Try Local Food Without Breaking the Budget

 

Being a backpacker or a constant traveler and a foodie at the same time is a really challenging thing. It seems like your passion for different types of food will suffer if you decide to spend a significant amount of time traveling and saving some money along the way. Surely, you may want to miss out on the fanciest restaurants in town, but it does not mean that you will have to skip on the magical tastes of the local cuisine. Here are the ways in which you still can get to know the local food and save some money at the same time.

Street Food

In most places around the world, the street food is not that bad. Moreover, the street versions of the famous local specialties are considered to be “the real thing”. This is especially true if you are visiting the Asian countries, as well as the Eastern Europe. Food stalls that are all over the place feature Eastern European “cevapi” better than any five star restaurant. You will pay for the same portion five times more if you order the same food in a restaurant and you will not get anything more in terms of quality. However, it is very important that you ask the locals about the best food stand. There is always that one which makes the best stuff.

Food Markets

Local food markets are a real treasury of local tastes. If you are in Budapest, for example, you should not fail to visit the Szimpla food market and taste all the wonderful cheese, sausages and meats that are specialties here. You would get them at a very fair price, as well. These places usually also have the local canteen-type of food stall that serves inexpensive and homemade-like foods. Give them a go. Food markets are perfect if you want to try the fruits and vegetables that you have never tasted before.

Insider’s Tips

Naturally, local people always know where the best food is being served and where you will get your value for the money. Therefore, do not be afraid to ask them that. Locals in all countries love boasting their cuisine and they will gladly show you where the best meal is and the specialties that are truest to their home made versions. Also, you can suggest the food swaps. Offer to cook some food from your home country in exchange for a home cooked meal from theirs. It will be fun and you will easily find somebody who would love to do that. Moreover, there are some foods that can only be prepared well by somebody’s mommy or granny.

Dining Out

The last, but not the least is dining out. The fact that you want to save money while traveling does not mean that you should skip just about every restaurant that you bump into. There are those that offer discounts for the tourists or the holders of the local city discount card. All the major cities, like Amsterdam, Rome, Berlin, London and others have such card. Moreover, there are restaurants that offer free wine with their meals. You should definitely locate those and enjoy some nice wine on the house.

It is very nice to save money and to take care of your budget. It is advisable to do it at any occasion that you can. However, do not allow the money saving to rob you off the authentic experience that you can only get at that certain place.