One of the perks about travelling is discovering new cultures by embracing local food. South East Asia’s street markets are particularly known for drawing curious and even daring travellers keen to try different and sometimes wild food. From fried tarantulas to scorpion wine and unusual green desserts (to name a few), here’s a list of countries to visit to take your travels to the next level!
Fried tarantula in Cambodia
When it comes to unusual food, Cambodia’s street markets pack a lot. At the top of the list comes fried tarantula spiders, which are eaten as a specialty snack. Cambodians began eating spiders out of desperation during the Khmer Rouge regime and surprisingly, they liked the taste! Strolling through Cambodian streets, you’re also bound to come across pickled fruit such as green mango, papaya, and guava sold by women set up on the side of the road. A better option if trying spiders doesn’t appeal to you!
Where do I get it: The night market in Phnom Penh
Snake and scorpion wine in Vietnam
Vietnam is known for its delicious Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette), Pho noodle soup, rice paper rolls and steamed buns. These mouth-water dishes are very popular and served at most street markets. Adventurous travellers may want to try the Vietnamese version of tequila worm – rice wines dipped with cobra snakes or scorpions. Rest assured, the animals’ venom is cancelled out by the alcoholic content of the liquor.
Where do I get it: Van Kiep street food market in Ho Chi Minh City
Water beetles in Thailand
Stroll through the streets of Northern Thailand where you’re bound to stumble upon naam phrik num – a fiery green chilli relish served as a dip for sticky rice, pork cracklings, and steamed vegetables. One bizarre yet common version of the dish comes with giant water beetles – known in Thai as maeng da. The water beetles give the chilli sauce a metallic, almost anise-like essence that slightly numbs the mouth upon eating. Thailand is also known for its delicious pad thai, red pork noodle soup, and mango sticky rice.
Where do I get it: The night market on Chang Puak Gate in Chiang Mai
Balut in the Philippines
Balut is an iconic Filipino street food that consists of a fertilised duck embryo that has been boiled and is usually eaten with either vinegar or salt. Another popular and weird dish is betamax – coagulated chicken or pork blood, shaped in squares and placed in skewers, served hot off the grill. Betamax has a liver-like texture and is often enjoyed with generous amounts of BBQ marinade and vinegar. For more traditional food, try the egg-based dessert called bibingka, which is served alongside a special sticky rice with a purple colour known as bumbong.
Where do I get it: Legazpi market in Metro Manila
Rojak in Malaysia
Rojak is a traditional Malaysian dish consisting of an eclectic mix of cut-up fruit, vegetables and fried dough fritters served with a generous splash of delicious savory-sweet sauce. If you’re a dessert lover, you must also try cendol (a sort of cold dessert soup). The dish has a green jelly-like consistency, with red beans floating in a soup of santan, coconut milk, and palm sugar. The soup is served over a big lump of ice and is topped with condensed milk.
Where do I get it: Night food markets on Jalan Alor street in Kuala Lumpur
**The flight prices shown above are for one return economy seat (including taxes and fees, excluding baggage fees) and were collated on KAYAK.com.au on 5 April 2017 for travel in May 2017. Prices are in AUD, may be subject to change and offers may no longer be available.
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