11 Foods That’ll Make You Rethink Your Next Trip

Some foods are famous for changing travel plans on the spot. You show up ready for adventure, but after seeing these dishes, you might start searching for the nearest pizza place or booking an early flight home. Here are 11 foods that could make any traveler pause, reconsider, or just laugh nervously at the menu.

Haggis

Scotland’s iconic dish is a boiled sheep’s stomach stuffed with oats, organs, and spices. For locals, it’s a badge of pride, usually served on Burns Night with bagpipes and whisky. For newcomers, just reading the ingredients can spark a sudden craving for a cheeseburger. Haggis is not for the faint-hearted, but if you make it through, you’ll never look at a sausage the same way again.

Century Egg

This Chinese delicacy looks like it was excavated from an alien planet. Preserved in clay and ash for weeks, the egg turns a deep black and green, with a creamy center and a strong aroma. Adventurous foodies see a delicacy; the rest of us see a conversation starter best left in the display case.

Balut

The most famous street snack in the Philippines is balut—a fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo. It’s eaten straight from the shell, feathers and all. If you’re squeamish, this is the point in your trip when you reconsider how hungry you actually are.

Mouse Wine

This traditional Chinese tonic is made by fermenting whole baby mice in rice wine. The sight alone has sent many would-be drinkers sprinting for the nearest bottle of water. If you survive a shot, your taste buds will never forget—and your travel stories just got a lot more interesting.

Mopane Worms

These are giant caterpillars, boiled, dried, or fried, and served up as snacks across Southern Africa. Packed with protein, they’re celebrated for their earthy taste and chewy texture. Most travelers try one, pose for a photo, and then stick to potato chips for the rest of the day.

Casu marzu

Sardinia’s legendary cheese comes with a twist—it’s filled with live maggots. The taste is sharp, the texture is creamy, and the sight is unforgettable. Some visitors give it a try, while others immediately rethink their Italian itinerary.

Bat Soup

Served in parts of Asia and the Pacific, bat soup is exactly what it sounds like. With a whole bat floating in your bowl, wings and face on display, it’s the kind of dish that will have you quietly whispering “maybe just a salad” to your server.

Beondegi

Korean street vendors serve beondegi—steamed or boiled silkworm pupae—by the cup. The aroma is earthy, the texture is unexpected, and the taste is truly unique. Many travelers sniff the air, snap a photo, and politely move on to safer snacks.

Fried Spider

In Cambodia, fried tarantulas are crunchy, hairy, and straight out of a food dare. Locals may see a delicacy, but visitors often see a quick exit. If you work up the nerve to take a bite, you’ve earned every passport stamp and then some.

Shiokara

This Japanese dish is a fermented mix of squid organs and viscera, served with a splash of sake. The texture is slippery, the flavor is salty, and the reputation is legendary. Even some locals hesitate. If you can finish a bowl, nothing else on your trip will scare you again.

Stink Bugs

Crunchy and packed with protein, stink bugs are a delicacy in parts of Africa and Asia. The name is no joke. Most travelers do a double take, then opt for a less adventurous snack. If you give these a try, congratulations—you’ve officially earned your explorer badge.