13 International Dishes That Terrify Tourists
Some international dishes are famous for sending tourists running. Whether it’s the look, the smell, or the name, these 13 foods have the power to haunt travel memories for years. If you’re looking for a thrill on your next trip, here are the foods that separate the brave from the crowd.
Fried Spider
Walk through a Cambodian night market, and you’ll find trays piled with whole fried tarantulas. The crunch is real, the legs are everywhere, and the memory lasts forever. Most tourists settle for a photo, but the legends actually take a bite.
Stink Bugs
In some cultures, stink bugs are enjoyed as a savory snack. The aroma is powerful, and the flavor is even bolder. For most travelers, the hardest part is convincing themselves that bugs can be food.
Bat Soup
This soup, served in parts of Asia and the Pacific, features a whole bat right in your bowl. It’s not just a meal, it’s a full-blown encounter. You’ll never forget the first time you stare into your soup and see wings looking back.
Mopane Worms
These chewy caterpillars are a staple in Southern Africa. Whether fried, dried, or simmered in sauce, mopane worms take most tourists by surprise. Even the bravest often settle for a taste and a quick selfie.
Balut
Filipino balut is legendary among travelers. Crack open the shell and you might find a beak, a foot, or even some feathers. Eating one is a travel badge you’ll never lose, and maybe never want to earn again.
Casu marzu
This Sardinian cheese, crawling with live maggots, is famous for pushing limits. The sharp, pungent taste and moving texture are legendary. Most tourists watch in awe. Only the bold actually take a bite.
Century Egg
This black-and-green Chinese egg is preserved in clay and ash for weeks. The texture is creamy and the aroma is strong. Most visitors can’t believe it’s really an egg until they taste it for themselves.
Blood Soup
Dinuguan, or blood soup, is a staple in the Philippines, but it shocks many tourists. The thick, dark broth is as intense as it looks. Finish a bowl, and you’ll have a story worth retelling every Halloween.
Beondegi
Beondegi are silkworm pupae, sold as street snacks in Korea. The smell is earthy, the texture is unique, and the experience is unforgettable. If you want to terrify your taste buds, this is the place to start.
Cobra Heart
For the truly daring, Vietnam offers a shot of rice wine topped with a cobra’s still-beating heart. The drama is as real as the adrenaline. Try it if you want a travel story nobody will believe without pictures.
Jellied Moose Nose
This Canadian specialty is made by boiling and jelling the nose of a moose. The texture is wobbly and the look is wild. For tourists, even one bite is enough to remember forever.
Escamol
Known as “insect caviar,” escamol is made from ant larvae and eaten in Mexico. The texture is creamy and the taste is nutty, but most visitors never get past the idea. If you do, congratulations—your passport just leveled up.
Hákarl
Iceland’s fermented shark is the final boss of travel dares. The smell is fierce, the taste is wild, and every bite is a test of will. Tourists who finish a whole piece become instant legends in the land of ice and fire.