It's the season of travel and the right time to visit the best food cities in the world!

When you ask anyone about their recent travels, most will reminisce about the food they had on their trip, good or bad. Food awakens all five senses: the aroma, the visual appeal, the texture, the sound (of a crunchy snack), and lastly, the taste. It is why food will always be a central part of your adventures and it is worth it to travel to another city just for the food!

There are at least 40 well-known food cuisines around the world, with cities that are a must to visit and enjoy these cuisines. So if you are unsure where to start, why not begin with our list to find out which cities or destinations have the best food?

Looking forward to traveling this year? Discover the best destinations and places to travel while finding out your traveler type by visiting HalalTrip's Top Travel Picks of 2024 Microsite.

 

1. Rome, Italy

Image Credit: Griffin Wooldridge on Pexels

The land of pasta has plenty to offer, especially in Rome. Just like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain are two of the must-visit tourist attractions in the Eternal City, the rich pasta and meat stews are must-try dishes. And don't worry about the carbs, you can burn them with all the walking!

Here are some hot picks to try:

• Pasta Alla Carbonara - a classic pasta and the king of Roman food with lots of egg yolk and pecorino cheese. However, bacon is a common condiment in this dish. You may opt for a vegetarian version or from a Muslim-friendly restaurant instead for a Halal-safe meal
• Pizza al Taglio - a Rome invention: rectangular sliced pizza street food with a variety of flavors
• Maritozzi - sweet and fluffy bun with a generous amount of whipped cream
  
  

2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Image Credit: Khairy Harry on Pexels

Named one of Lonely Planet's best food cities in the world for the year 2023, Kuala Lumpur is one of the most underrated cities with plenty of unique flavors. Food adventures here are almost 24/7 with street food, hawker stalls, and restaurants that are open even late at night.

Here are some hot picks to try:

• Char Kway Teow - a Chinese stir-fried rice noodles with smoky flavors
• Roti Canai - an Indian flatbread that is light and fluffy with a side of mild curry
• Nasi Lemak - a fragrant coconut rice dish with sides such as spicy chili paste, egg, anchovies, meat, and cucumber
• Indo Mee Goreng - a "mamak" (Indian-Muslim open-air establishment) staple. It is a simple fried instant noodle dish but packs a whole lot of flavor!

If you are unsure if the food is Halal, ask the owner for verification. Restaurants will put a Halal logo at the front of their store if they are Halal-certified or will label if their dishes contain no alcohol or pork.

 

3. New York City, USA

Image Credit: Richard Tao on Pexels

Many cities came a close first for the best food cities in the US, but New York still reigns at the top of our US list for several reasons: a wide variety of ethnic food, the most Halal selections in the country, and pizza (it is the first city to have a pizzeria in the US)! It also has 19 Michelin-starred restaurants as of 2022, all conveniently located within its 300-square-mile area.

Here are some hot picks to try:

• NY Style Pizza: Hand-tossed thin crust pizza sold in wide slices (the slice is as big as your face!)
• Bagels With Lox: the freshest and finest bagels with smoked salmon. Goes well with other condiments!
• Halal Street Food: Middle-eastern gyro platter that can be mostly found in New York City

Find out more about other Halal foods with our Halal Street Food guide in the USA!

 

4. Lima, Peru

Image Credit: Willian Justin de Vasconcellos on Unsplash

Peruvian food is a class of its own, and there is no better place to have it than Lima, the culinary capital of South America. Most of their popular meals consist of various types of meat with a side of potatoes, corn, quinoa, and beans. The meat is generally not Halal; however, you can opt for a seafood or vegetarian option for the below meals.

• Ceviche: fresh raw fish cured with lemon juice combined with other salad ingredients such as cilantro, red onions, and seasoning
• Rocoto Relleno: spicy baked stuffed Rocoto peppers with a dash of milk sauce or cheese on top - contains ground meat
• Causa: layered potato casserole shaped like a mini round cake. It is layered with either tuna, avocado, eggs, or chicken

 

5. Marrakesh, Morocco

Image Credit: Beatrice Sana on Unsplash

Marrakech is one of the best cities for Halal street food! Moroccan cuisine is a unique fusion of heavily influenced Arab, European, and Mediterranean flavors. You will be spoilt for choices with a large variety of dishes and desserts to choose from.

• Pastilla: a delicious warm meat pie with flaky and crispy pastry layers
• Harira: a hearty tomato-based soup with spices, beans, chickpeas, and lentils
• Zaalouk: a warm salad with eggplant as the star, mixed with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and spices

Find out more about other top Moroccan dishes here!

 

Final Bites

It is time to stop scrolling through your Instagram page, saving IG posts, and sharing social media reels with your loved ones, and pack your bags to fly to one of the ten foodie cities on our list so you can experience these flavors first-hand.

Let us know in the comments how it went! We will be waiting. Don't forget to share this article with your traveling partner too!