Best city in Asia for food?
Cu Cha Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur's Jalan Alor food street. Photo: saragoldsmith / Flickr Creative Commons
Asia is full of dedicated foodies, both locals and expats. Debating dishes between countries and even between cities in the same country qualifies as a national sport.
The foodie discussion forum Chowhound.com has a great thread on an impossible question: Best cities in Asia to visit for chowing? Although it’s a year-old, replies are still being posted as recently as February 2010.
My votes would go to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. KL because its multicultural society is like a guarantee for a great mix of cuisines. Bangkok deserves credit because Thai food alone is amazing, but the city also does many other international foods quite well. Both cities are relatively inexpensive to boot.
Got any favorite cities and restaurants? Name them in the comments.
March 19th, 2010 at 2:58 am
For sheer value, I have to go with Bangkok as well. Great food, from street food to fancy places.
For multicultural and a bit more refinement, Singapore is really hard to beat. Malay, Chinese and South Indian food, from the ultra-cheap hawker centers to the fancy five-star restaurants. Singapore is certainly more expensive than elsewhere, but given the cost of living there, the food is dirt-cheap proportionally. Singaporeans are obsessed with food, and it shows!
March 20th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Hey Marcus – like the post. Having just spent 5 months on the road in Asia, I would have throw my weight behind Saigon. Here’s a piece I wrote on the city’s awesome food scene: https://www.gadling.com/2010/02/16/south-by-southeast-eating-in-saigon/
Other favorites would be Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
March 20th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Melaka, Malaysia for laksa, and a few years ago there was an amazing Thai BBQ on Koh Tao, but a friend tells me it’s either closed or moved… and why is everything about the food lately? I have such cravings for things that I cannot get in Peru.
March 22nd, 2010 at 12:52 am
Love Love Love all the foods and specialties in Bangkok. All great dishes although the last one I’m not as familiar with.
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Well, travel isn’t worthwhile if you can’t sample the local cuisine. I’m more than happy to spend more for a great meal or new culinary experience.