Food is more than just nourishment.

It’s a way to connect people and explore other countries and cultures through ingredients and flavors.

Here’s what people said.

Man sitting on a stool eating noodles from a bowl at a street food stall

It’s crunchy, spicy, savory, sweet, sour, and refreshing."

2.“Lahmacun.

It’s commonly described as Turkish pizza on menus.

A bowl of Indian chaat with yogurt, sev, herbs, and spices

It’s delicious.”

It’s popular all over West Africa.

If you like spicy food and jambalaya, you will probably love jollof rice."

Person holding a wrapped sandwich with tomatoes, onions, and parsley

“Lo mai gai.

It’s made with a particular kind of broken or glutinous rice, which makes it sticky.

It takes on an herbal flavor from the lotus wrap, and it’s just so damn tasty.”

Grilled chicken drumsticks on a bed of seasoned rice with lime wedges and parsley garnish

“Manousheh, which is Lebanese pizza typically eaten as a breakfast food.

There are different types, but my favorite is topped with spiced minced beef.

“Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake and common street food.

Rice dumpling wrapped in lotus leaves on a plate

“Nam kao, which is a Laotian/Cambodian rice ball salad.

It’s spicy, salty, crispy, fresh, and so yummy.”

“Polish dill pickle soup.

Half cheese, half za'atar manakish on a plate, viewed from indoors with a street-side cafe in the background

It is delicious and can be made with meat or vegetarian.”

“Sinigang, which is a Filipino tamarind stew.

It’s so dang tasty.”

Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) topped with sauces, green onions, and sesame seeds on a plate

“South Indian rasam.

South Indian cuisine is often overlooked when people think of Indian food.

When made right, it’s heavenly.”

A bowl of fried rice with vegetables and garnished with herbs

The ingredients might sound unusual together, but the end result tastes heavenly.”

“Kare-kare is my favorite Filipino dish, hands down.

It’s a beef and oxtail stew made with a sublime peanut butter sauce.”

A bowl of soup with vegetables and a garnish of fresh dill on top

They’re heavenly!”

“Ghormeh sabzi, a quintessential Persian dish.

you’re able to get it at any Middle Eastern market or online.”

A pot of soup with vegetables and meat simmering on the stove

It’s basically a beef stew cooked in coconut milk and a ton of flavorful spices and aromatics.

You cook it for hours until nearly all the liquid has evaporated and thickened.

The result is mouth-watering."

A bowl of clear soup with vegetables beside rice and lentils on a plate, over a newspaper

“Australian meat pie.

It has puff pastry on top and shortcrust pastry at the bottom.

The filling can be anything, but it’s usually a thick, dark gravy with meat.”

A plate of koshari with lentils, rice, pasta, chickpeas, tomato sauce, and fried onions

It’s a dish of delicious, pillowy, chewy rice cakes in a spicy, savory sauce.

Something about the texture is simply perfect."

18.“Zeljanica.

A bowl of stew with assorted vegetables and meat

“Bun bo hue, which is a Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup, is wonderful.

Pho gets all the love, but bun bo hue is just as good, IMO.”

“Fan tuan, aka Taiwanese stuffed rice roll.

Traditional tamale unwrapped and partially eaten on a white plate

It’s similar to the more widely known onigiri and kimbap, except it is typically eaten for breakfast.

Think of it as a sort of Taiwanese breakfast burrito.”

“Zaalouk is a Moroccan tomato and eggplant stew that can also be served as a dip or spread.

A bowl of spinach and meat stew with kidney beans next to a bowl of Persian rice

It’s simple but complex-tasting and unique.

You rip off the bread and dip it in the oozy, cheesy goodness.”

Plate of rice with beef rendang and sliced cucumbers

A meat pie cut open to reveal the filling, with one half leaning against the other

A hand holds a plate with penne pasta and tomato sauce garnished with green herbs

Two plates with slices of spinach pie on a kitchen counter

Bowl of Vietnamese Pho with noodles, beef slices, bean sprouts, and herbs

Two halves of a rice ball with meat, egg, and vegetable filling on a wooden surface

Pan of cooked eggplant dish garnished with herbs, kitchen counter backdrop

Georgian cheese bread, khachapuri, with an egg in the center and a pat of butter on top, served on a black plate