ASIA FOODIE CAPITALS DESTINATIONS


Laura French explores Asia’s favourite foodie cities @laurafrench121


as nice Spice I


s there any region more renowned for its food than


Asia? Wander through the streets of practically any city on the continent and you’ll be hit by a fusion of aromas – smoke from a barbecue, lemongrass from a soup, cardamom from a curry, peanuts from a pad thai. At times overpowering, at others blissful, its exotic offerings span pretty much every spice and flavour you can think of, and travelling here is a constant


adventure for the taste buds, as much as it is for the eyes. That means picking out its


key foodie hotspots is no easy feat, but we’ve rounded up some of the best to get you started – and help you sell this most intoxicating of regions.


w TOKYO, JAPAN From fresh sushi to squidgy soba, hearty ramen to crispy tempura, Japanese food is as varied as it is tempting, and


there’s a reason it’s become a go-to in cities across the world. “Any trip here is a gastronomic


adventure, whether it be eating kaiseki dinner at a traditional ryokan, sampling Japanese ‘fast food’ in Fukuoka or tasting the street food of Osaka,” says Matt Spiller, agent sales manager for InsideJapan Tours. Central to this culinary scene


is Tokyo, where you’ll find more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else in the


world, alongside a plethora of excellent-value, hole-in-the-wall joints selling everything from sashimi to okonomiyaki – a pancake-style dish filled with meat or shrimp that you cook yourself on a griddle at the table. Book it: Premier Holidays offers a Tokyo Gourmet Walk through the city with lunch from £139 per person, taking clients to sample street food as they visit various family-run shops and restaurants. trade.premierholidays.co.uk


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PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK


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