It’s a foodie’s worst nightmare to find themselves in a tourist trap, paying over the odds and eating a westernized version of the local cuisine. Enjoying local authentic food is one of the most rewarding parts of any trip, and with these top tips, you’ll be eating with the locals in no time!
Explore Produce & Street Food Markets
Hitting the food market is a great place to start. Here you can find the freshest local ingredients, see what’s in season and taste cheap, authentic, and delicious street food!
Look for Places Bustling with Locals
Find out what times locals eat their meals (this varies a lot from place to place), and look for places packed with people or queues out the door. It might be crowded or take a little longer to get served but it will be worth it!
No English Menu, No Problem
Finding a place with no English on the menu is a sure sign you’ve found yourself in a tourist-free zone – nice work! Use the Google Translate image function to hover your camera over the menu and see what treats are available!
I’ll Have What They’re Having
Another fail-safe ordering technique is to look at the amazing dishes appearing on other tables and just make it known that you want what they’re having! This saves you from having to decipher the menu and you might even make friends with your neighbors.
Take a Food Tour
In most larger cities, you can take food tours where you get to learn about the food culture and heritage and taste lots of different delicacies. Your tour guide will give you an insight into the local gastronomic scene and give you tips for where to eat later!