Showerthought: My simple trick for finding good eats abroad

Ask local taxi drivers where they eat lunch. They always know the spots tourists miss.

3 comments

3 Comments

That bit about taxi drivers is spot on. I did this in Bangkok, asked my cabbie where he gets his morning noodles. He took me to this plastic stool place under a highway that wasn't in any guide. Best boat noodles I've ever had, cost about a dollar. They see the whole city all day and get tired of overpriced tourist traps themselves. It's become my first move in any new city now.

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betty2133mo ago

My cousin in Hanoi once told me to always ask motorbike taxi guys where they eat lunch. I followed his advice and ended up at this cramped pho place down an alley, no menu in English at all. The broth was so rich, it reminded me of my grandma's cooking, which she learned from a neighbor who ran a food stall back in the day. But I have to say, sometimes it backfires, like when another driver took me to a spot that was just okay, probably his friend's joint trying to get more customers. Even with the misses, chasing those local tips leads you to real places that feel like a secret. It makes the whole trip more interesting, even if you hit a dud now and then.

coleman.jamie3mo ago

Just don't ask them where to get your brakes done.