Are you planning on a trip to Southeast Asia soon? There are so many great things to do and see, but most importantly there are tons of delicious dishes you must try!

When traveling, getting to experience the local cuisine can be one of the biggest joys of your trip. You simply must try these different types of Asian food on your travels!

1. Cao Lau Noodles

Cao lau is popular, but a rare dish, that is unique to Hoi An in Central Vietnam. Cao lau noodles are firmer and chewier than the rice noodles that are found in pho (another popular Vietnamese noodle dish) and are generally served with a small amount of broth. The broth is flavored with basil, mint, and cilantro, and you can add chili peppers and a squeeze of lime to taste.

Cao lau is traditionally served with thin slices of pork, bean sprouts, deep-fried croutons and a side of salad greens. What makes this dish so unique is the ancient well water that is only found in Hoi An that is used to make the broth. If you want to experience the real deal, avoid touristy restaurants and stick to street vendors who only serve this and a few other dishes.

2. Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is Malaysia’s most famous dish and consists of coconut milk rice served with pandan or screwpine leaves, sambal udang or sambal sotong, and fried crispy anchovies.

Cucumber, toasted peanuts, and a hard-boiled egg typically accompany the dish. For the most authentic experience, the ingredients should be assembled on top of the rice and served on a banana leaf.

3. Thai Street Food

Thailand is famous for its street food and is perfect for when you are staying in hotels and need to go out for a quick bite to eat, without breaking the bank. There is a large variety of dishes to sample and most cost no more than $1.30 a dish.

Street food vendors are just about everywhere and you can find anything from pad Thai and curries to fried bananas and papaya salad. It’s easy to sample a little bit of everything and the food quality is high due to the popularity and vendors competing for customers.

4. Nasi Goreng

Nasi goreng is Indonesia’s famous fried rice dish. The rice is usually mixed with a blend of chili and spices fried and served with sliced tomato, cucumbers and crispy shrimp crackers known as krupuk.

If you order the nasi goreng special, you will get the traditional dish served with a fried egg on top. There are also different varieties of this popular dish depending on if you order it from a street vendor or at a restaurant. Everyone has their own special take on how they prepare it.

Are You Excited to Try Some of These Types of Asian Food?

There are so many different types of Asian food that you simply have to try, this is only a brief listing of some of the most popular choices! What dishes are you most excited to taste on your travels?

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