The Best Cultural Foods from Around the World

Reflect over the many times you have travelled or gone on a holiday. You’ll discover that your food experience has had an influence on your travel experience. Many people choose their travel destinations based on food interests. The top foodie countries on the list that Alternative Airlines has collected below are examples of such destinations. These countries no doubt have the most delicious dishes on earth.

Which countries are known as some of the best countries in the world for food? Let's find out!
Note: This list isn’t a ranking but rather recommendations for delicious food destinations from around the world!

Mexico

If you could only eat the food of one country for the rest of your life, a good call would be to make it Mexican. Mexico is without a doubt a must-visit country if you’re looking for delicious tasting cuisines from a different culture. Tacos, hlados, enchiladas and quesadillas will all bring the heat of Thai food and the richness of an Indian curry; the zestiness of Greek salads and the traditional use-your-hands method whilst tasting some tapas. The origins of Mexican dishes come from Europe with some influence from Asian and African dishes, making it multi-cultural food.

Mexican food is nourishing, rich in antioxidants and has many nutritional benefits. This comes from the fresh avocado, beans, lime and tomatoes that are used, along with the flavours of garlic and chillies. Their food will not bore you; they have a little bit of everything.

Glossary for the newbies:
Chilli con carne – spicy meat stew, often with tomatoes and beans.
Tacos – wheat tortilla topped with a filling.
Quesadilla – a griddled tortilla wrap with avocado, meat, cheese, chilli peppers and beans.
Guacamole – avocado based dip.
Enchiladas – a type of Mexican lasagne with meat, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables
Empanadas – pastry stuffed with chicken, beef or cheese.

Take me to Mexico:

Food is at the heart of Mexico and wherever in Mexico that you choose to eat you’ll not be disappointed. Catch a connecting flight to any of these airports: Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Cancún International Airport (CUN) and Guadalajara International Airport (GDL). If you’re looking to fly domestically within Mexico, you should therefore check out our guide on domestic flights in Mexico. Airlines that fly to these cities include: American Airlines, Viva Aerobus, United Airlines, Delta Airlines and you also look to pay for your flights in Mexican peso (MXN).

India

India is at the top of the list of countries that have delicious, mouthwatering, and often spicy vegetarian foods. As part of their culture, between 20% and 40% of India’s population are vegetarian. Hinduism is one of the largest religions in India, and many Hindus choose not to eat meat. In fact, cows are believed to be sacred.

Indian food is often labelled as the best cuisine in the world, fusing a number of spices and forming rich curries with a delicious, spicy peppery taste. They’re a big fan of homemade white cheese called paneer and every dish always goes well with naan bread. Also we can’t forget the rice, it’s one of the fundamental products of Indian dishes. If you decide to experience food from a different culture, let it be India. You'll experience Indian cooks who are committed to flavour and have no rules for spice usage.

Glossary for the newbies:
Paneer Butter Masala – the most popular dish in India, you’ll find this everywhere. It’s made of tomato puree with cream cheese and traditional Indian spices and herbs.
Aloo Gobi – a side dish, made of potato and cauliflower.
Chai Masala (Spicy Tea) is a must-drink in India.

Top tip: Remember to drink only bottled water and to eat when you’ve seen the food is cooked in front of you.

Take me to India:

India’s main airports are Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad and Chhatrapati Shivaji International (BOM) in Mumbai. You can fly domestically to these cities in India with the following: Air India, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines. What's more is that Alternative Airline also allows you to pay for your flights in Indian Rupees (INR).

Italy

Whenever there is a discussion about countries being known for their food, Italy never fails to be on that list. Italian food has satisfied taste buds around the world for many centuries and is one of the most famous cuisines. Traditional colours of Italian cuisines, such as green, red and yellow, can guarantee a nice fusion of flavour and taste. Most Italian dishes are based on bread, tomato and olive oil. The secret to these cuisines is not in the preparation process but more in the freshness of the ingredients.

Popular Italian dishes include pizza, cheesy risottos, and pasta. It isn’t just the taste that will amaze you, but the design and texture of the final dish. Many people have welcomed these scrumptious dishes into their homes and Italian food has become a staple food around the world. Many restaurants in Italy offer a vegetarian and vegan platter to satisfy people’s dietary requirements.

Glossary for the newbies:
Pizza – Margherita, Speck e Mascarpone, Quattro Formaggi.
Pasta – Carbonara, Pesto, Cacio e pepe and Amatriciana.
Panna cotta - is a creamy dessert made of heaven, normally served with red-berry jam.

Take me to Italy:

These amazing dishes can be found throughout Italy, whether it’s in the capital city of Rome, or the cities of Venice or Milan. To get to Italy, you can fly to any of the following major airports including: Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino (FCO) in Rome, Milan Malpensa (MXP) in Milan and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) in Venice. Why not do this using domestic flights and fly with any of the following airlines: Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Swiss Airlines, American Airlines or United Airlines.

Spain

Spain has a large influence on some of the foodie countries that are listed on this article, with many flavours crossing over between countries. In Spanish culture, you will find that Spaniards cook their food with so much passion, the same amount that they boast when they're performing the Flamenco dance.

When visiting Spain you won't be disappointed by the delicious treats sold in the streets of country and or the high end restaurants. The Spanish restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca, was ranked the best in the world out of the 50 that were competing. Spanish food with its unique dishes definitely has a lot to offer for keen foodie travellers.

This is a country whose mouth-watering food culture we all wish was our own. From the cumin and saffron notes taken from the Moor and the succulent seafood from the Mediterranean Sea to the spoils of the Pyrenees, the Spanish culture is based around food.

Glossary for the newbies:
Paella – a Spanish risotto, usually made with seafood but for vegans an alternative would be paella de verduras.
Tapas – traditional Spanish snacks.
Jamon – a raw cured meat. Delicious and flavoursome.

Take me to Spain:

You can find foods like this throughout Spain, whether it’s Madrid, Barcelona or Seville. To get to Spain, you can fly to any of these airports: Seville Airport (SVQ), Valencia Airport (VLC) and Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). However, if you’d like to eat at the world renowned El Celler de Can Roca restaurant in Barcelona then you’ll need to fly to Barcelona International Airport (BCN). You can use any of the following airlines to fly to these airports: American Airlines, Alitalia, Air France, Turkish Airlines.

China

China is a country known for its food and culture, and you're bound to find plenty of diversity in both. You’ll be left in awe at some of the unique foods and flavours that China has to offer.

The country is known for their engineering and artistry in developing well sophisticated products. Likewise the same attitude is displayed in their cookery skills. China's regional dishes are so diverse it's hard to understand that they’re from the same nation. Chinese favourite dishes include rolls, noodles, tofu, dumplings and sweet and sour chicken.

Glossary for the newbies:
Tofu – a soybean curd which is often fried with spices.
Noodles – long strings made from rice wheat or buckwheat.
Chop suey – a stir-fried cuisine with meat or shrimps and vegetables which is usually served on top of rice.

Take me to China:

China’s main airports are Indira Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (GDL). You can fly to these cities domestically within China using any one of the following airlines: Hainan Airlines, China Southern, Air Canada, Delta Airlines. Alternative Airlines will also allow you to pay for your flights in Chinese Yuan (CNY).