Top 15 food cities in India and the world

Burgers from Original Patty Men Birmingham, UK.

Good food and travel is a heavenly pair. So, when you find yourself in a city that has both exciting attractions and appetizing food, you know you're in for a treat – whether that's to a city with a long food history or to a more recent culinary hotspot, there are now several food meccas on the planet worth going to.

From the birthplace of pho to the cities with the most Michelin-starred restaurants, these are the best places to visit with an appetite:

Bangkok, Thailand 

You haven't eaten until you've eaten street food in Bangkok!  Spicy, sweet, salty and sour - the flavours and aromas here are hard to resist, even for the finicky traveller. And there’s food everywhere, from the streets to hawker centers, floating markets and stellar restaurants, at all price points.

Some iconic dishes to try: the best Pad Thai at Thip Sa Mai, slurpy Tom Yum Mama Noodles at Jeh O Chula, Tom Yum pork noodles at Rung Rueang, braised pork trotter (Khao Kha Moo) at Charoen Saeng and Thai crab omelet (Kai Jeaw Poo) at Jay Fai.

If you are comfortable with eating pork innards, then the peppery noodle soup, also known as Kuay Chap, is a must-try here. Just bring an empty stomach and an open mind.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Food is an integral part of life in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. Apart from being fresh, light and gluten- and dairy-free, Vietnamese street food is also among the most delicious, thanks to the liberal use of herbs, lime juice and chili.

Phở may be the signature dish in Hanoi, where the iconic noodle soup was invented, but don’t stop at that. Dishes like Bún Chả - grilled pork patties with rice vermicelli, Phở Cuốn – rice rolls stuffed with grilled meat, and Chả Cá – turmeric fish with an assortment of local ingredients are equally popular. Wash it all down with Egg Coffee – a sweet yolky beverage that doubles as dessert.

Tel Aviv, Israel

With over 4,000 restaurants, this culinary capital has it all: fine dining to street food, Middle Eastern to Asian fusion, and beyond.

Seek out Abu Hassan for hummus; HaKosem for falafel; Sabich Tchernichovsky for sabich (pita bread stuffed with fried eggplant, hard-boiled eggs, hummus and tahini); Levinsky Burekas for burekas (a salty pastry made of thin, flaky dough filled with cheese); and Zalmaniko for mouth-watering kebabs. Israelis are huge fans of Asian cuisines, and Tel Aviv claims the third-most sushi restaurants in the world per capita.

(Photo by Mor Shani via Unsplash)

Delhi, India

Besides all the lush green parks, wide roads and beautiful monuments, Delhi is also a foodie's paradise. From street food to world-famous dal makhani, best butter chicken or everyone's favourite chole bhature, Delhi is brimming with variety and ingredients from all over.

Start with a walk through the narrow streets of Old Delhi to get to Karim’s for their celebrated mutton bara and brain curry. Majnu Ka Tilla area is home to some excellent momos, shabaley (savory stuffed pastries) and tingmo (yeasty bread shaped like a mountain and eaten with tea or stewed meats).

Nihari served with freshly made khameeri roti (light, dry flatbread) at Noora Nihari, malai tikka rolls and mutton seekh kebabs at Rajinder Da Dhaba, dahi bhalla (fried lentil balls in yogurt) and aloo tikki (potato cutlets topped with yogurt and tamarind and mint chutneys) at iconic chaat shop Natraj should top your foodie list.

Save the best - Daulat ki Chaat, a creamy souffle topped with dry fruits in Chandni Chowk - for the finale.

Rome, Italy

From pizza, pasta to ravioli… the food of Rome has travelled the world to some of the most famed restaurants and homes. Why not go to the source? Not sure where to begin your culinary adventure? The picturesque streets of Trastevere, or the hip neighborhood of Monti is a great place to start. And whatever you do, make sure to try some Roman street food classics like deep fried suppli (rice balls), carciofo alla giudia (fried artichoke), or trapizzino, a pizza-pita hybrid stuffed with your favorite ingredients. The pizzas at Dar Poeta and Antico Forno Roscioli are some of the best. Pasta? That would be SantoPalato.

Kyoto, Japan

Japan’s former capital offers everything from high-end kaiseki cuisine to ramen, tempura and trendy cocktail bars. Start with a stroll through Nishiki Market, a lively market nicknamed "Kyoto's Kitchen" where you can sample anything from octopus on a stick, to uni straight out of the shell. Then head to Matsuba in the Gion area for Nishin Soba and Chidoritei for the best saba sushi. Hataka Nagahama Miyoshi (Kiyamachi) is where the locals go for exceptional ramen. There are also amazing tempura bars, where everything from prawns, to sweet potato are delicately fried to crispy perfection; and yakitori counters where chefs cook chicken over a charcoal fire.

Copenhagen, Denmark

So what if you couldn’t snag a table at Noma, there is no dearth of impressive restaurants in this city. And it’s not just Scandinavian food, remember that Copenhagen is a mecca for international cuisine. There's Neopolitan-style pizzas at Bæst, outrageously good tacos at Hija de Sanchez, French fare at Bistro Boheme, and Japanese gastropub bites at Kōnā. There’s a thriving cafe culture in Copenhagen. So reserve copious amount of time nursing cups of wonderful coffee, a Danish, or the city's signature open-faced sandwich, Smorrebrod. And if you are looking for gourmet food then head to Torvehallerne, Copenhagen's famous food market.

Indore, India

Famous as the cleanest city in India, Indore is also a foodie’s paradise in every way. The city’s dining scene is largely vegetarian with the odd exception.

Sarafa Bazaar (a jewellery market by day, it transforms into a vibrant food market that stays open well after midnight) and Chappan Dukaan (a dedicated food zone with a contemporary vibe) are the two major hubs of the city. Hot poha topped with crunchy sev, finely chopped onions with a sprinkling of Indore's signature Jeeravan masala (haul back packets of this spice mix) should be top of your list followed by garadu, a winter delicacy of fried yam (garadu) tossed in masala and bhutte Ka Kees (mashed corn simmered in milk and spices). Cool off with some shikanji at Madhuram Sweets.

Amritsar, India

Known for the iconic Golden Temple, Wagah Border and Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar is also home to the softest kulchas, soul-pleasingly jalebis and the juiciest tandoori fish. This city truly celebrates its food.

Don’t miss the tandoori chicken with some butter-dripping naan at Beera Chicken House, channa and lachcha paranthas at Kesar Da Dhaba, delicious kulchas at Kulcha Land, Kharode ka Shorba, or lamb trotter soup at Pal Da Dhaba and Amritsari fish fry at Makhan Fish and Chicken Corner. Reserve enough space for the creamiest lassi at Ahuja Lassi.

Lucknow, India 

Although Lucknow is equally renowned for its architectural heritage, most people who travel to the city set time aside for the local foods. From kachoris at Vajpayee and chai-samosa at Sharma to choley-bhature at Shree Lassi and tokri chaat at Royal Cafe, the city offers a wide array of dishes for food lovers. But it's the Awadhi delicacies that are the real deal here. Start with one of the signature dishes of the city of nawabs – galawati kabab at the iconic Tunday Kababi, then graduate to the exquisite Nihari Kulcha at Raheem Hotel and finally, mutton biryani at Idris Hotel. And while in Lucknow forego the regular roti for sheermal. The malai paan is the perfect sweet finale to a Lucknowi feast.

Birmingham, UK  

This cool and contemporary city has an extensive network of restaurants that range from haute cuisine to sensational street food and an inordinate number of Michelin stars. But first start with a few perfectly balanced cocktails under sparkling chandeliers at Madeleine, The Grand Hotel on Colmore Row. Then head for a proper Brum burger at Original Patty Men. Those looking to posh it up, should reserve a table at Purnell’s for Brummie-style tapas. Anglicized curry at Birmingham’s famous Balti Square and a booming coffee scene will keep you engaged throughout your stay.

Burger at Original Patty Men, Birmingham

Singapore

It's no great secret that Singapore is a food-obsessive's paradise. You can find food gems in just about any neighbourhood here, and there’s an eatery for every type of traveller and budget. The ubiquitous hawker centres are where you are likely to encounter the uniquely Singaporean fusion dish fish head curry, chicken rice, char kway teow, bak chor mee, and more delicious yet affordable fare. Don’t skim on the kaya toast - a quintessentially Singapore experience of toasted bread slathered with kaya (a thick jam made with coconut, sugar, and egg) with a cup of kopi (local slang for coffee). Before you leave, put on your bibs and crack open some black pepper or chili crabs.

Paris, France

Paris might be nicknamed the city of love, but it could easily be called the city of food: there are temptations hiding in plain site on every street. For starters, there are incredible budget eats, like the falafel pita from l'As du Falafel, buckwheat crêpes filled with ham, Gruyère and sunny side up eggs at Breizh Cafe, and buttery, flaky pastries from Du Pain et Des Idées. The best thing to do in Paris is to pop into a local market for a big spread of Camembert cheese, Jamon and a freshly baked baguette for a picnic by the Seine. Life is good.

(Photo: Omar Ram via Unsplash)

New York City

There are so many things to love about New York City, but food is probably the number one. The best of New York food is not their gourmet side (although that is good too), rather, the essence of this city’s cuisine is in its classics. Bagels, hamburgers, New York pizza and pastrami sandwiches are timeless, tried and true. There’s great dining at upscale restaurants like Gramercy Tavern and Le Coucou. Since New York is the nation’s ultimate melting pot, expect some fantastic restaurants serving Ethiopian, Sichuan, Indian, Nepalese, Thai, Hawaiian, Polish, Japanese and Italian.

Hong Kong

This mega city produces an extraordinary array of food items, ranging from the stubbornly traditional to unabashedly fusion foods.

While dimsums sets the pace, the fish balls at Tung Tat restaurant and egg noodles at Ho To Tai Noodle Shop deserve their very own shout-out. The cha siu baau - barbecued pork stuffed into a bun, Hong Kong-style French toast, sweet tofu soup and Cantonese-style chicken feet are a perfect marriage of thrift and culinary genius. Whatever you do, don’t leave without eating and hoarding a few egg tarts.