Eating weird and unusual food in Southeast Asia is part of the experience for many travelers. Unusual food that is absent from menus at home is common in Southeast Asia, and it isn’t there just for the amusement of wide-eyed tourists. Locals actually eat – and enjoy – this stuff!
From critters and creepy crawlies to organs and strange local delicacies, weird food is abundant in Southeast Asia. Here are ten weird and unusual things to eat in Southeast Asia from experienced travel bloggers and curious eaters:
Pig Brains in Myanmar
Myanmar has a wonderful mix of food. There are Indian, Chinese and Thai influences notable in many dishes, and Burmese cuisine is seriously underrated.
On Beer Street in Yangon, a popular spot with locals and tourists, the street is lined with tables and grills. Carts go up and down the street with piles of insects that locals munch on like chips. For me, however, I was interested in the grilled items. That is, until I saw pig brains on the menu.
I ate loads of weird food in Southeast Asia, but these pig brains stand out. I’ve tried several different types of brains (the best in Istanbul) in my quest to find unusual, tasty treats. Burmese pig brains are delicious! Like most other plates of brains, they are mushy and a a little slimy. Whether or not they’re great, it really just depends how they are prepared.
The idea of eating pig brains is not appetizing to most travelers, but those seeking a plate of unusual or weird food in Southeast Asia, the pig brains on Beer Street in Yangon are a great start. I wouldn’t hesitate to order again!
Cicadas in Malaysia
The year was 2010. I’d been trekking through the rainforest of Malaysian Borneo for what seemed like years. I hadn’t stopped sweating since I arrived, and I was beginning to get tired – tired of the heat, tired of the forest, tired of the sweat, the dirt, of digging my own toilet and the constant howling of far off creatures. Most of all, I was getting pretty darn tired of the food.
Before we set off, we made sure that we provisioned ourselves with enough dried and canned food to last the 7 or so weeks it would take to cross the gap between the research base and the Imbak Canyon, deep in the jungle to the east. Let me tell you, after 6 weeks there’s only so much porridge and canned sardines a man can take. I distinctly remember thinking I would go crazy if we didn’t make things more… interesting.
Enter Chica, our local guide and all-around rainforest guru. He was sympathetic to our problem, and one evening, he stood up valiantly and stated he was going out to find some “forest chicken nuggets” to spruce up our evening meal. “Chicken nuggets?”, we thought. But still, we were pretty desperate. A couple of hours went by, and, sure enough, Chica returned with a plastic bag that seemed to be shaking and buzzing in his hands. He smiled. “Chicken nuggets,” he exclaimed with glee.
I tentatively peered inside. The bag was filled with Cicadas. For those that aren’t familiar, a Cicada is essentially a gigantic house fly with enormous wings and a thick, juicy abdomen – about the size of a chicken nugget.
We grilled them over the fire before we ate them. The thought sickened me. But the thought of eating another can of luncheon meat mixed with dried garlic granules was far, far worse.
I remember enjoying half a dozen Cicadas before calling time. And you know what, they weren’t that bad. In fact, they really did taste like chicken nuggets after all.
Hamish Broughton is a published independent travel writer and photographer from the UK. To follow more of his adventures around the world, you can visit www.mytravelfix.com and follow him at @hamishbroughon on Instagram.
Balut in the Philippines
Balut is common in the streets almost everywhere in the Philippines. Dumaguete City always has Balut available in the boulevard, from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM, so we decided to eat some from the area.
Balut, which is also spelled ‘Balot,’ means “wrapped” in English. It is actually a fertilized duck egg that contains a yolk and a semi-developed duck embryo. These eggs are buried in the sand and then covered in a white cloth, to reach the right temperature from facing the direct sun. The eggs are somehow boiled or steamed before selling to the public.
Locals love having this kind of food as a midnight snack and pairing it with a beer. But most of them also love adding a spicy, pure coconut vinegar and topping with some salt.
Inside the egg differs by the number of days. For example, the 16-day-old egg is formed still with a yolk and a hard white, but the smell is like very used and old socks. The 21-day-old duck egg has already formed almost into a chick, as the legs, head and the hair are formed.
Balut has a good, but different, taste. It is best with the vinegar, as the smell and taste of it will not be recognized.
This take on weird foods in Southeast Asia is from Everywhere With Ferna, a blog from a 40-year-old woman who loves to share how to travel differently and passionately to off-the-beaten-path places.
Grasshoppers in Thailand
On a Saturday night in Chiang Mai, one of the best places to be is the lively Wualai street market. The market starts up in the late afternoon and continues until 10:30 PM. This buzzing market is filled with stalls selling an array of souvenirs, jewelry, clothing, artwork and, of course, plenty of delicious Thai food.
Among the stalls, you’ll find a variety of different foods, but the more adventurous travelers will be found near the fried insect stall. Yes, in Thailand you can choose from an array of fried insects sold in bags. You can pick from grasshoppers, silkworms, crickets, water bugs and even spiders. I was keen to try the grasshoppers for the simple (and maybe disgusting) reason that, when I was a small kid, apparently I used to chase grasshoppers in the garden and eat them. As an adult, I was curious about how they tasted.
Vendors sell them in small bags, so it wasn’t a case of buying a single grasshopper. I had to commit to a whole bunch of grasshoppers! As insects are a cheap snack, I let my curiosity get the better of me and bought the bag. What makes many people uneasy about trying them is that they still look like grasshoppers, but I decided to let go of any weird feelings and take a bite.
If you can forget about what your eating, you’ll enjoy it a lot more. Most people focus on the crunch but it just reminded me of eating a bag of crisps. That’s how I describe the taste to people. It’s basically like eating a slightly salty bag of barbecue flavored crisps, which I enjoyed. I even went back the following week to buy another bag!
Curious Claire is behind this weird food from Southeast Asia. You can find more from her blog here. You can also follow her Instagram, @CuriousClaire for more travel and some great photos
Sour Swallow in Laos
While there are many unusual Laos dishes, the strangest I’ve encountered has to be sour swallows, or nok ann toong in Lao language. A specialty of the little-visited Xieng Khouang Province in northern Laos, sour swallow is a seasonal delicacy of the area.
In August and September every year, flocks of migratory swallows make the long journey from Russia to Laos, seeking to escape the freezing winter temperatures. The tiny birds are trapped under large nets then left to pickle and ferment in huge jars. After a few months, the fermented birds are ready for eating; they are usually fried and eaten whole or cooked in a stew.
Usually only available during the latter part of the year, nok ann toong can be found for sale at fresh markets in Phonsavan, the capital of Xieng Khouang Province, and surrounding areas.
I tasted this much sought-after delicacy after much persuasion by local friends in Xieng Khouang. and have to say, if the taste doesn’t get to you, the texture will! With an extremely pungent, overpowering sour taste, you’ll need a strong stomach to be able to crunch through all the little bits of bone and beak. While I’m glad I experienced eating Laos’ famous sour swallows, once was more than enough!
This weird food in Southeast Asia is courtesy of Marie, from A Life Without Borders. She is a traveler and blogs from a home base of Vientiane, Laos. You can find more on her experiences eating in Laos here. You can also stay up to date by following her on Facebook.
Crickets in Cambodia
Crickets, like many other creepy crawlies including locusts and grasshoppers, are considered a delicacy in Cambodia. If you’re on a mission to sample traditional Khmer cuisine in Phnom Penh or anywhere else in the country, there’s a good chance crickets will feature somewhere on the menu.
High in protein and low in cholesterol, crickets are thought of as a healthy snack. They’re most commonly served street-style – deep fried until extra crunchy and seasoned with chili, garlic and salt (Kampot sea salt, if you’re lucky). You can usually find crickets being sold at wet markets, displayed in large bamboo trays.
The main market in Krong Kampong Cham (where this photo was taken) is well-known for its juicy crickets, locusts and grasshoppers, which are often served together ‘mixed grill’ style. As with all local produce, there’s a special season for these treats – it coincides with the monsoon (starting from June), when swarms of bugs inundate Cambodia’s rice paddies and fields.
Crickets might be the ultimate alternative beer snack. A small ‘sharing plate’ always goes down well with a few Angkor beers. I first tried crickets when I was working in Phnom Penh, and my colleagues used to bring container loads in for afternoon office snacks. Sauteed with garlic and salt, they taste a little bit like shrimp. If you can get over the initial ‘ew’ factor, they’re surprisingly moreish!
On a serious note, collecting and selling wild crickets is precious source of income for many rural families in the provinces. To keep up with demand, dedicated cricket farms are now gaining popularity, too.
Emily, from Wander-Lush, provided this tale of eating weird food in Southeast Asia. Wander-Lush is a global travel blog with a special love for Southeast Asia and the Caucasus, sharing stories on the theme of ‘colour, culture and creativity.’ Check out Wander-Lush Facebook to stay up to date!
Chicken Head in the Philippines
One thing that you’ll notice about street food in the Philippines, particularly the grilled food, is that a lot of it is animal parts not usually sold in the market. There’s chicken or pork intestine, pork blood, and various chicken parts – liver, feet and head. The latter is one of my favorite foods to eat in the Philippines.
Chicken head is also referred to as “helmet”. It’s marinated in BBQ sauce and then grilled. There is very little meat in the chicken head, but it’s tasty since the meat is close to the bone. After eating the skin and meat, you crack it open to suck on the brain. The brain is soft and creamy.
It may seem unusual at first, but chicken head is really good, especially if you’re already used to eating different kinds of Southeast Asian street foods.
Chicken head is usually sold with a sweet sauce or vinegar. You can find it in roadside ihaw-ihaw stalls, which are usually open from late afternoon onward. A stick of chicken head is very cheap and only costs 10-20 Philippine pesos.
This weird food in Southeast Asia, beak and all, is from Tara Lets Anywhere, a travel, food and lifestyle blog by Katherine Cortes. For more on eating in the Philippines, check out this post on her blog. You can also find more on Facebook and Instagram.
Fried Tarantulas in Cambodia
Cambodia, one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia, is often known for the magnificent temple complex Angkor Wat. As the biggest religious complex in the world, Angkor Wat receives the majority of visitors who come to Cambodia. However, outside of Angkor Wat, Cambodia is a place full of mystery and strange things.
One of the strangest things I came upon when visiting Cambodia was fried tarantulas. Yes, you read that right, fried tarantulas. At this moment, I know you might think “Oh, fried tarantulas, that must be food for animals or something, right? Or food for someone that has committed treason in the country?” Let me tell you the truth, it is not. Fried tarantulas are actually Cambodian delicacies.
A popular street food in the town of Skuon, you will see fried tarantulas at many of the street food vendors. Luckily for me, I had the pleasure to taste fried tarantulas. Also luckily for me, I am not dead after eating it – maybe just a little bit on the inside.
The tarantulas are fried to a point where the legs are crunchy, but the abdomen of the tarantula is just al dente. They weren’t exactly tasty, as they didn’t really taste like anything, but the texture of the abdomen was repulsive, especially since you know you are eating its organ, eggs, and excrement. Enjoy.
Living Out Lau is behind this exceptionally creepy and crawly weird food in Southeast Asia.
Basil Seeds in Vietnam
When I first saw basil seeds sprinkled on a traditional Vietnamese dessert called chè, I jumped at the chance to try it. I had heard about basil seeds (hạt é in Vietnamese) from a friend who had spent a long time traveling as a vegan around Vietnam, and I was eager to experience them for myself.
Foreigners tend to freak out when they see these little seeds sprinkled on desserts or drinks because they’re easily mistaken for tiny bugs. What they reminded me of, though, was chia seeds, which I use all the time at home by adding them to smoothies and oatmeal.
Like chia seeds, hạt é are a fantastic source of protein and fiber. They’re also full of antioxidants and can aid with digestion. In the West, they are just starting to become discovered as the next superfood craze, but they have been used in Vietnam for centuries and are a common sight in supermarkets around the country.
When soaked in water or other liquid, they quickly expand and develop a kind of gelatinous texture. This is why they work great as a natural thickening agent for fruit juices and other drinks.
While the seeds don’t have much flavor on their own, the main appeal is their nutritional value and the bit of texture they provide. Imagine something like the chewy texture of the tapioca balls in Taiwanese bubble tea, but smaller.
You can even pick up a small bag of hạt é and add them to drinks and desserts yourself!
This unusual food from Southeast Asia is from the Nomadic Vegan. Find and follow the Nomadic Vegan on Instagram!
Durian Fruit in Malaysia
Every time I have a stopover in KL, I make sure I try something unusual. On one of my last visits, I had durian, and I loved it!
To be honest, it wasn’t the first time I tried it, but I heard there’s no durian like Malaysian durian, so knowing I was going to be in the country right at the heart of durian season, I thought it would be the ideal time.
A friend recommended heading to Petaling Jaya, a suburb of KL, to try the best durian. I followed his advice and headed to a place called DKing SS2. Here, you can enjoy several kinds of Durian – from the well known Musang King (the best variety) to the lesser-known kinds like ‘red prawn’, a durian variety taking its name from its deep pinkish flesh. Needless to say, it was all delicious!
If you’re a durian lover, I recommend going with friends as you have to buy the entire fruit, which can be expensive – but totally worth it! I would go again in a heartbeat and would recommend anyone who’s up for a foodie adventure to do the same. Petaling Jaya is easy to reach from KL using Grab, the Malaysian version of Uber.
Southeast Asia’s most famous weird (and smelly) food is brought to you by Margherita, a coffee, cat and mountain lover behind The Crowded Planet nature and adventure travel blog. See more of The Crowded Planet on Instagram.
*Bonus Weird Food from Northeast Asia*
Beondedi in South Korea
This weird food, beondedi, comes from South Korea, land of all kinds of strange delicacies. My friends and I, fellow English teachers I hasten to add, decided to spend a casual evening out at a bar/restaurant, one which happened to serve said delicacy. They appeared on the table alongside our meal like a side of salad, but this was definitely NOT a plate of lettuce.
Turns out the little bowl contained BUGS. That’s right, Koreans like to eat these bugs called Beondegi, a Korean street food made with silkworm pupae, like a side of chips with their pizza.
“Oh no,” I thought, “what have I got myself into?” All I wanted was a fun evening of good Korean food and cheap beer. Well, now my friends turned to me as the last to try them.
“Go on, I DARE you”, said my now ex-friend. I’m not one to back down from a challenge, but looking at those tiny cockroach-type things, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me instead.
As I tentatively put one in my mouth, I waited for the terrible taste to hit my senses, but it actually wasn’t too bad! Slightly crunchy and nutty, I was pleasantly surprised. But I’m not sure I would eat one again so soon.
This weird food in Asia comes from The Intrepid Owl, a travel blog that focuses on inspiring females to travel the world and discovering the best gluten-free eats abroad. Check out more from The Intrepid Owl on Instagram and Facebook.
This is only a sampling of all the weird food in Southeast Asia. Trying new foods is an exciting part of travel, and, as is often said at the Hangry Backpacker, “food and drink is an open window to another culture.” Be an adventurous and hungry traveler, but don’t forget about eating safely, as well.
Have you had any of these unusual eats from Southeast Asia? Would you eat something weird if you came upon it? Let us know in the comments!
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