (the Italian version of schnitzel) or risotto alla Milanese.

When you think of this country's international dish, burgers from classic diners probably come to mind. While you’re not wrong, that’s only part of the food picture! Since America has a huge multicultural population, you can get just about every cuisine known to man here. 

For a unique foodie experience in the USA, head to Louisiana! In New Orleans, Creole “city” cuisine meets Cajun “country” cuisine and soul food meets French food — with plenty of fresh seafood thrown into the mix. Confusing as it is tasty, dig into jambalaya, gumbo, muffuletta sandwiches and more to really taste the flavours of this destination. Just remember to save room for the famous beignets (New Orleans's version of the fritter).

What food is Spain known for? We’re so glad you asked. This country on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula is renowned for its paella, jamón Ibérico (cured ham — not to be compared to Italian prosciutto) and snacks. So, so many snacks! 

Arguably the best place for said snacks (ahem, pinchos) is San Sebastian. Here, these delicious bar snacks are practically a religion. So, what are pinchos? To put it simply: combinations of meats, cheeses, seafoods, olives, peppers and bread served on toothpicks. Being so close to the ocean, you can also expect to eat an array of Basque Country fish and seafood. The pickled anchovies and salt cod are must-tries! 

You won’t find any hard-shell tacos or cheesy nacho fries here! Mexican cuisine in Mexico is the real deal — fresh, colourful and flavourful. Many of the local dishes date back thousands of years and can be made using culinary techniques from the Aztecs and Mayans. 

Oaxacan cuisine is all about local ingredients and Indigenous cooking traditions. Spices are everything, forming the base of the many varieties of mole sauce you've got to try! The region is also famous for cheese, mezcal, chocolate and chapulín (grasshopper). Try nieve (sorbet), grab tlayudas (a taco-meets-pizza dish) from a local street vendor and book into some incredible local restaurants. Oaxaca is also a great place to take a Mexican cooking class, complete with a guided tour of a local food market.

Food and fire go hand in hand in Argentina. Non-meat eaters might feel a little out of place at an asado (barbecue), where friends and family grill meats on an open fire for several hours at a time…so maybe BYOE? Bring your own empanadas.   

Renowned for its wineries and world-famous Malbec wine region, Mendoza's reds pair perfectly with its local food. No surprise meat is big on the menu! “Parrilla” is the Spanish word for grill and in Argentina, it's more than just a way of cooking — it's a cultural experience. Fans of chef Francis Mallmann should indulge in parrilla at his 1884 Restaurante or visit Siete Fuegos restaurant at the base of the Andes in the Uco Valley.

Thai food is a treat for your taste buds — the balance of salty, sweet, sour, savoury and spicy is unlike anything else. Whether you’re craving salads, soups, curries, noodles or rice, Thailand has you covered.

The plethora of food options in Bangkok is particularly impressive. There are plenty of fancy restaurants and bars with epic city views, but the heart and soul of the city's dining scene is on the street — and on boats at the floating markets. Prepare to line up for the crab omelette at the roadside Jay Fai, one of Thailand’s Michellin-starred restaurants. Can’t wait to eat? You can always dig into a bowl of sticky mango rice from a nearby vendor first. There’s no harm in having dessert before dinner. 

Turkish food certainly flies a little more under the radar here in Canada, unless you count doner kebab — which you probably shouldn't, as it's nothing like the authentic kebap you'll get in Turkey.

In Istanbul, the East and West converge to create a rich food culture with influences from Central Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The food here is delicious any time of day, but a Turkish breakfast is something truly inspired. It’s usually an epic spread including (but not limited to!) cucumber, tomato, cheeses, olives, bread, honey, jam, eggs and sausage. Once you've made room for more feasting, grab some meze, sample the array of different kebap options and save room for plenty of baklava and kunefe — a sweet-and-savoury cheese dessert.

Meat and potatoes. Rye bread and herring. Hot dogs, hot dogs and more hot dogs. This humble fare might not conjure up images of culinary greatness, but rest assured Denmark has plenty of world-class food on the table. 

Good food in Copenhagen is all about being fresh and seasonal — as it should be. The Danes take popular cuisines and make them their own by using local ingredients. Take BÆST, an organic Italian-inspired pizzeria, for example: it puts a Scandinavian twist on the classics. Love a good picnic? Visit Copenhagen in the summer, when green spaces are filled with friends and families enjoying smørrebrøds (open-faced sandwiches topped with deli meats or fish, and cheese).

If you thought Korean food only consisted of bulgogi and bibimbap, think again! Though fun to say, these are only the gateway dishes to a world of delicacies. From seafood pancakes to pumpkin porridge, South Korea takes Asian cuisine to the next level.

Barbecue meats and fried chicken with beer? These Korean classics are a must, but you'll also want to dig into naengmyeon (chilled buckwheat noodles), bingsu (milk-based shaved ice) and the ultimate comfort food: kimchi jjigae. Don't miss the fresh seafood at Noryangjin Fisheries Market or the street food along Myeongdong. Our favourites include tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and hotteok (pancakes with brown sugar).

Okay, food lover —  pack your stretchy pants! It’s time to get you on your way to one of these amazing culinary destinations. Talk to our travel consultants about flights, vacation packages, food tours and more.