Throughout the years I’ve been to many cities that didn’t follow my “travel-for-food” rules but have left me pleasantly surprised with the food that was on offer. After leaving, I felt that it was my duty to share my findings with as many people as possible to bring awareness to these “underrated” food cities. So here are my top five favorite food cities that took me by surprise:

1. Cusco, Peru

Many people think of Lima as the food capital of Peru, which it undoubtedly is, but the “Imperial City” is not to be missed. I spent about a week in Cusco exploring the city and the surrounding Sacred Valley, as everyone does, but I also ate some really tasty food. From the delicious local cuisine like Lomo saltado, a type of Peruvian stir-fry, to western foods like burgers, Cusco has quite a large variety of food. One of my favorite meals is also one of my all-time favorite burgers that I had at a place called Papacho’s. This establishment is owned by world-renowned chef Gaston Acurio and is his take on a gourmet burger. Some friends recommended this place to me and we were not disappointed in the slightest. Wander the streets of Cusco and you’ll find a number of establishments ranging from hole-in-the-wall to fine dining and you will savor every bite.

2. Liverpool, England

I took a trip to Liverpool because a friend of mine was living in the area and also because I wanted to go visit the home of The Beatles. I was surprised by how lively and fun the city was, not to mention how cheap it is compared to other English cities, but what left me even more surprised was its food culture. My friend explained to me that Liverpool had become quite a popular place for students, and bachelor parties, due to how cheap it was, and that had brought a lot of different people to the area. From the cluster of great restaurants on Bold Street, including the delicious Mowgli Street Food Indian Restaurant, to the delicious cafes that dot the downtown area, Liverpool has become a haven for foodies and music lovers alike.

3. Vienna, Austria

Vienna was one of those places that I decided to visit because there was a good deal on flights and I thought why not? I’d wanted to go because I had heard it was a really cute city that was filled with history and was home to two of my favorite classical composers, Mozart and Schubert. So I went to wander around and was very surprised to find delicious food around every corner. While everyone knows that Austrians are famous for their pastries, their cuisine is almost bypassed because of its similarities to German cuisine. Aside from the delicious Wiener schnitzel, I ate some delicious goulash, a great Korean fried chicken salad, and a fresh poke bowl, which was the last thing I expected in this traditional city. From breakfast to dinner and every snack in between, I enjoyed scrumptious food and the beautiful scenery of the city.

4. Galway, Ireland

When I went to Ireland, I already knew that Dublin was a food haven and so I was prepared for what the city had to offer. However, a friend of mine told me to head to Galway because Irish people thought it was the most beautiful county in Ireland, and I couldn’t say no to that. So I took a bus straight to this little city and did an entire day of sightseeing. While walking around, I noticed that there were a number of cafes and restaurants tucked behind alleys and side streets. There was The Dough Bros pizzeria that started out as a food truck and has evolved into one of Ireland’s favorite restaurants. Then there was The Chili Shack that served up finger-licking good burgers, wings, hot dogs and more American-style grub. And finally, there’s Ard Bia at Nimmos, one of Galway’s favorite establishments that serves incredible “world-inspired” fare. Definitely, don’t take this small town for granted; there’s a reason Ed Sheeran wrote a song about a girl from here!

5. Florianopolis, Brazil

People head to Brazil for the beautiful beaches and crazy parties, but it’s also a great place to eat. Florianopolis has all of the above plus the added bonus of delicious food, so it’s a great place to get everything in one place. From the upscale restaurants of downtown to the creative food truck parks that dot the island, there is something for everyone to enjoy and each with its own Brazilian twist. And I can’t forget to mention the incredible amount of seafood that surrounds the island and makes its way onto plates in a variety of ways. Since the people of the Azores Islands colonized this island, there is a huge Portuguese influence in a number of dishes. There’s a lot to uncover here and what better way to spend your vacation than on an island surrounded by good food?

Eating is one of the great joys in life and to be able to travel and enjoy cuisines from all over the world is really exciting. Food is a great insight into local culture and one of the best ways to meet people when you’re traveling. What are some of your favorite food cities that you’ve discovered while on your travels?

Suggested next reading: 5 Crazy & Delicious Foods I Tried While Traveling

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1. Kangaroo Steak – Kings Canyon, Australia

One of the first questions I always get asked when I say that I lived in Australia is if people eat kangaroo. While people abroad always believe it to be an exotic meat, it’s widely eaten in Australia and sold in a majority of grocery stores, due to the abundance of the animal. The rumor is, however, that if you overcook kangaroo it becomes virtually inedible. Therefore I was always skeptical to try the food, but when I went to the Outback I knew that I had to try it.

I was at the Kings Canyon resort where I was served a beautiful kangaroo steak with grilled vegetables and a sweet potato puree. I asked the chef what the key to making good kangaroo was and he told me that it had to be cooked medium-rare otherwise it would be too tough to consume. Needless to say, I ate “‘roo” (as the locals call it) on a fairly regular basis when I lived in Oz; it’s lean, cheap, and abundant.

2. Black burger – Bangkok, Thailand

The black burger trend was rampant in Asia when I visited in 2015; even KFC had its own version! While the first concern of black burgers is, “how can this black bun be healthy to consume?” The reality is that activated charcoal is added to the bread dough to give it that signature color, and is not harmful to humans in any way.

This black burger is from PaperButter Burger in Bangkok, Thailand and dubbed the “Chiang Mai Spicy Burger.” This incredible creation featured a spicy beef patty, cheddar, pulled pork, onion strings, and their PaperButter sauce. The most memorable thing about this burger was how flavorful it was, just how the Thai love to make their own food.

3. Filet mignon sushi – Florianopolis, Brazil

Brazil is home to the second largest Japanese population outside of Japan. That means that they are big on Japanese food, especially sushi. While most of the sushi in the country is similar to what you find in other countries, Dokyo Japan Food & Bar, on the island of Florianopolis, does things a bit differently.

I ordered the Dokyo platter that featured an amped up version of salmon and tuna nigiri along with some other varieties, such as tuna nigiri with a slice of foie gras. But one combination I will never forget is the “filé a cavalo”, a nigiri “sushi” with filet mignon, a fried quail egg, black truffles and fleur de sal. While this isn’t really “sushi” per se, it does show you the beauty that comes from two cultures melding together in a country.

4. Civet cat coffee – Indonesia

Coffee is essential in my house. I can’t even look at someone before I’ve had a cup. So when I went to Bali I was eager to try the famous “poop coffee.” This coffee is something I’ve heard about back home in the U.S. where it costs an exorbitant amount of money, which is why it’s dubbed “the most expensive cup of coffee in the world.” But in Bali, it’s quite common, though still more expensive than a regular cuppa.

The way this coffee is produced is by feeding the Asian palm civet coffee cherries and waiting until they have passed through its system, which causes them to become fermented. The cherries are then cleaned and roasted before going through the normal coffee-making process. The result is a coffee so flavorful you’ll never want to have the normal stuff again. Unfortunately, with prices being so high, it’s not something I can have every day but definitely something I would recommend to any coffee lover heading to Bali.

5. Waffle burger – Cafe 51, Melbourne, Australia

Anyone who’s met me knows that I am a burgerholic. In fact, when I lived in Australia I had my own burger blog and needless to say, it was one of the best years of my life. Melbourne is abundant with amazing, delicious foods but their burgers are next level and unforgettable. And the best burger I had there was this incredible creation from Burgerlove, formerly known as Cafe 51.

The amazing people at this establishment reinvented the burger and dubbed this beauty “Soul Sister.” The buns have been replaced with fluffy waffles that hold crispy fried chicken, bacon, American cheese, pickles, and a maple syrup, mustard, and chipotle sauce. Sweet and spicy never tasted so good together and it was everything I could have hoped for and more.

To read about a very special Spanish ham that costs $20 for a single ounce, click here!

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