Buffet breakfasts, authentic street food, fine dining beneath the stars – is there anything more fundamental to a country than the food? Even the most wonderful holidays are incomplete without a tasty menu, or two, or twelve, and sampling local cuisines can tell you a lot about the place. And believe it or not, it’s not just about the taste. Fresh ingredients are lovingly grown, and culinary traditions date back generations. Each country has a unique dining atmosphere that reflects its culture.
For the Readers’ Choice Awards, we asked you to choose the places which really tickled your taste buds this year, and the consensus was strong. Almost all shortlisted winners scored 94 per cent or above, meaning that every chosen country was popular with the masses. Your favourite foodie destinations were also spread far and wide across five different continents, demonstrating that there’s no single recipe for superb cuisine.
These are the countries for food in the world, according to the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.
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15. Turkey. Score 93.88
Head to Turkey and you’ll never look at your local takeaway in the same way. Juicy slivers of lamb and beef are carved off slow-turning rotisseries in every corner, with swish restaurants like Beyti Istanbul presenting elevated yet utterly authentic interpretations of the iconic dish. Another feast for the senses in the capital is the Spice Bazaar, with thousands upon thousands of dried fruits, Turkish delights, and, of course, colourful spices. However, Gaziantep steals the spotlight when it comes to food. Named as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, this charming city in Turkey’s south is best known as the birthplace of baklava, and sampling the nutty, honey-soaked pastries is a must.
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14. France. Score 94.00
It’s no secret that France is a culinary expert. Find creamy Camembert cheeses in the north, fresh-as-it-comes seafood stews in the south, and plenty of sophisticated bistros in the capital. There are few things more quintessentially Parisian than devouring flaky pastries on the dainty round tables which spill out of every café, or popping to the boulangerie to pick up your daily dose of baked delights. Adventurous foodies may wish to try the curious escargot, a buttery platter of snails served in their spiral shells, while others can resort to the classic safety net of steak frites.
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13. Morocco. 94.00
It’s easy to find tasty food in Morocco, especially if you like couscous. This Moroccan staple is the fluffy centrepiece of any dining table, shared between loved ones alongside flavoursome broths. Tagine is another star dish, and while this cone-shaped clay pot may take hours to simmer, we can assure you that its tender, layered meats and vegetables are well worth the wait. A cup of Moroccan tea is more than just a drink, too – it’s an elaborate ritual, with a key element being the silver tray of sweet treats presented alongside. But Morocco’s best-kept secret for foodies is Oualida, a sleepy fishing village turned seafood paradise. Set on a tranquil lagoon, Oualidia has the perfect conditions for five magnificent oyster beds, so book a stay at the city’s only five-star resort, La Sultana, to get up close and personal with these salty delicacies.
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12. Colombia. Score 94.29
Colombia may have a humble total of just five Michelin-starred restaurants in comparison to other big-hitters on our list, but the core of its fast-growing food scene lies in its fierce authenticity. Smart restaurants like Bogotá’s El Chato or Cartagena’s Celele are faithful celebrations of Colombian cuisine and regional agriculture, sourcing all their ingredients from local farmers. This, combined with esteemed culinary skill, makes them both worthy members of the prestigious World’s Best Restaurants for 2025 shortlist, so make sure to book your reservation in advance. For the ultimate taste of tradition, Bandeja Paisa is our dish to order, a hearty platter famed for being Colombia’s national dish, with an oddly specific list of components: chorizo, crispy pork belly, ground beef, plantain, avocado, white rice, red beans, and a fried egg on top.
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10. Maldives. Score 94.55
The Maldives is abundant with dreamy island resorts, all of which have their own even dreamier restaurants. It’s not every day that you glide straight onto the supper table, but at Soneva Fushi, your journey to its treetop private dining space involves a breathtaking, 200-metre zipline. Plus, with most of the gorgeous Maldives hotels offering extensive all-inclusive packages, there’s never a moment spare to go hungry. Scattered across almost 1,200 beautiful coral islands, the Maldives is a master of all things seafood, so expect the catch of the day to make an appearance in breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. Don’t worry if a tuna flatbread doesn’t excite your morning taste buds either, as the myriad of coconut, mango, and papaya trees here make a wonderful fruit salad too.
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10. Peru. Score 94.55
Earlier this year, Peru’s capital, Lima, was chosen by our global editors as one of the best places to eat for 2025, and now our readers are also catching on to the rippling foodie wave here. Sometimes less is more, and the unfussy eateries in Peru strip back all the frills to let taste do all the talking. And it’s clearly paying off, as Maido in Lima earned the coveted title of ‘World’s Best Restaurant’ earlier this year. Peru’s flavour profile outlines a remarkable cross-continental map, rooted in a history of Spanish colonialism and Asian labour migration, although even when embracing foreign influences, the ancient indigenous techniques bubble across the surface. In fact, there’s evidence to suggest that ceviche dates back to Peru’s coastal regions around 2,000 years ago, when fishermen created the first iterations of the citrusy bowls of diced raw fish we know and love today.
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9. South Africa. Score 94.76
Another culinary destination which excels through its diversity, South Africa fuses cooking from indigenous populations, as well as Indian, Malay, and European communities. Succulent meats are the cornerstone of all meals, so tuck into a traditional “braai”, or South African barbecue, to really get under the skin of the foodie culture. Stretching from dawn to dusk, the South African take on barbecuing forces attendees to slow down, enjoying hours of laughter and conversation while refuelled by never-ending plates of flame-grilled chicken, lamb, and beef. The cheery atmosphere continues inside restaurants too, this time accompanied by fine dining menus. While Cape Town restaurants are undoubtedly delicious, our top pick for this year is a little more off-grid. Earning a spot on our 2025 Hot List, Jan Franschoek imitates a family feast set up in its cosy cottage, tucked within Franschoek Valley’s rolling vineyards and lavender fields.
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8. Greece. Score 95.42
Greece is a patchwork of sprawling mainland and around 6,000 glittering islands, and each colourful nook offers something new when it comes to food. Hop on a ferry to Mykonos to sample Cycladic menus in discreet tavernas, whereas in Athens, chefs are reimagining classic recipes through a variety of ground-breaking methods. But regardless of the execution, the classic dishes of this Mediterranean country have already won over our hearts. Think sizzling souvlaki skewers, refreshing dollops of tzatziki, and endless tiny bowls of the world’s best olives. With dining typically taking place outside too, mesmerising views always accompany you at the dinner table, the cherry on top of your already flawless meal.
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7. Sri Lanka. Score 95.56
Searching for cuisine with a kick? Sri Lanka is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Dishes are packed with a thrilling blend of spice, colour, and lots of coconut, and look no further than Pettah Market in Colombo to indulge yourself. Kothu is a street food favourite, where finely shredded servings of roti, vegetables and meat are stirred together on a hot griddle, while the bowl-shaped pancakes called hoppers are filled with fried eggs, chutneys, and curries. They are a versatile option for all three meals a day. Much of Sri Lankan cuisine is centred around home cooking traditions, and this loving touch of generational family recipes is what really makes the food here special.
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6. New Zealand. Score 95.79
While New Zealand may be the furthest from the UK, its culinary allure is by no means lost on us. The island country has an ever-evolving, ever-improving approach to gastronomy, from thriving farm-to-table movements to the world’s first winery airline, but there’s also a noticeable loyalty to tradition. Hāngī is a Māori method of cooking food in ground pits, where trays are steamed on hot stones for hours. The result is an unparalleled flavour palette infused with smoky, earthy tones, which will change the way you think about oven-cooked meals forever. You’ll also notice some familiar faces like fish and chips, or even jam scones, so find comfort in these British classics even when thousands of miles away from home.
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5. Spain. Score 95.91
Spain’s food scene has gone from strength to strength in recent years, slowly but surely climbing up the ranks to become arguably the foodiest country in Europe. San Sebastian is often considered its culinary capital, home of the burnt Basque cheesecake, pintxos culture, and an excessive supply of Michelin-starred restaurants, but there are plenty more sunny spots which should be on your tasty hit list. Visit Seville for silky gazpachos, and Valencia for whopping paellas, but the special mention this year goes to Etxebarri in Atxondo, which won runner-up in the esteemed World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards 2025. This restaurant may be more off-grid than others, slotted in a rustic country house beneath Anboto mountain, but its fine dining twist on flame-grilled cooking is worth the journey for any serious foodie.
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4. Vietnam. Score 96.67
We’ve all seen the lush scenes of stripy paddies in Vietnam, and so it’s no wonder that the ingredients here are some of the freshest around. Rice comes in all shapes and sizes – steaming bowls, delicate vermicelli noodles, paper rolls – but is always topped with locally grown vegetables, tender meats, and a potent herby scent. Any backpacker will vouch for the street food spots, from floating markets like Cai Rang to alleyway hideouts like Xom Chieuas, dishing up the pinnacle of Vietnamese cuisine at dirt-cheap prices. But if you’re after something a little more refined, head to Ciel Dining in Ho Chi Minh City, chosen as one of the best new restaurants for our 2025 Hot List.
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3. Japan. Score 96.77
Taking the bronze medal, Japanese cuisine is one of the most universally loved, and it seems to be borrowed by a never-ending stream of innovative fusion menus popping up across the globe. Of course, nobody does Japanese food better than the Japanese themselves, and a trip to the island nation will only make you an even bigger fan. Tokyo is the obvious choice for a food-focused break, teeming with snazzy boltholes like Sazenka, Narisawa, and Den, but for something more unfiltered, book a stay in a ryokan guesthouse, where generous hosts share home-cooked meals on cushioned tatami mats. Worth singling out for praise is Nôtori too, an intimate affair with only nine counter seats, tucked at the foothills of Mount Fuji.
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2. Italy. Score 96.92
It's hardly news that Italy knows a thing or two about food. Our delightful runner-up has been producing creamy heaps of pasta for as long as we can remember, and food-hopping replaces island-hopping here. Crunchy cannoli in Sicily, pizzas larger than your table in Naples, and risottos infused with nutty tones in Milan are some essential pit stops, and while it's hard to pinpoint a gastronomy epicentre, many agree that Emilia-Romagna is most deserving of the food capital label. Parmesan cheese, prosciutto ham, lasagne, bolognese, even balsamic vinegar – the list goes on of world-famous delicacies born out of this region, so there’s no better place in Italy for foodies.
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1. Thailand. Score 98.33
Thailand is crowned the best country for food in 2025, and we can think of plenty of reasons why this title is appropriate. Seven Bangkok restaurants placed in the top 35 of this year’s prestigious World’s Best Restaurants rankings, strong regional diversity means that each new destination also wraps you in never-before-tasted flavours, and lively night markets mean the delicious tasting rarely has to stop. Thailand has mastered the art of delivering mouth-watering cuisine with minimal fuss, and whether you're a fan of Thai food or not, the heart-warming bowls of noodles, curries, and soups are sure to win you over, especially when served by a friendly local.
Source: CN Traveller