The World's Best Chefs Give Their Top Tips For Eating Abroad

Americans will travel for food. In a recent poll from American Express, 81% of people said that eating the local cuisine is the thing they look forward to most when traveling. Whether crunching down on a street-side taco in Mexico City, slurping a bowl of ramen in Tokyo or sinking your teeth into a steaming bowl of pasta in Rome, food can often make or break a travel experience.

So to make the most of your next international excursion, we tapped top chefs from around the world for their best tips and advice on eating while abroad.

Ask the locals where to go.

Who knows the best food in town better than the people who live there? The concierge at your hotel is always a good place to start, but just be clear that you’re looking for places frequented by locals, not tourists.

Natsuko Shoji, owner and chef of Michelin-starred Été in Tokyo, said, “It’s OK to refer to the guide or ranking to find the first restaurant, then ask the chef where he or she is going. After the long hours of work, what local people crave are the real local flavors.”

Walk outside the city center to eat.

Although your accommodation may be in the heart of town, the best meals are often found in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Garry Hughes, executive chef at The Shelbourne, a luxury hotel in Dublin, said, “I try to determine if there are locals eating there, and if it’s hard to get a table, then I know it’s a good spot. Then, I do a quick Google search to find reviews and pictures of the food since everyone has different opinions and expectations.”

Eat street food.

A country or city’s best dish can often be found streetside. When chef Wolfgang Puck travels, he looks forward to trying the local street food first.

“I always try to find the small hole in