The must-try foods in every country, revealed on a fascinating world map, from fish and chips in Britain to hot dogs in the US and pavlova in Australia

Food is often one of the most exciting parts of a vacation, especially if it’s something you can’t find at home.

But what are the dishes, snacks and drinks travelers should try?

Look no further than this fascinating world map (and accompanying regional maps) that reveal each country’s local delicacies you absolutely must try.

They were created by travel insurance company InsureandGo, identifying the No. 1 dish in each country by analyzing TikTok videos with hashtags for more than 2,600 delicacies in 177 countries. The number of views associated with each hashtag was added together to determine a ranking.

Generally speaking, in Britain it’s fish and chips that reign supreme, while the hot dog is number 1 in America, pavlova is the bucket list dish in Australia and beaver tails top the list in Canada. By the way, they are not made from beaver tails. They are fried dough snacks covered in sugar and resemble beaver tails.

In Spain, visitors should make sure to try a snack of fried pork belly called chicharron, while in Ireland it’s coddle – a potato and sausage stew – that visitors must try.

The essential snack in Germany is a thin slice of meat (often veal or pork), the schnitzel. The specialty of neighboring France? Snails, or escargots.

In Taiwan, bubble tea is the trend sensation, which InsureandGo describes as “a globally loved tea-based drink with chewy tapioca pearls.” The company adds: “Taiwan created the refreshing drink in the early 1980s and since then it has been a delicacy not to be missed in the country.”

While many of the world’s most popular main dishes are meat-centric, the study says, there are still “tantalising vegetarian options” around the world, such as Malaysia’s nasi lemak, a rice dish cooked in coconut milk, and pad Thai, which “rules as it ultimate Thai street food and is often served vegetarian.

Globally, savory dishes dominate the list of must-try foods in every country, the study notes, with sweet treats topping the list in only 38 locations.

However, the dessert selections that do make the rankings offer “a gastronomic paradise for those with a sweet tooth.”

InsureandGo says: ‘From Andorra’s crema catalana, a silky custard dessert with a granulated sugar topping, to paneer balls soaked in a thickened, sweetened milk known as rasmalai in Pakistan, there are plenty of options for travelers looking for sweet indulgences.’

The series of cards provides an overview of the most popular regional dishes in Great Britain.

In Scotland it is not a dish but a drink that tops the list of must-try delicacies.

Scottish Irn-Bru is a vibrant orange soft drink that is cherished for its distinct taste and also has 183 million TikTok views.

Heading south, London’s classic bangers and mash rack up 48.5 million TikTok views, making the comforting dish of sausages, creamy mashed potatoes and rich onion gravy the must-try dish in the capital, says InsureandGo.

In the West Midlands, however, it is a spicy condiment that is number 1: Worcestershire sauce.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Yorkshire and the Humber is centered around the much-loved Yorkshire pudding with more than 256 million TikTok views. The light deliciousness that often accompanies traditional Sunday roasts “represents a unique slice of British gastronomy, both shared and celebrated on TikTok,” says InsureandGo.

The survey also provided a breakdown of the top delicacy in every US state, with shrimp cocktail in Nevada, fried pickles No. 1 in Arkansas, avocado toast the must-try in California and the classic key lime pie, Florida’s favorite culinary staple.

According to the survey, ramen is the most eaten dish of all time. It’s No. 1 in Japan, but also tops globally in terms of overall views, says InsureandGo, which shows that “videos of steaming bowls of noodles and broth [have clocked up] over 16 billion views on TikTok’.

In second place is the American hot dog, with 10.2 billion views, followed by churrasco (Brazil, 8.3 billion) and bubble tea in fourth place (Taiwan, 8.1 billion).

The top five is completed by bakso, an Indonesian meatball dish that has already been viewed 5.6 billion times.

Chris Rolland, CEO of InsureandGo, added: “As TikTok continues to shape both global travel and food trends, it’s fascinating to see how dishes from around the world have captured the hearts and appetites of people everywhere. From tamales in Mexico to stroopwafels in the Netherlands, every trip abroad is a culinary adventure waiting to happen.

‘While discovering new cuisines and flavors is undoubtedly one of the most exciting parts of any trip, it’s important to be sensible when it comes to what you consume while traveling. Contaminated foods and drinks are the most common cause of travel-related illness, so it’s incredibly important that you learn about food safety before you travel.

‘Check that you can drink the tap water in the country you are visiting, observe general food hygiene and make sure you always wash your hands before touching or consuming food. Make sure you have travel insurance so you can enjoy those unique flavors and dishes with peace of mind and be protected in case of unexpected situations.’

The full findings and further information on the foods you should try in each country and continent can be found here: www.insureandgo.com/blog/press-releases/every-countrys-must-try-local-delicacy.