Asia Food Guide

Asian cuisine is to die for, and a trip to Asia will show you some of the most flavorful dishes in the world! There are many regions in Asia, such as Central Asia (such as Afghanistan), East Asia (such as Japan and Korea), North Asia (such as Mongols), South Asia (such as Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (such as Thailand) and West Asia (which overlaps with the Middle East). All of these regions have their own specialty dishes and local products for you to try! 

Some of the most popular ingredients that are used in Asia include rice, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds and tofu. The most common cooking methods include stir frying, steaming and deep frying. 

Asians love eating, and you will find that they eat until late hours of the night! Most social gatherings revolve around food, so it's no surprise that there is an abundance of delicious cuisine all throughout Asia!

Indonesia has over 6000 islands that are populated by over 300 different ethnic groups! All of these ethnic groups have different traditional recipes and regional cuisines that have been influenced from generations before. In fact, Indonesia is home to over 5350 traditional recipes! When visiting, we suggest trying dishes that include rice, noodle and soup to eat like a local! Also don't feel pressured to eat in a nice restaurant as many of the best dishes can be found at street vendors!

Thailand cooking techniques emphasize on creating dishes with strong aromas and a spicy edge. Chefs pay extra attention to the texture color and taste of the ingredients they use, along with the appearance of the dish. In an online poll of the "World's 50 Best Foods", Thailand had more dishes listed than any other country in the world. Make sure to try the Tom Yam Goong, Pad Thai, Som Tam, Massaman Curry, Green Curry, Thai Fried Rice and Mu Nam Tok when in Thailand!

Sri Lanka dishes have been inspired by many factors, such as the foreign traders who initially brought food items into the country, and local traditions of minority and ethnic groups. There are traces of influence from South Indian, Indonesia and Dutch cuisines, because of the close proximity of the countries. Some of the most common staples in Sri Lanka include rice, coconut and spices. If you visit Sri Lanka, we suggest trying Sour Fish Curry, Chicken Curry, Roti, Coconut Relish and Eggplant Pickle.

The Viet borrow tradition from traditional Chinese medicine. Popular ingredients in Vietnam include lemongrass, ginger, mint, coriander, chili, lime and basil! In Vietnamese cooking, you will rarely see the usage of dairy and oil, but more herbs, meats and spices! We suggest you try pho, spring rolls, rice noodles and banh mi. Apart from the busy night life on the streets, you will also find tons of food vendors on the street. This is where most of the locals eat!

In the Maldives, the most common three items used are coconuts, fish and starches. You will find coconuts in the form of coconut milk or coconut oil. The most popular fish include the skip-jack tuna, yellow-fin tuna, mackerel and mahi-mahi. Common starches include rich, sweet potato and cassava! 

Now that you are more knowledgeable about the best Asian cuisine in these countries, the only thing left to do is find a hotel full of gastronomic experiences and your trip is set!