Asian food

Introduction to eating in Asia

Most people agree that one of the great highlights of travelling in Asia is the food. We go one further; in our opinion Asian cuisine boasts unrivalled variety and quality. The food’s incredibly healthy, it tantalizes the taste buds (especially, if you get stuck into the chillis!) and the regional variations, not to mention the cross border differences, will keep you engulfed in an ever changing sea of gastronomic delight.

For those with a less adventurous palate, western food is readily available and even in the more remote destinations you will find at least a basic menu. In the large towns and cities you’ll find extremely high standards of all international cuisine.

Vegetarians will not have too many problems with all the fresh produce available. Your guide will help you learn how to explain this to any restaurant staff. They’ll get it wrong every now and again, just smile and hand it back, they’ll soon work it out.

Select a tab to read some highlights from the destinations in which Selective Asia currently operate in. No matter what style of trip you choose, you will have the opportunity to sample a huge variety of traditional and not so traditional cuisine. There are no rules (the Vietnamese eat Pho morning, noon and night) and there is something for everyone. We recommend that you just ‘let yourself off the leash’ and engross yourself with whatever, whenever something grabs your fancy! Local night markets are a good bet for choice, and provide entertainment on tap. They’re social hubs and offer the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation or two with some real characters. Stall owners arrive around 6pm and settle in for the long haul. Tables and stools front each stall – just pick a seat and plonk yourself down.

Some tips for eating in Asia

• Chopsticks or not? In Thailand, only ever with noodles - with all other dishes you will be given a fork and spoon. In Laos, if you are eating traditional Laab, you won’t be given anything…you scoop up the dishes with the sticky rice that comes in baskets. In Cambodia, fork and spoon generally see you right whilst in Vietnam you’ll be using chopsticks and a spoon to gobble up the Pho and fork and spoon for most other dishes.
• Asians generally share a number of dishes between the whole group.  They’re onto something: it’s a great way to sample a lot in a short time.
• Always take a local up on the offer of ordering for you – it’s so hard to know how to balance a meal and it’s the best way of discovering some new dishes
• Don’t be afraid to ask – there is usually someone who can speak a little English. Otherwise; improvise…how good is your chicken impression?!
• In smaller, cheaper eateries, don’t expect everything to always arrive at the same time.  Bear with them: it’s all the kitchen can handle.
• No matter how good a restaurant is, it’s always worth trying another for the next meal – you will be amazed by the variety and standard of food to be found.
• Ask your waiter what the local or restaurant speciality is – sometime it is not advertised in English.
• If you are worried about the hygiene aspect remember to wash your hands before and after each meal, or carry with you a bottle of  ‘no need to rinse off’ liquid hand wash’ available from all good drug stores and chemists

Use the tabs above to try a few basics before you depart.