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Southeast Asia easily has some of the best foods we have tried amongst our travels. From Pad Thai, to Curry, to Mie Goreng, to Bahn Mi’s- we never left hungry! But did you know that in Asia, they eat a lot of other weird exotic foods that you have never even dreamt of eating? You can eat things like bugs and chicken feet like it’s candy. (It is served as a snack for most locals a well!). It’s is a total cultural thing (and partially physiological for us) but you might as well try them while you are there! You are exploring a different country so why not push yourself to try something new?
Here are some of the weirdest and nastiest Southeast Asia foods we came across while traveling.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
1. Scorpion
I thought these bad boys tasty like crunchy stuff with spices on it. Not bad (you can’t really tell by the look on my face though)! Found in China (Wangfujing Markets in Beijing), Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, these are the staple of weird Delicacies in Southeast Asia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
2. Balut
3. Tarantula
Deep fried, these guys are found sold in street carts of Cambodia. Try to avoid the legs as they get stuck in your teeth. Cute, huh?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
4. Starfish
Served on sticks, starfish is eaten in China, and very popular in the Wangfujing Markets in Beijing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
5. Grasshopper
We found these BBQ’d critters in Laos, Cambodia and China. And ya know what? They weren’t too bad! Just make sure you don’t eat the wings or legs- those also get awkwardly stuck in your teeth.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
6. Baby mice fetus
Yes, you heard right. Baby mice fetus, found in Hong Kong, drowned in rice wine. You take a shot with the fetus in the shot glass. No chewing, unless you are a horrible person. However, it is said to prolong your life and some type of liver benefits.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
7. Chicken Feet and Chicken Head
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8. Snake and Snake Bile
Vietnam and Taiwan are renown for their snake experiences! Bile, blood, and even a live snake heart, this experience is not for the weak![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
9. Kopi Luwak (Weasel poo coffee)
We tried this coffee (and saw the unappealing process of it being made) in Ubud, Indonesia. We tried several types of [normal] coffee along with the thicker, um, darker poo coffee. Not bad to be honest![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
10. Penis (any kind, but human kind)
There is a famous restaurant in Beijing called Guolizhuang Restaurant. Bison genitals, sheep nuts, the expensive tiger penis-you can go NUTS (see what I did there?) at this place![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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What sort of crazy weird exotic foods have you eaten while traveling?
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Have you tried all???? I always think that you should try everything, but I think I will skip few things :D
hahah I say the same thing! I havent tried all of them but Jack has tried most! HE DID THE MOUSE SHOTS…. yuck!
I usually consider myself a pretty adventurous person but I’m not sure I could try some of these things!
p.s. found you and your blog through GWT!
Hi Lovely GWT! thanks for stoping by! I say I want to try all these, but dont think I could if I looked at it!
We are willing (actually excited) to try everything EXCEPT the baby mice. That is just disgusting!
Exotic food is an important part of a locale’s culture and history. A traveler misses a lot of the real experience by not sampling some of those weird food.
haha I didnt try it! Jack did and it was hard to kiss him afterwards haha! But these exotic and crazy foods to us are just snacks and a source of protein for them! Its like an american eating cheese wiz- its gross to them but the US loves it for some reason!
Great list!! I’m also a foodie always searching out the interesting eats. Other than the ones mentioned in China, I’ve managed to try the rest plus chicken feet and heads (tasty).
Laos has got some nice menu options too, like bat and field rat!!
Ah thats good to know! Im not the one that goes crazy with these weird foods, but Jack LOVES IT!!!! like rice wine mice shots? no thanks
Interesting list!
I’m a foodie but I’m not sure if I would try these on my next visit. I’ll probably try some :)
Chicken feet and head are pretty common in Southeast Asia, not only Thailand, so if you travel around you can easily find it in other countries, like Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore.
Fyi, Kopi Luwak is one of the best coffees in the world. Even though the making process is kinda disgusting, the taste is very good!
I’m from Asia but i’ve never tried any of those, even the Balut and the chicken feet. LOL. I don’t think I have the digestive system to try them out at the moment. Maybe one day. ;) Hats off to you for trying them out! :D
I’ve actually tried the mongoose poo coffee in Bali! I’m not a big coffee fan, but it wasn’t bad! I can’t say I would try everything on this list, but the scorpion could be interesting! I have never heard of the mouse fetus but that seems the grossest to me! I haven’t tried anything overly strange. I have had haggis and actually really love it! I’ve also had cow tongue before realising what it was and that’s not too bad either!
those are super yucky to see.. but i might try it too.. never knew baby mice is a delicacy in HK.. eww