This Is the No. 1 Food Experience in the World Right Now

Travel website Lonely Planet knows a thing or two (or three) about where to grab a great bite to eat. And lucky for us, they’ve decided to share some of their know-how in their Ultimate Eats list, a compilation of the best dining experiences our world has to offer.

The list coincides with the arrival of their newest book, Ultimate Eats, a ranking of 500 places across the world that have exceptional, extraordinary, make-your-mouth-water-and-book-yourself-a-ticket-across-the-world-kind-of-food. The site understands just how much a good meal can inform travel. Here’s how they describe the basis of their research:

"When we travel, the food we eat tells a story, unlocking social customs and revealing ancient traditions, all while offering us a chance to connect with the locals in an organic way. The inextricable link between food and travel is so fascinating (not to mention, delicious!) that we set our community of bloggers, writers and staff the task of trawling the planet for epic foodie adventures."

Sounds about right!

Rounding out the top of the list are pintxos, or Basque-style tapas, in San Sebastián, Spain. They recommend pairing the small plates with a drink and a night out on the town as you bop to bars around the city. Pintxos, at their essence, are small open-faced sandwiches that can be topped with anything from anchovies to mushrooms. Lonely Planet recommends a lazy San Sebastián day followed by a hectic evening of pintxos against the backdrop of this Basque city, where Hemingway's characters spend their summer in The Sun Also Rises.

As for the rest of the list, the selection runs the gamut.

Bibimbap (Mixed Rice With Vegetables & Beef)

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Crispy Pulled Pork Shoulder

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• A curry laksa stall in Kuala Lumpur

• A sushi masterclass in Tokyo

• Texas-style barbecue beef brisket

• Som tum salad from a street vendor in Bangkok

• Smørrebød in Copenhagen

• Crayfish from the coast of New Zealand

• Bibimbap: the South Korean classic

• A classic (and original) Naples-style pizza

• Hong Kong dimsum

Which of these would you book a ticket for? Let us know in the comments below.