500 food experiences worth traveling for

Katia Hetter
By Katia Hetter, CNN
Updated 11:40 AM EDT, Tue August 14, 2018
<strong>Lonely Planet's "Ultimate Eats."</strong> This latest book from Lonely Planet ranks 500 incredible food experiences around the world, including some dishes that are known around the world and some that are only known to a region or country's residents -- and the lucky people who visit them.
Lonely Planet's "Ultimate Eats." This latest book from Lonely Planet ranks 500 incredible food experiences around the world, including some dishes that are known around the world and some that are only known to a region or country's residents -- and the lucky people who visit them.
Lonely Planet
<strong>20. Pho on the Hau River, Vietnam. </strong>For this soup, hot beef broth is combined with noodles, onions, Thai basil and bean sprouts, among other ingredients.
20. Pho on the Hau River, Vietnam. For this soup, hot beef broth is combined with noodles, onions, Thai basil and bean sprouts, among other ingredients.
Matt Munro/Lonely Planet
<strong>19. Peking duck in Beijing, China. </strong>Order the entire bird, and have it carved tableside before tucking the meat into wheat pancakes with hoisin sauce and more. <br />
19. Peking duck in Beijing, China. Order the entire bird, and have it carved tableside before tucking the meat into wheat pancakes with hoisin sauce and more.
Matt Munro/Lonely Planet
<strong>18. Moules frites in Brussels, Belgium. </strong>Belgium's national dish can be found everywhere, but head to Le Zinneke in Brussels to choose from nearly 70 variations on the menu. <br />
18. Moules frites in Brussels, Belgium. Belgium's national dish can be found everywhere, but head to Le Zinneke in Brussels to choose from nearly 70 variations on the menu.
Lisovskaya Natalia/Shutterstock
<strong>17. Chilli crab in Singapore. </strong>Once cooked simply with canned tomato and chilli sauces, chilli crab has gotten fancier in some places and is served all over Singapore.
17. Chilli crab in Singapore. Once cooked simply with canned tomato and chilli sauces, chilli crab has gotten fancier in some places and is served all over Singapore.
SamuelBrownNG/Getty Images
<strong>16. Lamb tagine in Marrakech, Morocco. </strong>The spices that will be used in your tagine can be detected as you walk the streets in Marrakech. Settle into La Maison Arabe or another restaurant at the end of the day to enjoy it.
16. Lamb tagine in Marrakech, Morocco. The spices that will be used in your tagine can be detected as you walk the streets in Marrakech. Settle into La Maison Arabe or another restaurant at the end of the day to enjoy it.
Curioso/Shutterstock
<strong>15. Jerk chicken in Kingston, Jamaica. </strong>While it's now served all over the world, it's still an experience to eat jerk chicken on the island where it was first created by enslaved Africans escaping from the Spanish captors. (They joined with the local Taino people.)
15. Jerk chicken in Kingston, Jamaica. While it's now served all over the world, it's still an experience to eat jerk chicken on the island where it was first created by enslaved Africans escaping from the Spanish captors. (They joined with the local Taino people.)
Shane Luitjens/Alamy Stock Photo
<strong>14. Cheese in France. </strong>Which cheese and in which town? Lonely Planet recommends eating Roquefort while visiting the caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, the cheese trolley at Le Grand Vefour in Paris and cheese at any fromagerie that you happen to see.
14. Cheese in France. Which cheese and in which town? Lonely Planet recommends eating Roquefort while visiting the caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, the cheese trolley at Le Grand Vefour in Paris and cheese at any fromagerie that you happen to see.
Lottie Davies/Lonely Planet
<strong>13. Oysters in Freycinet, Australia. </strong>There are plenty of spots to enjoy oysters in Tasmania, but it's fun to buy your oysters straight from the sea at Freycinet Marine Farm at the national park of the same name.
13. Oysters in Freycinet, Australia. There are plenty of spots to enjoy oysters in Tasmania, but it's fun to buy your oysters straight from the sea at Freycinet Marine Farm at the national park of the same name.
Cody Traxler/Shutterstock
<strong>12. Pasteis de nata in Lisbon, Portgual. </strong>While many countries have tried to perfect the egg tart, Portuguese bakers may have succeeded. <br />
12. Pasteis de nata in Lisbon, Portgual. While many countries have tried to perfect the egg tart, Portuguese bakers may have succeeded.
Natali Zakharova/Shutterstock
<strong>11. Ceviche in Lima, Peru. </strong>Raw fish marinated in citrus and spices is the dish that can be found all over Peru. Head to Al Toke Pez for a classic preparation that won't break the bank, or venture over to La Mer, a pricier option that will deliver some inventive takes on the classic dish.
11. Ceviche in Lima, Peru. Raw fish marinated in citrus and spices is the dish that can be found all over Peru. Head to Al Toke Pez for a classic preparation that won't break the bank, or venture over to La Mer, a pricier option that will deliver some inventive takes on the classic dish.
Al Gonzalez/Getty Images
<strong>10. Dim sum in Hong Kong, China. </strong>Dim sum means "light snack," and it's served all over the world. But Hong Kong, where it's also known as yum cha, does it best.
10. Dim sum in Hong Kong, China. Dim sum means "light snack," and it's served all over the world. But Hong Kong, where it's also known as yum cha, does it best.
Stripped Pixel/Shutterstock
<strong>9. Pizza margherita in Naples, Italy.</strong> Legend has it that the margherita pizza was born when a baker prepared three pizzas for dinner for the visiting King Umberto and Queen Margherita. As the queen preferred the simply-prepared fresh mozz and basil pie, it now bears her name.
9. Pizza margherita in Naples, Italy. Legend has it that the margherita pizza was born when a baker prepared three pizzas for dinner for the visiting King Umberto and Queen Margherita. As the queen preferred the simply-prepared fresh mozz and basil pie, it now bears her name.
Montegia/Getty Images/iStockphoto
<strong>8. Bibimbap in Seoul, South Korea.</strong> There are two kinds of this perfect meal in a bowl: jeoju style. which comes in a cold bowl; and dolsot, which comes in a hot one. Either way, the ingredients mixed together are delicious.
8. Bibimbap in Seoul, South Korea. There are two kinds of this perfect meal in a bowl: jeoju style. which comes in a cold bowl; and dolsot, which comes in a hot one. Either way, the ingredients mixed together are delicious.
Norikko/Shutterstock
<strong>7. Crayfish in Kaikoura, New Zealand. </strong>The crayfish is so good in this town on New Zealand's south island that they named the crayfish after it. A short drive from the town center, Nin's Bin comes highly recommended.
7. Crayfish in Kaikoura, New Zealand. The crayfish is so good in this town on New Zealand's south island that they named the crayfish after it. A short drive from the town center, Nin's Bin comes highly recommended.
Gary Blake/Alamy Stock Photo
<strong>6. Smørrebrød in Copenhagen, Denmark.</strong> Smørrebrød -- rye bread coated with butter -- can have a huge variety of toppings in the Danish tradition. Try breads loaded with herring, then meat and finishing with cheese (in that order).
6. Smørrebrød in Copenhagen, Denmark. Smørrebrød -- rye bread coated with butter -- can have a huge variety of toppings in the Danish tradition. Try breads loaded with herring, then meat and finishing with cheese (in that order).
Simon Bajada/Lonely Planet
<strong>5. Som Tum in Bangkok, Thailand. </strong>This green papaya salad combines so many flavors -- salty, sweet, sour and fire -- and it's sold all over Thailand.
5. Som Tum in Bangkok, Thailand. This green papaya salad combines so many flavors -- salty, sweet, sour and fire -- and it's sold all over Thailand.
Nicholas Gouldhurst/Photolibrary RM/Getty Images
<strong>4. Beef brisket in Austin, Texas, United States</strong>. Austin's beef brisket is worth waiting for, which is what will happen when you visit Franklin Barbecue to order the beef brisket and other barbecue.
4. Beef brisket in Austin, Texas, United States. Austin's beef brisket is worth waiting for, which is what will happen when you visit Franklin Barbecue to order the beef brisket and other barbecue.
Wyatt McSpadden/Courtesy of Franklins
<strong>3. Sushi in Tokyo, Japan. </strong>While sushi is available in many cities nowhere near Japan, sushi in Tokyo is a culinary and artistic experience that traces its history back to ancient times.
3. Sushi in Tokyo, Japan. While sushi is available in many cities nowhere near Japan, sushi in Tokyo is a culinary and artistic experience that traces its history back to ancient times.
Aisha Yusaf/500px
<strong>2. Curry Laksa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. </strong>It's easy to find good curry laksa stalls in Kuala Pumpur -- just find the stall with the longest line and join it.
2. Curry Laksa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It's easy to find good curry laksa stalls in Kuala Pumpur -- just find the stall with the longest line and join it.
Alex Ortega/EyeEm/Getty Images
<strong>1. Pintxos in San Sebastian, Spain.</strong> Bar-hopping along the narrow streets of San Sebastian's old town district, visitors can sample from the many different pintxos, which are bar snacks pierced by a toothpick or stick. The types of pintxos are as varied as the bars and chefs who prepare them.
1. Pintxos in San Sebastian, Spain. Bar-hopping along the narrow streets of San Sebastian's old town district, visitors can sample from the many different pintxos, which are bar snacks pierced by a toothpick or stick. The types of pintxos are as varied as the bars and chefs who prepare them.
Justin Folkes/Lonely Planet
<strong>1. San Sebastian, Spain. </strong>After you've slept off your pintxo crawl, why not head to the beach before you're ready for more pintxos?
1. San Sebastian, Spain. After you've slept off your pintxo crawl, why not head to the beach before you're ready for more pintxos?
Alexander Demyanenko/Shutterstock
Lonely Planet's top 500 food experiences
CNN  — 

It’s not just the taste of the pintxos served at the bars in San Sebastián’s old town in Spain’s Basque country that makes it Lonely Planet’s #1 food experience in the world.

It’s the experience of hopping from bar to bar along San Sebastián’s narrow streets to try each kitchen’s unique pintxos, some classic and others inventive, modern interpretations.

Pintxos, a Basque play off of the Spanish “pinchos,” translates as spike or thorn, which is the spike or toothpick that pierces the snack.

A chef's guide to the best of Nashville

Can’t schedule a Spanish barhopping trip to try these delicious snacks? Not a problem. You can choose from one of the top 500 experiences in “Ultimate Eats: The World’s Top 500 Food Experiences…Ranked,” which published August 14.

Recommendations from world-renowned chefs José Andrés, Elena Arzak and Eric Ripert; television food star Andrew Zimmern; BBC MasterChef judge and chef Monica Galetti; and 15 more of the world’s top chefs and food writers are also included in Ultimate Eats.

Not just about the food

TripAdvisor has released a list of the country's best BBQ restaurants
Video Ad Feedback
Lonely Planet's top 500 food experiences
01:21 - Source: CNN

It’s not about the perfect meal at a three-Michelin star restaurant: It’s about how a dish tastes, its cultural significance and the importance of the location where it’s made and eaten.

“When you have a salad Nicoise in New York, you might think, oh this is nice,” Lonely Planet destinations editor Matt Phillips told CNN Travel.

“When you have it where it came about (in Nice, Franc