Top 10 Asian dishes
If you want to avoid Martyn’s predicament and order with confidence then below are our top 10 Asian dishes that lift the lid on the etiquette and origins behind some of the continent’s classic food. From dhal on the streets of Delhi to barbecued sticky pork in Bangkok, we’ve scoured the continent in search of classic culinary creations so you can grab your chopsticks with confidence and tuck in to a world of wonders.
Our Asia Holidays
India small group holiday, a food adventure
2 week discovery of the sights, sounds & flavours of India.
Cambodia small group tour, a food adventure
Discover Cambodia's unique, ancient and exotic food culture
Vietnam small group holiday, a food adventure
Exotic 2 week culinary and cultural tour of Vietnam.
North Thailand group holiday, a food adventure
Experience the freshness, tanginess and spiciness of Thailand
Japan group holiday, a food adventure
Dive into Tokyo city’s incredible food scene
Sri Lanka small group tour, a food adventure
A delicious adventure through this provocative country
Malaysia food and culture holiday
Discover many of Malaysia's culinary highlights
Small group cooking holiday in Thailand
2-week Adventure. £1,575 exc flights. No Single Supplement!
Mongolia tour, food of the Nomads
Local Mongolia with homestays & family led cookery lessons
Japan gastronomic holiday
A foodies' dream: a culinary journey across Japan.
Kerala photography retreat
Superb photography holiday in exotic South Indian locations
Pakistan food tour
Culinary Taste Adventure around Pakistan, eating locally.
Sri Lanka culture tour
Perfect tour for families, couples and wildlife lovers.
Sri Lanka food and culture tour, 11 days
Experience Authentic Food & Beautiful Nature of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka food tour, tailor made
Discover the food and culture of Sri Lanka
South India food tour, Chennai to Mysore
An Immersive Hands-one Culinary journey of food & culture
Vietnam 10 day tour, Pho the love of food
Tantalise your taste buds in foodie Vietnam adventure
Ayurvedic cooking holiday in Southern India
Living Jainism Indian culinary discovery & Ayurvedic cuisine
Taste of India culinary tour
Experience the varied cuisine of India
South East Asia food holiday, private departure
15 day private culinary tour of Thailand, Laos & Cambodia
Japan culinary heritage tour
Regional cuisine, the heart and soul of Japanese culture.
Japan art and food tour, tailor made
Experience Japanese culture through food and art
Food tour in South Korea
Delve into the many flavours of Korean cuisine and cooking
South India food tour
Experience the flavours and exotic spices of South India
Cooking holiday in Thailand
Learn to cook Thai food & insider experiences with locals
China small group holiday, a food adventure
Search out some of the city’s best street food & more!
Nepal and Bhutan food & culture tour
Discover the flavours of the Himalayas
India food and culture tour
Experience the authentic food & culture of North India
Vietnam food holiday
Feast your way around Vietnam on this culinary journey.
Dhal dishes
Where to try dhal: on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Ganges in Varanasi, India.
Oodles of noodles
You can't move for noodles in Asia; fried, boiled, baked and steamed variations stretch from chubby worm-like udon noodle soups in Japan to skinny glass noodle salads in Vietnam. Slurping is something akin to a sport in Asia as the longer the noodle the luckier the slurper. Note: although pad Thai is a 'must try' in Thailand it’s actually thought to have originated in China – worth bearing in mind before you pucker up.Where to try: go on then, try a pad Thai in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Charcoal grilled meat skewers
Some of my most evocative memories of travelling throughout Asia are the sizzles and smoky smells emanating from street food stalls selling skewered meat cooked over charcoal. It sounds so simple but from salty yakitori chicken in Japan to marinated meat satay in Sarawak, Borneo, you will never forget the taste and the smell and it could come to define your whole Asian experience.Where to try: just follow your nose on the streets of Singapore or by a beach in Bali.
Crispy & spring rolls
Where to try: grab a goi cuon (spring roll) at a Mekong Delta village in southern Vietnam.
Dumplings
Steamed, puffed and dense – often thicker than a doughnut – dumplings are the ultimate comfort food to try on a trip to Asia. Pure white in colour and packed with ground meat, chopped vegetables, spring onions, and sometimes sesame or red bean paste, these tennis ball-sized delicious doughy puffs come accompanied with dark vinegar, soy sauce and chilli flakes, and will have you scouring the streets of China in search of your next fix.Where to try: head for the hutongs of Beijing and look for a backstreet dumpling shop.
Samosas
Yet another street food staple makes our top 10 – travelling in Asia, especially India and Sri Lanka, just wouldn't be the same without a freshly fried samosa to get us through the day. Often the best samosas can be found in the homes of local people where generously packed pockets of potato, onion, split peas, chilli and spices are eaten with hands, whilst sitting on the floor, just as nature intended.Where to try: a family home in India or Sri Lanka. Important note: ask if the oil is fresh before tucking into samosas served on the street.
Our top Asia Holiday
India small group holiday, a food adventure
2 week discovery of the sights, sounds & flavours of India.
2021: 9 Apr, 3 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 29 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov, 19 Nov, 26 Nov, 10 Dec, 17 Dec, 21 Dec, 24 Dec, 31 Dec
2022: 7 Jan, 14 Jan, 21 Jan, 28 Jan, 4 Feb, 11 Feb, 18 Feb, 25 Feb, 4 Mar, 11 Mar, 18 Mar, 25 Mar, 8 Apr, 2 Sep, 16 Sep, 23 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct, 21 Oct, 28 Oct, 4 Nov, 11 Nov, 18 Nov, 25 Nov, 9 Dec, 16 Dec, 20 Dec, 23 Dec, 30 Dec
Sushi
Where to try: find a fish market in Hakone, Tokyo or Kyoto.
Curries
As long as you remember that green sometimes means hot and red sometimes means mild you won't go far wrong with curries in Asia. Aside from the UK, authentic curry dishes in India, Sri Lanka and elsewhere in Asia are spiced and flavoursome but without blowing your socks off. It's simply not how curry is enjoyed. If you are hoping for more heat, ask the chef but don't expect it unless you're ordering a Thai green curry, of course.Where to try: Malaysian curries are pretty yummy although a Massaman on a beach in Koh Samui, Thailand takes some beating. In Sri Lanka, tuck into delicate curries made from fish simmered in coconut milk and spices.
Sticky rice
This, for me, has to be one of the finds of my travels in Asia as not only is sticky rice stupidly tasty but it can also be served sweet or savoury as well as stuffed into a banana leaf for packed lunch in the jungle. As sticky rice doesn't need as much water to cook as other rice it's often steamed before being squidged into shape, sometimes after adding coconut milk for an extra creamy taste.Where to try: the beaches of Thailand or the river banks of Laos are just a couple of Indochina ideas if you're looking to try mango sticky rice in the most authentic of settings.
Dim sum
Where to try: a brunch restaurant (closes mid-afternoon) or tea house in Hong Kong.