FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: food and drink

  • Unusual Places for Good, Cheap Food – Eat Like a King for Less Abroad

    Frugal travelers know you needn’t dine in the finest restaurants to enjoy tasty food. They’ve got a nose for a bargain, and quality dishes. But sometimes the best food isn’t always where you expect it to be. In this article we outline some of the more surprising cheap eats you’ll find around the globe.

    In many countries a shopping mall food court is about the convenience more than the cuisine. You typically choose from fast food chains all serving up the same homogenized, tasteless fare. You’d never eat there by choice; it’s just a handy place to consume some calories before continuing your search for bargains. But things are a big different in Asia. Countries like China, Hong Kong, and Japan have some of their most delicious budget-friendly dishes hidden inside the malls. It’s worth stopping by for the noodles and pho even if you’re not shopping at the sales!

    While you’re in Asia, don’t forget to visit one of Japan’s convenience stores. You’ll find much more than magazines and candy here. Some fresh sushi or gyoza will fill you up, satisfy your taste buds, and not leave a gaping hole in your wallet!

    In most parts of the world, gas stations have a modest amount of overpriced and unsatisfying food for the road. The potato chips and soda might keep tummy rumbles at bay, but they’re not the kind of food you’d tell your friends about. But they do things a little differently in Italy. In the country’s Autogrills you’re treated to freshly made delicacies including focaccia, panini, and piadini. They’re all lot better than soggy sandwiches packaged in plastic! And you get real Italian coffee to wash them down!

    In Portugal, the beach is good for more than working on your tan and catching waves. You’ll also find more than ice-cream cones at this Mediterranean country’s breaks. Carts lining the shore sell the country’s famous churros, a kind of long donut smothered in sugar. I don’t recommend substituting these for a proper meal, but they can certainly fill the gap until dinner time.

    Churros
    Churros

    If you go searching for food inside Argentina’s sports stadiums you’ll be disappointed. You won’t find the overpriced, middle of the road fare sold in many parts of the world. In fact, you’ll be lucky to find any grub at all! But the locals know all the good food’s outside, being cooked fresh from barbecues set up around the venue’s perimeter. Make sure you try the choripan, a hearty treat that’s like a hot dog made with local chorizo sausage.

    So make sure you veer off the beaten track when you’re looking for food abroad. Your tastebuds and wallet will thank you!

  • The World’s Best Guilty Pleasures – Culinary Delights That Won’t Break the Bank

    Forget those over-priced Michelin-star meals cooked up by celebrity chefs. Some of the most delicious items you’ll indulge in overseas will barely make a dent in your budget. These are the fatty, sugary treats guaranteed to expand your waistline and harden your arteries. They’ll test the theory that everything is fine in moderation. These are the world’s guilty pleasures, and they’re accessible to even the most frugal of travelers!

    There’s a reason why the English are famous for their breakfasts. They start the day with a slap-up dish so satisfying you’ll probably still feel full at lunch. The plump sausages, thickly cut bacon, fried eggs, black pudding, and even fried bread probably won’t do your heart any favors, but it’ll taste so good going down.

    We’ve all had roestis, but these shredded potato cakes are best in their native Switzerland. The Swiss play with their iconic dish, and in many cases you’ll find cheeky extras like bacon, Bolognese sauce, and oozy cheese thrown in.

    In Australia pies aren’t pizzas or sweet treats. They’re flaky pastries crammed with beef mince and gravy. In recent years pies have gone posh, with seafood, venison, and curry varieties hitting bakeries. But you can’t beat the original Australian food, preferably topped with a generous amount of tomato sauce. Don’t even think of calling it ketchup when you’re Down Under!

    Almost anything you buy in the United States could be considered a guilty pleasure. The country’s portions are ridiculously generous, and its chefs are game to deep fry just about anything. Make sure you sample all the dishes they’re famous for, including beefy burgers, hot dogs packed with relish, and crispy French Fries.

    Italy is also all about indulgence. The country’s creamy pastas, generously topped pizzas, and lavish meat dishes will all pack on pounds. While the diet’s forgotten make sure you save room for the sweet stuff. The buttery brioche bread and gelati can’t be beat.

    Argentina’s alfajores are designed to tempt your sweet tooth. They’re like a cookie sandwich filled with dulche de leche, a Latin American kind of caramel. As if that wasn’t indulgent enough, often they’re rolled in shaved coconut for a final indulgent flourish. They’re delicious, but so rich that it’s challenging to eat more than one at a time!

    Gulab jamun proves the countries of the Indian subcontinent aren’t just about spicy curries. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal all serve up these doughy balls which are slowly fried, then coated in spiced sugar syrup. They’re often eaten at festivals and weddings, but being abroad is good enough reason to celebrate, don’t you think?

    A New Zealand pavlova
    A New Zealand pavlova

    The Aussies will insist the pavlova’s theirs, but New Zealanders know their country is the true birthplace of this moreish meringue dessert. The dish has a deliciously crisp crust and a soft center. It’s incredibly naughty, but the extravagent fruit topping should help assuage your guilt.

    What have we missed? What are your favorite guilty food pleasures?

  • World’s Best Street Food – Cheap Eats Around the Globe

    Most frugal travelers find themselves chowing down in fast food chain restaurants in a bid to save cash. These international food giants don’t just create food that’s bad for your waistline; it’s also generally unsatisfying. So why see the world while eating the same old junk you do at home? Instead try the street food sold in your travel spot’s marketplaces and roadside karts. You won’t believe how good it tastes, or how little it costs! In this article we round up some of the best street food around the world.

    Asia is credited for starting the street food craze, and this continent’s nations still produce some of the best. Bangkok is considered by many as the ultimate vacation spot for street food gourmands. Its marketplaces have vendors serving up local delicacies like fish curries, pork sugarcane skewers, and more. Make sure to leave room for the battered banana fritters for dessert!

    Ho Chi Minh City’s street food is influenced by traditional Vietnamese culture and the French colonial forces of the early 1900s. It’s not unusual to find savory pho soup, spring rolls, and the stuffed pancakes called banh xeo sitting alongside little pate sandwiches! Wade through the fake designer handbags at the Ben Thanh Market to find some delicious Vietnamese street food treats.

    In Hong Kong the nightly Temple Street markets are a great place to find dinner. You can feast on hot pots, curried fish balls, and fresh fried seafoods for a pittance. The pungent tofu and offal dishes aren’t for the faint hearted, but they’re great options for adventurous palettes.

    Turkey is Europe’s street food center, and you’ll find more than doner kebabs there. While these are delicious, you’ll enjoy many more exotic treats like the flaky borek pastries, the pretzel-like simit, and the baked potatoes called kumpir. Ask the vendors to fill these starchy vegetables with ketchup, pickles, sausage, and olives and you’ve got a complete meal!

    Turkey’s influence on street food can be felt as far afield as Germany. Use a Turkish style doner kebab or the fried ketchup and curry-covered sausages called currywurst to wash down a pint of that famous weizenbier.

    Even America is catching on to the street food trend. Los Angeles is credited with bringing this style of food to the United States. The city’s food trucks offer an exciting range of dishes including dim sum, grilled cheese melts, and Southern fried chicken and biscuits.

    The blend of cultures in Austin, Texas has give birth to some unique fusion food like fried-chicken waffle tacos and Korean inspired kimchi fries.

    Chicago’s strict laws prohibiting cooking on carts haven’t stopped the city’s street food vendors. A concord of trucks assembles at Lincoln Park on Tuesdays and Ethyl’s Beer and Wine Dive on Thursdays. Locals come from everywhere to sample the meatballs, naan bread sandwiches, and Southern mac and cheese cleverly prepared from previously cooked ingredients.

    Those horror stories of travelers contracting gastro and other nasties from street food can be daunting, but don’t let them scare you. While this is fast food, it’s smart to look for the longest lines. Certain vendors are popular for a reason, and it’s generally worth waiting a little while to find out what that is.

    Street Food in Vietnam
    Street Food in Vietnam

    It’s also smart to stash a plate and eating utensils in your bags. Illness can be spread when these implements aren’t properly washed, so taking your own is a good way to cut the risks. In cities where the locals do it, such as Istanbul, this precaution is a must. Disease can also come when fruits and vegetables are washed in unsanitary water. If you wouldn’t drink a city’s water avoid anything with an edible skin, and stick to foods you can peel like bananas and oranges.

    Keep your wits about you but remember to have fun. That’s what eating street food is all about!

  • Affordable Dining in Japan – Eat & Drink for Less

    Japan is a gourmand’s delight, with more Michelin-star rated restaurants than Paris. Sushi Saito is a favorite of Michelin guide director Jean-Luc Naret, Rokkaku is the first izakaya to make the list, and Birdland’s creative poultry dishes must be seen to be believed. And that’s all before you even leave the capital! But frequenting these high class establishments will empty your wallet faster than you can say “I’ll have the sashimi plate.” However it is possible to save yen on food and drink without starving by following our simple advice.

    Firstly, consider looking for accommodation that includes meals. Dinner and breakfast will be complimentary at most traditional Japanese ryokan inns and the country’s bed and breakfasts known as minshuku. A light breakfast is also often provided at the manga kiss internet cafes and capsule hotels. Just make sure to compare the prices, as it’s sometimes cheaper to find your own tucker.

    Thought that vending machines were just for snacks and soda? Think again. While the dishes don’t actually come from the machines in a vending machine café, they’re an inexpensive option, and great for anyone who doesn’t speak the language. Simply pop a couple of coins in the machine, choose a tasty looking dish, and take the dispensed receipt to the counter. The photo buttons make it easy to select a tasty rice dish, some ramen noodles, or a hearty soup. And it’ll only cost you the equivalent of a few dollars!

    Slightly more expensive, but only ever so slightly, are the ramen noodle houses and curry cafes. These cheap and cheerful establishments are specialists, so the quality is excellent. This certainly isn’t a case of getting what you pay for. For around 400 yen, or five dollars US, you’ll enjoy a delicious dish with sides of rice, a soup, and salad.

    Lunch is also often more affordable than dinner. If you fill up at midday on a discounted restaurant set menu or a cheap bento box, you’ll only need something light once dinner rolls around. Even high class restaurants tend to offer cheaper alternatives during the day. Perhaps that Michelin-star rated meal isn’t out of the question after all!

    But a tourist can’t survive on food alone. After a busy day of sightseeing nothing goes down better than a few cleansing ales. Look for bars and clubs offering meal deals. Many establishments will package dinner and a beer for around 400 yen. If you’re only looking for a drink though, you may want to leave the bars behind. While they offer atmosphere, they also charge a premium on the alcohol. Instead search for your booze at supermarkets, convenience stores, and vending machines. While we love our beer the world over, it’s worth trying Japan’s cheeky alternative Happoshu Beer. While it’s called beer, and tastes like beer, it’s actually brewed with less malt than a regular ale. The makers pass the savings on to you; this tasty beverage is much cheaper than a standard pint!

    Map of Japan

    As a more general rule, steer clear of the main streets and look for smaller restaurants and cafes. The main drags cater for tourists; the prices are higher and the dishes not so authentic. A good trick is peeking at the clientele. If the Japanese people aren’t eating or drinking there, you probably don’t want to either. Eat and drink as the locals do and you can return home from Japan with more yen in your pocket than you’d expect.