5 Top Asian Dishes And Best Places To Eat Them
I love traveling for food – I do not think that this is a major secret. Some of the food that I have encountered is so good that it may even warrant a trip by itself. I want to share some of the more iconic dishes that are worth traveling for and where you should try them. These are dishes that have made a lasting impression on me, and I am sure that they can do the same thing for you.
Chilli Crab, Singapore
If you are travelling to Singapore, it is impossible to ignore the most delicious and typical dish that you can find here. This is a seafood dish where stir-friend crab is coated with savoury, sweet, and spicy tomato based sauce. It is an iconic seafood dish from Singapore and well worth your time if you are in Singapore.
JUMBO Seafood Restaurant
You can find JUMBO Seafood Restaurant overlooking the splendid Singapore River, located near the riverside. You can experience some of the best chilli crab and get great views of Singapore’s old port. The chili crab here is a classic version that is slightly spicy, sweet, and thick. It is one of the least spicy versions I have come across, making this one of the best options for Western palates.
Mellben Seafood
One of the best versions of chilli crab is found here. The chilli sauce is slightly sweet, spicy, and thick. If you do not like too much spiciness, you can also ask for a less spicy plate.
Red House Seafood Restaurant
If you want a unique flavour of chilli sauce and super fresh crab, Red House Seafood is an ideal place. Instead of being savoury, the chili found here is sweet. The sauce really compliments the crabmeat. The ambiance here is airy, fresh, and comfortable. If you want to experience the ocean view and sea breeze, I recommend being seated outdoors.
Sushi, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is home to more than 5,000 sushi restaurants. If you want to put that into perspective, it only has around 260 Starbucks cafés and 500 McDonald's outlets. Narrowing down some of the top spots is not going to be easy, but it was certainly delicious.
Sushi Hirose
This is one of the handfuls of high-end sushi restaurants that keep tuna off its menu. This is not because it is somehow environmentally friendly, but because the chef prefers other types of fish. With more than 30something seafood options on offer (ranging from sea robin to sea bass, from octopus to flounder) there is something here for everyone.
Masuda
This restaurant has become tremendously popular thanks to the documentary “'Jiro Dreams of Sushi”, making it almost impossible to get a reservation here. There are many different appetizers here. The sushi rice has that distinctive vinegary-tasting appeal to it, setting it apart from many of the other options found throughout Tokyo.
Irifune
If you want to taste the best tuna that Tokyo has to offer, at a reasonable price, Irifune is undoubtedly the place to be. Even though the main chef is now in his 70s, he started the restaurant when he was only 27 years old. The restaurant does not close between lunch and dinner and it is open 365 days a year.
Pad Thai, Bangkok, Thailand
If you want to eat delicious Thai food, Thailand´s capital Bangkok is obviously the best place to do so. With so many street vendors and restaurants who sell Thai food, it can be difficult to find the right one.
Thip Samai Pad Thai
This is undoubtedly the most famous restaurant that you are going to find in Bangkok that offers Pad Thai. The portions are filling, the ingredients incredibly fresh, and the Pad Thai is cooked on charcoal at high heat, making the Pad Thai moist but not oily. You should expect a line here, and be more than willing to take whatever seat is available.
Pom Prap Sattru Phai
The only place in Bangkok that most people believe comes close to competing with Thip Samai, the line moves a lot faster than you might think, so do not become discouraged quickly. The egg-wrapped Pad Thai and fresh orange juice come highly recommended.
Pho, Hanoi, Vietnam
Where can you go in Hanoi to find the best pho? The saying goes, “if you ask ten people, you get nine different answers”. In order to get the definitive answer, I stuffed myself with pho (someone has to do it right?) but I think that these are some of the best instances of Vietnam’s best-known dish.
Pho Tu Lun
This is a traditional pho joint that became popular almost right after the Doi Moi reforms. The braised beef and bones give the pho a rich taste, despite a strong hint of fish sauce in the broth. The thin-sliced green onion and light scent of the noodles give the bowl a fragrant aroma.
Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan
Renowned for its clear broth and subtle flavours, the service here gets a bad reputation. You have to pay in advance to get your pho, and then stand in line. The broth is slightly sweet, light, and almost a classic version of Hanoi-style pho. A good place to eat, because of the lack of MSG and beef-sweetened broth.
Pho Ly Quoc Su
The brother here is tasty, clean, and clear – though some might find that it is a bit salty. The broth does however have the taste that you only get from beef bone braised for long hours. Another plus point is the beef, which is perfectly sliced and tender.
Dim Sum, Hong Kong
Dim Sum is not just a meal in Hong Kong, it is quintessentially Hong Kong – it is a lifestyle – it is a ritual. From the cheapest dim sum teahouses to the expensive dim sum restaurants, there are countless options for dim sum in Hong Kong. These are just a few of my favourites.
Dim Dim Sum
If you want creative and affordable dim sum, this is one of the better places to go. It does offer a number of interesting creations that are worth trying out.
Duddell’s
This is one of the best places that you are going to eat dim sum, which is represented in the fact that this eatery has two stars in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong 2015. It offers a refined version of the classic items. It offers an elegant ambiance with a really spectacular rooftop bar.
Fook Lam Moon
Is renowned for its haute Cantonese cuisine and has been awarded a Michelin Star. It is often visited by the rich and famous personalities in Hong Kong. The price tag is a hefty one, but you do get dim sum prepared with premium ingredients.
