This millennium has given us a golden age of food. People are more willing to experiment with restaurants than ever before, and this means that restaurants are becoming more diverse than ever before. You can get sushi, Thai fare, South American cuisine, and even Indian foods in most towns.
More nationalities than ever are getting the culinary representation they deserve, but still, some cuisines are still slipping through the cracks. It’s time to change that, and open up diners’ eyes to the beauty that is international cuisine. Speaking as a foodie, I’ve found that these genres are the ones that really deserve more love than they get…
Indonesian
If you’re a fan of Indian or Thai cuisine, trying this ethnic treat will be a major treat!Indonesian food is spicy, savory, and aromatic as can be. If you’re a fan of curries, rich sauces, and food that’s just ever so slightly smoky, you need to try this cuisine out. A good beef rendang will make you a believer, that’s for sure!
Hawaiian
You don’t have to be a native to enjoy the flavorful island taste of Hawaiian food. Poke bowls, a classic Hawaiian treat, have started to gain a lot of traction on the mainland, but why stop there? This island wonderland has so much to offer, most of which hasn’t caught on with us haolies just yet. My personal favorite? Hawaiian BBQ pork, served alongside those chi-chis Elvis adored so much as a drink.
Russian
Speaking as an Eastern European person, I always found it criminal how much people seem to enjoy hating on Russian food. Russian food is delicious, especially if you’re a fan of creamy, sour, or savory flavor profiles. Borscht is a wonderful choice for sour fans, while Russian ravioli known as pelmeni would be a great pick for folks who want a meaty, decadent bite to eat. More adventurous diners might want to give caviar a try, if you have the wallet for it, anyway.
Peruvian
Everyone’s had Tex-Mex these days, but South American cuisine still has yet to see that same massive popularity boom. Peruvian cuisine is slowly getting more recognition, but it still hasn’t gotten the full applause it deserves. Tangy ceviche, decadently tasty lomo saltado, and some of the best spicy sauces you’ll ever taste are what make this such a great choice.
Moroccan
For the life of me, I don’t understand how Moroccan cuisine hasn’t swept through the United States like wildfire. Its notable flavor profile combines sweetness with umami and just a little, barely-there kick of spice that’s completely and totally unique. If you haven’t yet, give a tagine a try or chow down on some spiced rice. You’ll never want to stop eating!
Egyptian
Fans of Mediterranean food will immediately fall in love with Egyptian restaurants’ menus. Along with classic Middle Eastern dishes like hummus, shwarma, falafel, and chopped salads, diners will get to try some more unique plates like ful, rice-stuffed vegetables, and pasta. If you’re a fan of mac and cheese, I’d strongly suggest trying a creamy bowl of macaroni bechamel—a national comfort food.
Afghani
Afghanistan’s cuisine is one that’s exceedingly difficult to find stateside, but oh, so worth it. This cuisine blends many of the spices found in Indian fare with flavor profiles that are more closely associated with Middle Eastern and Greek cultures. The end result is plate after plate of spicy, flavorful, and downright addictive goodness. I’d strongly suggest trying chopped salads, manti, and having some of their deliciously spicy soups if you have room.
