Because Life Is Too Short For Underwhelming Meals

If you think travelling is synonymous with trying regional delicacies, this list is for you. There are countless dishes you have to try when you're in a new country with some places having more offerings than others. However, there are also some that are frankly overrated. Here are 10 national foods that are worth the hype and 10 that really aren't, so you can save space in your stomach for the worthy ones.

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1. Strudel - Austria

Strudel is a simple concept: a sweet fruit filling wrapped in flaky dough. As simple as it is, it can't be missed when you're in Austria because a good one is hard to beat. 

2. Duck Confit - France

France is synonymous with very good food. It's hard to choose just one dish to represent such a nation but we landed on duck confit. The dish which requires time, patience, and care is made up of slightly cured duck that's slow cooked until it's irresistibly tender.

3. Waffles - Belgium

Everyone's had waffles before, but in Belgium they're just different. There are two types: Liège-style waffles are smaller and richer and the Brussels-style waffles are lighter and meant for adding toppings. We prefer Liège waffles but when in Belgium, why not try both?

4. Mole Poblano - Mexico

Mole poblano is one of the most unique sauces to come out of Mexico. Its combination of classic regional flavors including ancho chiles and cacao make it quintessentially Mexican. It's rich and delicious on enchiladas, chicken, or duck. 

5. Asado - Argentina

Asado is a style of barbecuing meat over an open fire. In Argentina, it's a cultural event as well as a meal and it can't be missed if you're travelling there. They cook some of the best cuts of meat to perfection, the open fire imparting a very special flavor. 

6. Empanadas - Chile

Many countries in South America have their own form of these types of savory pastries but Chile's are arguably the best. Empanadas are essentially handheld pies with a filling of meat, cheese, egg, seafood, or vegetables and baked to perfection.

7. Bulgogi - Korea

Bulgogi is a dish of thinly sliced beef marinated in a tantalizing sauce of soy, sesame oil, honey, garlic, and pureed Asian pear often served over a bed of sticky rice. This essential Korean dish perfectly balances sweet, savory, and umami flavors, satisfying all the taste senses. 

8. Sushi - Japan

You've probably had sushi before whether at an all you can eat buffet or picked up as a last-minute lunch from the grocery store. Japanese sushi is a different experience. The freshness of the fish and the differnt flavor combinations will shock you in the best way possible.

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9. Brisket - USA

Although barbecue brisket became the dish of the American south, it's origin is actually European Jewish. It's safe to say, however, that Texas barbecue joints have perfected it. Here, they smoke it for days until it's fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy. 

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10. Pickled Herring - Netherlands

Pickled herring is a street food in the Netherlands typically served with onions and sweet pickles. The incredibly fresh fish is quickly brined and served just like that. It's delicious and extremely Dutch. 

Kagor on Wikimedia Commons

Now that we've gone over some of the dishes that simply can't be missed, let's talk about the ones we just don't get. 

1. Black Pudding - UK/Ireland

Don't let the name deceive you: black pudding isn't anything like pudding. It's essentially a sausage made from pork or beef blood, pork fat, and grains like suet or oats. Weirdly enough, it's served at breakfast, the worst time of day to stomach this sort of thing. 

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2. Schnitzel - Germany

This is probably an unpopular opinion, but of all the foods you could try abroad, schnitzel, which is pounded, breaded, fried meat, pales in comparison. It's often pretty bland and sometimes even dry. 

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3. Bandeja Paisa - Colombia

Colombians are very proud of this dish which consists of all the country's national foods on one massive plate. You have beans, rice, fried egg, plantain, ground meat, arepa, multiple types of sausages, and avocado. While all of those things are nice on their own, all of them served together sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen.

Wilfredo Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez on Wikimedia Commons

4. Poutine - Canada

This dish which first appeared in snack bars in 1950s Quebec consists of fries topped with gravy and cheese curds. It's so popular in Canada that it became the national dish. If a soggy plate of fries with extremely salty toppings is a country's national dish it doesn't bode well for the food culture of that nation.

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5. Fish & Chips - Ireland

This Irish dish is made up of battered and deep fried haddock or cod served with fries. With no contrasting flavors or colors on the plate, this dish is uninteresting to both the palette and the eyes. 

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6. Moules Frites - Belgium

Moules frites or mussels and fries is a classic Balgian delicacy. The mussels are served in a variety of sauces of your choosing but when in Belgium, stick to the waffles: we don't find anything very special about mussels and the fries usually seem like an after thought.

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7. Haggis - Scotland

Another weird dish from Scotland: haggis is a savory pudding of organ meats encased in an animal's stomach. It looks, sounds, and tastes positively medieval and can absolutely be skipped.  

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8. Hamburger - USA

This glorified sandwich is a typical American food; however, other countries often make them just as well if not better. It depends on where you go of course, but most places in the USA serve it overcooked and with basic toppings and flavors.

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9. Currywurst - Germany

Currywurst is a popular street food in Berlin. It's a sausage topped with curry sauce. That flavor combination doesn't really work in our opinion and the food is more popular among tourists than actual Berliners anyway.

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10. Simit - Turkey

Simits are circular breads readily available all over Turkey. It's not that they're bad, we just think if you've had a bagel before, you can skip it. 

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