Food & Cuisine in Asia

The undisputed street-food capital of the world, where charcoal grills, noodle carts and curry stalls line every soi from dawn to the small hours. Feast on rich boat noodles, fiery som tam, grilled river prawns and mango sticky rice, then dig into Chinatown’s late-night seafood. Eat early and often.

The city with more Michelin stars than any other on Earth pairs hushed sushi counters and single-minded ramen specialists with dazzling department-store food halls. From a dawn tuna breakfast to izakaya crawls and masters who perfect one dish for decades, it rewards the obsessive eater. Reserve the tiny top counters.

This Malaysian island is regularly crowned Asia’s finest street-food destination, a delicious collision of Malay, Chinese and Indian cooking honed over centuries. Bustling hawker centres serve tangy assam laksa, smoky char kway teow and prawn-rich Hokkien mee. Grazing around George Town does it justice; don’t miss the evening scene at Gurney Drive.

Vietnam’s atmospheric capital is the spiritual home of pho, ladled steaming from dawn to locals on tiny plastic stools across the Old Quarter. Sizzling bun cha, fresh spring rolls and the ritual of egg coffee reward anyone willing to squat curbside. A street-food tour uncovers dishes you’d never find alone.

A high-octane food city where humble cha chaan teng diners, roast-meat shops and clattering dim sum trolleys jostle with some of Asia’s best fine dining. Steaming har gow, glistening roast goose and springy wonton noodles make every meal an event. A dim sum brunch at a bustling teahouse is essential.

The capital of Sichuan and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, famed for the tongue-tingling, lip-numbing heat of its signature peppercorns. Bubbling communal hotpots, silky mapo tofu and dan dan noodles make it a pilgrimage for lovers of bold, spicy food. Sharing a fiery hotpot with a crowd is quintessential Chengdu.

Japan’s self-styled kitchen lives to eat, its neon-lit lanes crammed with stalls and the local philosophy of kuidaore, eating yourself into ruin. It is the home of takoyaki, savoury okonomiyaki griddled at your table and skewered kushikatsu. The canal-side Dotonbori district is the beating heart; graze the streets in the evening.

Korea’s dynamic capital fires up sizzling tabletop barbecue grills, bubbling stews and generous mountains of banchan at every turn. Night markets serve chewy tteokbokki, while crispy fried chicken with cold beer, or chimaek, is a national obsession. Grilling your own marbled pork at a smoky joint is the quintessential Seoul meal.

This food-obsessed city-state channels its Chinese, Malay and Indian heritage into legendary open-air hawker centres, a few even earning Michelin stars. Fragrant Hainanese chicken rice, saucy chilli crab and coconut-rich laksa sit side by side, making a hawker crawl the essential, affordable experience. Head to Maxwell or Old Airport Road off-peak.

Southern Vietnam’s frenetic hub is a boisterous street-food playground, from crackly banh mi to fragrant, spicy bun bo Hue. Broken rice piled with grilled pork, handfuls of herbs and sweet iced coffee fuel a city that eats around the clock. A scooter-borne food tour reaches the best hidden stalls after dark.

The Malaysian capital blends the country’s Malay, Chinese and Indian food cultures into a round-the-clock feast. Hunt down coconut-rich nasi lemak for breakfast, banana-leaf curries in Little India and flaky roti canai, then join the crowds at sprawling night markets. Late-night mamak stalls are a beloved institution.

Taiwan’s capital is a night-market wonderland, its lantern-lit lanes packed with stalls dishing out rich beef noodle soup, oyster omelettes and pillowy gua bao. From soup dumplings folded to order to the pungent temptation of stinky tofu, few cities pack in such variety. Graze Shilin or Raohe; come hungry.

Northern Thailand’s laid-back cultural capital serves a milder, herbaceous cuisine quite distinct from the fiery food of Bangkok. Its signature dish is khao soi, a rich coconut-curry noodle soup, alongside sai ua sausage and pungent sticky-rice dips. The nightly bazaars come alive with stalls; cooking classes are hugely popular.

India’s sprawling capital is a paradise of Mughlai and North Indian cooking, from creamy butter chicken and smoky kebabs to flaky parathas. The tangled lanes of Old Delhi around Chandni Chowk hide legendary sweet shops and chaat stalls that have fed the city for generations. A guided food walk navigates the chaos.

India’s fast-paced financial capital eats on the run, its streets alive with vada pav, buttery pav bhaji and tangy bhelpuri. The seaside snack stalls of Chowpatty, the astonishing dabbawala tiffin network and superb Koli seafood make it thrilling. Beachside chaat at sunset is a quintessential ritual.

The holy Sikh city in Punjab is famous for hearty, unabashedly buttery North Indian food and for the enormous free community kitchen at the Golden Temple. Rich Amritsari kulcha, crisp fried fish and lassi so thick it needs a spoon make it a bucket-list stop. The langar feeds tens of thousands daily.

A former tin-mining town in Malaysia that punches far above its weight for food, celebrated above all for its silky-smooth white coffee. Bean sprout chicken, springy hor fun noodles and old-school kopitiam breakfasts draw eaters on day trips from KL and Penang. The century-old heritage coffee shops are institutions.

The lively gateway to Japan’s Kyushu island is famous for its rich, milky tonkotsu ramen and the open-air yatai food stalls that line the riverbanks each night. Pull up a stool for hakata ramen, grilled skewers and spicy mentaiko. A steamy riverside yatai, elbow to elbow with locals, is quintessential.

The eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road serves a hearty, wheat-based cuisine shaped over centuries by its Muslim Hui community. The aromatic Muslim Quarter is famous for hand-pulled biang biang noodles, cumin-spiced lamb skewers and roujiamo, the original Chinese hamburger. Graze the lamplit food streets after dark.

A historic Straits trading port whose blended Peranakan, Portuguese and Chinese heritage has produced a uniquely delicious, colourful cuisine. Fragrant Nyonya laksa, chicken-rice balls and the shaved-ice cendol draw food lovers along lantern-lit lanes and famous Jonker Street. The weekend Jonker Street night market is the highlight; come at the weekend.