HANOI, VIETNAM: Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam, the capital of the most well known Vietnamese food around the world - pho! Today I’m hanging out with my friend Khoa from @Hanoifood and we’re taking you on an unforgettable pho tour of Hanoi. We’ll be eating at 5 of the best pho restaurants and stalls in Hanoi, and sharing with you the history of how pho came about and how it took over the world as the most famous of all Vietnamese food.
Huge thanks to Khoa: @Hanoifood
Here are all the pho spots we ate at in this video:
1. Phở Mạnh Cường (goo.gl/maps/MLh55yK9cy1x2gaKA) Price: 55,000 VND ($2.31) per bowl We’re starting off with a simple bowl of pho, but very popular for breakfast in Hanoi.
2. Pho Thin (goo.gl/maps/LM5viiFn85xSBhcNA) Price: 70,000 VND ($2.94) per bowl This is one of the most famous bowls of pho in Hanoi, and they even have restaurants abroad. One of their signatures is that they stir fry the beef instead of boiling it. It’s not doubt one of the best bowls of pho you’ll ever eat.
3. Phở Bò Ấu Triệu (goo.gl/maps/iGbqejrNy3dAnYsA8) Price: 60,000 VND ($2.52) per bowl Another bowl of extraordinary beef pho, this was one of my favorites of the day.
4. Phở gà Phương (goo.gl/maps/Wckk9d85ZHRUna7X8) Price: 100,000 VND ($4.20) for full toppings Along with beef, chicken pho has a unique history and Khoa takes me to one of his favorite places - this place is outstanding!
5. Phở Hạnh (goo.gl/maps/ukmNLSRyY5gGAnpm9) Price: 50,000 VND ($2.10) per bowl, 80,000 VND (3.36) salad To wrap up this ultimate Vietnamese street food pho tour we tried one more bowl of chicken pho - but this time a dry version with soup on the side. Additionally the cabbage chicken salad was life-changing.
Thank you for watching this ultimate Vietnamese street food tour in Hanoi!
HANOI, VIETNAM: Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam, the capital of the most well known Vietnamese food around the world - pho! Today I’m hanging out with my friend Khoa from @Hanoifood and we’re taking you on an unforgettable pho tour of Hanoi. We’ll be eating at 5 of the best pho restaurants and stalls in Hanoi, and sharing with you the history of how pho came about and how it took over the world as the most famous of all Vietnamese food.
Huge thanks to Khoa: @Hanoifood
Here are all the pho spots we ate at in this video:
1. Phở Mạnh Cường (goo.gl/maps/MLh55yK9cy1x2gaKA) Price: 55,000 VND ($2.31) per bowl We’re starting off with a simple bowl of pho, but very popular for breakfast in Hanoi.
2. Pho Thin (goo.gl/maps/LM5viiFn85xSBhcNA) Price: 70,000 VND ($2.94) per bowl This is one of the most famous bowls of pho in Hanoi, and they even have restaurants abroad. One of their signatures is that they stir fry the beef instead of boiling it. It’s not doubt one of the best bowls of pho you’ll ever eat.
3. Phở Bò Ấu Triệu (goo.gl/maps/iGbqejrNy3dAnYsA8) Price: 60,000 VND ($2.52) per bowl Another bowl of extraordinary beef pho, this was one of my favorites of the day.
4. Phở gà Phương (goo.gl/maps/Wckk9d85ZHRUna7X8) Price: 100,000 VND ($4.20) for full toppings Along with beef, chicken pho has a unique history and Khoa takes me to one of his favorite places - this place is outstanding!
5. Phở Hạnh (goo.gl/maps/ukmNLSRyY5gGAnpm9) Price: 50,000 VND ($2.10) per bowl, 80,000 VND (3.36) salad To wrap up this ultimate Vietnamese street food pho tour we tried one more bowl of chicken pho - but this time a dry version with soup on the side. Additionally the cabbage chicken salad was life-changing.
Thank you for watching this ultimate Vietnamese street food tour in Hanoi!
Trat (ตราด), Thailand - We are continuing with our adventure to eat Thailand’s 5 hidden dishes and today we’re in the eastern province of Trat and specifically on the famous Ko Chang Island (เกาะช้าง) to search and eat a prize fish; coral grouper.
Chantorn Pochana (จันทรโภชนา): goo.gl/maps/qNN6MojahzqCPWEH8 - But on the way we stopped to eat at Chantorn Pochana (จันทรโภชนา), one of the legendary restaurants in Chanthaburi, on the way to Trat. We ordered their signature pork with garcinia leaves (หมูชะมวง), fish with cardamom stems (กระวานผัดฉ่าปลา), and boiled fish with snake fruit (ต้มปลาระกำ). Highly recommended, the food is fantastic.
We then continued to Trat and took the ferry to Koh Chang Island.
Salak Phet Seafood (สลักเพชรซีฟู้ด): goo.gl/maps/edAazMGanruZscuQA - The main destination for today is Salak Phet Seafood (สลักเพชรซีฟู้ด) to eat Coral Grouper (Pla Yum Sawat ปลาย่ำสวาท), one of the prized fish that they catch in this region of Thailand. They catch them wild, and then store them fresh in ocean nets, so you are guaranteed an extremely fresh fish. They are so fresh in fact that the best way to eat coral grouper is raw as sashimi. But along with sashimi we had steamed coral grouper and boiled the bones and head for a coral grouper soup.
Khao Kwan Restaurant (ร้านอาหาร ข้าว ขวัญ): goo.gl/maps/JJrFYdjSnzraHW1D9 - Finally for dinner we went to a restaurant that received a long of good reviews and a little bit of a fancier dining experience. Again, they have a dish on their menu using coral grouper, which in Thai is called a type of Plaa (พล่าปลาย่ำสวาท). The food was tasty, very fresh, and with a beautiful presentation.
PETCHABURI, THAILAND (เพชรบุรี) - To continue with 5 of Thailand’s Hidden Dishes, we’re driving to Petchaburi (เพชรบุรี), located in Central Thailand to harvest, cook, and eat a rare Thai dish; Toddy Palm Fruit Curry (แกงหัวโหนด).
Part 3) THAILAND’S HIDDEN DISHES, with Tourism Authority of Thailand - This is Part 2 of this 5 Part video series, where I’m traveling around Thailand to eat 5 hidden dishes!
Khanom Jeen Tod Man (ร้านขนมจีนทอดมันเจ้เกียง) - maps.app.goo.gl/3F1Cju9usfMQXraY8 - When we arrived to Petchaburi, we first stopped to eat a quick breakfast of rice noodle topped with freshly fried fish cakes - some of the best I’ve had - all hand made with curry paste and holy basil leaves.
Ban Rai Krang (ชุมชนบ้านไร่กร่าง) - maps.app.goo.gl/exJmgx6XcQr7BbcG9 - At this community in Petchaburi we met up with our host Pu Yai Prasong (ผู้ใหญ่ประสงค์). This region is known throughout Thailand for their toddy palm production which they mainly harvest the sap and reduce it down to palm sugar. But they also eat a cutty made from the tops of the young husks, and that’s the dish we’re trying. They first harvested the toddy palm fruits. Then sliced off the tops, pounded a beautiful curry paste and added fish and grilled pork to the recipe. They also added plenty of fingerroot and coconut milk to thicken it. It was delicious! Toddy Palm Fruit Curry (แกงหัวโหนด)
Khanom Tan Mae Ying (ขนมตาลแม่หญิง) - maps.app.goo.gl/PJeVZqPcAb1BCUhz8 - Additionally, one of my favorite Thai desserts is made from the husk of the toddy palm fruit, and so we were able to see the entire cooking process of this traditional Thai cake. Toddy Palm Cake (Khanom Tan ขนมตาล).
Si Sawat Restaurant (ร้านอาหารศรีสวัสดิ์) - maps.app.goo.gl/zXwpGFW1nE9Ckayi9 - Lastly, couldn’t miss a Thai food meal of local Petchaburi food. And it was a perfect way to wrap up this incredible day of Thai food.
KHON KAEN, THAILAND (ขอนแก่น) - Today we’re in Khon Kaen (ขอนแก่น), northeastern Thailand to uncover Thailand’s hidden dish of Isaan; Au pla (Herbal freshwater fish soup อ๋อปลา). It’s a traditional dish of a medley of herbs with freshwater fish and seasoned with a splash of fermented fish sauce.
Au pla (Herbal freshwater fish soup อ๋อปลา)
Part 2) THAILAND’S HIDDEN DISHES, with Tourism Authority of Thailand - This is Part 2 of this 5 Part video series, where I’m traveling around Thailand to eat 5 hidden dishes!
Som Tam Kuk Kai (ส้มตำ กุ๊กไก่) - maps.app.goo.gl/6D6oBcu99oNnETHb6 - First, when you visit Khon Kaen, you absolutely don’t want to miss eating som tam pu plaraa, green papaya salad with fermented fish sauce and crab. We had some grilled chicken and soup just to get the mouth juices watering before the bigger meal!
Huan Kamnang (เฮือนคำนาง ขอนแก่น) - maps.app.goo.gl/Gj1vHdEWLNs4Aunc6 - It was a huge honor to meet up with Khun Kamnang from Huan Kamnang (เฮือนคำนาง ขอนแก่น) in Khon Kaen. She’s a writer, historian and Chef who promotes traditional and often times long lost Isaan foods, and she’s been promoting Au pla (Herbal freshwater fish soup อ๋อปลา) for years. It was an absolutely sensational dish and meal experience, with all the other dishes she prepared as well. I can say it was one of the best Isaan meals I’ve ever had.
แก่น I KAEN - maps.app.goo.gl/ikChYhSngmnDHHkz8 - Finally to complete this Thai food tour we went to a new restaurant called Kaen where they are serving modern takes on Isaan food.
Video 2 / 5 Khon Kaen (ขอนแก่น), Stay tuned for all 5 Videos!
CHIANG RAI, THAILAND - Today we’re traveling to the mountains of Chiang Rai and harvest, cook, and eat garlic chive roots - known in Thai as rak chu (กรากชู) with the Akha people - but before we arrive, we’ll enjoy a dish you can’t leave without trying.
Part 1) THAILAND’S HIDDEN DISHES, with Tourism Authority of Thailand - This is Part 1 of a series of 5 videos where we’re traveling across Thailand to eat 5 hidden dishes to support local communities and highlight their unique food. Today we’re in Chiang Rai (เชียงราย) to eat pork fried with garlic chive roots (หมูผัดรากชู).
Nam Ngiaw Mor Din Pa Aeed (น้ำเงี้ยวหม้อดิน ป้าอี๊ด) - maps.app.goo.gl/YJ6crY8nnEDfd5Ss9 - Immediately after landing in Chiang Rai, we got the rental car and drove straight to Nam Ngiaw Mor Din Pa Aeed (น้ำเงี้ยวหม้อดิน ป้าอี๊ด) to eat a bowl of nam ngiaw, a northern Thai dish including noodles and a tomato stew. It was as good as it always is. Something you don’t want to miss when you’re in Chiang Rai.
Pha Hee Coffee (กาแฟผาฮี้) - maps.app.goo.gl/gYCvVJ3dSYZA6zhd8 - The main destination was about an hour drive from Chiang Rai into the mountains to meet Pa Luang Aran, the head of the local Akha community. After a quick coffee we continued to harvest garlic chive roots and they made 3 different dishes, pork fried with garlic chive roots (หมูผัดรากชู), chili dip with garlic chives (น้ำพริกรากชู), and laab Akha (ลาบหมูอาข่า). It was an exceptional meal, everything fresh and dedicated to garlic chive roots.
Locus Native Food Lab (maps.app.goo.gl/8t4PYEd6CaG7up5Y8) - To complete this northern Thai food tour we went to the best gourmet northern Thai dining experience, led by Chef Kong of Locus Native Food Lab. Along with a full course of dishes, Chef Kong also cooked a dish using his own complete interpretation of garlic chive roots. An absolutely spectacular meal.
Part 1 / 5 Chiang Rai (เชียงราย), Stay tuned for Part 2 - 5.
CHICHICASTENANGO - Today we’re exploring Chichicastenango a city in the highland mountains of Guatemala that’s home to the Chichicastenango Market, which is the biggest indigenous Mayan market in Central America. It’s a colorful overdose of all things you can buy, and a gathering of Mayan culture and customs. I was excited to visit to learn and to try as much street food as possible.
We met up with Roberto, our local Guide to Chichicastenango Market. He first took us around the market. We then saw the main fruits and vegetables section, everything pretty much fresh right out of backyards. We then tried Guatemalan chicharrones - or fried crispy pork. It was as tasty as always, and loaded with onions to give it a sweet and delicious taste.
After chicharrones we continued with our food tour in Chichicastenango Market on to eat at one of the best stalls in the entire market that’s known for their hen chicken soup and their special kettle cooked fried chicken. Both dishes were delicious, especially with some fresh tortillas. We also stopped by another similar stall to eat some more chuleta’s, a variety of fried meat cutlets.
In addition to all the delicious food, there’s plenty of areas of the market to explore and many Mayan cultural churches and cemeteries to wee while you visit.
It was another excellent day in Guatemala on this ultimate Guatemalan food tour!
PACAYA VOLCANO, GUATEMALA - Today we’re hiking up Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala to go eat the world’s only volcano pizza!
For the last 5 - 6 years David Garcia has perfected his art of making pizza not just on a volcano, but in a volcano. When he started the Pacaya Volcano was spewing lava and he was able to cook pizza in the actual lava. However, volcanoes change and are unpredictable, so at the moment there’s on lava flow, but just steam, so instead of cooking in the lava, he’s built a pizza oven in the lava rocks, builds a small fire to get more heat, but still cooks within the volcano.
I ordered everything on our pizza, with six different types of cheese. He also included parma ham, salami, pepperoni and peppers, as well as spicy chili sauce which was a highlight for me. The pizza turned out fantastic, evenly cooked, and with a golden brown crust.
It’s such an amazing experience eating pizza cooked in a volcano with the view of the volcano and the surrounding volcanoes. Absolutely highly recommended!
ANTIGUA GUATEMALA - We’re in the beautiful historical city of Antigua Guatemala, a city you most definitely must visit during your trip to Guatemala. Along with the architecture and history, you don’t want to miss all of the delicious food and today we’re going on a food tour to eat some of the most popular local dishes.
La Cuevita de Los Urquizú (goo.gl/maps/ALMhEjohVaXmBM6H9) - This is a fantastic place to try traditional Guatemalan food, especially the stew dishes. They have a huge variety prepared at the front, and you choose what you want along with the sides.
El Comalote (goo.gl/maps/PpqzT8kixgZbGEXQ7) - When it comes to corn tortillas, Guatemala has some of the best in the world, and El Comalote aims to preserve heirloom Guatemalan corn varieties and make the best quality tortillas imaginable. They make all their tortillas in house and serve them with simple sides like chorizo, carne asada, and plenty of sauces and guacamol.
Chicharrones La Cindal (goo.gl/maps/TUULvvTABHuLMzMA9) - Next up on this Central American street food tour in Antigua Guatemala, we had some of the crispiest chicharron I’ve ever had in my live at Chicharrones La Cindal. They serve it with radish, and sauteed onions and jalapenos.
Street Food - Parque La Merced - Another place to get delicious Guatemalan street food is at the Parque La Merced. After trying a corn porridge dish I couldn’t resist a huge enchilada.
Santa Ana Night - Lastly we headed over to Santa Ana, adjacent to Antigua for our final few street food snacks, and specifically to eat a sandwich known as the buffalo!
ANTIGUA GUATEMALA, GUATEMALA - We’re in the historical city of Antigua Guatemala in Guatemala, Central America, and today we’re meeting up with Rebecca to cook and eat a dish called Kak'ik - one of the best Mayan Guatemalan foods!
Actually just outside of Antigua, we drove out to Santa Ana, Guatemala and specifically to Maya-iz where they are aiming to preserve their Mayan traditions and culture through food. We met up with Rebecca d Leon from Kukul Tales who shares a passion for food and culture.
We immediately got started cooking the Kak'ik, using a whole live turkey, then roasted tomatoes, onions, cilantro and a variety of chilies, Everyone was roasted and toasted, then ground into a puree and combined in a huge ceramic pot with the turkey. The flavors started to brew and blend, and they kept adding more herbs and culantro to the soup to make it well balanced, herbaceous and healthy.
I loved seeing the entire cooking process. Along with the kak’ik, they also made some of the best tamales I’ve ever had - they were so juicy and moist with the right amount of meat filling and olives on the inside. We also tried some sour dried fruit juice called chicha and a dish that included a variety of tripe stewed down until ultra tender.
But the ancient Mayan recipe for turkey soup kak’ik was the highlight, a truly well rounded blend of seasoning with nothing overpowering the flavor of the turkey. It was delicious!
GUATEMALA - After an ultimate Guatemalan street food tour in Guatemala City, we woke up at 4 am the next day to beat the traffic heading towards the Caribbean Coast of Guatemala!
Breakfast - Along the way we stopped to eat some delicious Guatemalan breakfast, including a classic plate with egg and tomato, fresh tortillas and beans. They also made delicious empanadas, stuffed with cheese, beans, and chicharon.
Livingston - We arrived to Livingston, the Caribbean Coast and home to the Garifuna people. First we started with a boat trip up the river to get to Livingston. We stopped at Cayo Quemado to make raw fish with coconut milk. Then we ate at a restaurant called Buga Mama, where they support the community through their restaurants. Chef Sanchez made a few local Mayan and Garifuna dishes.
Las Tres Garifunas, Livingston, Guatemala (goo.gl/maps/jDktnt1gpkA4g5ao7) - This meal and experience was the highlight for me, where we met up with Diana and cooked an authentic Garifuna meal.
Cacao Farm - The next day we headed to Rio Dulce, still near the coast, and met up with Mr. Eugenio, from Hacienda Tijax. We had a lovely churrasquito Guatemalan bbq, and then went hiking in the forest to harvest fresh cacao. We then had the treat to make traditional Mayan hot chocolate, something truly spectacular.
GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA - Welcome to Guatemala City, Central America, and today we’ll be going on an ultimate Guatemalan street food tour - eating some of the best food in the entire city!
Mercado Central, Guatemala City - We’re starting this street food tour at Mercado Central (Central Market) to check out all the amazing produce and especially avocados as this bustling colorful market in the center of the city. The avocados were delicious and the fresh fruits were amazing. We ate some delicious Guatemalan antojitos as Refacciones Doña Mela, Guatemala City and some adobada and beef soup at Comedor Angelica, Guatemala City.
Cevicheria Los Chavos, Guatemala City (goo.gl/maps/nHTcpFTNXuXiDbdJA) - After some sightseeing about Guatemala City, we then headed to Cevicheria Los Chavos for a unique Guatemala City style ceviche made with some surprising ingredients - like worcestershire sauce and ketchup!
Hot Dogs Ejecutivos el Chino, Guatemala City - Now we’re moving on to the the most famous Guatemalan street food - the shucos or Guatemalan crazy hot dogs literally! This is one of the places that started it all - everything is grilled over fire and there about a dozen meats and toppings that go on. It’s a huge celebration of a hot dog all in one bun, everything chopped and layered perfectly. It was very tasty, and I especially loved the layers of guacamole avocado.
Shucos Campo Marte - Finally another Guatemala City street food gem is Shucos Campo Marte where there’s half a dozen stalls are serving roadside shucos and the trans-metro - a huge bus sized hot dog!
Big thank you to Pablo Matute from Etnica Travel (etnicatravel.com) for arranging my trip to Guatemala.
LAS VEGAS - Welcome to Las Vegas, USA, one of the entertainment capitals of the United States. We’ve already eaten at the biggest buffet in Las Vegas which includes over 250 different dishes, and today we’re going on a celebrity burger tour!
1. Gordon Ramsay Burger (goo.gl/maps/FkJhtXSWkWeqgR8z8) - First place is Gordon Ramsay Burger known for its quality of ingredients, and the only place on the strip in Las Vegas that cooks burgers over wood fire. The beef was outstanding quality, but I would say that you absolutely need to order medium rare. One of the burgers I ordered was medium, but the medium rare was the best. Hell's Kitchen Burger - $19.99 24 Hour Burger - $26.99 Just Fries - $9.99
2. Wahlburgers (goo.gl/maps/e5xwq7CQ88U1nLB56) - Next up on the burger tour in Las Vegas we’re going to Wahlburgers, started by Mark Whalberg and his brothers. I was pretty impressed with the burger, the meat was tasty, the toppings were generous, and it was everything you want in a classic picture perfect cheeseburger. The Double Decker - $13.95 The Impossible Burger - $18.95 Tater Tots - $5.25
3. Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen (goo.gl/maps/YBGWECPxSz6L263x6) - Finally to complete this insane burger tour in Las Vegas, we went to Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen to eat the giant Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese Burger which has won numerous awards in Las Vegas. There’s no doubt it’s huge, and a lot of fun to eat! Trash Can Nachos - $24.99 Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese Burger - $25.99
LAS VEGAS, USA - Welcome to Las Vegas, one of the entertainment capitals on the United States, and home to some of the biggest buffets in the entire country. Today we are going to eat at the biggest buffet in Las Vegas, with over 250 different dishes you can choose from - welcome to Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace!
I met up with Chef Leander and Chef Anthony who toured me around the buffet to all the different stations. There’s just about everything you can imagine including hot and cold seafood, all you can eat crab legs, prime rib, the massive steamship wagyu leg, bbq, lamb, and then a huge variety of international cuisine including Mexican, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Middle Eastern, healthy, and salad stations. And that’s not even counting the dozens of desserts.
With a Las Vegas buffet of this magnitude you absolutely must do a lap around the buffet to see what looks the best to you before you start devouring. I was very happy to start with crab legs, and then move onto the delicious meats section - these are the big ticket items. I tried to eat as much as possible and definitely had some dishes from ever kitchen station. It’s a Disneyland of a buffet, and they really do hold to their quality and freshness and variety.
Highly recommended Bacchanal Buffet when you’re in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire - Welcome to Toumodi, a town just outside of the bigger Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). And today Germaine is taking us for an Ivorian bushmeat tour where we’ll be cooking and eating some of the tastiest jungle food delicacies of West Africa!
We’ve eaten our way through the beautiful West African country of Côte d'Ivoire and today we’re in the heart of the country, home to the Baole tribe. Along with a rich culture and food, they are known throughout the country for their love of bushmeat and wild meats which can include deer, rabbit, and one of the most prized meat delicacies, agouti which is a huge rodent that’s also known as a grass cutter.
First, we stopped in the town where there’s a cluster of roadside restaurants specializing in bushmeat of the day. They had rabbits and deer, and I was excited to try some of the local deer. The meat is first smoked to preserve it, then it’s cooked into a stew with lots of tomatoes and chilies to make an incredibly tasty sauce. We ate it along with pounded local yams, which is locally known as Futu.
We then headed to the jungle camp where we first had a free range grilled chicken with plantains and chili sauce. I also had my first taste of Ivorian banji, palm wine tapped directly from the sap of the oil palm tree. It’s something truly spectacular, a perfect balance of sweet and sour.
For the agouti, it was put into a traditional clay ceramic pot, with onions, tomatoes, and chilies, and simmered until tender and juicy. It was so tasty. We ate it along with yams, plantains, palm oil, and of course, more banji.
It was another incredible food experience in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. A huge thank you to Germaine and Mr. Pokou for arranging this incredible time. Also thank you to my friend Mo Soumahoro from Belle Côte d’Ivoire (instagram.com/bellecotedivoire) for arranging my trip and setting up everything in Côte d'Ivoire.
Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire - From the very northwestern corner of Côte d'Ivoire, we’re continuing our journey through the country in Korhogo, known for its unique food and especially high quality meat. Today we’ve been invited to a local home to cook some of the local Senufo tribe food and eat some of the best grilled mutton you’ll ever have.
Senufo tribe - Mo and I headed to a local home to cook a few different dishes including Joro, which is a unique green sauce made from pounded peanuts and bean vine leaves. It was definitely green tasting and quite a healthy dish. We also had another few dishes including bambara groundnuts which were some of the best beans I’ve ever had.
Choukouya - One of the greatest of all West African street foods is grilled meat and I’m talking about choukouya, this one made with grilled mutton. Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire is known throughout the country for raising some of the best quality and tasting meat, and I can assure you of this. They had a huge logfire going and they were roasting fresh mutton over the fire. When you order, they slice all the meat off the bone, and serve it with onions, fresh chilies, and kankankan seasoning.
Boloye Dance of the Panther - Finally we went to see one of the original Black Panther dances. It was one of the most fascinating displays of acrobatics, and chanting songs I’ve ever heard!
Another absolutely incredible day in Côte d'Ivoire! A huge thank you to my friend Mo Soumahoro from Belle Côte d’Ivoire (instagram.com/bellecotedivoire) for arranging my trip and setting up everything.
Remote Côte d'Ivoire Village Food - We’re continuing our journey eating our way through Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in West Africa, and today we’re in the very northwestern corner of the country. Mo is taking us to his parents’ home village for some extreme local food and one of the most fascinating cultural celebrations!
Sananférédougou (goo.gl/maps/wgnV2FBBXnQJZ2Sj6) - We’re starting in Sananférédougou where we were welcomed by the entire village singing and dancing. They cooked a number of dishes including a porridge and the main meal including a whole guinea fowl with millet and locust bean. What an incredible meal, everything local and prepared by hand.
Kotoula (goo.gl/maps/tNytc4HdPBgi3X897) - After our first meal we then headed over to Kotoula, where again we were met by extreme hospitality, dance and singing, and a dozen different local foods cooking all at the same time. There was smoked rabbit in a number of dishes including one of my all time favorite west African foods; peanut stew! I was completely blown away by the celebration of their culture and incredible food.
Guiglo, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) - After making our way along the Atlantic coast of Côte d’Ivoire, we’re continuing our Ivorian food tour to the north, stopping first for an extraordinary meal in Guiglo, before we continue all the way to Northern Ivory Coast, eating as much local food as we can along the way.
In Guiglo, Côte d’Ivoire we met with the Guéré tribe and Madam cooked us an absolutely incredible meat called Sauce Bawin (cassava leaves sauce) and Sauce Kplé Ba (sticky sauce) - a meal fit for West African royalty! It was impressive and the flavors were unbelievable.
We continued our journey to Touba and to an extremely remote village called Gboola. In Gboola we saw one of the most mysterious and fascinating dances I’ve ever scene, the Ivorian stilt dances. We then had lunch with the community.
Finally to complete this cay we drove to Odienne, in the very northern part of Côte d’Ivoire. There we had some Gnomi (griddle cakes) and a huge meal of Sumbala La-fri - Rice made with eggplant and locust beans.
It was another incredible day of local West African food in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)!
A huge thank you to my friend Mo Soumahoro from Belle Côte d’Ivoire (instagram.com/bellecotedivoire) for arranging my trip and setting up everything.
Grand-Béréby, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) - Today we’re still on the coast of West Africa in Côte d’Ivoire where we’re going to see the entire process, cooking and eating, one of the best West African foods; palm nut soup.
Palm Nut Soup (known locally as Sauce Graine) is one of the great West African foods, but there are many ways to make it. In Grand-Béréby we met up with Léon who is part of the Krumen tribe. In this coastal area they make palm nut soup with the nuts of the African oil palm, and the heart of the same palm tree. The first step was to harvest all the ingredients, and it was also a huge education on where the ingredients came from and the work it takes to harvest them.
The palm nut soup was made with the boiled palm nuts, pounded into an soup and oil, and then boiled with a huge variety of local seafood, and the fresh heart of palm chopped into small pieces. They also added in tons of fresh chiles and a huge amount of dried chilies to make it extremely spicy.
Before eating we were greeted by a representative of the Chief of the village to customarily greeted us with a kola nut, chili, and a drink of local distilled sugarcane.
The palm nut soup was one of the best dishes I’ve eaten in West Africa, truly a complex magical flavor and combination of ingredients. It was a once in a lifetime food experience. And truly the amount of work it took to prepare made me even appreciate it more.
Thank you to Leon and his family for hosting us and preparing Ivorian style palm nut soup!
A huge thank you to my friend Mo Soumahoro from Belle Côte d’Ivoire (instagram.com/bellecotedivoire) for arranging my trip and setting up everything.
COTE D’IVOIRE - Today we’re making our way down the Atlantic coast of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to eat some of the best seafood along the way!
A huge thank you to my friend Mo Soumahoro from Belle Côte d’Ivoire (instagram.com/bellecotedivoire) for arranging my trip and setting up everything!
Chez Miss Zahoui (goo.gl/maps/pmzYVERNDMzXe6bn8) - We’re starting this Ivorian food tour in Abidjan to eat one of the most famous foods in all of Cote d’Ivoire - acheke (Attiéké), made from cassava. It’s one of the national dishes and something that nearly everyone eats - and today we’ll be eating a lot of it. We’re starting with Ivorian fish fry at Chez Miss Zahoui, with acheke, and lots of fresh chili sauces.
Grand-Lahou (goo.gl/maps/rQDc3remLbXQDDPm9) - The next day we continued our journey to Grand-Lahou an island or peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean. We were hosted by Mr Niamba and his family of the Avikam tribe. Along with many local seafood dishes, they cooked a delicacy and rarely seen dish - African catfish cooked for two days!
San-Pedro (goo.gl/maps/k7xRJ41jLYnCj8d8A) - We continued to San-Pedro where we viisted the local fish market and saw the fresh catch of the day. Then we met up with Chef Grace Emmanuella of Enotel Beach San-Pedro who cooked Soup du pêcheur’ (Fisherman’s soup) with the fresh fish, lobster, and slipper lobster directly from the fish market.
ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE - Welcome to the beautiful country of Côte d’Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast), in the heart of West Africa. Abidjan is the biggest city, and home to some incredibly tasty street bbq - including a unique vertical bbq and some of Africa’s fastest BBQ! Today we’re going on a full Ivorian street food tour!
A huge thank you to my friend Mo Soumahoro from Belle Côte d’Ivoire (instagram.com/bellecotedivoire) for arranging my trip and setting up everything!
1. Breakfast - we started early in the morning and headed for a rare dish of steamed corn with thick sour milk porridge. It was unique and very hearty in the morning.
2. Plakali - One of the most beloved Ivorian foods is plakali, a thick stew of crabs and seafood with cow skin and okra. It’s a dish with so many components and texture and absolutely incredible.
3. Fried snacks - When you’re in Côte d’Ivoire you don’t want to miss all the delicious fried snack you’ll find all over Abidjan. It was awesome to hang out with Yasmine Fofana (instagram.com/afrofoodie)
4. Pique chicken and fish and Ivorian choukouya - From this entire Abidjan street food tour, probably my favorite dish was the pique chicken and fish and the West African choukouya. The chicken and fish were skewered then marinated in spices and pepper then grilled in a sandbox - vertical bbq style. It kept the meat juicy and full of flavor. They also made delicious choukouya, where the chicken is first grilled, chopped, and mixed with onions and seasoning. It’s absolutely amazing.
5. Market + sandwich - Next up we continued on this West African street food tour at the market to see some local ingredients, and a tasty onion and egg sandwich.
6. Brochette and bread - Another classic Abidjan street food is grilled small skewers of meat stuffed into French bread with kankankan. It’s one of the fastest grilling techniques I’ve seen, and unbelievably tasty.
7, Grilled meat ending - Finally we had one more stop to eat more grilled meat, choukouya. Can’t get enough!
KADAVU ISLAND, FIJI - On our final day cruise to remote Fiji, we stopped for the day at Kadavu Island. It just happened to be just turning to sea urchin season and so we were treated to one of the greatest Fijian foods ever - fresh sea urchins smoked over dry coconut branches!
Thank you to my friend Andhy Blake for arranging my trip to Fiji: instagram.com/andhy_blake and to Captain Cook Cruises (captaincookcruisesfiji.com) for taking us on this once in a lifetime Fiji cruise to the remote Lau Islands - only accessible by boat.
During the cruise we happened to meet up with Vince and Myra, and Vince is originally from Kadavu Island. He kindly invited us over to his relatives home, where we immediately went fishing for fresh sea urchins. After gathering a few dozen we headed back to the beach where they gathered dry coconut tree branches, placed the sea urchins on top of them, and then and then burned the entire pile. It was something definitely unique! The smoke just barely entered the sea urchins, giving them a fragrance but not cooking them. They were so pure, so sweet, so incredibly tasty with some Fiji limes and chilies.
Aunty also made a specialty called qiliqili with made from cassava balls and coconut boiled in lemon leaves.
LAU ISLANDS, FIJI - We’re in the remote Lau Islands group in Fiji, only accessible by boat, and today we’re going to Vuaqava Island, where they are known for their coconut crabs!
First of all, thank you to my friend Andhy Blake for arranging my trip to Fiji: instagram.com/andhy_blake and to Captain Cook Cruises (captaincookcruisesfiji.com) for taking us on this once in a lifetime Fiji cruise.
We docked near the uninhabited Vuaqava Island, Lau Islands, Fiji, which is known for its natural beauty, incredible seas, and also for being an island full of coconut crabs! Coconut crabs are definitely unique, and they are a huge delicacy in Fiji and for the local population on the Lau Islands. They all mentioned that they coconut crabs are so tasty and so delicious that they don’t need any extra seasoning or cooking - all you have to do is boil them for about 10 - 15 minutes and eat. The crabs eat mostly a diet of coconut, so they have a sweet coconut taste to them, and the fat in the stomach (similar to the tomalley on other crabs), is like a natural coconut crab pudding with a complexity of flavor. It was an amazing experience to be with local Fijians on a remote island eating coconut crab.
Next up on this Fijian crab tour we visited another island - Totoya Island, Lau Islands, Fiji where we had the honor to cook and eat another Fijian food delicacy of land crabs, cooked in coconut milk. The crabs were boiled then fully deshelled, then mixed with onions and chiles, and lots of coconut milk, and re-filled back into their shells. They were boiled again until the coconut milk thickened into a creamy crab sauce. You eat them with a fresh squeeze of local lime and chili, and it’s something truly magically delicious.
What a day of Fijian food and the freshest crabs from the source!
LAU ISLANDS, FIJI - We’re in extremely remote Fiji, in the Lau group of islands, also some of the most beautiful and unvisited islands in Fiji. We had the special opportunity to go into a number of island Fijian villages to learn about the culture and especially cook and eat the local food.
Thank you to my friend Andhy Blake for arranging my trip to Fiji: instagram.com/andhy_blake and to Captain Cook Cruises (captaincookcruisesfiji.com) for taking us on this once in a lifetime Fiji cruise to the remote Lau Islands - only accessible by boat.
1. Vanua Balavu Island, Lau Islands, Fiji We arrived to our first island called Vanua Balavu. I love how Fiji is very traditional and when you arrive to a village they still have a protocol to respect the traditional land owners and ask the permission of the village Chief. To do so we brought kava with us to present to the Chief and once accepted we were able to be on the island and start filming. They prepared a dish called Vakasakera, moringa leaves with coconut milk, barracuda fish, and some local shellfish similar to abalone. After an amazing meal, we toured and swam around the Bay of Islands - spectacular!
2. Fulaga Island, Lau Islands, Fiji We continued our cruise in Fiji to the Fulaga islands, sometimes regarded as the most beautiful islands in all of Fiji - maybe in the South Pacific. The island is famous for their local sea cockles, which looked quite a lot like huge blood cockles. They harvested them right out of the ocean then opened them up and marinated them with onions and lime juice and coconut milk. Freshest and most delicious cockles ever.
3. Kabara Island, Lau Islands, Fiji Finally to continue this remote Fijian food tour we visited Kabara island where they prepared, along with Captain Cook Cruises, a Fijian lovo for 100 people! A lovo is the Fijian version of an underground hot rock oven which is common throughout Melanesia and Polynesia and in other cultures around the world. It was a fantastic process and the food was smoky and tender.
FIJI - We’re on a cruise with Captain Cook Cruises to Fiji’s remote Lau Islands. Along with scenery, one of the best reasons to go on a cruise is for the food, so today I’m showing you a few of the delicious meals!
Thank you to Captain Cook Cruises (captaincookcruisesfiji.com) for the incredible hospitality on this trip of a lifetime - highly recommended!
1. Tivua Island, Fiji For our first meal we met with Head Chef Jackson from Captain Cook Cruises and we took a small boat to a private island. Unfortunately it was a little windy and rainy, but that didn’t stop us from having a local Fijian meal including Kokoda - raw fish in lime and coconut milk.
2, Indian Food Buffet The next day we sailed to Makogai Island known for its history and colony. But on the cruise it also happened to be Indian buffet day.
3. Staff Meal Not only do all the guests on Captain Cook Cruises eat well but so do the staff. One day I was invited to eat the staff meal on a day they ate a dish called Sui, which literally translates to Meaty Bones.
We ate a lot of food on Captain Cook Cruises, from morning to night, buffets and a la carte. It was an incredible experience.
SUVA, FIJI - Today we’re learning about Indians in Fiji, many of whom have been here for generations. Most arrived as indentured servants working on sugar plantations, but they brought with them their culture, customs and of course their food. Today we’re going on an Indian Fijian food tour - we’ll see how it’s similar to Indian food in Indian, and yet has its own distinct taste to Fiji!
A huge thank you to my friend Andhy Blake, he’s a TV host and Fijian producer who loves to eat and who arranged our entire trip to Fiji. Check him out instagram.com/andhy_blake
1. Zamzam Restaurant, Suva, Fiji (goo.gl/maps/J98ZPdypoXzt1dod6?coh=178571&entry=tt) To begin this Indian food tour in Fiji we’re starting at one of the most popular restaurants in Suva, Zamzam. They serve over 40 different dishes a day, with a mix of Indian Fijian, even Chinese, and halal dishes. The food is outstanding and their rotis are insanely soft. Eating at Zamzam is a must when you’re in Suva, and will satisfy all of your curry needs.
2. Babasiga Halal Bites, Nausori, Fiji We’re continuing this tour in Nausori, where Andhy is from and to Babasiga Halal Bites, that’s legendary across Fiji for their lamb bone curry. It’s famous for a reason, it’s so tasty with just the right amount of masala.
3. Home Cooked duck masala To finish off this Indian Fijian food tour we headed over to a friend of Andhy whose mother makes the greatest duck masala is all of Fiji! She used 2 fresh ducks, washed in turmeric, and stewed in no less than three of her own hand roasted masalas. The result was truly magical.
It was another delicious day in Fiji, learning a lot about the history of Indians and their amazing food in Fiji.
NAUSORI, FIJI - Welcome to the beautiful islands of Fiji and today we’re on the main island and going on an ultimate Fijian food tour. Get ready for some of the tastiest local food in all of Fiji!
First of all, a huge thank you to my friend Andhy Blake, he’s a TV host and Fijian producer who loves to eat and who arranged our entire trip to Fiji. Check him out instagram.com/andhy_blake
Here’s all the places we visited on this ultimate Fijian food tour:
1. Nausori Market, Nausori, Fiji (goo.gl/maps/JN6hSoDQ1hbFHn766) We first walked around the main Nausori Market for a taste of all the local ingredients. We stopped to eat at Tee Totoka for their famous tea buns. And Finally met with Sera, who owns the greatest seafood stall at the market selling Kovu Kaikoso - Sea Clams in Coconut Milk!
2. Elvis Kana Place, Nausori, Fiji (goo.gl/maps/bFB1Pz5CzCJyYVpKA) One of the most delicious of all Fijian foods is rourou with mutton, raro leaves with mutton, and it was an honor to see the full cooking process before eating it.
3. Namuka Village, Fiji - Continuing our tour, we visited a village just outside Nausori that’s famous for making vakalolo - a cassava coconut dessert.
4: Mokani Village, Fiji - Something else you have to try when you visit Fiji is called bila - fermented cassava bread, and no one does it better than here.
5: The Bar Belle, Suva, Fiji (goo.gl/maps/vuZ4FEXXE1sXkUrd7?coh=178571&entry=tt) The food tour isn’t over, we drove on to Suva, the largest city in Fiji to eat at The Bar Belle, a laid back restaurant serving local Fijian seafood.
6: Tasty BBQ, Nausori, Fiji - This Fijian food tour wouldn’t be complete with some Fijian street food, and I’m talking about Fijian BBQ that includes lamb chops and sausage!
We had an incredible time visiting Fiji and I can’t wait to share more delicious and unseen food with you coming up in more videos in this series.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - We’re just outside Charleston, South Carolina, and on Sunday, I was invited over to my friend John Haney’s (instagram.com/alveronbbqco8462) house for a real deal southern barbecue. It was an incredible experience, watching John and bbq and all of his side dishes including collard greens and the greatest bbq mac n cheese you’ll ever have.
Additionally, in South Carolina is the only place you'll find hash, a mixture of all the pig bits including the face made into a stew. There's ketchup based hash and mustard based hash, and we had a full lesson on South Carolina hash.
John Haney (Alveron BBQ) makes the best bbq grills in the United States all hand made - so definitely hit him up: instagram.com/alveronbbqco8462 and he also one of the greatest legends of American bbq.
Huge thank you to John and his family for hosting my family and I on this amazing Sunday meal.
ST. HELENA ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - Today we’re visiting St. Helena in South Carolina, an island that’s preserved much of its Gullah Geechee and Lowcountry heritage, culture and food.
We have the honor of meeting up with Tony and Belinda Jones from Morning Glory Homestead - morninggloryhomestead.com to learn about Gullah Geechee history and cook a full farm to table southern USA, lowcountry meal. On the menu is one of the greatest dishes of all time, shrimp and okra, with local grits, rice, and fried whiting fish.
We picked our own okra from the farm, and cooked everything fresh Gullah Geechee style under the sweeping live oak trees.
Thank you again to Tony and Belinda Jones from Morning Glory Homestead - morninggloryhomestead.com for hosting me for this incredible Gullah Geechee food and cultural experience in South Carolina.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - Today we’re going on a Gullah Geechee and Soul Food tour in Charleston, South Carolina. I’ll be trying some of the classic dishes like Turkey wings, red rice, crab and rice, and not missing out on the mountain of garlic butter crabs!
Bertha's Kitchen (goo.gl/maps/T8wwFps9wdtCXo5W6) This was one of the restaurants I was most looking forward to trying when I was in Charleston - so try their traditional Soul food and Gullah food. They’ve even won a James Beard award! Their red rice, fried catfish, and especially their giant turkey wing was the highlight. Excellent food, highly recommended when you’re in Charleston.
Hannibal's Kitchen (goo.gl/maps/WbwRxT1CvovrtaSX9) Next we headed to Hannibal's Kitchen, again a restaurant that legendary for their Gullah food in Charleston. They have all sorts of southern specialties here including crab rice and lima beans with pig tails.
Ravenel Fresh Seafood (goo.gl/maps/xBvyKxvtCsuuNN196) Big thank you to Chef BJ Dennis (instagram.com/chefbjdennis) for this recommendation. Ravenel Fresh Seafood serves local South Carolina seafood, prepared Gullah style. You can’t go wrong with the red rice and fried fish, but people most come here for the mountain of crabs with thick garlic butter sauce all over it.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - Welcome to Charleston, one of the food capitals of the United States, and home to some of America’s best oysters. Today we’re going on a seafood tour of Charleston, especially focusing on the incredible oysters.
Barrier Island Oyster Co. (barrierislandoysters.com) We’re starting this seafood tour at the Barrier Island Oyster Co., who are responsible for growing and serving some of the best oysters in South Carolina - in the United States. One of their signature oysters are the sea clouds, which have an extraordinary balance of flavor. It was amazing to see the process and behind the scenes of how oysters are grown before they reach your table.
The Ordinary (goo.gl/maps/gVGzwuLxu9EThtjS6) Next up we headed to The Ordinary, a well known seafood restaurant, serving a mix of seafood and especially fresh oysters and an outstanding raw bar. Food was delicious. Total price - $163 for everything
Chubby Fish (goo.gl/maps/BdEn8A8YHf8fEQme9) One of the restaurants I was most looking forward to trying in Charleston was Chubby Fish with Chef James London. He’s a legendary chef in South Carolina using the freshest seafood ingredients in creative and vibrant combinations. We had the oysters, and some more sea clouds, and an array of outstanding other local seafood dishes. Chubby Fish was without a doubt one of the best meals I ate in Charleston.
SOUTH CAROLINA, USA - Today we’re going to two of the most legendary barbecue smoke houses in the United States. They do everything the traditional way - using only hard woods. We’ll begin with the original Scott’s Bar-B-Que in Hemingway, South Carolina and continue to Rodney Scott's BBQ in Charleston.
Scott’s Bar-B-Que: goo.gl/maps/uEcd1Q44iV2L2iHK9 To begin, we started where it all began, in the small town of Hemingway, South Carolina. The bbq was excellent and I especially enjoyed the ribs and the chicken.
Rodney Scott's BBQ: goo.gl/maps/b4VG6u6qypfHsyxg8 It was an honor to spend a few hours with one of America’s best pitmasters Rodney Scott. I asked him what makes good bbq, and he immediately answered patience, hard wood, good proteins, music and storytelling. Rodney also sprinkles on seasoning, spoons out the meat, and uses a mop to add sauce!
SORRENTO, AUSTRALIA - South of Melbourne where the bay opens into the sea is one of the great fishing spots in Australia, especially for local Bluefin Tuna. Today we’re going fishing, then coming back to the house to have a beach house, backyard barbecue!
From Melbourne we caught a helicopter down to Sorrento, and from there we boarded the boat and sailed into the open sea. We were lucky with perfect conditions and while the water in these parts can often be rough, today it was calm. We were lucky to be with very experienced fishers and after some searching, we finally landed a small tuna. What a thrilling experience!
We headed back to Sorrento for a barbecue, and taste of some of the freshest tuna sashimi I’ve ever had. Ironically, tuna is best when it ages a few days, so we didn’t eat the whole fish, but we did try it!
Sydney Fish Market (goo.gl/maps/khNKtN7KUUGPv2xs5) - After meeting up with Chef Dan, we met up with Alex from the Sydney Fish market who showed us around and gave us a very interesting brief about the Sydney Fish market and the quality of seafood that auctioned.
Red Claw Seafoods (https://redclawseafoods.com.au/) - At the fish market we visited Red Claw Seafood who specialize in some of the best live seafood in all of Australia and where Chef Dan gets his supply. We were after their insanely huge Tasmanian king crab!
Mr. Wong (goo.gl/maps/mcoC3PUG2GCL9Vq48) - After getting our crab, we headed back to Chef Dan’s restaurant, Mr. Wong, for some dim sum, roast duck, and mostly importantly, the fresh giant Tasmanian King Crab! It was without a double one of the best crabs, both in natural product and preparation that I’ve ever had. It was so big, Chef Dan had to cook three different dishes with it.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Welcome to Sydney, Australia! Today we’re going on a cheap eats tour of Sydney to eat 5 of the most iconic and affordable meals that you have to try. From charcoal chicken to Halal snack pack, it’s going to be a delicious day of food in Australia!
1. Marrickville Pork Roll - goo.gl/maps/Fu6oDvRozM6nLGgX6 Price - $8 AUD (5.37 USD) per roll - Sydney has a large Vietnamese population and banh mi are extremely popular and affordable.
2. Metro One Kebab Ashfield - goo.gl/maps/dBs51Jbw4TaQCqyg9 Price - $20 AUD (13.42 USD) for Large - One of the most famous Sydney foods is a Halal snack pack, HSP for short - and it’s one of the greatest Australian cheap eats.
3. El Jannah Granville - goo.gl/maps/wVL84F87ME3eAe4r6 Price - $15.90 AUD (10.67 USD) for ½ chicken plate - El Jannah Granville serves Lebanese charcoal roasted chicken.
4. Chinese Noodle Restaurant - goo.gl/maps/FuR3yokWEuLsFnzu9 Price - $15.80 AUD (10.58 USD) - This noodle restaurant is known for their northern Chinese fried noodles and dumplings.
5. Indian Home Diner - goo.gl/maps/gudGiYZp3G5RiaC26 Price - $15 AUD (10.06 USD) for Double Chicken Tikka Kebab, which was tasty and convenient.
Of course this only scratches the surface of the diversity and the quantity of what you can eat in Sydney - there’s so much delicious food to discover!
GREAT OCEAN ROAD, AUSTRALIA - Today we’re going on a tour of the iconic Great Ocean Road, and we’ll be eating some of the best Australian seafood along the way.
The Great Ocean Road is a historical highway that connects remote coastal towns along the southern coast of Australia. It was initially started as a project to create jobs for soldiers returning from WW1. The construction began in 1919 and was mostly completed when it was handed over to the government in 1936. When I visited Australia, I was excited to drive this iconic road for the majestic natural beauty - the rugged sea cliffs, the windswept coast - and probably most of all - to discover some of the best local seafood restaurants along the way.
Here are all the places we visited on this ultimate Australian food tour:
1. Fishos Torquay - goo.gl/maps/c3mdgx3ssNnGmoj26 Total Price - 111 AUD (74.45 USD) - We started off in the surf town of Torquay to eat our first meal at Fishos Torquay!
2. Fish by Moonlight - goo.gl/maps/VsLB6u5WL5hnXetm9 Total price - 104.54 AUD (70.11 USD) - This small strip-mall restaurant proved to be one of the best meals I had in Australia - one of the best ever fish and chips!
4. Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-Op - goo.gl/maps/99hLmAJAxVsBBRmb7 Total price - 317.83 AUD (213.20 USD) - One of the famous seafood restaurants along the Great Ocean Road and must stop when you’re in Apollo Bay for seafood and especially rock lobsters.
5. Twelve Apostles - goo.gl/maps/vy5pCKS2orYPiUUR8 One of our main sightseeing destinations was the magnificent Twelve Apostles.
6. Craypot Bistro - goo.gl/maps/U3gwLhFBuDBWXupY8 Total price - 152.76 AUD (102.46 USD) - We arrived in Port Campbell and had a quick Australian pub dinner.
7. Loch Ard Gorge goo.gl/maps/nh4tq3Umih5R5uWs8 Finally the next morning we quickly stopped off at Loch Ard Gorge to complete our food tour on Australia’s Great Ocean Road.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Today we’re going on an ultimate food tour in Melbourne to eat some of the tastiest and most iconic foods and to show the diversity of cultures and foods that are represented. It’s going to be a delicious food day and you’re not going to want to miss any of it!
Here are all the restaurants we visited on this Melbourne food tour:
1. Hector's Deli (goo.gl/maps/8tacVthQndc8eSwu6) - Toasty sandwiches are extremely popular in Melbourne and Hector’s Deli serves some of the best!
2. Pipi's Kiosk (goo.gl/maps/B57r5KatBfnkwjrz9) - Located right along the beach Pipi's Kiosk is known for their boat to table, Chef driven seafood.
3. Ca Com Bánh Mì Bar (goo.gl/maps/SzsYcX1fe4gjs1cE6) - At this small Vietnamese banh mi bar they make everything fresh in house and everything is cooked over fire.
4. Arbory Afloat (goo.gl/maps/LB9KRMKDzr57d7o88_ - In mid Afternoon we visited one of the most popular bars and the biggest floating restaurant in Melbourne. Drink and pizza are some of the best in the city with a lively atmosphere.
5. Pidapipó Carlton (goo.gl/maps/MPGiYihVeMGima5B7) - In the evening we stopped to have some of the best gelato in Melbourne.
6. Supernormal (goo.gl/maps/p16xRDoTTsUawMrX6) - Chef Andrew McConnell is one of the most well known chefs from Melbourne and we had a great meal at Supernormal, a Asian inspired restaurant.
7. Komur (goo.gl/maps/6TRdE3Mw3bmSFDVT8) - Finally, I can say Komur was one of the best meals and best restaurants I ate at in Melbourne. Emir Uker comes from a lineage of kebab makers and his Turkish food will impress you, outstanding!
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Welcome to the beautiful city of Melbourne! I was extremely excited to hang out with Desi and Irene, The Grill Sisters, who are extremely passionate about barbecue. Today they are cooking up some of their favorite recipes, including grilled octopus, lamb backstrap, and gigantic head sized wild Tasmanian oysters!
It’s going to be an ultimate backyard Australian food barbecue!
Thank you again to The Grill Sisters!
Although there’s so much more to learn, this was an introduction to learning what Australian food is!
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - Welcome to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia! Today we’re going to answer the question - what is Australian Food? This is my first trip to Australia, so I’m excited to explore and to eat my way through Melbourne.
Thank you to all my friends in the video: Huge thank you to Chef Nick and Tess from HER Melbourne (https://her.melbourne/) for hosting me in Melbourne and for taking me around. Chef Nick: instagram.com/nick_bennett_sourdough Tess: instagram.com/_tessstewart
Also a huge thank you to Sofia Levin (instagram.com/sofiaklevin) for showing us some of the best food in Melbourne!
Here’s the full Australian food tour:
1: South Melbourne Market - goo.gl/maps/6Vefo5Ez1gNeDP5E6 We’re starting out at South Melbourne Market to try some of the local foods available. Starting with jam donuts, meat pies, seafood, a quick oyster shot, and finally the legendary dim sim!
2. Industry Beans - goo.gl/maps/ZEnA2so2xScVQ4CM9 Next up on this Australian food tour we’re having coffee - and in Melbourne they take coffee culture seriously.
3. Terror Twilight - goo.gl/maps/CcBrVwo1qrdZGECM6 Just like coffee culture, Australian brunch culture is very strong, and they have influenced the world with brunch, and of course - avocado toast.
4: Big Esso (Mabu Mabu) - goo.gl/maps/5WrjENeqZS8VojrU7 I wouldn’t want to make a video about what Australian food is without original indigenous Australian food. Big Esso is one of the few true Australian restaurants where Chef Nornie Bero from the Torres Straits serves modern Australian dishes using only local ingredients. Emu, saltbush, and green ants!
5: The Napier Hotel: goo.gl/maps/8VguVAZWeVJFMBoM7 Another part of Australian food culture is the Australian pub. Along with a classic Aussie meat pie, chicken parma (or kangaroo parma), don’t miss the giant Bogan Burger.
6: Gerald's Bar - goo.gl/maps/eJGXgUfKB3fvqXxo7 Next up on this food tour we’re going to a local neighborhood wine bar, a favorite in Melbourne.
7: Supper Inn - goo.gl/maps/rKnZMu8uNzRCrX9y5 Lastly, one of the biggest parts of Australia is the diversity and people from around the world who have migrated to Australia, including many Chinese. Melbourne is home to a substantial Chinatown and we’re eating at one of the absolutely classics.
Although there’s so much more to learn, this was an introduction to learning what Australian food is!
NAHA, OKINAWA - Okinawa is an island in southern Japan, yet its culture and food are vastly different from what you typically think of as Japanese. Today I’m hanging out with my friend Yuji-San and we’re going to take you on an ultimate Okinawan food tour!
1. MEGURO miso soup stand: goo.gl/maps/rGGLu9RtcAL23eHo9 - We started off for the greatest ever rice ball and craft miso soup. It was a totally new experience and appreciation for miso soup. Total price - 2,800 JPY
2. Tofu Soba at Takaesu Soba: goo.gl/maps/mD4vzTqqHxaJdCSL8 - In Okinawa, soba is totally different from the buckwheat noodles you get in other parts of Japan. Okinawan soba is something nearly everyone eats for lunch and it’s more similar to ramen with wheat noodles and pork ribs. We went to this special place for their tofu soba. Total price - 2,770 JPY
3. Ice snow cones at Fujiya Tomari: goo.gl/maps/Q8SF83Vjq6FoUUwH9 - Another thing you have to try in Okinawa is their snow cones. Price - 1,350 JPY for everything
4. Okinawan Izakaya at Urizun: goo.gl/maps/iwbuKjfUUG1yxNNK7 - In order get a taste of traditional Okinawan food, we went to Urizun. Again, dishes were totally different from anywhere else I’ve bee. Price - 9,353 JPY for everything
5. Goat Sashimi at Nijuban (20th) Goat Restaurant: goo.gl/maps/UwNcUyueA6eVYKBw7 - Finally there was one meal I was not going to leave Okinawa without trying - goat sashimi! Price - 3,400 JPY for everything
Okinawa is a wonderful island to visit with a truly unique food culture. Thank you for watching this Okinawan food tour!
NAHA, OKINAWA - We’re on the island of Okinawa in southern Japan, and Okinawa is famous for its incredible seafood. Due to being further south, the seafood selection is totally different from what you’d find in northern parts of Japan, here it’s much more tropical.
Today we’re heading straight to the Makishi Public Market (goo.gl/maps/pEMxXv49G8NuM7899), an absolute seafood wonderland where you will see a full aquarium of different seafood available and an amazing colorful selection. After walking around for a few minutes we then decided on a very friendly couple who had a fantastic fresh catch. We bought a giant slipper lobster (biggest I’ve ever seen), a huge green turban shell, and a red grouper. Total price - 31,680 JPY for everything
Upstairs you can eat all your fresh seafood at a restaurant where they will prepare it for you. Price - 2,650 JPY for cooking and side dishes
When you’re in Okinawa, visiting the Makishi Public Market for a seafood meal is a must!
HA GIANG VIETNAM - Welcome to Ha Giang, in the mountains of northern Vietnam, on the border of China. Today we’re with Mr. Thien at his homestay where he and his family will be cooking a full Tay People festival meal - including a five colored sticky rice, a whole duck, a whole pig, and a fish.
A big thank you to YESD Travel Vietnam for making this happen: yesd.org Highly recommended for authentic and responsible tours in Vietnam.
When we arrived they were already beginning the meal preparations. We were lucky to see the entire cooking process from start to finish. One of the traditional foods of the Tay People is five colored sticky rice, each color made from a natural coloring and steamed. Along with the sticky rice we had a huge assortment of pork dishes, including fresh blood and organ sausage, boiled meat, grilled meat, and probably my favorite of the meal - roasted duck stuffed with Kumquat leaves.
When the food was ready, they presented it on trays over banana leaves with a chili dipping sauce. Food in Northern Vietnam is not only about eating, but it’s about socializing, talking, drinking, and eating together.
HANOI, VIETNAM - Today we’re going on an ultimate Vietnamese street food tour to eat 5 of the must eat Vietnamese foods in Hanoi, that are not pho. I’m hanging out with local food expert @Hanoifood from Hanoi Food. We’re eating some local favorite Vietnamese dishes and some extreme dishes as well. It’s going to be delicious!
Thank you to @Hanoifood for taking me on this amazing Hanoi street food tour:
Here are all the places we ate:
1. Xôi Xéo Location: Xôi Mây (goo.gl/maps/LWXB1Q6ComQP4pXaA) Price: 15,000 VND ($0.63) per bowl One of the common breakfasts in northern Vietnam is sticky rice with toppings. She has to be one of the fastest food assemblers in all of Vietnam!
2. Bún Riêu Location: Bún riêu Hàng Lược (goo.gl/maps/WbUu189N5ihHDKDP9) Price: 75,000 VND ($3.15) for fully loaded bowl Pho is extremely common in Vietnam, but there are so many other noodle soups, and bun rieu is one of the best. This place is extremely popular and we ordered it fully loaded!
3. Bún Chả Bún Chả Hàng Quạt (goo.gl/maps/QJqbDn8X6miUBKzE9) Price: 45,000 VND ($1.89) per portion If there’s one dish that you have to eat when you’re in Hanoi, Vietnam, it would be bun cha for lunch. The combination of grilled pork in a soup of fish sauce with noodles and vegetables is heavenly.
4. Bún ốc Location: Bún ốc cô Huệ (goo.gl/maps/uVRbstsbXmLntvdU8) Price: 40,000 VND ($1.68) per bowl One of Khoa’s favorite local dishes is bun oc, or snails and noodles. We specifically tried the cold version with giant snails!
5. Cháo Location: Cháo Sườn Sụn Huyền Anh Đồng Xuân (goo.gl/maps/FJhqyLWhaqjo7xhP9) Price: 35,000 VND ($1.47) per bowl Another common dish in Vietnam is chao, or congee, rice porridge. Rather than being chunk with rice grains, this was one of the smoothest bowls of congee ever.
6. Chả Rươi Location: Cửa Hàng Chả Rươi Hưng Thịnh (goo.gl/maps/899cEgbVrh8xhXZK8) Price: 35,000 VND ($1.47) per piece, we ate 5 One more extreme Vietnamese food we had to try was cha ruoi, a sandworm pancake. A little bizarre, but proved to be one of the best meals of the day!
Thank you for watching this ultimate Vietnamese street food tour in Hanoi!
YAOWARAT, BANGKOK - We’re in Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown to eat some of the off-the-beaten path, yet extremely iconic Chinese Thai street foods! We’re starting early in the morning at 7 am to eat some extremely popular Thai street food. We’re in for some seriously good food!
Here are all the places we ate:
1. Nai Uu Pork Leg Stew (ขาหมูนายอุ๊ พลับพลาไชย): goo.gl/maps/HJTLu5EkNAvamFaz6 - This legendary restaurant only opens from about 6 am to 9 am and they serve one of Bangkok’s best Braised Pork Leg (ข้าวขาหมู). Price: 50 THB ($1.45) per plate
2. Plaeng Nam Chicken Rice (ข้าวมันไก่แปลงนาม): goo.gl/maps/rTcgMcGz5z3814kq6 - Located right in the heart of Yaowrat, they serve is a delicious and traditional plate of Hainanese chicken rice (ข้าวมันไก่). Price: 80 THB ($2.32) per plate
3. Ao Roasted Pork (ร้านข้าวหมูแดง นายโอว): goo.gl/maps/UJBZXZVNG51LUHbm8 - Next up on this Thai street food tour we’re eating Red Pork Rice (ข้าวหมูแดง) served for this generations old stall. Their crispy pork belly is outstanding and the pour their signature sauce over the rice in alcohol bottles. Price: 60 THB ($1.74) per big plate
4. Chua Hah Seng (ฉั่วฮะเซ้ง ห่านพะโล้): goo.gl/maps/5DSfYbaxmydKiNjD7 - Off the beaten path, this generations old restaurant specializes in Braised Goose (ห่านพะโล้), and it’s absolutely delicious. Price: 310 THB ($9.00) total
Thank you for watching this Thai street food tour!
BANGKOK, THAILAND - Today in Bangkok, Thailand we’re going on a Thai street food tour to eat at some street food stalls that are very popular with tuk tuk drivers, taxi drivers, and motorbike delivery drivers. We’ll be walking our way about Wong Wian Yai to taste some incredibly delicious and fresh Thai street food!
Here’s where I ate:
1. Ba Meow Boiled Beef (ร้านต้มเนื้อป๋าเหมี่ยว): goo.gl/maps/j7nt1v4nUiQZYYJb7 - We started this Thai street food tour with a boil of delicious Boiled Beef (ต้มเนื้อ). It sounds simple, but it’s boiled with Thai herbs and seasoning, and as their customers tell you, it’s extremely clean tasting - that’s the secret. Along with herbs and sauce, it is spectacular. Price: 120 THB ($3.52) for big bowl
2. Yim Ahaan Dtam Sang (ยิ้ม อาหารตามสั่ง) - Not far from Wong Wiang Yai market you’ll find this small street food stall that’s popular at lunch for Thai stir fried dishes. I ordered Squid Kaprao (กะเพราปลาหมึก), which was spicy and delicious - cooked on spot! Price: 70 THB ($2.05) for my plate
3. Laap Ba Lek (ร้านลาบ (ป้าเล็ก): goo.gl/maps/FifML39tbpYKkG8c9 - We next went to a place that’s extremely popular with local taxi drivers and delivery drivers in the area to eat Isaan meat dishes. This place is fantastic and they specialize in fresh beef dishes like Laap (ลาบ). Total price: 300 THB ($8.79) for everything
Thank you for watching this Thai street food tour!
BANGKOK, THAILAND - Welcome to Bangkok, a paradise of Thai street food. Today we’re exploring Bangkok’s Chinatown, known as Yaowarat, to eat the 5 best Thai Chinese foods - dishes you don’t want to miss!
Here’s all the Thai street food we ate in this video:
#1 Kuay Jab (ก๋วยจั๊บ) Location: Tu Kway Chap ก๋วยจั๊บเฮียตุ๊ แปลงนาม สูตร100ปี (goo.gl/maps/3UMKSJB9ycAYoJnV6) - This place is really old school, tucked within a market and they only open a few days per week for breakfast. That being said there are some legendary kuay jab street food stalls on the main Yaowarat road during the evening. Price - 50 THB ($1.43) per bowl
#2 Yellow Curry (แกงกะหรี่) Location: Khao Gaeng Hia Hee (ร้านข้าวแกงคลองถม (เฮียฮี้) (goo.gl/maps/iv13VGkFzVZ2Xnuf8) - This Thai Chinese curry hotspot specializes in rice and curry and especially a yellow with beef tendon boiled for six hours. Price - 50 THB ($1.43) per plate
#3 Fishball Noodles (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวลูกชิ้นปลา) Location: Jeng Kung Fish Ball Noodle (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวลูกชิ้นปลาเจงคุง) (goo.gl/maps/H8DrqaS4jKpEQ6n7A) - One of the many popular noodles of Bangkok’s Chinatown is fishball noodles and this is one of the best places to try it. Price - 60 THB per bowl
#4 Oyster Omelet (หอยทอด) Location: Wang Hoy Tod (เว้งหอยทอด) (goo.gl/maps/GtzdYNv7bZWPn2d97) - Talk about a food legend, he’s been cooking Thai Chinese fried oyster omelettes for over 60 years! Price: 60 THB ($1.72) per plate
#5 Roast Suckling Pig (หมูหัน) Location: Tang Jai Yoo Restaurant (ภัตตาคารตั้งใจอยู่) (goo.gl/maps/v6zf6LnVQqMpVipk6) - Finally to complete this Yaowarat tour, we’re going to Tang Jai Yoo Restaurant (ภัตตาคารตั้งใจอยู่), a restaurant that’s been open for over 100 years and specializes in Teochow food, known for their extremely crispy roast suckling pig! Price: 4,040 THB ($115.69) for everything
🔔 Subscribe: Thank you for watching this street food tour, remember to Subscribe: youtube.com/@MarkWiens for more food and travel!Street Food VS. Luxury HOT POT - One Is So Much Better!! | Taiwan’s HOT POT Obsession!!Mark Wiens2023-04-18 | 🇹🇼 Ultimate Taiwan Street Food Tour: youtu.be/ScnAiHZRcL8 🌶 Mark Wiens - Ghost Chili: amzn.to/3PNTvNQ 👕 T-shirts: store.migrationology.com
Taiwan is undoubtedly obsessed with hot pot! Welcome to Taichung, Taiwan, and today we’re going on a Taiwanese hot pot tour, but two totally different styles - one that’s on the luxury modern trendy side, and the other is a street food legend. We’ll compare the atmosphere, the ingredients, and then of course the prices. Let’s go eat Taiwan hot pot!
King of Hot Pot (嗑肉石鍋-南屯豐樂店): goo.gl/maps/D2DfaEKhanHgiShW7 - The first place is a modern trendy hot pot with a hilarious bleacher platter of beef and meats. The flavor was honestly a little underwhelming, just not enough flavor in the broth. Ingredients were alright. Total price - 1805 TWD ($59.70)
Taiwan Chen Hot Pot (台灣陳沙茶火鍋): goo.gl/maps/kAUhCZ8d4GiDNehf7 - This places is an alley street food legend in Taichung and their hot pot was outstanding, including the ingredients, and sauces. I especially loved their local Taiwan beef. Total price - 2,000 TWD ($66.14)
Oddly enough, the street food hot pot turned out to be slightly more expensive than the trendy place!
And which place did I like better… you probably can tell Taiwan Chen Hot Pot (台灣陳沙茶火鍋)!
🔔 Subscribe: Thank you for watching this street food tour, remember to Subscribe: youtube.com/@MarkWiens for more food and travel!Taiwan Night Market STREET FOOD TOUR!! 🇹🇼 Visit This Market When You’re in Taiwan!Mark Wiens2023-04-15 | 🇹🇼 Ultimate Taiwan Street Food Tour: youtu.be/ScnAiHZRcL8 👕 T-shirts: store.migrationology.com 🌶 Ghost Chili Powder: amzn.to/3PNTvNQ (Amazon affiliate link)
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Taiwan is extremely famous for their night market street food culture, and so tonight we’re eating our way through Nanjichang Night Market (南機場夜市) - a lesser known, yet extremely popular local night market. If you want an off the beaten path, guaranteed delicious Taiwanese food experience, this is a great Taipei night market to visit.
One of the greatest things about Nanjichang Night Market (南機場夜市) is that it’s not only a night market, but it’s open throughout the day and you’ll find different food available depending on the time of the day. Additionally, about 3 or 4 different stalls at this market have been featured in the Michelin Guide Taiwan.
🔔 Subscribe: Thank you for watching this street food tour, remember to Subscribe: youtube.com/@MarkWiens for more food and travel!Extremely Popular Taiwanese Food - 40 POTS AT A TIME!! | Best Restaurants in Taipei!Mark Wiens2023-04-11 | 🇹🇼 Ultimate Taiwan Street Food Tour: youtu.be/ScnAiHZRcL8 🎥 Camera gear I use: amzn.to/3FVdBUd (some of these are Amazon affiliate links)
Taiwan is a food lovers paradise and today we’re going to two places, one that serves a luxurious chicken soup that’s been boiled for over 12 hours and another that serves a local Taiwanese ginger duck hot pot. It’s going to be a delicious food tour in Taipei!
Here are the places I ate in this video:
Chicken soup at Ji Yuan Restaurant 驥園川菜餐廳 (goo.gl/maps/AsvUFdj6JSnZeztJ7) - This restaurant is legendary - make sure you make reservations and pre-book your giant chicken soup - it’s insanely tasty! Total price - 3,780 TWD ($124.96)
Steamed Bun Shop (寧波生煎包): goo.gl/maps/iERUVJ5aY9zV8DZp6 - Can’t go wrong with these legendary Shanghainese fried buns.
Ginger Duck Hot Pot (鴨味仔紅面薑母鴨 松江店): goo.gl/maps/Kh1PUeJUbRTFnUuWA - This is definitely a unique food experience in Taiwan, something that doesn’t always get the spotlight compared to the famous Taiwanese hot pots. Total price - 720 TWD ($23.80)
All the food on this tour was outstanding, highly recommended when you’re in Taipei, Taiwan!
🔔 Subscribe: Thank you for watching this street food tour, remember to Subscribe: youtube.com/@MarkWiens for more food and travel!8 AM Taiwanese Street Food Tour!! 🇹🇼 BREAKFAST BUFFET + Danzai Noodles in Taiwan!!Mark Wiens2023-04-08 | 🇹🇼 Ultimate Taiwan Street Food Tour: youtu.be/ScnAiHZRcL8 👕 T-shirts: store.migrationology.com 🌶 Ghost Chili Powder: amzn.to/3PNTvNQ (Amazon affiliate link)
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Taiwan has some of the world’s greatest breakfast traditions and so today we’re going on a Taiwanese street food tour to discover what are some of the best morning foods to eat when you’re in Taipei!
Breakfast 1 (青島豆漿店): goo.gl/maps/CCNGjceuLhUG8YALA - We’re starting with the classic Taiwanese breakfast of soy milk and baked pasties, both savory and sweet. Total price - 280 TWD ($9.26)
Danzai Noodles (羅家擔仔麵): goo.gl/maps/kvrTL2PGbwSLae6E8 - Danzai noodles have a unique story, and it’s a fantastic noodle dish to try. Price - 40 TWD ($1.32) per bowl
Street Buffet (台灣古早味-正宗阿偉咖哩飯): goo.gl/maps/hqef5FLw5xpn3YcE7 - This is my kind of a Taiwanese breakfast - including curry over rice plus lots of side dishes. Total price - 200 TWD ($6.62)
Jia Xing Fish Ball Restaurant (佳興魚丸店): goo.gl/maps/RdCkuaeLyGDets9q9 - This was an extra unplanned stop, but they are legendary for their unique stuffed fishballs.
Dadaocheng Cisheng Temple: goo.gl/maps/g1NQuFBKEn6hgLMYA - This is a Taiwanese food hidden gem in Taipei, within the temple courtyard and a fantastic place to eat and remember the traditional way of live in Taipei.
Congee Total price - 260 TWD ($9.26)
Pork rib soup Total price - 170 TWD ($5.62)
Chicken roll Price - 70 TWD ($2.32)
Pork leg noodles Total price - 130 TWD ($4.30)
Thank you very much for watching this Taiwan street food tour!
🔔 Subscribe: Thank you for watching this street food tour, remember to Subscribe: youtube.com/@MarkWiens for more food and travel!King of FRIED RICE - He Cooks 45 Plates at a Time!! | Taiwanese Street Food!!Mark Wiens2023-04-04 | 🇹🇼 Ultimate Taiwan Street Food Tour: youtu.be/ScnAiHZRcL8 👕 T-shirts: store.migrationology.com 🌶 Ghost Chili Powder: amzn.to/3PNTvNQ (Amazon affiliate link)
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Welcome again to the island food paradise of Taiwan, and today we’re going on a Taiwanese street food tour but focusing on some of the intense wok fired dishes of Taiwan including the King of Fried Rice!!
1. Market Stir Fry 龍記炒燴: goo.gl/maps/G76f2NwgbZsLXrNg8 - First to begin this Taiwanese food tour we stopped off at a market across the street from Taiwan University. At lunch the market transforms into a massive food court with all things Taiwanese food you can imagine. But we headed to the back of the market to go to a famous stir fry stall where they make everything fresh to order. A few of their specialties are fried noodles and egg and beef in a sauce over rice. Food was delicious! Total price - 320 TWD ($10.57)
2. Oyster omelet (廣州街夜市香脆蚵仔煎): goo.gl/maps/uneE6Gk9LLE8FduY7 - Next up, another Taiwan street food classic - the oyster omelet. They fry it on a huge iron griddle feeding it lard as they go. One of the unique things about a Taiwanese oyster omelet is that they serve it with a big puddle of miso tomato sauce in the center. Additionally some of the highlights here are the plump poached oysters and the simple ginger soup. Total price - 520 TWD ($17.18)
3. Fried Rice Restaurant (後港一路蛋炒飯): goo.gl/maps/XroqUXBp722FQseS8 - But really, the absolute highlight was going to Taiwan’s king of fried rice. As soon as I arrived they started making a batch of 45 plates at a time on one griddle. We got to see the full process as they added in 45 eggs, a bag of shrimp, cabbage, sauce, and kilos of rice. It was an amusement park of fried rice - a mountain of fried rice. And the owners are extremely friendly! Total price - 180 TWD ($5.95)
This turned out to be an amazing Taiwan street food tour in Taipei. I loved the friendly owners and the delicious taste of the breath of the wok!