Southeast Asia is world-famous for its mouthwatering cuisine, and for good reason. Come and explore these extraordinary flavors by eating your way through our list of the 30 best dishes that this region has to offer.
1. Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Thailand
Tom yum goong, an iconic, must-try Thai soup, is as popular as Thailand itself is among travelers. This clear soup, with shrimp as the main ingredient, combines quintessential Thai ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, fresh chilies (or chili paste), shallots, lime juice, and juicy shrimp.
If you can't handle spicy food, ask for a "mild" version.
2. Pad Thai (Thai-Style Fried Noodles), Thailand
Pad Thai is one of Thailand's national dishes. It can be found on almost every street corner; it is available in noisy street stalls and Michelin-starred restaurants alike. It is a fried noodle dish which is usually made with shrimp or chicken, crunchy bean sprouts, eggs, onion, and finely grated peanuts. Travelers around the world relish its sweet and sour flavor.
3. Guay Tiew Reua (Noodle Soup), Thailand
Noodle soup is arguably one of Thailand's most popular dishes. Guay tiew reua includes any type of noodle soup, of which there are many varieties. It can be made with chicken, pork, beef, seafood, or vegetables. The dish is topped with sugar, dried chili peppers, lime juice, and fish sauce.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Accommodations by Asia highlights have
Accommodations by Asia highlights have been terrific so far. The Khmer Residence in Siem Reap as well as Eastin Grand hotel in Bangkok. Both had excellent pools and breakfasts.Tours in Siem Reap were particularly well given with an amazing mix of culture, history and humor throughout (Mr Poly). Tours in Bangkok by Mr Banks were informative and well organized with samples of Thai fruit and treats throughout. More
Chris Williams, Nov 2023
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Seeing Bangkok with ease
In Bangkok, our tour guide, Ying, was wonderful. She navigated all the sights with ease, gave us interesting tidbits on Thai culture and history, helped us pick the right food at all the restaurants, and was just a pleasure to be around. We had a great time, and it was so nice to not have to worry about any of the details. More
Diane Elkins, Nov 2023
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Thailand- October 2023!
The team in Thailand was also great. Shout out to our tour guides (Monchai in Bangkok, Indy in Chang Mai and Sonia in Phuket) they were the best!! It was 6 of us and they make us all feel right at home! Kudos! More
Mori P, Nov 2023
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4. Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Coconut Soup), Thailand
If you love coconut milk, make sure you don't miss out on tom kha gai in Thailand. It is an authentic Thai soup known for its intense galangal, coconut, and aromatic flavors. As the name implies, the base of any tom kha gai is coconut milk. It is usually seasoned with Thai ingredients like lemongrass, kaffir lime, ginger, and galangal root.
5. Kao Pad (Thai Fried Rice), Thailand
Kao pad, also known as Thai fried rice, is a famous rice dish from Thailand, which is commonly made by street vendors and fine-dining restaurants alike. It is typically served with shrimp, chicken, pork, or beef, and seasoned with Thai chilies, fish sauce, soy sauce, and lime juice.
6. Khao Pad Sapparod (Pineapple Fried Rice), Thailand
Khao pad sapparod is a Thai fried rice dish made with pineapple. It is a quick, healthy, easy, and delicious meal. It is made with shrimp, pineapple, carrots, onions, and curry. Chicken can replace the shrimp, or both can be omitted to make the meal vegetarian.
7. Pho (Noodle Soup), Vietnam
Your trip to Vietnam is not complete without tasting pho, which is a traditional Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, noodles, chicken or beef, and fresh herbs. To complete the dish, you can add chili, lime, and hoisin sauce. Pho is traditionally eaten for breakfast and favored by almost all locals and travelers.
8. Bun Cha (Vietnamese Meatballs), Vietnam
If you visit Hanoi, don't miss out on bun cha. It is a specialty of Hanoi but can be found in other northern cities as well. Bun cha is made of pork meatballs, vermicelli noodles, and plenty of refreshing herbs. It is served with a traditional lime and fish dipping sauce.
9. Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich), Vietnam
If you're in need of a quick meal, try the banh mi, which is a Vietnamese sandwich. Banh mi looks like a French-style baguette. It is typically stuffed with pork belly, fish cakes, meatballs, and the quintessential pickled carrots, daikon, and chilies. This Vietnamese sandwich has been consistently ranked among the world's best sandwiches.
10. Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls), Vietnam
Goi cuon (Vietnamese spring roll) literally means "salad rolls." Unlike fried Vietnamese spring rolls, these fresh rolls are not fried and are served cold. This is a fresh and healthy dish, consisting of thin rice vermicelli noodles, shrimp, pork, and an assortment of vegetables rolled in rice paper.
11. Banh Xeo (Crispy Pancake), Vietnam
Banh xeo is a Vietnamese savory fried pancake. It is made of rice flour, turmeric, and coconut cream, along with other ingredients. The filling includes pork, shrimp, diced green onions, mung beans, and bean sprouts.
This dish is available at most roadside stalls, local markets, and restaurants. To dine like a local, cut it into small pieces, roll it in rice paper or lettuce leaves, and dip it in a special sauce.
12. Nasi Kerabu (Blue Herb Rice), Malaysia
Nasi kerabu is a blue-colored rice. Don't let the bright color put you off: it comes from the petals of a local flower. This dish is traditionally served with fried chicken, salted egg, fresh herbs, fish crackers, spiced sauce, and fried keropok ('crackers').
13. Asam Laksa (Spicy and Sour Fish Noodle Soup), Malaysia
Asam laksa is a flavorful, tangy, and spicy Malaysian rice noodle soup. It is made with fish, tamarind, and torch ginger flower, and seasoned with fresh pineapple, cucumber, red onion, and shrimp molasses. It is found almost everywhere in the Penang state of Malaysia.
14. Bak Kut Teh (Pork Ribs Tea Soup), Malaysia and Singapore
Bak kut teh is an amazing broth-based dish made with pork and multiple Chinese herbs. There are additional ingredients such as offal, varieties of mushroom, choy sum (vegetables), and tofu puffs. It is believed to have been brought from China into Malaysia in the 19th century. It can be found in Malaysia and Singapore.
15. Fish Amok (Fish Curry), Cambodia
Amok is a classic Cambodian (Khmer) dish, which is usually made with fish, although chicken and beef amok are also popular. Fish amok is made from some of the most mouthwatering ingredients, including lemongrass, chili, shallots, and coconut milk. Traditionally, it is steamed and served in a banana leaf.
16. Bai Sach Chrouk (Pork with Rice), Cambodia
Bai sach chrouk is one of Cambodia's simplest and most popular dishes. Street vendors often serve it early in the morning. Packed with the savory flavors from the marinade and the zesty flavor of pickles, this dish is extremely appealing.
The dish is made with pork, which is finely sliced and grilled. It is always served with white rice, freshly pickled cucumbers, daikon, and a bowl of chicken broth. You must definitely try this classic breakfast in Cambodia.
17. Khmer Chicken Red Curry, Cambodia
Khmer chicken red curry is a rich, flavorful curry made from chicken, coconut milk, eggplant, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemongrass, and kroeung(spice paste). Beef and fish can also replace the chicken. This curry is always served with bread.
18. Khao Niaw (Sticky Rice), Laos
Khao niaw is a staple food in Laos. It is traditionally steamed and served in small bamboo baskets called lao aep khao. To eat like a local, take a handful of sticky rice in one hand and roll it into a ball. Then, break the sticky rice ball into smaller portions, dip them in the sauce, and enjoy.
19. Laap (Minced Meat Salad), Laos
Laap, also lahp or larb, is considered the national dish of Laos. It is a type of minced meat salad, made with chicken, beef, duck, fish, or pork. It is usually seasoned with fish sauce, lime juice, fermented fish juice, rice noodles, and fresh herbs.
20. Papaya Salad, Laos and Thailand
Green papaya salad is typically made with shreds of unripe papaya. It is rich in flavor: crunchy, sour, sweet, spicy, and salty. You can find this dish all over Laos and Thailand, but it is made differently in each country.
The main ingredients in the papaya salad include unripe shredded papaya, chilies, lime, garlic, tomatoes, palm sugar, and fish sauce. All these ingredients are pounded together in a traditional mortar and pestle.
21. Adobo (Meat in Vinegar), Philippines
Adobo is a popular Filipino dish which can be found everywhere in the Philippines. It is made with pork, chicken, seafood, or vegetables, which are cooked slowly in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and black peppercorns, and then browned to a crisp in oil. Adobo is often served with rice.
22. Kinilaw (Raw Seafood Dish), Philippines
The Philippines is surrounded by the sea. It is very common to eat fish and other seafood, and no list of Filipino food would be complete without Kinilaw.
Kinilaw literally means 'eaten raw'. It is a raw seafood dish served all over the Philippines. The main ingredient is slices of raw fish marinated in vinegar. Additional ingredients include calamansi juice, salt, pepper, and chili peppers.
23. Kare-Kare (Oxtail and Tripe Stew in Peanut Sauce), Philippines
Kare-kare is a classic Filipino dish with a subtle taste. It is made with oxtail, tripe, vegetables, and a peanut-based sauce. It is usually served with steamed rice and shrimp paste. Pampanga may be known for the best kare-kare, but you can find this dish all over the Philippines.
24. Char Kway Teow (Fried Flat Rice Noodles), Singapore and Malaysia
Char kway teow is a popular noodle dish in Southeast Asia. It is a national favorite in both, Singapore and Malaysia. The main ingredients include flat rice noodles, meat, sliced fish cakes, egg, slices of Chinese sausage, and bean sprouts. All ingredients are stir-fried over high heat with light and dark soy sauce, chili, and other spices.
It is believed that the most authentic char kway teow comes from Penang in Malaysia, where this dish is commonly served on a banana leaf. But you'll find many delicious versions in Singapore as well.
25. Chili Crab (Whole Crab in Chili Tomato Sauce), Singapore
If you want a taste of authentic Singaporean cuisine, you should not miss out on chili crab. This seafood dish is one of Singapore's national dishes. It ranks at 35 on "The World's 50 Most Delicious Foods" list, compiled by CNN Go in 2011. The stir-fried crab is coated with a sweet, savory, and spicy tomato-based sauce. It is often served with steamed or deep-fried buns.
26. Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice), Indonesia
Nasi goreng is a classic Indonesian fried rice. It is a simple dish, which locals and travelers enjoy. It differs from other kinds of fried rice because of the sauce which stains the rice dark brown. The rice is often topped with a fried egg and served with fresh cucumber and tomato.
27. Gado-Gado (Salad with Peanut Sauce), Indonesia
Gado-gado literally means "mix mix." This popular salad, consisting of lightly boiled and blanched vegetables, boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, fried tofu and / or tempeh (deep-fried fermented soybean) cubes, and lontong (steamed rice cakes), is tossed in a peanut sauce dressing.
28. Babi Guling (Slow-Roasted Pork), Indonesia
If you are planning to visit Bali, Indonesia, don't forget to sample babi guling. Bali guling, which directly translates to "turning pig," is a spit-roasted suckling pig. The pork is tender, juicy, and imbued with garlic, ginger, and turmeric flavors that linger on the palate.
29. Mohinga (Rice Noodles in Fish Soup), Myanmar
Mohinga is considered the national dish of Myanmar. It consists of rice noodles served in a hearty, herbal, fish- and shallot-based broth, and seasoned with garlic, onion, lemongrass, and ginger. It is a must-have for breakfast in Burma.
30. Laphet Thoke (Tea Leaf Salad), Myanmar
Laphet thoke is a combination of soft, pickled tea leaves; crisp, roasted peanuts; other crunchy beans; toasted sesame seeds; and fried garlic. If you want, you can add dried shrimp and chopped tomatoes.
This salad is traditionally served in Myanmar on important occasions, such as parties, weddings, funerals, and religious ceremonies. Nowadays, it is often served as the final course, at the end of a meal.
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It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.)
moreFrom the time we landed in Beijing until we left, we were well taken care of. My wife and I had Lily Liu as our guide and she was amazing. From arranging visits to all the different sights, to teaching us the history, it was fantastic.
moreThe tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history
moreWe made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreOther highlights are too many to mention but here are a few Ken taking us to the Terracotta Warriors and our food tour in Xian was amazing,
moreOur day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China.
moreWe had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreWe traveled to China during the Chinese new year and we had Kris as our guide and he is simply knowledgeable,helpful and great.
moreWe visited Guilin for 2 days and stayed in the Guilin Waterfall hotel. Guilin was absolutely beautiful! Our guide, William, was very knowledgeable and kind! He taught us so much about Guilin and the surrounding area! We really enjoyed trying the specialty rice noodles of Guilin. Our highlight was the Li river cruise.
moreAmazing tour and the guide Mr. 贺霄 was very accommodating with our needs and request as we have bought our 2 years old with us. Well explained for all the place we visited. Any additional cost were informed well ahead and didn't felt any pressure if we opt not to go for additional detour. The trip was relaxing/ laid back/no rushing with zero shopping!
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