10 Foods You Must Try Travelling Through Asia

1. Laksa – Chinese and Malaysian

The perfect laksa balances sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours to create a rich, and often spicy, noodle soup with chicken, prawns or fish, sautéed in coconut milk. It’s distinct and addictive flavour comes from the laksa leaf combined with chili paste and coriander.

2. Bao – China

Bao is a steamed, bread bun that’s filled with a limitless variety of fillings. You’ll find them on the streets for a delicious, on-the-go lunch or try a more gourmet variation at an upscale restaurant.

3. Pad Thai - Thailand

Yes, it’s stereotypical but until you’ve tasted a locally-made Pad Thai from a street stall in Thailand, you can’t say you’ve truly experienced Asia.

4. Tom Yum – Thailand

You’ll find variations of this popular Thai soup throughout South-East Asia. Made from a herbed clear, sour and spicy broth, not only is it delicious, it’s also healthy.

5. Pho - Vietnam

This Vietnamese soup makes an incredibly cheap and authentic meal for any time of the day or night. With rice noodles and chicken or beef, it’s garnished with basil or mint, chili and lime.

6. Amok – Cambodia

Amok is at the centre stage of Cambodian cooking. It’s a creamy coconut curry that’s made by cooking fish or chicken in banana leaves for maximum flavour.

7. Nasi Goreng – Indonesia

Another flavour-packed dish you’ll find all over the country, Nasi Goreng means fried rice. Try it at an authentic local restaurant for the best sweet, salty and spiced fried rice you’ll ever taste, tipped with a fried egg.

8. Chicken Tikka Masala – Malaysia

What makes Malaysian cuisine so unique is it’s blend of Chinese, Indian and Malay influence. You don’t need to go to India to enjoy this authentic disk of baked chicken in a creamy and spicy tomato and coriander sauce that’s often served with flat bread.

9. Larb – Laos

I thought minced meat could only be so good until I tasted larb. You’ll find it made from chicken, beef, pork, duck or mushrooms, intensely flavoured with lime and fish sauce, served over rice.

10. Papaya Salad – Laos

Who would have thought that a salad made from shredded, unripe papaya could be so moorish? This Laotian dish is a must try whether you like it hot, sweet or sour.

Start planning your culinary adventure through Asia, by getting your hands on an Asian Travel Journal. Plot must-taste destinations on the included map and create your own list of foods to try. It’s also the perfect place to make notes of dishes that inspired to try back home.

10% from all sales of our Asian Travel Diary are also donated to the Little Fireface Project to help save the critically endangered and super cute, slow loris.