41 Legitimately Life Changing Meals People Have Eaten Abroad, And I'm Planning My Next Trip Around Some

"In Florence, there's a small family-owned restaurant called Grotta Guelfa. You might think you know what good pizza and lasagna taste like, but you don’t unless you’ve eaten here. I'll never be able to forget the flavor."

—kavilkri

"Hands down, the best meal I've had was at Dishoom, an Indian restaurant in London. I will spend forever dreaming about the ruby chicken and black daal."

—terumarie

Toula's Taverna on the Greek island of Corfu is absolutely unreal. Order the prawns, which is the signature dish made with this amazing garlic sauce and served with spicy rice.

—yasminy3

This restaurant in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, has the best seafood dish I've ever had. It's called "Langostinos a la Papi," which is prawns in a curry sauce. I've never tasted anything else like it, and just thinking about it makes me hungry."

—alelia

"Wow. The roasted chicken with a mustard sauce, veggies, and crispy, buttery potatoes was the best meal I've had in my life. I would buy a plane ticket to France just to go back and eat it one more time."

—marybeth20

"Don't miss this place for absolutely delicious Malaysian food at a great price. You'll likely have to wait in line, but it’s well worth it."

—waffleheist

"There are locations in Asheville, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The menu options are so unique and insanely good. Oh, and they’re very cheap."

—ashleighk4ae63f9c3

"It's a local mom-and-pop cafe in Halifax. An old couple run the place by themselves, serving burgers and fries, fish and chips, and basic foods, but everything is made fresh and delicious and thrown right onto the grill."

—scottaaronm

"I've waited for a couple hours in line for their famous kebab, and it did not disappoint. There’s something addictive about the sauces they spread on that thing. I’ve thought about this meal every day since I returned from Europe, and it is arguably the thing I miss the most."

—christinegb

All the dim sum at the original Din Tai Fung location is amazing, but the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) was extraordinary.

—ErikaIsHere

"It's a hole-in-the-wall right next to the airport, but it's a secret spot that in-the-know locals will tell you about. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but I ate the most amazing mixed seafood burrito there. All of the salsas were to die for. We even ordered two more to bring with us on the plane. If you're ever in Puerto Vallarta, this is a must."

—emilyj48c7299a4

"At this lobster shack right outside the town of Bar Harbor, you choose your own lobster, and they steam it for you right there. Then you can choose from some extras like clams, corn, and local blueberry pie."

—fishstickandcustard

"It's lunch only, first come, first serve, and nothing more than a small countertop with stools. Once you're in, you can graze and enjoy your meal for as long as you'd like. They have the best crab salad ever."

—linal

"It's the best fried chicken on the West Coast. You’ll stand in line for about 45 minutes, but after one bite you'll realize the wait was worthwhile."

—Dbanks

"The line for this pintxos restaurant can be ridiculous, especially if you’re waiting to get a table. But if you manage to slide in at the bar, the food is amazing. The food is very traditional Basque food like foie gras, beef cheeks, and razor clams, and it was absolutely amazing. Make sure to pair it with a glass of Txakolina, the region's traditional white wine."

—gretcheno3

"It was the most expensive meal I’ve ever eaten, but it was worth every penny."

—phyllisg43a2d4a0c

"The first time I visited New Orleans, I ate at Palace Cafe, and honestly, I've been trying to chase that high ever since. NOLA is such an amazing food city, and I've eaten so many delicious things, but the duck at Palace is a tough meal to meat.

—Kristin_Stahlman

"You might not expect to find amazing Italian food in Hong Kong, but it's such a metropolitan city that they have amazing food from all over the world. At Pici, I had the ravioli carbonara. It was small and extremely expensive, but it was amazing and so worth it. If it hadn’t been so pricey, I would have ordered seconds. I think about that meal often."

—linzmc

"In Honolulu, I had the most amazing vegan sushi at Tane Vegan Izakaya. It was truly life changing. The pumpkin tempura roll and the spicy beet roll made me actually like 'sushi.'"

—samanthah4f494c452

"We waited for over an hour in a snowstorm for this famous poutine, but it was definitely worth it."

—alara

"This place really has the best sushi I’ve ever eaten. You can order off the menu, or you can just sit at the bar and let the sushi chefs pick for you. The fish is always so fresh, the rice is always perfectly cooked, the staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is very welcoming."

—maddyraynec

"The line always extends down the street, and I'll admit I’ve waited longer than an hour just to get a panini, but it’s so worth it. They make the panini right in front of you, and you can build your own or choose one from the menu. I still dream about the Summer Panini."

—allisonf4e7c7633f

"We waited for about an hour in 90-degree weather, but the sweet tea, chicken, and peach cobbler made it all worth it."

—carlaw452e7c52c

"I accidentally found Le Pastis for dinner, and it was my first time ever eating out by myself. I was nervous, but I had the best meal of gnocchi in a truffle cream sauce. It was divine."

—madeleinehr

"While traveling the Ring of Kerry in Ireland, our Airbnb hosts recommended we try O’Neill’s The Point Seafood Bar for "the best seafood in Ireland." Everything about the experience was wonderful, from the welcoming staff and the beautiful location to the delicious food. I had a seafood plate, which is a combination of fresh seafood like battered cod, smoked salmon, and more. It was simply amazing."

—jennifermarino04

"The Korean pork shoulder sandwich from Lardo in Portland, Oregon, is hands down one of the best ever things I’ve eaten. I still think about that sandwich often and would fly back just to eat it."

—gabbyc4058388a6

"Souvlaki made by the legendary Kostas was quite possibly the most delicious combination of pork, pitta, and potato fries I have ever had. The line for his small shop was a testament to how popular (and delicious) this meal was. It was Authentic Greek cuisine at its finest!"

—ameliak49b5af085

"Ramen in Tokyo is great, but tsukemen, slightly thicker and firmer noodles that are dipping into a side of broth, is really where it’s at. There’s a place called Tsukemen Gonokami Seisakujo in Shibuya that serves tsukemen with a shrimp and pork broth, and it's out of this world."

u/iyambred

"Oh my goodness, the best meal of my life was in Panama City at a tiny spot called Peach Fuzz International. It’s outside of the city center in a neighborhood most tourists avoid. The red snapper is why fish was invented, I’m pretty sure. It’s fried, flavorful, and comes with sauces I could pretty much eat by the gallon. The fish is served with patacones, which are twice-fried smashed plantains. If I could teleport myself, I’d eat there daily."

—Astrea Somarriba