If you’re planning for your next foodie vacation, you might just consider venturing off the eaten track.  To help you find some undiscovered culinary experiences, here is a list curated by Booking.com of 11 top up-and-coming foodie destinations to ignite your appetite.

Go meat free in Koyasan, Japan

The mountain of Koyasan (Mount Koya) is on the beautiful forested Kii Peninsula, more than 800 metres above sea level.  It was traditionally considered sacred and is a major pilgrimage site for followers of the Shingon school of Buddhism.  A special vegetarian (often vegan) diet is followed by monks and believers in Buddhism.  Called Shojin Ryori in Japanese, this can be translated as “Food of Devotion”.  Enjoy some monastic succulence at some of the century old restaurants.

Cheers for beer in Qingdao, China

A port city of skyscrapers, parks and beaches, Qingdao is home to the Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd, China’s second largest brewery.  The Tsingtao Beer Museum celebrates the namesake brewery and both are situated – very aptly – on a road called Beer Street!  The Qingdao International Beer Festival is a major event taking place throughout the month of August, arguably rivalling Germany’s Oktoberfest in scale and frivolity.  Be prepared to drink your glass empty after every shout of “gan bei”, the Chinese equivalent of “cheers”.

Enjoy a fresh catch in Donggang, Taiwan

Located on Taiwan’s western coastline, along the Taiwan Strait, Donggang has one of Taiwan’s largest fishing harbors.  As a result, it has a thriving seafood industry – with fresh off-the-boat cuisine filling its restaurants.  Visit the Dong Gang Seafood Market, full of stalls selling fresh fish, dried seafood, vegetables and sashimi that rivals Japan.  Visitors can eat a great seafood meal overlooking the river that flows into the Taiwan Strait.  You can’t get much fresher than that!

Sample sushi in Düsseldorf, Germany

With 43% of Canadian travellers looking to be more adventurous with the type of cuisine they eat while travelling, why not try a classic cuisine in alternative setting?  Dusseldorf, known for its fashion and art industry, might not be the first place you’d expect to have a thriving sushi scene.  However, with the third largest Japanese community in Europe, it has many Japanese and sushi restaurant options scattered around the city making it a top place to visit if you’re keen on this traditional Japanese cuisine.

Relax with some wine in Szekszard, Hungary

Move over Napa Valley.  The capital of Tolna County, Szekszard’s wine region is one of the oldest red wine growing areas in Hungary, and is famous for its full-bodied and spicy reds.  Szekszárd has produced many quality wines winning numerous awards in both national and international competitions.

Have high tea in Bath, UK

The quintessentially English tradition of taking afternoon tea is still as popular today as it was in Georgian times.  There is no better place to enjoy this traditional meal of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and sweet cakes than the Pump Room.  This historic space was regarded as the social heart of Bath for more than two centuries and featured in many Jane Austen novels.

Have a summer sweet in Miedzyzdroje, Poland

Międzyzdroje is a lively seaside resort town in northwestern Poland on the island of Wolin on the Baltic coast, buzzing in the summer with tourists.  Dating back to the 14th century, waffles have been long-loved as a summer delicacy in Poland and Miedzyzdroje sees waffle sellers on every corner offering no end of variation of this sweet delight.

Be healthy in Canggu, Indonesia

A 10-kilometre beach and coastal village on the south coast of Bali, Canggu is a relaxed surfer haven that features many restaurants options offering up simple, healthy Indonesian cuisine to refuel after a day in the water.

Go all-out gourmet in Franschhoek, South Africa

The village of Franschhoek (French Corner), tucked into the Cape Winelands of South Africa, is known as the country’s gourmet capital.  It lures international tourists and locals alike to its vineyards, celebrated restaurants and historic houses.

Check out a cheese factory in Tillamook, USA

Situated on the beautiful Oregon coast, Tillamook Cheese Factory has been committed to producing the best tasting, high quality dairy products for over a century.  At the visitor center you can experience life on the farm, watch the production line in action and taste some of the deliciousness Tillamook has to offer.

Get your sweet fix Lviv, Ukraine

The largest city in western Ukraine, Lviv has its very own chocolate museum in its historic center.  See how the chocolate is transformed into delicious delicacies and taste chocolaty treats of your choosing.  The city is also hosting The National Chocolate Festival in October 2018, an all-Ukrainian event gathering the best sweet brands and handmade chocolate producers in Ukraine.

For many travellers, food is a major consideration when picking a travel destination.  According to new research from Booking.com, nearly half of Canadian travellers (46%) say they pick a destination for its great food or drink.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

In fact, 19% of Canadian travellers – rising to 40% of millennials – plan to take a dedicated food tourism trip sometime in 2018.  I can certainly attest to that as my much of my travel section is dedicated to food!

Platito Restaurant: Toronto, ON

One way to achieve a gastronomic adventure is to eat local while travelling.  Booking.com has revealed that more than half (56%) of Canadian travellers will try to eat more local food in 2018.  Trying the local and street food is a great way to really embrace the local culture, get immersed in communities and explore the new and different.

Top 10 global destinations for local food

Below are the top destinations around the world to sample local gastronomy, as revealed by millions of Booking.com traveller reviews.  Southeast Asia cities, with regional delicacies like dim sum, noodles and pho, are popular places to travel to for trying local cuisine.

• Ipoh, Malaysia
• Kaohsiung, Taiwan
• Nagoya, Japan
• Johor Bahru, Malaysia
• João Pessoa, Brazil
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Colmar, France
• Lima, Peru
• Catania, Italy

Chez Boris: Montreal, QC

Top 5 Canadian destinations for local food

In Canada, Quebec tops the list of Canadian destinations for incredible local food, with Ontario not far behind:

• Quebec City, QC
• Montreal, QC
• Toronto, ON
• Niagara Falls, ON
• Victoria, B.C.