Anthony Bourdain's Trick For Finding The Best Local Eateries When Traveling
The late Anthony Bourdain's insatiable love for food brought him to hundreds of places across the globe. The celebrated chef, author, and TV personality embarked on countless epicurean adventures, venturing to over 80 countries in search of the best of what each destination has to offer. His passionate pursuit of local delights has led him to dine everywhere, from the world's most exquisite restaurants to the warm home kitchens of local families. Through his experiences, Bourdain had become a trusted authority in the food world, with unparalleled expertise in recommending the best dining spots — especially local eateries.
If you're completely foreign to a place, Bourdain's number one tip is to hit local markets. Bourdain loved exploring these bustling hubs to gain a deeper understanding of the local cuisine and suggested others do the same. "I'll go at 6 a.m., when people are shopping for businesses," he shared with Esquire, adding that markets are where you can also taste local offerings since food stalls usually abound. "You get to see what people buy and really eat. There are usually food stands and trucks geared exclusively to locals. You get an idea of what a city or country is good at, because they're catering to local tastes."
If a market lacks traditional eateries, it can at least give you a frame of reference for what to look for when you eventually venture out on your own. But if market visits aren't your thing, Bourdain had two other tricks up his sleeve: finding foodies and following the locals.
When in doubt, consult food nerds online
Anthony Bourdain was a big fan of perusing the Internet to find leads on the best local cuisine. He previously told National Geographic that apart from consulting the "international chef mafia" to cull recommendations, he and his team relied on local bloggers for insider tips. "We spend a lot of time looking for local bloggers who have been documenting street food or indigenous specialties around the city or town for a while. There's always somebody and they are often very, very good," he said.
But in case you don't want to go deep into research mode and weed out influencers, Bourdain has a rather cheeky yet effective hack: aggravating foodies online. Apparently, when you feign authority on a particular dish or restaurant, it's almost always guaranteed that someone will challenge your claims. "I always recommend provoking food nerd fury on websites. Say you're going to a new place; go online and find any old reference on Google for a good restaurant. Before you go, post about that restaurant on a local food forum and say that you had the best [region/country's specialty] there," the former chef shared with Sherman's Travel. "Inevitably, it will spark rage in the locals and they'll tell you where their favorite spot is and how it's so much better ... Provoking that kind of fury in a food nerd will introduce a ton of great spots."
Don't trust your gut — trust the locals
Anthony Bourdain was a huge proponent of dining in places where the locals eat. For him, in order to truly know a place, you must eat like its people. He urged people to venture beyond their comfort zones and try eateries where menus may be written exclusively in the local language or where the ambiance may not meet their standards. "I used to say a dirty bathroom was a sign you should not be eating in a restaurant. I've learned the opposite is true," Some of the best food experiences I've ever had are places they really don't give a s*** about that. They know their food is good and that's enough," he told Time.
He also advised against skipping out on establishments with long queues, especially if said queue is peppered with local patrons. If they're hyping it out, then it must be worth it. "I look to see if locals are willing to inconvenience themselves and wait in line for a long time to get something that only costs a dollar fifty, especially if it's a mixed bag of different incomes," he told Bon Appetit. On the flip side, if the line is filled with tourists, consider it a sign to bow out. "If a place is crowded, but the people lining up are not local, that's a clue — a bad clue."