Balut is a fertilised duck egg regularly eaten as a snack in the Philippines and other countries across Southeast Asia. Here, we unpick the history and the cultural importance of this controversial delicacy.
We always talk about the food but what about the drinks in Indonesia? This sprawling country is home to some mouth-watering beverages that you’ll want to try on your next trip!
Fish amok is commonly said to be Cambodia’s national dish. This creamy curry dish can be made with a variety of ingredients, however, fish is the most common. Check out this post to learn more about one of Cambodia’s most popular dishes!
Singaporean food might not be Asia’s most well known cuisine but it is some of the best! A melting pot of cultures contributes to an exciting cuisine, making Singapore a destination that foodies will love. Here are some of the best dishes for those on a budget!
Indonesian food may not be the most famous of all Southeast Asia’s cuisines but it is surely one of the best. Add these must-try dishes to your list!
As the world’s second-largest coffee producer, Vietnam is a country that knows a bit about coffee. The drip coffee method has become famous world over and is directly responsible for some of Asia’s best caffeinated drinks, including egg coffee! This article covers everything you need to know about the history of coffee culture in Vietnam.
If you’re heading to Southeast Asia as a vegan, you may be a little concerned. There is no need to worry though! Southeast Asia is one of the most vegan-friendly regions in the world.
If you’ve been to Thailand, you’ll know that the Thai beer market is dominated by three big names: Singha, Chang …
Asia is home to some of the strangest foods in the world and it’s likely you’ll end up trying some! Check out this list of the good, the bad and the downright ugly!
Thai chili is a staple of the cuisine and really packs a punch! There are as many as 79 different types of Thai pepper and all bring a different taste element to a dish.
Cendol is a sweet iced dessert which you must try if you are travelling Southeast Asia. Widely available in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, this famous dish has a long and fascinating history!
Cambodian or Khmer cuisine might be lesser known than that of its neighbours but there are still plenty of incredible dishes to try. Which are your favourites?
Bia Hoi is a popular Vietnamese beer for locals and backpackers alike. More than just a drink, Bia Hoi junctions represent a cultural institution.
Banh Mi is one of Vietnam’s best loved street foods. This iconic sandwich is packed with fresh ingredients and has a fascinating history.
Are you looking for something to satsify your sweet tooth whilst travelling in Asia? Check out this list of the best desserts from all over the continent!
Asian street food equals foodie heaven! Here are a list the best dishes from across the continent, as well as advice about where to find the best eats.
These Filipino snacks will keep your belly from grumbling on those jeepney journeys. Most of them are delicious but there are some choices for only the bravest of travellers!
From Thailand’s notorious ‘Bucket’ to Malaysia’s beloved ‘Teh Tarik’ we pick the best beverages in Asia. Healthy and refreshing or devilishly alcoholic and mind-blowing! Here are the TOP 22 must try thirst quenchers! How many tipples have you tried?
A cooking class in Luang Prabang is the perfect introduction to Laotian cusine. Make sure you go with an empty stomach, this is an experience that you will need the extra room for!
Are you a foodie looking for a new adventure in Singapore? Consider a small group tour with the Hello Singapore tour company, where you can experience the diverse cuisine under the guidance of a local!
On the hunt for the taste of traditional Malaysia, writers Ellie and Will join A Chef’s Tour – a foodies dream journey through the old markets of Kuala Lumpur. Find out what local delights made their mouths water and most importantly, what they thought about Durian!
23 Must-Try Vietnamese Street Food Dishes to look out for during your adventures in the country! From the famous Bahn Mi and Pho Bo, to the not-so-famous “Bánh Tráng Nuog” AKA Vietnamese pizza!
One of the Best Things About Travelling is Trying a Variety of Weird Fruits! Discover the Tastiest, Smelliest, Biggest, Healthiest & Most Disgusting Here!
A Hanoi street food tour is a must-do experience in Vietnam’s crazy capital, especially if you’re only in the city for a few days! A food tour is a fantastic way to sample a variety of Vietnamese street food delights, meet new travel buddies and discover more about Vietnamese culture and traditions along the way.
Clash, clang and serve! The first time I ordered a meal in Sri Lanka, I nearly fell out of my …
If you’re looking to experience Ubud beyond the Monkey Forest, this self-guided food walking tour takes you off the beaten path into serene rice fields with quaint cafes and tasty treats dotted all along the way!
In most countries, the strains of music you hear wafting through the streets mean ice cream is approaching. In Sri Lanka, however, the drifting tunes of Beethoven’s Für Elise signify the coming of one thing: the choon paan man.
Watch our video filmed at a night market in Mae Sot to learn a few Thai phrases to use when ordering food. Earn smiles from the locals and maybe a bit of discount on your purchases too! From how to ask for your meal not spicy, without MSG, or tell the waiter you’re vegetarian, to how to order a beer, with or without ice, or your fruit shake without sugar – these useful Thai phrases will help you kin dee (eat well) in Thailand!
Do you travel to eat and drink? For me, one of the most exciting things about travelling to a new country is to sample a brand new cuisine! Hanoi’s street food scene is famous worldwide, but did you know about the city’s craft beer scene? These two tours are a great way to explore the capital through your stomach!
Today, Pad Thai is a popular street food dish in many parts of the country and it’s on every menu in Thai restaurants that cater to farangs (foreigners). Popular as it is, how many of you actually know the fascinating history behind the dish?
Myanmar is not often thought of as the culinary capital of South East Asia. Yet, visitors to this fascinating country, formerly known as Burma, will not only discover authentic culture and picture perfect landscapes, but delicious food too! Backpackers will fall in love with the country and the generous and kind people who cook up some of the most amazing dishes that you have ever tasted…
What the hell is going on in Chiang Mai, Thailand? The sheer number of coffee shops in Chiang Mai is enough to overwhelm even a seasoned coffee enthusiast like myself. I thought I’d seen everything, but this took the cake! It’s easy to see why this place is referred to as the Coffee Capital of Southeast Asia…
Every year, the beautiful northern capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai, plays host to a unique event called The Fruit Winter. A festival that’s the brainchild of US life coach and therapist, Conor McMillen, that inspires people to eat raw fruit and vegetables and practise healthy living. Traveller, Martin Higgins explains his own experience and why his body and mind thank him for keeping up his annual habit of wintering in Chiang Mai…
Traveller Amelia Long spends a day with the Morning Glory Cooking School in Hoi An, Vietnam. Buying fresh produce from the Central Market and taking unusual ingredients back to the kitchen to cook up some tongue-tantalising dishes, she unravels the secrets of Vietnam’s unique cuisine…
Originally from Australia, the sister-duo (aged 25 and 22), opened their fabulously popular Sister Srey Café on the riverside, near the Old Market of Siem Reap, Cambodia, in 2012. The cosy two-floor venue quickly turned into one of the most popular hang-outs in town. Best of all, though is the vision that sparked off their savvy venture – to support young Cambodian students. Is it possible to eat for a better cause? We were lucky enough to catch up with Lauren, who willingly spilled the beans (pun intended!) on how it began…
Helping students learn English. Helping families gain financial independence. HIV and contraception awareness. Promoting the use of local organic vegetables. You’ve gotta eat, so why not make sure that your money is going back into the pockets of the local community. We’ve found 10 fabulous restaurants to try in South East Asia that support more than just your stomach!
A lesson in chopstick history and etiquette for all fumbling foreigners. From Confucius to Bill Bryson, we explore the oldest, longest and unluckiest pair of chopsticks! If you’re concerned that you might starve rather than master the skill of the chopsticks, don’t fear, we’re here to help with all the chopstick dos and don’ts!
It doesn’t matter which country you are travelling in South East Asia, it’d be rude not to sample the local ale and national curry. We’ve put together a beer and curry matchmaking guide for backpackers. ‘Cos let’s face it, you drink enough of the stuff!
Joma Bakery is leading the way in Fair Trade, organic coffee in Laos and Vietnam. Working with the Jhai Coffee Farmers Co-operative (JCFC) to cultivate the unique ‘arabica’ coffee bean, Joma is able to serve coffee that is delicious, ethical and environmentally conscious. The local ethnic groups who work in the Bolaven Plateau coffee growing area are ensured a fair sale price and the plants are grown in an eco-friendly way. Learn more about where coffee comes from in Laos and why it is important to be aware of where your food and drink comes from!
As the World’s largest exporter of rice, Thailand’s country and culture revolves around this tiny pearly grain. Paddy fields dominate over half of all the arable land area and consume over 50% of the country’s labour force. Rice can also be found throughout the Thai menu, in all it’s forms and varieties. The most common type of rice grown in Thailand is Jasmine rice, known locally as ‘Hom Mali’ and it is in a paddy field full of the crop that my story begins! 20-year old student Laura Davies, on a three-month internship with S.E.A Backpacker Magazine, spends the day in a rice field learning about Asia’s most important grain…
It’s a backpacker rite of passage. After a couple of beers someone in your group suggests that you go and eat some grub. Literally! In carts up and down the Khao San Road in Bangkok and elsewhere in the city, you’ll see insects for sale as a tasty snack. There are crickets, silk worms, grasshoppers, beetles, cockroaches, and last but not least scorpions!
Big ones, fat ones, curly ones, straight ones. Noodles are a national treasure in Thailand and there are enough different types of noodle, ways of preparing them and dressing them, that you could probably eat a different kind every day for the entire year. So how do you eat yours?
For backpackers in Asia, rice forms part of a cheap meal, but to the people of Asia, especially for the very poorest, rice is not just a food. Rice equals life. In fact, nearly 7 out of 10 people, or two thirds of the world’s population depend on it for sustenance…