15 Tasty Travel Destinations Where Even Broke Foodies Eat Like Royalty

Are you someone whose travel itinerary focuses more on what you’ll eat than what you’ll see? Then you’re in the right place. But traveling for food doesn’t have to mean blowing through your savings faster than you can say “check, please.”

It turns out, there’s a world full of flavors out there (rich curries, sizzling street skewers, flaky pastries) that won’t make your wallet weep. And the best part? These destinations offer not only mouthwatering eats but also a side dish of culture, history, and adventure.

Stay tuned, because we’ve rounded up the ultimate spots where you can indulge your taste buds without maxing out your credit card.

Oh, and don’t forget to drop a comment on MSN about which cuisine you’d fly for after you’re done reading.

---

Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca knows how to party. Its seven varieties of mole are so complex they might deserve their own college course, yet you can sample them without the student loans. Each bite is a rich medley of spices, nuts, and chocolate that will make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about sauce.

Tlayudas are the Oaxacan answer to pizza: a massive, crispy tortilla packed with beans, cheese, and your choice of toppings. They’re messy, crunchy, and perfect comfort food at a cost that lets you spring for seconds.

Pair it all with a mezcal tasting (yes, the smoky cousin to tequila) at a local distillery. And don’t worry… you’ll still have plenty left in your wallet for souvenirs or more snacks.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi is the ultimate playground for food lovers with a backpacker’s budget. Start your morning at a street-side stall where a steaming bowl of pho costs less than your daily coffee habit back home. The broth? A perfectly balanced symphony of spices, beef, and pure comfort.

And speaking of caffeine, have you met egg coffee yet? It’s creamy, sweet, and so addictively good that you might find yourself asking how eggs managed to sneak into your dessert-drink lineup.

For lunch, grab a banh mi stuffed with savory meats and pickled veggies, all packed into a crispy baguette that could rival Parisian bakeries (at a fraction of the price). Hanoi’s food scene is proof that world-class flavor doesn’t need a Michelin star or a big-budget traveler.

Lisbon, Portugal

Seafood lovers, Lisbon might just ruin you for any future fish feasts. Imagine sardines grilled to perfection, octopus so tender it brings a tear to your eye, and the freshest seafood rice bubbling away in local taverns that are as warm as your grandma’s kitchen (if she happens to be Portuguese).

Save room for pastel de nata, the kind of custard tart that tells your taste buds, “This is what happiness feels like.” And each one costs pocket change, meaning you’ll convince yourself that eating three (or five) is totally justified.

Don’t skip the hearty stews, either, from cod-based dishes to feijoada, a comforting bean-laden bowl of magic. Lisbon proves you can dine like royalty on a peasant’s paycheck, all while soaking up the charm of its cobblestone streets.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Eating in Kuala Lumpur feels like hitting the foodie jackpot without even buying a ticket. Start your day with roti canai, a flaky flatbread served with curry so good you’ll consider drinking it straight from the bowl.

Then comes nasi lemak, Malaysia’s unofficial national dish, which is the perfect mix of fragrant coconut rice, spicy sambal, crispy anchovies, and peanuts, all wrapped in a banana leaf that screams tradition.

Need a snack? Satay skewers are waiting to dazzle you with marinated, flame-kissed perfection. And hawker stalls here are culinary treasure chests where you can feast like you’re hosting a party… yet still have cash left for dessert.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul’s street food scene? A labyrinth of flavors that’s worth losing yourself in. Start with a juicy doner kebab, wrapped in soft bread and packed with mouthwatering spices that punch way above their price tag.

Then wander through the markets, where the scent of freshly baked simit (a sesame-studded circular bread) fills the air. It’s the on-the-go snack you didn’t know you needed. Finish strong with baklava that layers flaky pastry, pistachios, and just the right amount of syrupy sweetness to ruin most desserts for you forever.

Exploring Istanbul through its food requires nothing more than a handful of coins and an appetite for adventure.

Athens, Greece

Athens isn’t just for history buffs itching to philosophize at the Acropolis; it’s a culinary treasure chest guarded by family-run eateries. Start with souvlaki, juicy, char-grilled meat skewers wrapped in a pita blanket with tzatziki so good it might make you question why you put up with bland condiments back home.

Then, there are gyros, which are Greece’s edible love letter to street food excellence. Picture it: perfectly seasoned meat spinning gloriously on a skewer, crisped edges tucked into warm pita with an unholy pile of fries stuffed inside.

Don’t sleep on those fresh feta salads, either. They’re not sad piles of lettuce but refreshing bowls crowned with slabs of feta destined to convert any dairy skeptic. Pro tip? Greek meals taste better when paired with tales shared by locals.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow’s food scene is proof that comfort is best served from a street cart or a humble mom-and-pop spot. And pierogi reign supreme. They are plump, doughy dumplings filled with potatoes, cheese, meat, or even sweet fillings if you have dessert ambitions before dinner ends.

Zapiekanka deserves its moment too; this is what happens when a baguette goes full Polish, topped with mushrooms, cheese, and a drizzle of garlic sauce that will ruin your next diet attempt before it starts.

And then there’s soup. Hearty, stick-to-your-ribs Polish soups, from barszcz (beet soup) to zurek, which comes with sausage and a hard-boiled egg for a one-bowl feast. If affordability is your jam… Krakow is the city to eat like royalty on a court jester’s budget.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech’s medinas are a swirling maze of colors, sounds, and scents that lead one place, straight to the food stalls. You know you don’t want to fight it, so start with a tagine. It’s not just a meal; it’s art served in a clay pot, filled with slow-cooked meats, fragrant spices, and enough delicious broth to make your taste buds swoon.

Couscous is the backup singer here, but honestly, it could the headline. It’s light, fluffy, and soaks up flavors better than the best bread would dare. And don’t pretend you’re not thirsty after all that wandering.

Grab a fresh-squeezed orange juice from a stall for pocket change. It’s sunshine in a glass. And yes, it’ll taste even better when you’re sitting down to haggle for that rug you absolutely don’t need.

Budapest, Hungary

Forget overpriced meals in trendy joints; Budapest is the land of affordable, satisfying eats that warm your soul. Start with goulash, the stew that’s equal parts robust flavor and culinary hug.

If you’re looking for something a little messier (but worth it), grab langos, which are fried dough with the perfect crunch, smothered with sour cream and grated cheese. The calories? Yeah, we don’t count those here.

For dessert, chimney cakes are where it’s at. Picture spirals of sweet, sugary dough roasted over an open flame, with a caramelized crust that’ll leave you rethinking every donut you’ve ever eaten. Plus, you won’t need a hefty wallet to enjoy Hungary’s finest; save the splurging for a cruise down the Danube.

Manila, Philippines

Food in Manila is as flavorful and chaotic as the city streets, and it’s glorious. Adobo takes the crown, a symphony of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and meat cooked just right (equal parts tangy and savory) with leftover rice mopping duties highly encouraged.

Then there’s lechon, the ultimate party guest of Filipino cuisine. We’re talking roast pig with crispy skin so irresistible it should come with a warning label. Halo-halo rounds out the meal; a shaved ice dessert thrown together with sweet beans, fruit, jelly, and anything else the universe thought to bless your palate with. Bonus points for it being served in the tropical heat, where every bite feels like edible air conditioning.

Manila’s eating scene confirms one thing: it’s impossible to leave here without gaining both weight and respect for its culinary genius.

Lima, Peru

If Peru had a culinary crown, Lima would be its glittering jewel, flaunting ceviche as its most dazzling attraction. Fresh, citrus-marinated fish with a whisper of chili heat? It’s not just a dish; it’s a life philosophy.

But don’t get too comfortable; anticuchos are here to shake things up. These marinated beef heart skewers prove that nothing beats meat on a stick (except maybe eating said meat while sipping a gloriously tangy pisco sour).

Now imagine all this while wandering through Lima’s vibrant markets, dodging carts stacked with exotic fruits and vendors hollering about their perfect spices. Lima doesn’t just feed you; it flirts with your taste buds and convinces you that you’re now a ceviche expert. A title you’ll wear proudly, albeit falsely.

Medellin, Colombia

Medellin isn’t just about mountains and eternal spring; it’s also here to feed you into blissful submission. Take arepas, delightful corn cakes that function as edible blank slates for butter, cheese, or anything else that makes your heart sing.

And for the uninitiated, bandeja paisa is Medellin’s ultimate food flex; a plate so loaded it deserves its own zip code. Beans, rice, avocado, chorizo, fried egg, pork belly… you might need a nap halfway through just to finish it.

When it’s time to drink, fresh tropical fruit juices come to the rescue, turning flavors like lulo and guanabana into pure, liquid sunlight. Turns out, this city isn’t subtle with its offerings. It grabs you by the taste buds and makes sure you never look at a simple meal the same way again.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi is the plot twist you didn’t see coming, blending centuries-old culinary traditions with wallet-friendly indulgence. Exhibit A? Khachapuri, a cheese-filled bread that’s basically a legal way to mainline gooey goodness straight into your soul. Add an egg yolk in the center, and you’d better grab a fork before the food coma kicks in.

Then there are khinkali dumplings, where each bite is a treasure chest of meaty, juicy decadence that might squirt at an unsuspecting dining partner if you’re not careful. And the wine? Georgia’s been doing wine longer than anyone, and it shows.

Locals will tell you the food and drink are best enjoyed with good company. And at these prices, you can be generous with your invites. Tbilisi doesn’t just welcome you; it spoils you rotten.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is where food dreams turn into night market realities. You’ll want to begin with khao soi, a bowl of silky coconut curry noodles topped with crispy noodles, because two types of noodles are better than one. Throw in tender chicken thighs and you’ve got yourself a winning formula.

Then there’s an endless array of grilled meats, everything from chicken skewers to sausages packed with Thai herbs that pack a punch. And don’t wander off without a fruit smoothie; Thai mango blended into creamy perfection is an experience you’ll chase for years.

Chiang Mai isn’t just a destination; it’s a place where food and adventure collide (and you get to eat your way through it without blowing your travel budget).

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade’s food philosophy is simple… comfort food meets a shot glass of liquid courage. Cevapi, little grilled sausages that burst with smoky flavor, are the centerpiece of any self-respecting Balkan meal. Pair them with fresh bread and you’re good to go.

But wait, burek is here to challenge your loyalty. These flaky pastries stuffed with cheese, meat, or spinach are everything croissants secretly wish they could be. And then there’s rakija, Serbia’s no-nonsense fruit brandy that feels like a handshake from a long-lost uncle (warm, intense, and strangely reassuring).

You’ll find all this in snug, affordable restaurants where the portions are as generous as the hospitality. And by the time you’re done, Belgrade might just convince you to stay for “one more” round of everything.

---

Like Our Content?  Follow Us On MSN (or click the Follow Button above) to see more from Traveling In Focus.

Please Share If You Enjoyed!