7 Tips For Finding A Good Restaurant While Travelling

New Country, New Food. It’s inevitable, isn’t it?

Well, food is one of those things you will need to try out when travelling or going on a vacation to a new country. You can’t just go to new places and not try out their meals. It feels like a taboo not to. So, how does one locate a good restaurant when travelling?

Most of the time, it can be hard to locate restaurants in a new city because you are unfamiliar with the place. If you’re fortunate, having a tour guide may help you locate one fast.

7 tips for finding a good restaurant while travelling

1.) Plan and book a culinary walking tour

You can start by doing research on the types of restaurants that are available in the country you’re visiting. Research their foods, menu, and price so you will have a bit of knowledge about what to expect.

Reservations could also be made for yourself or your family if you are in a group.

You can also opt-in for a walking tour, where you walk around trying out different restaurants and their meals. It is a good idea as you can decide which restaurant serves the best menu – and also the ones whose price best suits your budget.

Also, you get a good idea of places you should visit and places you shouldn’t.

In all, the tour guide takes you around the area and also gives recommendations on what food you try on the menu and what not to. They also help with the language, especially if you don’t know it.

2.) Read regional publications and food bloggers’ articles

Another way to find restaurants while travelling is by reading articles by local food bloggers. These local bloggers talk about the different foods in their respective countries. They also talk about the best restaurants that you should visit with their locations.

All you need to do is search for a phrase containing the keyword ‘restaurant’ and the country you’re going to on Google. Then try to read different blogs about restaurants in that particular country. Also, while you are at it, you could look at reviews of different restaurants before you visit.

The reviews will tell you a lot about the restaurants, services, and menu. It will help in your decision-making and selection of restaurants that you will visit.

Suppose you are not satisfied with the online information, you can try to look for publications and magazines with food-related content and read about local dishes. You might even get a list of restaurants and locations if you’re lucky.

3.) Ask real people

Recommendation is another effective way to locate restaurants in a new country. Understandably, some locals might not be friendly. However, there are a lot of options to ask from. For example, you can get information about restaurants from your hotel attendants. They’re always ready to help out and give you the best recommendations.

You can even ask other travellers on the plane, in the bus, or talk to your cab driver. They might have one or two recommendations for you.

You might also have friends that have been to the country you are visiting. Or maybe they know someone that has been there before. You can ask them questions about restaurants in the country you’re seeing.

Social media is another tool to get the necessary information about restaurants. You could start by making a post on your social media platform and asking people for their opinion.

You could also type the keyword or use hashtags of what you are looking for on your social platform. If you are lucky, you might see posts of people about restaurants in that particular country or area.

After getting the information you need about different restaurants, you can go on IG and view their pages. This will assist in reducing your alternatives to those that fit within your spending limit.

4.) Look for local restaurants

It’s a vacation, and you are in a new place. It doesn’t make sense to start looking for meals you are used to. Try to look for local restaurants and try out their foods. That’s one main reason you visit to learn and get more exposure. You might also learn new recipes you can try out when you get back home.

Also, you must stick to things you know to go with your locations. For example, you might be visiting a place in India where you don’t expect to find meat steak in such areas. Except maybe you visit more expensive restaurants in India that have that on their menu.

Finally, before you go to this restaurant, try to check if the people patronising them are locals or tourists like you. You’ll have a better understanding of what to anticipate and the kinds of meals that will be offered.

5.) Avoid restaurants in a tourist area

This is another essential tip you should know before travelling to a new place. Food in this area might not be the best, and most of them are pretty expensive as it is an area where most tourists visit.

The best thing to do is to look for restaurants in different parts of the city, especially inside the neighbourhoods. These places tend to be more conducive than tourist-focused restaurants, which might be a bit rowdy and noisy.

This is why you must also conduct proper research before visiting to avoid such places. Most times, the people you ask, like cab drivers, will always refer you to places like this.

6.) Download essential apps

These apps will try to assist you as you navigate around the city. One app you could start with or should have will be Google Maps. This will help you find places easily and help you when you get lost. This might come in handy for you, especially when visiting. It is also essential for you if you plan to drive in a while visiting.

There are also apps, like Nicelocal, that give you updates on discounts for hotels, restaurants, and bars. The primary goal of some of these apps is to give you more information about the area you are visiting. They also provide information about the ideal time to reserve a seat. What is the one appetiser that everyone adores? Are reservations accepted (for a later trip)? All this information you can get from downloading specific apps.

7.) Look for long queues

Restaurants that have long queues outside mean that they have good dishes.

You don’t have to wait in line before having to eat. Especially if it’s a restaurant that serves good meals, you can always come back or, better still, find out why they have long queues. Then look for the best time to return.

You could even go into the restaurant and ask their workers if it’s possible for you to make reservations. If they do, you can make your reservations and return at a later time.

What Not to Eat While on Vacation

There are some things you will need to avoid while on vacation. Food is essential, but it doesn’t mean you should risk your health or neglect other factors because you want to stuff your tummy.

First, as we mentioned earlier, avoid places that attract many tourists. It is a bad idea. Why? Because the price in areas like this might be over the roof and above your budget. Try to look for restaurants inside the city if you want to dine.

Secondly, avoid restaurants that have people at the door. Please do not allow them to force you into their restaurants. It is a trap, and the food might not be good. If it’s a good restaurant, they don’t need to usher people inside or require the services of a doorman.

Again, restaurants that have empty seats should be avoided. It only means one thing, the food is terrible. Try to look for other restaurants that offer better services.

Additionally, watch out for cooked food left to sit at room temperature or warmer, like on a buffet. Such foods can get you sick.

Also, Refrain from consuming fresh salsas and other sauces or condiments produced from uncooked fruits or vegetables.

Finally, be cautious when eating food from street vendors. Follow the same food safety precautions as you would with other foods if you decide to consume street food. For instance, a food is more likely to be safe if you see it come immediately off the grill, cooked, or crazily hot.