They say travel broadens the mind, but sometimes, all it takes is one bite.
A perfectly folded dumpling can whisk you away to a street stall in Beijing. The right mix of spice and heat in a bowl of laksa can drop you straight into the chaos of Kuala Lumpur. The scent of saffron and slow-cooked lamb? You’re in the heart of Marrakech before you’ve even set down your fork.
London is a city that thrives on its culinary diversity, where chefs from all over the world recreate the dishes of their homelands with absolute devotion to authenticity. And for those who long to travel, but whose passports are collecting dust, these are the dishes that will take you places—without ever leaving the city.
1. Japan – Tonkotsu Ramen That Feels Like a Tokyo Side Street
📍 Where to Try It: Kanada-Ya (Covent Garden, Soho, Angel)
🔸 The Dish: Tonkotsu Ramen
A bowl of creamy, slow-simmered pork broth, springy handmade noodles, and slices of melt-in-your-mouth chashu pork—this is the closest you’ll get to Japan without stepping off the tube.
🔸 Why It Feels Like Tokyo:
Kanada-Ya’s broth is boiled for 18 hours, achieving that signature milky richness that Tokyo’s best ramen shops are known for. The noodles are made fresh daily, just like in Japan, ensuring that perfect balance between chewiness and broth absorption.
🔸 Pair It With: A side of gyoza and a crisp Asahi beer for the full izakaya experience.
2. Malaysia – The Soul-Warming Spice of Laksa
📍 Where to Try It: Roti King (Euston & Battersea)
🔸 The Dish: Curry Laksa
A steaming bowl of coconut milk-infused broth, packed with chicken, prawns, tofu puffs, and rice noodles, layered with the unmistakable warmth of lemongrass, galangal, and chili.
🔸 Why It Feels Like Kuala Lumpur:
The intensity of flavor, the velvety yet fiery broth, the fragrant hit of shrimp paste—every spoonful is like sitting in a bustling Malaysian hawker stall.
🔸 Pair It With: A flaky, buttery roti canai, perfect for dipping into the laksa’s rich, spicy depths.
3. Italy – Pasta That Tastes Like Nonna’s Sunday Special
📍 Where to Try It: Padella (Borough Market & Shoreditch)
🔸 The Dish: Pici Cacio e Pepe
Thick, hand-rolled pici pasta, tossed in a simple-yet-sublime blend of pecorino Romano and black pepper, clinging together in silky, peppery perfection.
🔸 Why It Feels Like Rome:
Padella’s pasta is rolled fresh daily, the cheese is imported straight from Italy, and the simplicity of the dish allows the quality of ingredients to shine—just like in a Roman trattoria.
🔸 Pair It With: A glass of chilled Verdicchio white wine, the perfect crisp contrast to the dish’s creamy richness.
4. Mexico – Tacos That Transport You to a Beachfront Taquería
📍 Where to Try It: Sonora Taquería (Hackney)
🔸 The Dish: Tacos al Pastor
Thinly sliced, marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit, served on warm corn tortillas, topped with sweet pineapple, fresh cilantro, and fiery salsa roja.
🔸 Why It Feels Like Mexico City:
The spinning trompo of pork, the hand-pressed tortillas, the combination of smoky, citrusy, and spicy flavors—this is taco perfection, the kind that belongs in a street stall in CDMX.
🔸 Pair It With: A chilled michelada or a smoky mezcal margarita.
5. Lebanon – Mezze That Feels Like a Night in Beirut
📍 Where to Try It: Arabica (Borough Market & King’s Cross)
🔸 The Dish: Fattet Hummus
A bowl of warm, velvety hummus, layered with crispy fried pita, garlic-infused yogurt, pine nuts, and a drizzle of lemony olive oil.
🔸 Why It Feels Like Beirut:
The balance of crunchy, creamy, tangy, and rich flavors makes this dish pure comfort food, just like you’d find in a traditional Lebanese home.
🔸 Pair It With: A side of batata harra (spicy potatoes) and fresh, pillowy pita bread.
6. India – The Charred, Smoky Perfection of Tandoori Chicken
📍 Where to Try It: Brigadiers (Bank)
🔸 The Dish: Tandoori Chicken
Marinated in a blend of yogurt, ginger, garlic, and Indian spices, then cooked in a traditional clay tandoor oven, achieving that signature smoky, slightly crisp exterior with a juicy, flavorful inside.
🔸 Why It Feels Like Delhi:
Brigadiers follows the age-old North Indian tandoori tradition, ensuring the perfect balance of char, spice, and succulence.
🔸 Pair It With: A cold Kingfisher beer and butter naan straight from the tandoor.
Final Thoughts: Travel Through Taste
Not every trip requires a plane ticket—sometimes, your passport is your plate.
In a city as culturally rich as London, the best way to explore the world might just be one bite at a time. Whether it’s a brothy ramen that transports you to Tokyo, a cheese-laden Roman pasta, or a spice-infused Lebanese mezze, food has the power to take us places without ever leaving our seat.