5 Best Food Stops in Southeast Asia

Some people travel for the sole purpose of experiencing food over a destination’s history and activities.

It is wanderlust for them to be able to taste the unique and different kinds of food and delicacies that a certain culture or nation have in their place.

Cultural and historical tours are still a thing but for the food lover, they might be booking flights or go on driving nights just to experience the food elsewhere.

Who can blame them for wanting to explore unique cuisines? Street foods and authentic cuisines are definitely a winner as we look at the six best food stops in Southeast Asia.

1.      Binondo, Manila

The Philippines may have one of the best authentic Chinese flavors in Southeast Asia.

This is due to the fact that the country is heavily populated by the Chinese, who also play a huge role in the country’s economy.

The Manila Chinatown in the area of Binondo is definitely a must-visit if you are in the country’s capital. Most foreigners love to stop by this small town that hosts the biggest Chinese community in the country.

One of the best restaurants in Binondo is La Zhou La Mien, which serves a variety of noodles that will leave you full for an entire day of walking along Binondo’s busy streets.

Dong Bei Dumplings is a gem when it comes to dumplings. It is located at one of Binondo’s lesser busy streets but it is one of the more visited ones due to their Kuchai and Vegetarian Dumplings.

Some restaurants in the area have shared family recipes that have been passed down upon generations, and can only be found in this side of Manila.

Budget is not an issue because whatever money you have allotted for food is most likely more than enough to fill you up for a whole day of touring.

2.      George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia has a rich food scene due in part to the city’s cultural diversity.

George Town alone is a living example of Penang’s long history immigration, which brought an influx of recipe ideas from its Chinese, Indian, and European inhabitants.

Due to its diversity, Penang has one of the best Asian cuisine in the world. Their best seller is the Penang Laksa, which is made of a soup base of seafood broth, tamarind, and chili.

These treats of the street give high end restaurants a run for their money so don’t let the simple presentations fool you.

3.      Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Bangkok may be filled with murky waters but it is at the Khlong Lat Floating market that fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables are best bought.

Street foods are one of the main reasons people visit this part of Thailand’s capital. Docks are filled with local cheap eats which are definitely worth it when it comes to price-serving ratio.

The Tom Yum, which is a. mix of seafood stock, lime, and chili peppers. Food stalls started to lessen the level of spiciness recently in order to cater to tourists.

4.      Hawker Centers

The government of Singapore probably did all tourists a favor when they herded its street food vendors in to hawker centers.

Tourists will no longer have a hard time finding the best places to eat in Singapore, as all they have to do is go to one place and find everything when it comes to street food.

Singapore’s laws on cleanliness has influenced the hawker centers as street food are meticulously prepared under sanitary conditions. This makes the food presentable for social media posting.

A popular choice for tourists and locals alike are the Haianese Chicken Rice and the Chili Crab. 

Aside from that, there are various flavors from various cultures to choose from as Singapore is as culturally diverse as its southeast Asian neighbors.

5.      Saigon

Hanoi may be the economic capital of Vietnam but Saigon should be called the food capital. The streets of Saigon are dominated by motorcycle-riding commuters and food stalls on every corner.

Phở is the most popular dish in Vietnam and there is no better place to enjoy a bowl than in Saigon. This delicious soup is best eaten when garnished with chili peppers, Thai basil, and lime.

If you are on the go, you must grab a bánh mì and enjoy it while you walk the busy streets of Saigon. Bánh mì is a sandwich originating in Saigon where a slice of baguette is filled with a fusion of meat and vegetables.

Also try to grab a cup of Vietnamese Iced Coffee while you’re at it. Adding condensed milk makes it both creamy and refreshing.

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