When it comes to truly experiencing the local culture during your travels, there’s nothing quite like breaking bread with locals. But it’s not always easy – after all, how do you even go about meeting locals to eat with?
Luckily, a slew of websites that match travelers with local foodies have popped up, so you can easily sink your teeth into an authentic dining experience in the likes of a European village or an exotic fishing town.
Check out these sites to meet locals who will guide you through the best culinary experiences their cultures have to offer.
Get a home-cooked meal prepared by a local and shared with locals and fellow travelers through Meal Sharing. Pairing local hosts with hungry travelers around the world, Meal Sharing is available in 425 cities and offers everything from traditional dishes to creative combinations and wine pairing dinners.
This website’s mission is as simple as it sounds: to help travelers find locals to eat with. Currently offering hosted in-home dinners in 19 cities across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, Eat With showcases local flavors through innovative meals like tapas tastings, brunches and artisan pasta parties.
If you’re headed to Southeast Asia but don’t quite know how to approach the local cuisine, opt for a guided foodie experience via With Locals. You’ll be invited into a local home, where you’ll meet your hosts for an authentic way to try the local flavors of Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, among other neighboring countries.
Don’t have time to break bread with a local? You can still dig into the area’s must-try dishes with a quick search on Eat Your World, which keeps a list of regional culinary hits around the world. Native and traditional foods are the stars of Eat Your World, and you’ll also find restaurant recommendations where you can try EYW’s favorite foods.
Sure, you may have used Meetup to find anything from book clubs to hiking groups in the past, but this oldie-but-goodie site is also perfect for discovering locals to dine with during your travels. Depending on where you’re headed, you might find local Meetups in the form of dinner parties, progressive dining experiences or a meal at one of the area’s hottest new bistros.
(Main image: Christian Haugen)
