As a traveler who loves exploring local cuisine, I’m always up for trying new and unusual dishes. Asia is home to some of the most exotic and bizarre foods in the world, and during my travels, I’ve encountered some truly unique delicacies. Here are some of my experiences trying unusual dishes in Asia:

 

1. Balut – Philippines

 

5 Bizarre & Exotic Food You Should Try in Asia!

Growing up in the Philippines, balut was a common delicacy that we would often see being sold by street vendors. Balut is a fertilized duck egg that’s been incubated for around 18 days before being boiled and served. Despite its odd and seriously intimidating appearance, it’s a popular snack in the Philippines, often eaten with a sprinkle of salt or vinegar. The partially formed duck embryo inside has a slightly gamey flavor and a chewy texture, and for many Filipinos, it’s a beloved comfort food. And to be quite honest, it doesn’t really taste as bad as it looks!

2. Scorpions – Thailand

 

5 Bizarre & Exotic Food You Should Try in Asia!

 

My husband and I tried fried scorpions for the first time during our Bangkok trip. The scorpions we had were deep-fried and seasoned with spices, giving them a crunchy texture and a slightly nutty flavor. I only took a really small bite though as I wasn’t exactly fond of the idea of ingesting a venonous creature. But this was defnitely one for the books. Haha!

 

 

3. Beondegi – South Korea

 

5 Bizarre & Exotic Food You Should Try in Asia!

During one of my trips to South Korea, my Korean friends got me to try beondegi, a popular street food made from boiled silkworm pupae. The pupae are seasoned with salt, sesame oil, and soy sauce and served in a small cup or bowl. The taste was surprisingly and honestly pleasant, with a nutty, earthy flavor and a slightly crunchy texture. It went really well with ice cold Korean beer too!

 

 

4. Durian – Southeast Asia

 

5 Bizarre & Exotic Food You Should Try in Asia!
Durian is a fruit that has a notorious reputation for its pungent odor. But as a Filipina who married a Malaysian, I have come to appreciate its unique flavor and understand its importance in both Malaysian and Philippine cultures (and probably the Southeasian culture in general).
Durian is considered the “King of Fruits” in the region, and it’s undeniably an important part of our culinary traditions. Despite its off-putting smell, durian is a beloved delicacy here, with its custardy texture and a sweet, slightly savory flavor. While some people find the smell overwhelming, for many people, durian is a beloved fruit and goes very well with many traditional desserts like ice cream, cakes, candies, etc.

5. Stinky Tofu – Taiwan

 

5 Bizarre & Exotic Food You Should Try in Asia!

 

I have encountered stinky tofu many times in Taiwan and Malaysia, but I haven’t mustered the courage to try it yet because personally, the smell really puts me off. This popular snack is made from fermented tofu and has a strong odor which can be quite overwhelming. But despite my reservations, I am still curious about the taste and texture and would certainly try it someday!
Trying these bizarre foods and delicacies was definitely a unique and memorable part of my travels in Asia. While some dishes were more enjoyable than others, I appreciated the opportunity to expand my culinary horizons and experience the local cuisine and culture in a whole new way.
Thanks for reading! Let me know in the comments what other “bizarre” food you’ve tried in Asia! 😊 #exoticfood #asia #asianfood #asiancuising #travel #food #thefoodienomad