The 10 Best Netflix Travel Shows And Documentaries In Asia

Asian Wanderlust

With international trips dissipated to pretty much non-existence, for the past few years we’ve had to turn to different forms of entertainment to try and satiate our desires to travel.

Unsurprisingly, consuming online content was one way that many people realized was going to be as close as they could get to experiencing the other side of the world.

Watching as real people explored foreign cities, ate peculiar foods, and interacted with strangers somewhat filled that void that we all wished we could go out and fill ourselves with.

Netflix saw the opportunity and absolutely leaped into the task of spoiling us with huge additions of travel shows and documentaries that were made to engage us in ways that makes us feel like we’re actually there in that moment.

Their best content has helped us keep the travel bug at bay and fed into our wanderlust desires in the best ways possible.

Watching these shows, whether it be about countries we’ve already visited or ones that we’re eager to visit once we’re allowed to, inspires us and gives us insight on how we can better plan the trip when the time comes around (and it will come, hopefully sooner rather than later!).

And to be honest, they’re just super fun and easy to watch!

There is currently a plethora of shows about food, travel, and/or culture – but the best ones are the ones that combine all three.

Let’s look into the 10 best Netflix travel shows and documentaries out right now!

1. Street Food Series – Asia (2019)

The Street Food series is a much-loved global series that’s the perfect viewing experience for foodies around the world. Every episode follows the story of a local chef and shares how their famous street food stall came to be.

If you’re a fan of journeys, this series will take you on some wild rides. You’ll be pretty much learning the origin stories of some of the chefs, some who literally started from the bottom, some of who took over flailing family businesses to completely turn them around.

The first series focuses on Asia, taking you for a tour around popular Asian destinations such as Thailand , Singapore , Delhi, Seoul , and many more. The second season focuses on Latin America.

2. Twogether (2020)

Veteran South Korean entertainer Lee Seung Gi and popular Taiwanese actor Liu Yi-Hao (stage name Jasper) are thrown in the deep end in this fun travel and exploration documentary series.

Basically, before starting filming in Indonesia, they met briefly for the first time when they were told that they would be filming this show. Fast-forward to months later and they’re both stepping off the airplane in Yogyakarta, a foreign Indonesian city neither have ever visited before.

From there, both parties must navigate through ‘missions’ (tasks) as submitted by their various fans across multiple cities around Asia, all whilst trying to overcome their language barrier and adapt to their environment.

From the get-go, you get the strong feeling that this is not scripted, as both parties are as awkward as it gets. Communicating in Taiwanese, Korean, and a sprinkle of English, you can feel them warming up to each other as the show goes on, and eventually they form a wonderful brotherhood you just can’t make up.

Both Seung Gi and Jasper are adventurous, comical and overall, wonderfully likable in this amazing series.

3. Somebody Feed Phil (2020)

In this fun and light-hearted travel, food and culture documentary, Phil Rosenthal, the creator of the classic sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” travels the world to indulge in delicious local cuisine and explore more about the culture of the destinations.

Some of the cities that he visits include Bangkok , Saigon , Seoul, and Singapore.

Unsurprisingly, his genuine interest in local customs, openness to trying even the strangest of foods, and amusing dry humour have hooked hundreds of thousands of people around the world. There are currently 4 seasons available to watch on Netflix.

4. J-Style Trip (2020)

Chinese artist Jay Chou is synonymous with legendary music. Many argue that it was he who put C-pop on the global map; if not, then it was he who expanded it beyond its horizons.

On the surface level, this documentary showcases Jay and his crew traveling around different destinations around the world. They perform crazy magic tricks, participate in fun and adventurous activities, and generally have good banter.

However, if you’re a long-time C-pop music lover, you’ll find that this series is much more than what it appears to be.

Whilst there is the glitz and glamor of visiting Paris and globetrotting through Singapore, there are moments of nostalgia as Jay Chou talks about his childhood dreams and inspiration. Certain conversations delve you deeper into the thoughts of the musician and remind you that he is a human before he is an artist.

Regardless of whether you’re a Jay Chou fan or not, this is a great series to binge.

5. The Hungry & The Hairy (2022)

Globally renowned k-popstar Rain and veteran South Korean comedian Ro Hong-chul are a pair of two unlikely friends in their late 30s who get together to traverse the country for light adventure and great food.

The synopsis of the series is basic enough: from Jeju Island to all the way back to Seoul, the two friends dip into various locations with their motorbikes to savour the scenery and sample the local food offerings.

This is a super laid-back, easy-going travelogue show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.  

From the ridiculous outfits to the never-ending banter, you’ll find yourself immersed in the chemistry of the two as well as the gorgeous shots of the areas they go exploring.

One highlight of this show includes the endless drone shots of the long stretches of highways with mountains and beaches flanking the sides, reminding you that there is a whole world out there to explore soon.

Another highlight is the food they devour. When Rain is not showing off his culinary skills and cooking up a storm, they’re stopping into some restaurants that are local favourites to eat until they pass out (literally).

6. Midnight Asia – Eat Dance Dream (2022)

This eclectic show is unique in that rather than show celebrities, it follows the lives of individuals living life in some of the craziest night scenes across Asia.

Brightly lit neon sign boards, big personalities, and stunning drone shots characterize this show. This travel documentary series specifically shoots late at night to really showcase the party vibes of the city it’s highlighting.

The first episode focuses on Tokyo . In Shinjuku, we’re introduced to Sumiko Iwamuro, an 85-year-old DJ.  

We get to know Rogerio Ignacio Vaz, a Brazilian born to Japanese parents, who’s a mixologist.  

We follow Shotaro Komijo, as he drags his bar cart, Twillo, to a random location and then sends an update to his followers via his social media.

These are only a few of the personalities you’ll get to meet.

From Tokyo to Mumbai, Seoul to Taipei , East Asia has its moment in this series.

7. Ugly Delicious (2020)

Part cooking show, part documentary, Ugly Delicious the gold standard for those interested in how food and culture intertwine.

David Chang is a renowned chef who is the owner of the globally popular Momofuku restaurant group. From noodles to fried chicken sandwiches to pastries, his culinary ventures have left little for the imagination.

He starred in both seasons of Ugly Delicious, traveling the world, sampling and breaking down dishes and providing commentary and insight on its concept and history.

Viewers will like how grounded this show is. It isn’t merely just about the food itself; David features guests who sit down over a meal, conversing easily and candidly. There are nostalgic memories brought up, discussions about comfort foods being commercialized, and immigrants opening up shop to provide a taste of home.

David Chang ultimately drives home the message that food is a universal language, and it brings people together.

8. Zulu Man in Japan (2019)

In this short documentary, South African rapper Nasty C takes to the streets of Japan , immersing himself into the local culture, collaborating with local artists, and exposing himself to the vibrant creative arts and music scene.

With only a 48-minute running time, this is a quick and easy watch. You follow Nasty C as he freely and liberally explores the country’s night scene, gets into the thick of the local fashion and arts, attends concerts and more.

For those who have travelled to Japan before, you would know that the vibes in this country are unmatched.

So, to witness an up-and-coming rapper who’s never visited the country before take in the electric scenery, energy, and people the same way you did – in awe and wonderment – it will make you feel things.

9. Flavorful Origins

In this colourful documentary series, Flavorful Origins masterfully takes us through the various traditional cooking techniques of the Chaoshan Cuisine.

The history and culture intertwined with the real individuals in this series provides us with an insight into this relatively unknown branch of Chinese cuisine.  

Each episode focuses on a different dish, some we may have come across before, and others we’ve likely never ever heard about.

The in-depth look at how the chefs, some of whom have had techniques passed down to them from generations before, prepare and cook the food will amaze you.

Frying, grilling, steaming – no cooking method is left off the table.

Whilst there are a whopping 20-episodes, which might seem a tad long for some people, the standardized approach yet fresh content of each episode will have you eating away at the show quicker than you realise.

10. Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories (2019)

The Midnight Diner Tokyo Series is a little bit different from the rest of shows mentioned above. Rather than filming real people traveling the world and exploring food, this show is a work of fiction.

However, it’s not fiction as you know it. Rather, with nuanced characters and clever script-writing, it can be described as a travelogue, a food review show, or even a commentary show on the Japanese lifestyle.

The show itself follows the story of ‘Master’, the owner/chef of a small diner in Tokyo who serves a variety of Japanese dishes to his customers. The diner is open from midnight to 7am, and you quickly find that customers are generally regulars who come for Master’s listening ear and comfort food.

If you’re missing hearing the Japanese language, are looking for something to watch that won’t challenge your thinking too hard, and just want to have a feel-good show on, Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories will introduce you to some unique characters.

I hope you enjoyed our selection of the best Netflix travel shows and documentaries. If you’re looking for some shows to get you out of that (lack of) travel funk, we’re sure that any pick off this list will do the job.

Travel shows and documentaries work wonders in making us feel inspired about the future of travel.

Whether you’re determined to visit your favourite country next year and just want something to tide you over for now, or looking to get some ideas about where you can go next once restrictions fully lift – we hope you find it watching one of these remarkable shows.

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The best food and travel shows to watch right now

By James Medd

Best foodie travel shows

Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home – Travels In My Own Land

Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has retired the infamous Patsy Stone and gone on to make a string of travel documentaries, flitting from the USA to Japan. Her 2021 series is closer to home as she drives around the UK in an Aston Martin DB5 taking in some of the country’s most popular staycation spots. Episodes include stints on Devon ’s epic moors and Cornwall’s pretty island of St Michael’s Mount, as well as in North Wales, the Peak District and her hometown, London. Available to watch on ITV Hub

Breakfast Lunch  Dinner     In this offshoot from his Ugly Delicious show the preposterously busy David Chang hits the...

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

In this offshoot from his Ugly Delicious show, the preposterously busy David Chang hits the road for four hour-long adventures with comedians. He’s in Vancouver with local lad Seth Rogen, fishing and giggling, getting lost in a maze and above all revelling in the city’s Asian food emporia. Then he’s in Marrakech with Chrissy Teigen and in LA with Lena Waithe before the best of the bunch, visiting Phnom Penh with Kate McKinnon. The Saturday Night Live comic and Ghostbusters actor is charming, open and interested in everything around her as they talk Buddhism, ride helicopters and tuk-tuks, and dig surprisingly deep into the issues of a rapidly changing country. Streaming on Netflix

Conan Without Borders

This really is something different. For those outside of the USA, chat-show host Conan O’Brien is very much an unknown quantity, and this show may well be equally baffling: it’s a travel programme but directed primarily for laughs and with the reaction of a studio audience added as if it’s an in-show segment. We get Conan being tall, zany and actually pretty witty in the usual places Americans are interested in: Cuba, Korea, Mexico, Israel, Haiti and Italy. Don’t expect to get all the references but give it a go. Streaming on Netflix

Frankie Boyles Tour of Scotland     Well hes certainly mellowed. Once the scourge of tabloid and liberal broadsheet...

Frankie Boyle’s Tour of Scotland

Well, he’s certainly mellowed. Once the scourge of tabloid and liberal broadsheet alike, the comic has revealed more humanity as his face has been ever more hidden under a beard. He’s still sharp, as the introduction shows – ‘There comes a time in every comedian’s career when they decide to do travelogues,’ he tells us – though this is much richer than the sitcom-character-goes-to-Africa formula we’re used to. Over four episodes, each given a very loose theme, he enjoys Scotland’s camera-friendliness – the coast, moors and monumental architecture – and meets a parade of eccentric locals. His secret weapon is asking unusual questions, ensuring a wide range of subjects: one episode alone covers Mary Queen of Scots, martial arts, protests and funfairs. Be warned: contains adult content and sarcasm. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Great Railway Journeys

Want to take the train but can’t face Michael Portillo and his range of bright slacks? Now’s the time to dive into iPlayer, then, as the Tory grandee’s monopoly on rail travel falls off the rotation, leaving this multi-presenter series from 1994. Follow the lovely Michael Palin to Ireland and the awkwardly charming Clive Anderson to China, and watch ballerina Natalia Makarova take on her native Russia and the great BBC correspondent Mark Tully head to India. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Griffs Great Australian Adventure      Despite an unpromising start  do we need a TV comic to tell us that ‘this is a...

Griff’s Great Australian Adventure

Despite an unpromising start – do we need a TV comic to tell us that ‘this is a big place’, or that he’s about to embark on ‘the journey of a lifetime’? – this is well worth your time. Griff Rhys Jones travels around the great southern land by train, packing a great deal into his 30-minute episodes. Along with crocs, sheep-shearing, gold-prospecting and whitewater-rafting, he joins the drag scene in Broken Hill, digs into the poetry of the Outback and hitches a ride with a Flying Doctor. Throughout, he transcends the formula by being well-informed and showing an interest in people. Streaming on ITV Hub

My Greek Odyssey

If you enjoyed the last season of The Trip but felt there was too much competitive banter and not enough Greek scenery, then this is for you. Be warned, however, that host Peter Maneas is a character beyond even the imaginings of Steve Coogan: a full-on Aussie of Hellenic extraction, he’s colourful, exuberant and generally not backward in coming forward, all to the power of 10. If you can handle that, then join him on his mission to visit every one of his homeland’s 227 inhabited islands, starting with Season 1’s tour of the Saronic and Ionian, including Hydra , Spetses , Kefalonia and Zakynthos. Included with Amazon Prime membership

Jack Whitehall Travels with My Father

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

The comedian is a divisive figure, but less so than the man he insists on calling ‘Daddy’, an old showbiz hand who’s loving his spell in the spotlight. It’ll take five minutes to decide whether you’re up for this show, but if you can take the intergenerational eager-puppy-versus-stuffed-shirt banter you do get a lot of travel for your time. In season one they hit South-east Asia to live out Whitehall’s cancelled gap year, while season two is a cultural tour of eastern Europe led by his father Michael. In both cases, hijinks ensue, locals are baffled and we’re lightly entertained. Streaming on Netflix

Dark Tourist

New Zealand journalist David Farrier looks like a geography teacher and often appears more scared than you’d expect from someone in his line of work, but he’s a curiously engaging host for this tour of unlikely, unsafe and unsavoury destinations. Usually wearing pink patterned shorts, he ventures to nuclear disaster zones, serial-killer hotspots, voodoo rituals and the dreadful, monolithic emptiness of Turkmenistan. His show is genuinely informative and remarkably un-hipster. Streaming on Netflix

Travel Man

Now eight seasons in, this short-haul travelogue is admirably dependable. A lot of that is down to actor-director Richard Ayoade, who can bend his deadpan wit to provide a foil to whichever fellow comedian he has in tow for that week ’s 48-hour city break (including occasional Hollywood stars such as Jon Hamm and Paul Rudd). It’s basically a comedy but, for all the eccentric hotels , drinking and quirky-museum-hunting, this show is still a reliable indicator of whether you’ll enjoy two nights or more in that week’s destination , so bring on season nine. Catch up on All 4

The Mind of a Chef

Chef-profile shows can merge into a blur of hot men in dark rooms talking about sourcing and knives, but this PBS show is in sharp focus – partly because episodes last just 23 minutes. Each of its five seasons are hosted by a different chef, from David Chang, who presents Netflix’s Ugly Delicious , to Prune author Gabrielle Hamilton, who traces a dish to its source, has a good dig and still manages to get in more travel trimmings than most of the hour-long competition. Season five’s resident Ludo Lefebvre is particularly good value – look out for his outraged attempt to reclaim Jersey for France on a lobster-fishing trip. Stream it on Netflix

The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan     Currently vying for the title of most familiar face on British TV...

The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan

Currently vying for the title of most familiar face on British TV, Ranganathan generally trades on sardonic wit but these tours of ‘the places others avoid’ break through the cynical veneer to show the thoughtful and frequently terrified everyman inside the comedy sports-quiz panellist. In the latest, second season he journeys to Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Colombia. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Around the World in 80 Gardens

Led by the soothing, earnest tones of Monty Don, this is a different and highly satisfying tour of the globe, first screened in 2008. Naturally each region’s flora and plant-husbandry tell us something about the culture and landscape, and our thoughtful and well-informed host is just the man to tell us how. Starting in Mexico and Cuba with rainforests and colonialism, he passes through the the tomb gardens of India’s Mughal emperors, the floating wonders of the Amazon, the Imperial Summer Palace of Beijing, Emperor Hadrian’s Retreat in Italy and the perfection of the Alhambra in Granada, via Bali, Bangkok and the Arctic Circle. You don’t need green fingers to enjoy this, just a love of beauty. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Somebody Feed Phil

Somebody Feed Phil

If you don’t know Everybody Loves Raymond , the American sitcom he created – actually, even if you do – you may find Philip Rosenthal a distracting host: odd, distracted, awkward. Still, he sure loves his food and Netflix sure loves him, bankrolling 12 episodes of this foodie travelogue that takes him all over the world to Bangkok , Tel Aviv , Buenos Aires , Dublin and Mexico City (always Mexico). It’s a pretty easy ride – he walks around a bit, eats some local dishes, gets excited – but it’s fun, and you’ll like Phil. Streaming on Netflix

National Geographic Presents

Dig deep into the travel-related content from the always-reliable NatGeo. For that unique combination of brashness and culinary genius, there’s Gordon Ramsay Uncharted , where the king of the TV cooks heads for Peru, Morocco, Laos and more. The Bear Grylls-narrated Hostile Planet is a fascinating look at how animals have adapted to the most difficult conditions, from icecap to desert to ocean – highlights include a jaguar hunting crocodiles in the Amazon. Adventure fans, meanwhile, should dive into Lost Treasures of the Maya , where explorer Albert Lin hunts down lost civilization with new tech. Streaming on Disney+

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The Trip     Steve Coogan and Rob Brydons semiimprovised wander between scenically sited restaurants is a journey that...

Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s semi-improvised wander between scenically sited restaurants is a journey that bears repeating. The original six-part run through the North of England in 2010, where both idea and stars were at their freshest and there was a real edge of melancholy tod the impressions and repartee, remains the best but it’s hard to argue with Season 2’s finale in Capri, where two middle-aged men talk rubbish against one of the world’s most beautiful backdrops, and Season 3’s visit to Spain kept up the quality. This year, of course, the boys were back for a tour of Greece. Find out where Season 4 of The Trip was filmed. Stream on Amazon Prime Pictured: Adatepe Ida Blue Hotel

All Aboard! The Great Reindeer Migration

From BBC4’s ‘Slow Christmas’ series, this 2018 programme follows the Sami reindeer herds of Norway on their 160-mile trek north through Finnmark to the Arctic Circle. With no eager presenters to tell us how amazing/dangerous/unchanged it is (though all those things are true), the result is more like a visual poem or guided meditation – most of it just the jangle of the animals’ bells, traditional singing and barking dogs over aerial views and close-ups. And breathe… Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown     Dating from 2013 to 2018 this CNN series may just be the great legacy of the...

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Dating from 2013 to 2018, this CNN series may just be the great legacy of the Godfather of the foodie-travel genre. The effortlessly cool and much-missed NY chef really scratches his adventurer’s itch here, starting with the just reopened Myanmar, Libya and the Congo, and throwing in local-knowledge trips to US cities as well. Regardless of the destination, though, the aim is the same: to live a more interested and interesting life. Watch and learn lessons for travel and beyond. Season 1 streaming on My5. Seasons 1-5 included with Amazon Prime membership

Floyd on France

A time capsule from a different age (1987, to be precise), this makes a pretty startling contrast to the current Netflix foodie doc. Bow-tied and boozy, the late Keith Floyd sets off from a land barely out of the boiled-mutton-and-suet dark ages and barges into the kitchens of France, then considered the world leader of haute cuisine. However misguided his confidence, his enthusiasm and astonishing ability to drink and talk are wondrous to behold as he charges through Provence, Périgord, Burgundy, Alsace, the Basque Country and Brittany. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Ugly Delicious     Momofuku chef and Vice graduate David Chang  gets down and dirty on this show sold under the motto...

Ugly Delicious

Momofuku chef and Vice graduate David Chang (see also The Mind of a Chef ) gets down and dirty on this show, sold under the motto ‘Food is a four-letter word’. Each episode looks hard at one home-cooking favourite, with help from guest chefs or foodies, giving American comfort food, from pizza to fried chicken, the kind of attention usually reserved for haute cuisine. Just added is Season 2, where David deals with worries about feeding his forthcoming baby, looks at ways of eating beef, investigates curry with Aziz Ansari and explores the world of kebabs. Streaming on Netflix

World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys – C5/MY5

If you’re drawn to the romance of rail travel but don’t need the usual celebrity guide, fill your boots with this six-parter. There’s a Rocky Mountain ride past lakes, rainforest and wandering bears from Vancouver to Banff, an architecture-heavy tour of northern Spain, volcanoes and sacred hunting grounds in New Zealand, plus trips through Wales, Norway and to the Matterhorn in Switzerland. It’s packed with business and all very thorough, well-researched and beautifully filmed, and the narration is in the capable hands of Bill Nighy. Streaming on My5

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Hosting this adaptation of her own book, chef Samin Nosrat proves an exuberant, natural presenter. The high-concept format – four journeys in pursuit of the four titular pillars of cooking – provides the structure, leaving Nosrat to enthuse and convince with the help of chefs from Japan , Italy , Mexico and California . And though it’s mostly kitchen-based, the show always has a strong sense of place, whether in the olive groves of Liguria, Italy , on the cable car to Japan’s Shōdoshima island or under the corrugated roofs of Oxkutzcab in Mexico. Streaming on Netflix

Huangs World

Huang’s World

Tattooed, perma-vested Eddie Huang is a true one-off. An attorney, restaurateur and author (of televised memoir Fresh Off The Boat ), he’s also a man with a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for food, and the most energetic host in food-travel TV. This series is excellent value; Huang is unafraid to talk to experts and locals alike and always has his nose in the action. Catch up on All4

…with Simon Reeve

…with Simon Reeve

While others provide entertainment, the perturbingly youthful but tremendously wise Reeve brings the information part of the BBC’s Reithian values. With his background in investigative reporting, he digs that bit deeper while retaining the Bear Grylls-meets-Brian Cox enthusiasm that ensures you always know this is about travel rather than history or politics. You’ll find a selection of his trips on BBC iPlayer, from the six-part Indian Ocean journey and three-part whistlestop tour round Australia to a one-off in Colombia . Catch up on BBC iPlayer

Rick Stein’s Seafood Odyssey

In this series from 1999, the doyen of British seafood has a quick look at how the rest of the world does it. He cooks shark vindaloo in Goa, tries percebes (goose barnacles) picked from the rocks in Galicia, has seabass and oysters in Chesapeake Bay and generally enthuses about grills, saucepans and fishing nets in Naples, Queensland and Thailand before heading closer to home for a fish supper in Whitby. Streaming on BBC iPlayer

Arabia with Levison Wood

Arabia with Levison Wood

British Army officer Wood is an explorer in the classic mould, and solo walks are a speciality ( the Himalayas , the Nile, Central America , Russia ). This programme finds him, Bedouin-scarved and deeply tanned, touring 13 countries and 5,000 miles of the Arabian peninsula, crossing Oman ’s Empty Quarter by camel, embedding himself with troops fighting Isis in Yemen and exchanging selfies in Saudi Arabia. There’s all the derring-do and endurance you could ask for, but he’s also a sensitive and curious companion. Watch on Amazon Prime

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Eat With Fish

Best Asian Food Shows On Netflix You Should Watch

Filed Under: Blog , Food Stories Tagged With: asian food , food review , food shows November 24, 2020 by fish

If you are into Asian food and want to learn more about it. Here is a great place to start, below is the list of 5 best Asian food shows I recommend on Netflix (not in any particular order).

asian food travel shows

1. Flavourful Origins (Best for Chinese Cuisine)

Let’s start with the one close to my heart. After watching this show, I was interested in learning the history of Thai cuisine and how it was influenced by the Southern Chinese diaspora.

Flavourful Origins landed on my best Asian food shows because it did really well in showcasing the local ingredients in each region in China. Moreover, you will also see how the cuisines in Southern regions of China bordering Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos share a lot of similarities.

Cuisine in these regions resembles one another quite closely. For instance, a variation of the dish Sa Pie that was featured in the Yunnan series can also be found in Northern Thailand – called Sa Jin.

2. Street Food Asia (Best for Asian Street Food)

Street Food Asia made it on the list of best Asian food shows not only because of it’s compelling stories behind each episode but also how it celebrates the faces behind the street food culture in Asia.

Above all, the series started with an episode featuring Bangkok. You can’t top that!

3. The Chef Show (Best for Asian-American)

The best part about The Chef Show is watching Jon Favreau and Chef Roy Choi. Prior to this, the duo worked together on the film chef where Roy worked as a consultant.

Roy started his career as a classically trained chef then pivoted to starting his own Korean-American food struck – Kogi. Kogi is the pioneer of its kind, an Asian-American cuisine that speaks to many second generations in America.

Moreover, the show does really well in highlighting that cooking is a journey. There is also an element of comfort in watching food prepared not in a ‘perfected’ manner, a set in stone recipe, but as a learning process. I personally think that’s the truth in the kitchen, sometimes you get it right and other times wrong and you have to find ways to salvage it.

Above all, the duo struck a wonderful balance between respecting the basics and building upon that whatever dish they were aiming for, there’s always a wiggle room to achieve something delicious. Food is a journey and this docuseries does wonderfully in showing us just that. This is definitely the one to binge on!

4. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Best for Sushi)

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a story of one of the world’s greatest sushi chef. He was the owner and founder of the world’s first 3-Michelin star sushi restaurant.

In addition to following Jiro’s continuous strive for perfection, you’d also see a side of him as a complicated father. Moreover, you will get a glimpse into Japanese culture and understand why Japan had become the country with the most Michelin-star restaurants.

5. Chef’s Table (Best For Asian Fine Dining)

It’s probably one of the most popular docuseries out there, pretty visuals and lovely music. If you’re not up to watching all of the episodes (which I highly recommend you do anyways) then below is the list of episodes featuring Asian chefs.

  • S1 EP04 Niki Nakayama
  • S2 EP06 Gaggan Anand
  • S3 EP01 Jeong Kwan
  • S3 EP04 Ivan Orkin
  • S4 EP03 Bo Songvisava
  • S6 EP03 Asma Khan

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Travel through food: 9 shows every foodie should watch

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If you’ve been using this time at home to work on your cooking skills, or if you’re simply looking for something new to binge and you’re a foodie at heart, then shows that allow you to immerse yourself in new cultures and cuisines will be an absolute treat for you.

To help you pick which one to watch, we’ve rounded up our favourite foodie shows available to stream – all of which, let you indulge in a bit of armchair travel while you watch them. So, whether you’re after some cooking inspiration or ideas of where to plan your next vacation , here are the shows that cover both:

Gino’s Italian Escape

TV chef Gino D’acampo returns to his home country of Italy and embarks on a culinary odyssey, from major cities like Rome and Naples to coastal villages, to discover the secrets of its cuisine in this cooking travelogue adventure. Gino’s Italian Escape airs on SBS FOOD on Monday evenings. Or you can catch up on season three here .

asian food travel shows

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Chef David Chang takes his insatiable curiosity about food, culture and identity on the road, in the convivial company of fun-loving celebrity guests including Chrissy Teigan, Seth Rogan, Lena Waithe and Kate McKinnon.

Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam

Celebrated chef Luke Nguyen takes us on a culinary journey in Vietnam, travelling by train from Ho Chi Minh in the south to Sa Pa in the north. The series combines his love of food, travel, trains and the Vietnamese people. Watch Luke Nguyen’s Railway Vietnam on SBS OnDemand here.

Luke Nguyen's Railway Vietnam

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Chef and food writer Samin Nosrat travels the world to explore four basic keys to wonderful cooking across four episodes. Along the way, she serves mouth-watering feasts and provides helpful tips for viewers at home. Check out the trailer below or watch the full series on Netflix Australia.

Ainsley’s Caribbean Kitchen

TV chef Ainsley Harriott takes a trip across the Caribbean visiting the islands that have inspired his cooking from an early age. Stopping at Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica and Antigua, Ainsley will take viewers on a journey through the tropical climates, exotic food and charming characters that make each island in the Caribbean unique. You can catch Ainsley’s Caribbean Kitchen at SBS OnDemand here .

asian food travel shows

Street Food Asia

After the outbreak begun in Wuhan China, feelings towards street food became more uncertain than ever. However before you make up your mind about it, this Netflix series is a great way to truly educate yourself on the ins and outs of Asian street food and discover the stories of the people who run such market stalls. Available to watch on Netflix Australia.

Somebody Feed Phil

“Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal travels the globe to take in the local cuisine and culture of Bangkok, Lisbon, Mexico City and more. Check out the trailer below or stream seasons one and two on Netflix Australia.

Destination Flavour Japan

Celebrated cook Adam Liaw takes food lovers on a journey of culinary discovery throughout Japan. In the debut episode, Adam heads to Hokkaido, a gourmet paradise known for extraordinary cold-water seafood and dairy farming. Adam meets a dairy farmer who, with only 35 cows and his wife’s cheesecake recipe, turned their tiny farm into a multi-million-dollar business. Check out  Destination Flavour Japan   here .

Nigel Slater’s Middle East

Food writer Nigel Slater explores the Middle East; cooking and eating with the people of Lebanon, Turkey and Iran as he discovers the secrets of the world’s oldest cuisines. Series one is available to watch on ABC iview here .

asian food travel shows

Tags: Asian food , coronavirus , COVID-19 , Culinary adventure , food and travel , foodie travel , Italian food , Mediterranean food , Netflix , Travel through food , Virtual travel , Virtual Travel Hub

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4 Irresistible Japanese Food Shows

Delectable food and mellow vibes make these shows hard to pass up

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If you turned on a TV in Japan, it wouldn’t take much channel flipping before you landed on something to do with food. Any given breakfast TV chat show will feature a man on the street checking out restaurants, variety shows are full of celebrities tasting and talking about food, and there are entire game shows based around cooking and eating. And now, for those of us outside of Japan, it’s easier than ever to get our eyes on the growing wealth of Japanese food-based TV shows. Netflix has Samurai Gourmet , Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories , and Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman , and Amazon Prime has Sunshine Sento-Sake , but there’s more out there to be devoured.

These shows share a common thread of having very little in the way of ongoing plots or character development; first and foremost, they’re about the food. These shows are comfort food in themselves, a way to relax — preferably with a meal at hand, to stave off the hunger pangs inspired by the dishes consumed on screen. These shows straddle the line between fiction and reality TV; while the scenarios and characters are fictional, the restaurants visited are real. The predictability of a given episode is as soothing as a reliable bowl of plain rice, but they have something inspirational to them, too. If you could get off the couch and hop on a plane, you could be chowing down on the exact same salted salmon or sipping the same sake.

These four shows are half travel programs, half chill-out entertainment, and if they don’t make you itch to book a ticket to Japan, they’ll at least get you searching for menus to the nearest quality Japanese restaurant.

If you like dining alone...

asian food travel shows

The Solitary Gourmet (Kodoku no Gurume) is about a man who eats alone. That’s it. The show follows the life of Gorō Inogashira (played by Yutaka Matsushige), a middle-aged tableware salesman, who in each episode has some brief interaction with the world around him — a discussion about renting new office space, a meeting with an over-talkative woman who wants to buy teacups — but after no more than 10 minutes of this troublesome interaction with other people, his stomach starts growling, and the rest of the show is devoted to his thoughts as he eats alone.

The beauty of The Solitary Gourmet comes not just in the foods that Gorō eats, but in his face as he eats them. This is a man who always looks slightly stricken. When he speaks out loud, it tends to be hesitant and stilted. But as he eats, even if his expression is serious, in voiceover we hear his inner thoughts as he deeply enjoys the food he’s been served. This is a man whose one true joy is dining alone, but we get to share his meals with him.

The series is based on the manga of the same name by Masayuki Qusumi, who also created Samurai Gourmet and Sunshine Sento-Sake . The end of each episode shows Qusumi himself going to the real-world restaurant that Gorō visited and enjoying the same meal, be it spicy tantanmen or oden, served by the actual staff of the restaurant instead of actors. Unlike Gorō, Qusumi is all smiles and happy conversation as he eats. The invitation is there: Come dine with us, whether you’re alone or not.

The Solitary Gourmet is available on DVD , or online if, cough cough, wink wink, you just do a little Googling.

If you like drinking alone...

asian food travel shows

Wakakozake is the story of a 26-year-old office worker named Wakako (played by Rina Takeda) who, when she’s finished with work, just wants to go somewhere and have a bite to eat and some drinks by herself. Just like Gorō, there’s not much content to the storylines that aren’t focused on food. Wakako is just interested in the joy of selecting the right sake to go with the salted grilled salmon that she’s ordered, or learning how to toast stingray fins with a lighter, with her face full of bright excitement as we hear her inner monologue about what she eats.

A few episodes of Wakakozake break from the exact format of “character goes to real world restaurant, eats, enjoys, end of episode.” In one, Wakako enjoys a night at home where she’s cooking a stew for herself. While she waits for it to finish, she contents herself with drinking wine and eating snacks like “brapples,” brie cheese combined with sliced apples. Watching this episode, I had an expectation that eventually something would happen, that something would go wrong, like Wakako’s stew burning while she sipped whiskey on her balcony. But nothing happens. It’s just 20-some-odd minutes of a young woman getting drunk by herself at home and having a great time of it. It’s perfect television.

”I like liquor not because it makes me forget, but because it makes me notice,” Wakako thinks to herself in one episode, and that’s the pleasure of Wakakozake . It’s about taking the time to really savor and appreciate the little pleasures in life, so much so that you can’t help letting out a sigh of contentment afterwards, just like Wakako.

Wakakozake is available on Crunchyroll, in both live action form and in shorter-length anime episodes .

If you love ramen...

asian food travel shows

Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles (Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san ) is, not surprisingly, a show about a young woman who loves ramen. Koizumi (played by Akari Hayami) is a mysterious transfer student in school who catches the attention of her classmate Yū, a girl who becomes infatuated with Koizumi’s cool, aloof beauty. Yū wants desperately to be Koizumi’s friend (or more, depending on how you like to read your Japanese schoolgirl affections), but Koizumi consistently brushes her off in favor of her only true passion: ramen.

Koizumi approaches her ramen with a methodical seriousness, cracking her wrists and tying back her hair before she tucks into a bowl. She has an encyclopedic knowledge about all things ramen, from different regional styles to unusual ways to enhance instant ramen to the best restaurants to find exciting new variations. Koizumi is even a master of ramen-eating technique, impressing a group of men with her tactics in eating a bowl overflowing with meat and vegetables, or dazzling Yū by strategically allowing her noodles to get a little soggy. Koizumi’s icy exterior only drops when she eats ramen, showing an expression of pure bliss, a bright smile that makes Yū swoon.

There’s some high school drama scattered here and there in Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles , but it always comes back to ramen in the end. What better way to heal from the heartbreak of being dumped by an idiot high school boy than with ramen so spicy it allows you to shed a tear? Ms. Koizumi is also the most educational of the shows here, with frequent asides to talk about different styles and methods of preparation of ramen and the real places where you could slurp up a bowl.

It’s also the show that made me the most desperately hungry. I ate two bowls of my own gussied-up instant ramen while marathon-watching Ms. Koizumi , and I definitely regretted it. Come into Ms. Koizumi prepared with a good local ramen restaurant in mind.

Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles comes in two forms, a four-episode live action series , and a longer-running anime .

If you’re just plain lazy...

asian food travel shows

Every episode of Hana’s Sloppy Meals ( Hana no Zubora Meshi ) begins with a brief animated short of some scene from Japanese legend, such as the discovery of the hero boy Momotarō inside a giant peach, but altered so that the characters from the myth are so lazy that the epic story never even begins. Hana’s Sloppy Meals is about the kind of food that gets made when you’re at home and too damn lazy to do anything else.

Hana’s Sloppy Meals is based on another manga by The Solitary Gourmet ’s Masayuki Qusumi, following the life of a bored housewife named Hana (played by Kana Kurashina). Hana’s husband works in another city and they have no children, so Hana is left to lounge around the house in piles of clutter, looking for any sort of inspiration for what to do with her day. Partway through each episode, a pair of commentators appear to give play-by-play on Hana’s lethargic life, narrating as she searches through the messy apartment for a favorite CD, naps, and finally decides that she needs a snack.

The zubora in Hana no Zubora Meshi can certainly be translated as sloppy , but the meals that Hana makes are not specifically messy. They’re just slapdash, improvised things thrown together from whatever she has in the fridge or pantry. Hana may be craving a fancy salmon dish, but she tosses together jarred salmon on a thick piece of bread and toasts it up in the toaster oven. Hana’s meals come partly in packages and boxes and jars, and for her, that’s just as good as the beautiful meals that Gorō or Wakako or Koizumi enjoy. It’s almost the fictionalized, Japanese version of Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee . The end of each episode features one of the commentators showing you exactly how to cook what Hana cooked, so you can make lazy, sloppy meals of your own.

Hana’s Sloppy Meals is available on DVD .

Be forewarned: When you take a dive into this genre of Japanese television, you will get hungry. Watching The Solitary Gourmet is relaxing, but going in on an empty stomach will leave your stomach growling as loudly as Gorō’s. Keep your delivery menus and cookbooks handy and have something nice to sip on like Wakako as you kick back and explore Japanese food from the comfort of your home.

Whitney Reynolds is a writer and podcaster living in Brooklyn, New York. Editor: Greg Morabito

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21 Best Food And Travel Shows On Netflix

By Aaron Pruner on May 5, 2018 at 10:48AM PDT

asian food travel shows

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Eating food and going places: These are things we all do, or wish we could do more of. Netflix knows this, which explains the spike in food/travel programming in recent years. After all, when we're not eating food or going places, there's a good chance we're thinking about eating food or going places. The binge-watch model works wonderfully when indulging in such programming.

Whether an exciting history lesson is revealed or a new recipe is explored, Netflix has something for everyone. From the sardonic sensibilities of Anthony Bourdain to the awkward dad humor of Phil Rosenthal, here are 21 of the best food/travel shows available on Netflix right now.

21. Eat Your Words

21. Eat Your Words

Eat Your Words sounds like the perfect Yelp-themed revenge story. Instead of simply leaving the bad reviews untouched, the concept for the series puts contestants in the cook's shoes and challenges them to recreate the dish they didn't enjoy in the first place. What transpires is redemption on both sides--with the chefs sometimes receiving the vindication they seek, while the dissatisfied foodies sometimes prove they've got their own worthy culinary skills. After cooking up the negatively rated meal, the finished product is presented to a panel of judges--and then rated on their own Yelp-like star system.

20. Chef & My Fridge

20. Chef & My Fridge

Chef & My Fridge delivers a familiar cooking competition formula but through a South Korean reality show lens. The concept finds chefs teamed with regular people, with the goal of cooking up high-end dishes using only the ingredients contained in the guest star's fridge. Needless to say, the show's tone is lighthearted and a bit wacky, and gives American viewers insight into the country's reality food programming. Oh, and don't forget the emojis. There are lots of emojis.

19. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

19. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

Unlike the majority of shows on this list, Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories tackles food-themed voyeurism in a scripted format. The 10-episode series gives a peek into Tokyo's late night scene. It follows an assortment of characters--all of them diner regulars--as they partake in an assortment of Japanese comfort food. That's only the beginning, though, as the dishes in question spark different stories--full of heart, humor, and emotion. For those unfamiliar with Japanese culture, this show offers a lovely introduction to its food and people.

18. Testing the Menu

18. Testing the Menu

What's most interesting about Testing the Menu is the fact that it's a New Zealand cooking show focused on Asian fusion cuisine. Chef Nick Watt travels around Auckland and its surrounding area, testing out different recipes on the general public--which may or may not be added to the menu of the various Japanese restaurants he owns. Watt's nerdy presence offers a different dynamic for those needing a break from those shows that may take themselves a bit too seriously. As appetizing as things get, the show succeeds best when it highlights New Zealand culture.

17. A Cook Abroad

17. A Cook Abroad

If you're looking for an Anthony Bourdain-style show, but without all that Bourdain-iness, A Cook Abroad may quench your proverbial thirst. Each episode follows a different host as they traverse different parts of the world. From Sikh chef Tony Singh's trip to India to motorcycle enthusiast Dave Meyer's jaunt to Egypt to Rachel Khoo's inspiring look at Malaysia, it's easy to see the adventurous appeal of the series. There's only six episodes of the BBC 2 series--but that's surely enough to give viewers a taste of the show's unique worldly aesthetic.

16. The Wild Chef

16. The Wild Chef

Martin Picard is an award-winning chef that hails from Montreal. He's appeared as a guest on multiple food shows--the Canada episode of Parts Unknown comes to mind. And with The Wild Chef, he lets his adventurous food spirit free. Each episode finds the man and his sous chef Hugue Lafour hitting the road to brave the elements--hunting moose and trapping muskrats--only to create a delicious dish using what they find in the wilderness. While the show doesn't necessarily give you instructions on making these meals at home, The Wild Chef provides a survivalist angle to the food-travel show construct. And the result is quite entertaining.

15. Avec Eric

15. Avec Eric

Another series that has banked on the success of the Anthony Bourdain food/travel show formula is Avec Eric--which is not surprising since Eric Ripert is one of Bourdain's closest friends. The show follows the French chef as he travels the world, showcasing cultural highlights of whatever destination he's visiting. He may lack the charisma one would expect--there's no witty sarcasm here--but his show doesn't pander either. Staying true to his Buddhist sensibilities, Ripert keeps his focus on foods and locales of an exotic nature--and he does so without any pretension or judgment, which is delightful in its own right.

14. The Big Family Cooking Showdown

14. The Big Family Cooking Showdown

What's not to love about The Big Family Cooking Showdown? The host of the show, Nadiya Hussain, used her big win in Season 6 of The Great British Baking Show to launch this new competition series. Hailing from BBC Two, Hussain is joined by co-host Zoë Ball, and the two head to the British countryside to find the area's best home cooks. Rounding out the cast are judges Roseman Shrager and Michelin Star-winning chef Giorgio Locatelli. Cut from that feel-good Mary Berry cloth, the program succeeds at scratching the British Baking Show itch.

13. The Great British Baking Show: Masterclass

13. The Great British Baking Show: Masterclass

For those put off by the overhaul The Great British Baking Show went through, this show may be for you. While Mary Berry hasn't returned for the new season of the food competition series, this quaint spinoff reunites her with judge Paul Hollywood for an up-close-and-personal baking education. Instead of watching contestants struggle to keep up with each culinary challenge, Berry and Hollywood bring viewers into the kitchen to show how to make some of the toughest desserts featured on the popular series. Mary Berry may be gone from The Great British Baking Show, but her presence here is a treat for old and new fans alike.

12. Zumbo's Just Desserts

12. Zumbo's Just Desserts

With a name like Zumbo, you might expect something a bit clown-ish when tuning in to Zumbo's Just Desserts. While it’s not the circus sideshow the name implies,, the Australian series does come packed with plenty of spectacle. Each episode finds pastry chef Adriano Zumbo presenting two dessert-making challenges to a group of amateur bakers. What makes the series stand out from the pack are the out-of-this-world concoctions Zumbo whips up. Giant sugary sculptures and magical layered cakes abound in this series. Willy Wonka would be proud.

11. Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father

11. Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father

Jack Whitehall is pretty famous in the UK. The comedian and TV personality has earned himself a loyal following. And with his travel series, Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father, he's connected with a whole new audience. The program follows a Bourdain-like formula as Whitehall travels to South Asia, aiming to fulfill his gap year dreams. But things get interesting when he decides to bring his father and former producer and talent agent, Michael Whitehall, along for the ride. What transpires is a hilarious bonding session that plays out between a hesitant, fancy father and his brash, adventurous son.

10. Rotten

Rotten takes an in-depth look at the different aspects of the food business--and the fraud, crimes, and tragedies that come with it. From the "Honey" episode's focus on corruption and contamination plaguing America's honey industry to the "Peanut" episode's investigation into the drastic rise of food allergies, the six-part docuseries pulls no punches. It's not your typical feel-good food show, but the series does help to shine a light on lesser known, but quite critical, aspects of the food industry. Oh, and it's produced by Zero Point Zero--the Emmy-winning company behind a handful of hit food/travel shows, including Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.

9. Cooked

Executive produced by author Michael Pollan, Cooked breaks down the familiar food docuseries format into four parts: "Fire," "Water," "Air," and "Earth." Each episode focuses on each of the planet's powerful elements to explore just how these resources are connected to sustenance, impacting the day-to-day foods we eat. The program peels back the curtain on the cultural history of global food practices, instead of just displaying food porn for food porn's sake. Ultimately, the Alex Gibney-directed (Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, The Looming Tower) series is informative without being pretentious--highlighting different perspectives the world over on topics from sustainable crops to food prep to the simple joy of enjoying dinner with family around a table.

8. The Mind of a Chef

8. The Mind of a Chef

Anthony Bourdain put his producer hat on for PBS's Mind of a Chef. Different celebrity chefs take the helm to host the series, with the assistance of Bourdain's familiar voice-over narration style. What audiences should expect here are similar components that make other Bourdain joints a success. You've got beautiful shots of food, travel tips, a peek into a town's history, an a handful of intriguing personalities. David Chang helms the first season--each episode is about 20 minutes long--which gives viewers that lovely Anthony Bourdain feel, without all the Bourdain.

7. Ugly Delicious

7. Ugly Delicious

Ugly Delicious takes the pretentiousness out of food programming, highlighting the importance of the ugly and delicious world of home cooking. Since David Chang disrupted the food world with his restaurant Momofuku, he's made a reputation of being one of the more vocal food personalities in the industry. As audiences have seen with his work from Vice's Munchies to Mind of a Chef, the man has interesting things to say. Chang isn't the only host of the series, though, giving a collection of unique voices a chance to shine. And that's great, especially for those out there who find his brash sensibilities an acquired taste.

6. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

6. Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

From the man behind Seinfeld--the game-changing "show about nothing"--comes a simple show concept: Each episode follows the comedian as he drives some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry around the city in a classic car. Of course, they end up getting coffee, which is a selling point for any coffee fan, but the crux of the show finds Jerry chopping it up with his famous peers--from Jim Carrey to Barack Obama. It's like taking the best parts of a late night talk show on the road. And with Netflix's acquisition of the series, not only is every episode available to be viewed, it's delightfully bingeable.

5. The Great British Baking Show

5. The Great British Baking Show

In a world where loud judgmental hosts like Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain focus on the darker aspects of the culinary world, Mary Berry's The Great British Baking Show offers a different, pleasant perspective on things. As charming as it is beautiful, the show focuses on the delightful aspects of baking. And while this is a competition series, the programming formula sheds the expected reality show drama--there's no villain amongst the contestants--and focuses on the struggles and victories of the actual food-making process. It's a breath of fresh air, honestly.

4. Chef's Table

4. Chef's Table

When it comes to food programming, Chef's Table stands out from the pack with its epic production value. While this show provides a very high level of food porn for the senses, each episode adds an emotional component by delving into a famous chef's backstory. Without food, we'd surely die. But watching these stories unfold--exploring just how the culinary business not only saved, but changed lives for the better--shows just how important to the culture chefs are. Making meals may not always be pretty, but this heightened docuseries cuts through the fat, exposing the passion behind the meal.

3. Chef's Table: France

3. Chef's Table: France

Netflix one-upped itself with Chef's Table: France. Sure, Chef's Table changed the game when it comes to food porn. The cinematography alone in these episodes deserve all the awards. That said, bringing the series to France was a no-brainer. Not only do these episodes appeal to French locals, presenting the subject matter all in the country’s native tongue, the program opens things up to a global audience. Exploring these various dishes and culture is impactful here for the simple reason that French cuisine has--and continues to have--a monumental impact on food around the world. If Chef's Table dug into the stories and struggles behind the food, Chef's Table: France breaks the whole thing down to its basest id. And it'll leave your mouth watering for more.

2. Somebody Feed Phil/I'll Have What Phil's Having

2. Somebody Feed Phil/I'll Have What Phil's Having

Upon watching Somebody Feed Phil (The Netflix continuation of PBS's short-lived series I'll Have What Phil's Having) you instantly feel a stark difference from the grumpy host stylings that either Bourdain or Chang bring to the table. Phil Rosenthal--he's the guy who created Everybody Loves Raymond--has one goal in mind: To go to new places and try new things. As he travels around the world and puts local delicacies into his mouth, the man's joy becomes quite contagious. After all, he's not here to judge. He's here to encourage everyone to try new food. And if they like what they try, to have a little more!

1. Parts Unknown

1. Parts Unknown

Since he brought No Reservations to The Travel Channel over a decade ago, Anthony Bourdain's punk rock panache and sardonic sense of humor cut through the TV fluff and changed the food-travel show game. Now that he's taken his brand to CNN, Parts Unknown has built upon his familiar formula. Through the six seasons available on Netflix, Parts Unknown has brought viewers a plethora of food porn, travel show stories, insight from food personalities around the world, and a multitude of deep history lessons. In other words, this is Anthony Bourdain's world--we're just living in it.

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asian food travel shows

asian food travel shows

Entertainment Movies & TV

7 More TV Shows To Watch If You Love Japanese Food (That Aren’t Midnight Diner)

More Japanese food shows to indulge in

January 20, 2023 Updated On February 7, 2023

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You have watched all the seasons and movie specials about Shinjuku’s Midnight Diner , the theme song of Solitary Gourmet is constantly playing in your head (and driving you insane), and you still crave more Japanese TV shows about food, cooking and eating? Here are seven choice cuts from the big heap of food dramas that haven’t been as well documented as Master’s late-night life lessons or Goro Inogashira’s business lunches.

1. The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House

There has been suspiciously little buzz about Hirokazu Koreeda’ s The Makana i: Cooking for the Maiko House before its debut on January 12. We’re here to correct that and recommend you watch the new exclusive show by the director of international arthouse hits and award-winners such as Shoplifters and Like Father, Like Son . Adapted from an ongoing manga series by Aiko Koyama, the story follows a young girl who becomes a cook at the living quarters of maiko (apprentice geisha) in Kyoto. The trailer looks lush and mouth-watering enough to give this a try. You’ll learn both about Japanese food and the surviving geisha culture.

2. The Way of the Hot and Spicy

Akito Kiriyama plays Kenta Sarukawa, a somewhat inexperienced beverage salesman who transfers from Osaka to Tokyo, where he meets professional and culinary challenges. Often those are connected since his eccentric coworkers like to indulge in highly spicy food as a motivation for tackling difficult clients (to whom they also assign spice levels). In contrast to Solitary Gourmet , Gourmet Samurai or Bullet Train Bistro , which deal with culinary loners, The Way of the Hot and Spicy is a bit of an ensemble show. The focus may be on Sarukawa, but his colleagues, love interests and clients often shape the story.

While this is not exactly an intricate drama with dizzying character arcs, the characters will grow on you just as the broadly drawn regulars at the counter of the Midnight Diner did. Since Japan is not famous for its hot and spicy cuisine per se (exceptions surely apply), Sarukawa and his colleagues regularly visit foreign restaurants. Still, their professional challenges are often uniquely Japanese. One episode sees the protagonist joining a karate school, despite his traumatic history with martial arts, to gain the owner’s trust and business. In another one, he must win over the owner and working ladies of a hostess club.

3. Bullet Train Bistro

Unless you are trapped in an American action movie , you will find that bullet trains don’t actually have bistros. You are allowed, almost encouraged in fact, to bring your own food. And that’s what Susumu Takamiya (played by Hidekazu Mashima) does. He is a traveling businessman much like Inogashira from Solitary Gourmet , but he travels much farther, always by shinkansen. On his trips, he not only conducts business but also loads up on local delicacies and alcoholic beverages to consume on his way home (hence the title). He then shares his experiences with family members and other foodies via modern mobile communication technology.

While Bullet Train Bistro is categorized as a drama, hardly anything dramatic ever happens, and that’s just fine. It’s the perfect antidote to, say, Alice in Borderland . Occasionally, the married salaryman will be tempted by a local woman. In the end, however, local food and drink will always prove more tempting.

4. What Did You Eat Yesterday?

Based on a popular manga, What Did You Eat Yesterday? offers a glimpse into the life of middle-aged couple Shiro, an attorney, and Kenji, a hairdresser. While Kenji is open about his sexuality, Shiro likes to remain at least partially in the closet — a source of tension and occasional cause for disputes between the two. Food doesn’t solve everything, but the dinners Shiro cooks provide opportunities to talk about their issues, or to deflect them. Despite its laudable attempt to show the life of a gay couple without sensationalism, voyeurism or gay tropes, What Did You Eat Yesterday? is in many ways old-school Japanese television: the drama manifests as over-acted hissy fits. It’s the well-drawn characters and likable cast, however, that will make you come back for more. And, yes, there are recipes.

5. Rokuhoudou: Colorful Days

Rokuhoudou is the name of a traditional teahouse run by four young men of above-average looks, all played by talent from Japan’s infamous Johnny & Associates talent agency. They serve Japanese sweets and European coffee specialties, happily mixing French and Italian phrases while doing so. Needless to say, they often help their troubled guests with more than just fulfilling their orders. Rokuhoudou: Colorful Days is a moderately paced, easygoing show blending Japanese Zen mentality and European joie de vivre. Or was it dolce vita?

6. The Curry Songs

Yoichiro, a young homeless man, and Nita, a shy college student and aspiring artist, meet by chance and bond over curry dishes. There is, however, more to the plot than just curry. We witness Nita slowly finding his place in the world, and we get behind the secrets of how Yoichiro found his.

It’s streaming on Hulu Japan and other domestic services, but at the moment without non-Japanese subtitles.

7. My Imaginary Meal to be Praised

Masao Wada is an office worker by day, a bass player by night, and always single. Dreaming of imaginary girlfriends, he has a habit of accidentally cooking for two, then imagining eating with female company, be it a woman he saw at a gig or a coworker. Frankly, Masao’s admission that his behavior is ‘creepy’ doesn’t really dispel the notion that it actually is. But let’s not talk about Masao. Even if you don’t understand a word, you can admire the nicely photographed produce being cut and cooked into submission. Whether you’re into food or cinematography, it’s a joy to watch. Win-win if you love both.

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The best documentaries about Japanese food

Learn about the history, flavours and techniques of Japanese cooking with Anthony Bourdain, David Chang, Niki Nakayama, Jiro Ono and more

No matter how much you love Japanese food – and we love it a lot – it’s impossible to know everything that goes into making your meal, be it a bowl of nourishing ramen , a delicate morsel of sushi or an elaborate kaiseki dinner.  There’s the personal story of the chef, the philosophy of plating, the history of the recipes, the cooking technique, and so much more. These documentaries, available on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Vimeo, will take you behind the scenes of the wonderful food in Japan – and you'll come out with a better understanding and appreciation for your next Japanese dining experience.

RECOMMENDED: Best Japanese shows with English subtitles  on Netflix

A feast for the eyes

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (Episode: Salt)

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (Episode: Salt)

'Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat' is a four-part Netflix series exploring the fundamentals of cooking with chef Samin Nosrat. In the second episode , ‘Salt’, Nosrat travels to Japan to explore salt as a raw ingredient and seasoning in Japanese cuisine. Guided by Yuri Nomura of renowned Tokyo farm-to-table restaurant Eatrip, along with cookbook author and long-time Japan resident Nancy Hachisu, Nosrat visits a salt farm in Hiroshima and meets a master of organic miso and a fifth-generation soy sauce brewer.

Follow Nosrat’s journey and discover how Japanese salt is made from seaweed, that miso is for much more than just soup, and how real soy sauce can taste rich and caramel-like.

Chef’s Table (Episode: Niki Nakayama)

Chef’s Table (Episode: Niki Nakayama)

The Japanese word kuyashii describes the feeling when somebody puts you down and you have the burning desire to succeed to prove them wrong – it also describes Niki Nakayama’s motivation as a chef, as this episode of Chef's Table shows.

Born in Los Angeles to Japanese parents, Nakayama grew up in a family where the role of women was only to support men. Determined to prove her own independence and value, Nakayama worked at Takao, a renowned sushi restaurant in LA, then moved to Japan, where she became enamored by kaiseki cuisine. Now running her own Michelin-starred restaurant (n/naka) in Los Angeles, Nakayama serves her version of modern kaiseki cuisine – the food is meticulously creative, but it’s the journey that led to it all that’s truly eye-opening.

The Birth of Sake

The Birth of Sake

This captivating documentary offers a rare look inside life as a sake brewery worker, told through a season at Tedorigawa, a 144-year old sake brewery in Ishikawa prefecture. Follow the process of making sake from start to finish, which is still done by hand at Tedorigawa, and get a deeper understanding of the complexities of what goes into creating Japan’s delicate national drink.

The gruelling work, harrowing hours, and harsh weather are balanced by scenes revealing the close bonds between the brewery workers, their home lives, and reverence for their craft. Directed by Erik Shirai – formerly a cinematographer on 'No Reservations' with Anthony Bourdain – the slow pace of The Birth of Sake makes this film poetic to watch.

No Reservations (Episode: Tokyo)

No Reservations (Episode: Tokyo)

' No Reservations ', the late Anthony Bourdain ’s 142-part series on cuisines around the world, is the starting point for so many food-obsessed travellers. If he had to stay in one city forever, Bourdain says Tokyo would be his pick, and in this episode, you can see that’s true.

It’s impossible not to share his joy as he hunts through Tokyo for a kitchen knife, revels in the technicoloured sensory overload of the Robot Restaurant, goes bar hopping in Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho ,  and eats sushi, soba and chicken sashimi. Bourdain was beloved for his honest approach to food and charismatic, huskily delivered wit, and he’s in fine form in this 'No Reservations' Tokyo episode. Anthony Bourdain, we miss you. 

Street Food (Episode: Osaka)

Street Food (Episode: Osaka)

Street food doesn’t loom quite as large in Japan as a lot of other countries in Asia, with most dining done indoors. But Osakans move to the beat of their own drum, and the emphasis on street food in the city’s culinary landscape reflects this.

In this episode of the Netflix series about street eats, you’ll visit the outdoor and standing seafood restaurant Toyo Izakaya – where the energetic owner is as much a performer as a chef – along with takoyaki (octopus balls) stand Umai-ya and okonomiyaki (savory pancake) stand Fue. Plus, you’ll meet a spirited cast of local Osaka chefs along the way.  

Washoku: Beyond Sushi

Washoku: Beyond Sushi

In 2013, washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine) was designated by Unesco as part of Japan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. It joins just two other cuisines to receive such an accolade: French and Mexican. While sushi may be the poster child of washoku, this documentary is determined to leave you with a greater impression of traditional Japanese cuisine through interviews with famous chefs and industry figures like Nobu Matsuhisa, owner-chef of Nobu restaurants, and ramen master Shige Nakamura.

' Washoku: Beyond Sushi ' not only covers the different ingredients and types of traditional Japanese cuisine, it also acquaints you with the principles and philosophies that underlie Japanese food, including religion, nature and a focus on umami. 

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

An unremarkable subway station in Ginza is home to a particularly remarkable sushi restaurant: Jiro Sukiyabashi, the first sushi restaurant in the world to receive three Michelin stars, whose list of diners includes David Beckham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Barack Obama.

' Jiro Dreams of Sushi ' is a sentimental portrait of owner-chef Jiro Ono, who opened the 10-seater restaurant in 1965. The documentary also provides an insight into Japanese shokunin (artisan) culture. As the 85-year-old Jiro puts it, 'even at my age, after decades of work, I don’t think I have achieved perfection. But I feel ecstatic all day – I love making sushi. That’s the spirit of the shokunin .' 

Ramen Heads

Ramen Heads

If you consider yourself a ramen head, you’ve probably heard of – and maybe even eaten at – Tomita Ramen in Matsudo. It’s headed by legendary noodle chef Osamu Tomita, who is at the centre of this 2017 film documenting his exacting process in creating the perfect bowl of noodles. Woven through the story is the history of ramen in Japan and the show takes a look at several other top ramen shops, revealing the philosophies and flavours of each, along with tips on getting ramen just right.

Kakehashi

Tokyo born and raised chef Nobuo Fukuda always felt out of place growing up in Japanese society. At age 20, Fukuda moved to Arizona to take a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant kitchen. Over the next few decades, Fukuda opened several successful Japanese restaurants in the US and even received a prestigious James Beard Award for his cooking.

When Fukuda was born, his father wrote that he wanted his son to be kakehashi , or ‘a bridge between Japan and other cultures’. Over the course of ‘ Kakehashi ’,  you can see Fukuda slowly become – and realise he is becoming – that bridge. More than a portrait of a chef, it’s a look at how food can change cultures and people. 

Ugly Delicious (Episode: Pizza)

Ugly Delicious (Episode: Pizza)

You might think that an episode set in Japan would focus on noodles or fish, but in the very first episode of ' Ugly Delicious ', host David Chang (chef and owner of the Momufuku restaurant group) goes to Japan hunting for pizza. Along with food writer Peter Meehan, Chang embarks on a journey extending from pizza purists in Brooklyn to chefs in Japan who are both re-creating classic Naples-style pizza and putting their own spin on it.

If you’re familiar with pizza in Tokyo, you’ll recognise the restaurants Savoy in Roppongi and Serinkan in Nakameguro. It’s a timely reminder that Japanese culinary prowess extends beyond traditional Japanese cuisine.  

The Final Table (Episode: Japan)

The Final Table (Episode: Japan)

Not technically a documentary, 'The Final Table's Japan episode features all the fanfare you would expect from a cooking competition. By episode 8 in the series, it’s down to just a handful of accomplished chefs.

The challenge? One hour to create a three-dish kaiseki meal that displays seasonality and a progression of flavors. That includes a hassan course – an array of small bites that sets the tone for a meal – agemono, a deep-fried course, and mukozuke, sliced seasonal sashimi. The atmosphere heats up even more when the guest chef and judge is announced: it’s Yoshihiro Narisawa, owner and chef of two-Michelin star restaurant Narisawa in Tokyo. 

More to watch

Best Japanese movies and series with English subtitles on Netflix

Best Japanese movies and series with English subtitles on Netflix

Locally produced, binge-worthy titles to add to your watch list

The best Japanese horror films

The best Japanese horror films

Forget the Hollywood remakes – Japan produces some of the best and most original horror movies around

10 best Studio Ghibli films

10 best Studio Ghibli films

Just in time for Studio Ghibli’s 35th birthday, we’ve compiled this list of the studio’s best anime films. Spoiler: it’s not all about Miyazaki

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The 85+ Best Food & Travel Shows, Ranked

Ranker TV

There's something captivating about non-fiction TV that allows even seemingly boring subjects to pull you in and hold your attention episode after episode, and it is especially true with food travel shows. While most of us don't lead a life that allows us to travel to exotic countries and eat whatever random and delicious food is being sold on the street, whenever food and travel shows come on TV there's few of us who can resist the hunger to tune in. The best food and travel TV shows are a mix of delicious HD food porn, quirky hosts that know their spices, and wish-fulfillment that involves seeing all the places you'll never visit and the five-star meals you'll never eat. Simply put, food travelogue series makes us feel good (and hungry) and the best ones are just plain old entertaining TV.

So whether you're flipping through the Food Network on a day off, burning hours at a time on Netflix, going around the world thanks to all of Zimmern's Travel Channel food shows, or actively seeking out and sharing clips of your favorite food and travel shows online, there's no denying that the top food travelogue shows can make us salivate in front of our TVs and keep us there until well past dinner. So go on and fire up the grill, enjoy a quick and easy sushi meal while traveling down an ancient river, eat all the street food in the world without worrying about getting sick, and rank the best food and travel shows ever. 

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Explore the farthest corners of the world through the eyes of a culinary legend in this renowned series. Delving into local cultures, politics, and history, it's an extraordinary journey that goes beyond mere food shows and provides unparalleled insights into the human experience.

Is Anthony Bourdain: Part... Worth Your Time?

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

Travel alongside an iconic chef as he seeks out the most authentic culinary experiences in every corner of the globe. As compelling as it is entertaining, this show is a must-watch for foodies who crave adventure and authenticity.

Is Anthony Bourdain: No R... Worth Your Time?

asian food travel shows

Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern

Prepare to have your taste buds challenged as host Andrew Zimmern seeks out the most unusual, exotic, and downright bizarre foods from around the world. It's a gastronomic journey that will both entertain and educate viewers on the diversity of global cuisine.

Is Bizarre Foods with And... Worth Your Time?

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Host Guy Fieri takes viewers on a journey across America to visit mouthwatering mom-and-pop restaurants, hidden food gems, and beloved greasy spoons. It’s a tribute to the hardworking people behind these eateries while showcasing the flavorful dishes that make them stand out.

Is Diners, Drive-Ins and ... Worth Your Time?

  • # 184 of 304 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
  • # 247 of 448 on The 440+ Best Binge Worthy Shows Of All Time
  • # 64 of 108 on The 100+ Best Feel-Good TV Shows, Ranked

Somebody Feed Phil

Somebody Feed Phil

Join Phil Rosenthal, creator of "Everybody Loves Raymond," as he immerses himself in the gastronomic delights of various cities worldwide. With boundless energy and enthusiasm, Phil connects with locals, embraces cultural differences and savors a smorgasbord of international cuisine.

Is Somebody Feed Phil Worth Your Time?

A Cook's Tour

A Cook's Tour

Follow the exploits of a world-renowned chef as he embarks on a culinary adventure across the globe. From France to Vietnam, each episode showcases local cuisine, traditions, and the art of cooking in unique and fascinating ways.

Is A Cook's Tour Worth Your Time?

The Layover

The Layover

Imagine trying to squeeze the best food and cultural experiences from top cities around the world in just 24-48 hours. As if traveling like a local, each episode features exciting culinary adventures, insider tips, and local culture that's perfect for travelers with a tight schedule.

Is The Layover Worth Your Time?

Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations

This spin-off from Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern  focuses on the must-try foods in various cities around the globe. Showcasing iconic dishes and local favorites, it's an excellent introduction to global cuisine for both culinary novices and seasoned foodies.

Is Bizarre Foods: Delicio... Worth Your Time?

Ugly Delicious

Ugly Delicious

Tackle the myths and misconceptions surrounding food, taste, and tradition in this insightful docuseries. Host David Chang strips away the pretense and gets to the heart of what makes food truly delicious, even if it's not always pretty.

Is Ugly Delicious Worth Your Time?

Chef's Table

Chef's Table

Experience the stories and culinary philosophies of some of the world's most renowned chefs in this beautifully crafted documentary series. Each episode delves deep into the creativity, passion, and discipline that drive these culinary visionaries to push the limits of their craft.

Is Chef's Table Worth Your Time?

  • Dig Deeper... Chef's Table Chefs Whose Food You Want To Eat The Most
  • # 6 of 28 on The Best Netflix Documentaries Of 2023
  • # 1 of 44 on The Best Food & Cooking Shows In 2023

I'll Have What Phil's Having

I'll Have What Phil's Having

Phil Rosenthal is back for another round of culinary adventures as he explores the world's most delicious destinations. Combining humor and a genuine passion for food, this show offers a delightful mix of travel, culture, and mouthwatering dishes.

Is I'll Have What Phil's ... Worth Your Time?

Man v. Food

Man v. Food

Is Man v. Food Worth Your Time?

Amazing Eats

Amazing Eats

Celebrate the mouthwatering food creations that fuel our obsession with all things delicious. From towering burgers to decadent desserts, this series showcases the best of the best in each mouthwatering episode.

Is Amazing Eats Worth Your Time?

Street Food

Street Food

Venture off the beaten path and experience the heart and soul of a country's cuisine through its street food. Celebrating the culinary heroes who create these delicious, affordable meals, this series is an homage to the rich diversity and ingenuity of food from around the world.

Is Street Food Worth Your Time?

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Based on the bestselling cookbook, this visually stunning series explores the four elements that make food taste great. Taking viewers from Japan to Italy, the show provides an insightful look into unique culinary traditions while proving that mastering just a few principles can have a transformative effect on one's cooking.

Is Salt Fat Acid Heat Worth Your Time?

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Witness acclaimed chef Gordon Ramsay push himself to new limits and venture into uncharted territory in search of extraordinary culinary experiences. Get a glimpse of his daring exploits and explore diverse food cultures with this captivating series.

Is Gordon Ramsay: Unchart... Worth Your Time?

Bizarre Foods America

Bizarre Foods America

Andrew Zimmern once again takes viewers on an unconventional journey, this time within the United States. Discover the hidden gems and lesser-known food history of America while experiencing some truly out-of-the-ordinary gastronomic delights.

Is Bizarre Foods America... Worth Your Time?

The Mind of a Chef

The Mind of a Chef

Combining travel, cooking, and the fascinating minds of culinary masters, this exceptional series delves into the thoughts and inspirations driving the world's most innovative chefs. Through insightful interviews, beautiful cinematography, and mouthwatering dishes, it's an exploration of what makes food truly exceptional.

Is The Mind of a Chef Worth Your Time?

Food Paradise

Food Paradise

Discover the most unique, memorable, and downright delicious eateries across the United States in this mouthwatering series. Whether it's an iconic steakhouse or a quirky diner, each episode serves up a plateful of unforgettable food destinations.

Is Food Paradise Worth Your Time?

The Chef Show

The Chef Show

Join filmmaker Jon Favreau and renowned chef Roy Choi as they experiment with new recipes, techniques, and ingredients. Featuring a mix of star-studded guests and intriguing food destinations, this show is an irresistible treat for fans of good eats and good company.

Is The Chef Show Worth Your Time?

  • # 138 of 589 on The 500+ Best Current Shows On Netflix
  • # 140 of 624 on The Best New Reality TV Shows of the Last Few Years
  • # 202 of 266 on The 250+ Best Netflix Documentary Series

Adam Eats the 80s

Adam Eats the 80s

Take a trip down memory lane with host Adam Richman as he revisits iconic dishes and food trends from the 1980s. This nostalgic journey is sure to delight viewers with a taste for both pop culture and culinary exploration.

Is Adam Eats the 80s Worth Your Time?

  • # 44 of 169 on The Best Newer TV Shows The Whole Family Can Enjoy
  • # 1024 of 1,136 on The Best New TV Shows Of 2022
  • # 387 of 711 on The 600+ Best Reality TV Shows Of All Time

Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi

Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi

Host Padma Lakshmi delves into the diverse food culture within the United States in this enlightening series. Exploring the history, ingredients, and culinary traditions of various immigrant communities, Taste the Nation offers viewers a fascinating blend of food and storytelling.

Is Taste the Nation With ... Worth Your Time?

  • # 633 of 1,009 on The 250+ Best Streaming Shows Of The Last Few Years
  • # 44 of 77 on The 75+ Best Travel TV Shows Sure To Give You The Travel Bug
  • # 150 of 318 on The Best 2020 Original Streaming Platform Shows

View and Chew

View and Chew

Feast your eyes on the visual splendor of gastronomy as this visually-driven series highlights the artistic side of cooking. Each episode showcases innovative chefs and their stunning creations while diving into the inspiration, dedication, and passion behind the dishes.

Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip

Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip

Embark on a hilarious adventure with chefs Gordon Ramsay, Gino D'Acampo, and Fred Sirieix as they travel through Europe, tasting the finest regional cuisine, and embarking on epic culinary challenges. It's a food-filled joyride with three charismatic personalities at the helm.

Is Gordon, Gino and Fred:... Worth Your Time?

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Join celebrity chef David Chang as he travels the globe with famous friends to explore the culture and cuisine of various locations. From feasting in Marrakech with Chrissy Teigen to exploring Los Angeles with Lena Waithe, it's a laid-back culinary adventure served up with heart and humor.

Is Breakfast, Lunch & Din... Worth Your Time?

Ainsley Eats the Streets

Ainsley Eats the Streets

Travel with British TV chef Ainsley Harriott as he scours city streets worldwide in search of the tastiest street food. Engaging with locals and showcasing the unique stories behind these culinary delights, this series blends adventure, culture, and mouthwatering eats.

Is Ainsley Eats the Stree... Worth Your Time?

From the Source

From the Source

Dive deep into a country's culinary roots as this immersive series explores the origins of beloved dishes, ingredients, and flavors. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and cultural significance behind what we eat, appealing to foodies and history buffs alike.

Is From the Source Worth Your Time?

Eater's Guide to the World

Eater's Guide to the World

Satisfy your culinary wanderlust with this captivating series that takes viewers on a journey through the world's most unforgettable food destinations. Narrated by Maya Rudolph, each episode celebrates the people, places, and stories behind some of the most amazing meals on the planet.

Is Eater's Guide to the W... Worth Your Time?

  • # 142 of 689 on The 120 Best Reality Shows On Now
  • # 7 of 650 on The Best New Reality TV Shows of the Last Few Years
  • # 7 of 63 on The Best Food Documentary Series

Fresh, Fried & Crispy

Fresh, Fried & Crispy

Watch as food critic Daym Drops travels the United States in search of the best fried dishes the country has to offer. From classic Southern comfort food to unexpected culinary gems, viewers will feast their eyes on a wide range of delectable, crispy creations.

Is Fresh, Fried & Crispy... Worth Your Time?

  • # 547 of 626 on The 500+ Best Current Shows On Netflix
  • # 148 of 695 on The 120 Best Reality Shows On Now
  • # 466 of 654 on The Best New Reality TV Shows of the Last Few Years

Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham

Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham

Join Outlander  stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish as they embark on an epic road trip through Scotland, exploring the country's history, culture, and, of course, its delicious local cuisine. Their camaraderie and enthusiasm make this show a delightful watch for travel and food enthusiasts alike.

Is Men in Kilts: A Roadtr... Worth Your Time?

  • # 40 of 85 on The 80+ Best British Reality Shows
  • # 48 of 78 on The 75+ Best Travel TV Shows Sure To Give You The Travel Bug
  • # 38 of 62 on The Best Shows On Friday Night In 2024
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Lists about all the fun things happening in the kitchen.

The Best Movies About Cooking

Two Forks and a Passport

Great Food + Travel Shows and Documentaries To feed your wanderlust, hunger, and soul. Pun intended.

I haven’t seen all food + travel shows everywhere, but to celebrate World Food Travel Day, I thought I might as well share a roundup of my favorites so far (and why I think you’ll like them):

Keep in mind that not all the shows may be available in your country. A VPN should *usually* do the trick.

The Mind of a Chef

The Mind of a Chef combines travel, cooking, history, science, and humor into an unforgettable journey.

It’s crazy to think this show premiered ten years ago. The first show I ever watched while already having a conscious fondness for all things food and travel, it’s narrated by the late Anthony Bourdain (one more reason to watch), and each season focused on one or two specific chefs, giving you a full look into, well, their mind! Inspiration, personal stories, traveling, and a sprinkle of science for good measure. I like to think of this show as a precursor to Chef’s Table,  albeit a little less artsy and a little more informative. Best of all, it was produced by PBS, and I love public broadcasting and what it stands for. 

Seasons 1 through 5 are available on Amazon Prime via a PBS subscription here , and Season 6 is available on Facebook , of all places.

Chef’s Table 

In this Emmy-nominated series, meet culinary stars around the world who are redefining gourmet food with innovative dishes and tantalizing desserts.

Ah, Chef’s Table. Perhaps Netflix’s best known (and most awarded?) food show, the inspiring instrumentals and detailed 360° shots seen here pair as well as cheese and wine do.

Every episode covers a specific chef, featuring old favorites like Massimo Bottura and Alain Passard. as well as new finds – at least for me – like Musa Dağdeviren and Bo Songvisava. Their life stories, inspiration, projects, and how they run their kitchen are all featured along with their most iconic dishes in a captivating, easily binge-able show.

Chef’s Table is available on Netflix here ,  France is available here ,  BBQ is available here , and Pizza is avaiable here.

Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father

Jovial comic  Jack Whitehall  and his stuffy  father , Michael, take unusual and amusing trips to foreign lands in an attempt to strengthen their bond.

I only ever knew Jack Whitehall as “the cute guy who does standup”, and had only seen his name around a couple of times, so suffice to say I was quite surprised to see this show pop up on my Netflix home screen as “Recommended for You”. Bloody algorithms. 

What starts as a father-son bonding trip ended up being a truly funny and often heartwarming (yes, really) journey around some amazing locations, complete with food, out-of-the-ordinary activities, and hilariously bizarre hijinks. 

Best watched with family, you can find it on Netflix here .

Street Food

Embark on a global cultural journey into street food and discover the stories of the people who create the flavorful dishes.

Originally named Street Food, but later renamed Street Food: Asia after the release of Street Food: Latin America, this production from the creators of Chef’s Table is focused on the local stars behind a destination’s cuisine, versus the big-name chefs we’ve seen in other shows. Not only are the location and food shots amazing, but seeing the locals’ unique perspectives and hearing their stories (often hardships and tragedies) is truly inspiring.

Hopefully, there’s more on the way, because there is street food for days on every corner of this planet. How does Street Food: Down Under sound?

Update: Street Food USA is now out! Find it here .

You can find Street Food: Asia on Netflix here , and Street Food: Latin America here.

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Chef Gordon Ramsay journeys to some of the most incredible and remote locations on Earth in search of culinary inspiration, epic adventures, and cultural experiences he will never forget.

Not gonna lie, I don’t *love* Gordon Ramsay. I know it’s likely just a tv persona thing, and he’s probably lovely in person, but I just find him a little too rude and I didn’t previously like any of the shows he was on.

Well let me tell you, I loved this show. Seeing him so enthusiastic in his learning of new ingredients and techniques, and genuinely wanting to use them properly, as well as trying out new things that he seems truly unprepared for made me like him a little more. It’s a good bit of fun.

You can watch him on Disney+ here .

Restaurants on the Edge

A team of three experts — a restaurateur, a designer, and a chef — tap into a restaurant’s surroundings and community to remodel each business in a way that is uplifting, inspirational, and positive.

Interior design meets jaw-dropping views meets chef show, this is one of my most recent favorites. It has something for everyone and strikes me as a bit more honest than other makeover programs. It emphasizes the importance of showcasing local ingredients on your menus (which is always a great thing in my book), and as with most shows of this nature, seeing the before and after of both the restaurant and the menu is quite stunning. 

The stories that accompany each episode have made me cry more often than I care to admit, as well as the reveals. All in all, a feel-good show that happens to feature my two favorite things.

You can find both seasons on Netflix here . 

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Chef and food writer Samin Nosrat travels the world to explore four basic keys to wonderful cooking, serving up feasts, and helpful tips along the way.

If you’ve read the book, this one is a no-brainer. And if you haven’t read it, go do that and then come back.

This absolute gem is amazing for several reasons: Firstly, Samin Nosrat and her enthusiasm are precious and must be protected at all costs. To see a brown woman have her own food + travel show meant more to me than I can put into words, especially when the travelogue segment is largely filled with men hosting everything. Secondly, the concept of mastering those four elements as a way to improve your cooking is so simple, but nothing short of genius.

See Samin in all of her unabashed glory here .

Flavorful Origins

Embark on a delightful journey through the culinary traditions of China and uncover the stories of the people who create and cherish its dishes.

Each season of this Netflix original focuses on a specific cuisine, and each bite-sized (lol) video shines the spotlight on an ingredient that is of key importance to that specific cuisine.

Be ready to forget everything you thought you knew about Chinese food, with truly interesting glimpses into many aspects of their culture as well. 

Originally narrated in Mandarin, I highly suggest you watch it the way it was intended and turn on the subtitles for whatever your language preference is.

Watch it on Netflix here .

The Chef Show

Writer, director, and food enthusiast Jon Favreau and chef Roy Choi explore food in and out of the kitchen with accomplished chefs and celebrity friends.

A spin-off of the movie Chef, this show hosted by Jon Favreau (who I adore) and Roy Choi might be, in my opinion, the most chill, unpretentious, laid-back show on this list. So much so that it’s my go-to whenever I want to relax, and have seen it start to end more times than I can count. It’s not particularly structured, but that’s what makes it feel like a conversation you’d have with any friend – if your friends were famous Avengers.

For the recipes featured, there’s a cute animation that breaks down a dish into its ingredients, which is just one of the things I love about The Chef Show.

Stream on Netflix here .

Ugly Delicious

All the flavor. None of the BS. Star chef David Chang leads friends on a mouthwatering, cross-cultural hunt for the world’s most satisfying grub.

Each episode of Ugly Delicious focuses on a dish or idea, and how it’s done in different places around the world, which inevitably leads to interesting conversations surrounding cultural appropriation, heritage, immigration, elitism, and more subjects that, in other hands, might be a heavy topic. However, Chang and his guest stars – often comedians –  provide enough humor to keep these discussions light and offer no judgment, leaving you with food for thought long after the episode has ended. 

As the name might indicate, some of these dishes might not be the best plated, most Instagrammable ones, but that doesn’t mean they won’t leave you hungry for more.

Catch the deliciousness here .

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Chef David Chang takes his insatiable curiosity about food, culture, and identity on the road, in the convivial company of fun-loving celebrity guests.

If Ugly Delicious was one dish in many places, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is one place and its many dishes. This follow-up of sorts sees Chang travel to four cities with more of his famous friends (seriously, how does one become friends with Kate McKinnon and Aziz Ansari?), and although still very off-the-cuff, does feel slightly more structured than its predecessor. This in turn makes it different enough to warrant its praise, even though at times it can feel very shenanigan-y (Episode 1 sees him smoking a blunt with Seth Rogen, FFS).

Best not taken too seriously, it’s a show you’ll just have to see for yourself.

Keep up with the mischief here .

Taco Chronicles

Many of the most popular taco styles have long, rich, little-known histories. Explore some of them in this eye-opening, mouth-watering food adventure.

Someone very wise once said, “Mexican culture is knowing that barbacoa and carnitas tacos are eaten in the morning, carne asada and guisado tacos in the afternoon, and pastor tacos at night.” Expand on that, and this show is what you get. A deep dive into what is likely Mexico’s most iconic, well-known dish, the show intertwines culinary history with the stories of those who make them. 

A reminder that there’s always more to things than we imagine, and there’s no right way to do things. Also, gatekeeping is bad and no one ever wins. 

Watch here .

Somebody Feed Phil

“Everybody Loves Raymond” creator  Phil Rosenthal travels the globe to take in the local cuisine and culture of Bangkok, Lisbon, Mexico City, and more.

A show I could watch forever, I couldn’t help but wonder how the guy behind Everybody Love Raymond landed his own food travelogue. But from Episode 1, Phil will get to you with his infectious enthusiasm, infinite optimism, humor, and down-to-earth-ness. And even from the comfort of my couch, it’s hard not to feel welcomed and included in his world.

Once in an interview, he mentioned how he was “exactly like Anthony Bourdain if he was afraid of everything”, which is spot on and very self-aware. It’s what makes him so relatable; he knows he’s afraid and uncomfortable at times, but he really, really wants you to push ahead and try new things, because if he could, so can you.

Watch on, you guessed it, Netflix, here .

Heavenly Bites Mexico

Welcome to a food extravaganza, a visual poem to Mexico’s foodie ingenuity and the quirky and delicious flavors that are worth the stomach aches. 

Snacks and comfort foods are a world of their own, transcending tablecloth-laden restaurants and street food carts, and Mexican antojitos are no exception. May or may not feature a recurring theme of various forms of chile being added to just about everything.

Hopefully, they’ll do other countries because I would love to learn more about the food people keep coming back to; there’s something deeply personal and cultural about it.

Find it here .

Down to Earth with Zac Efron

Actor Zac Efron journeys around the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in a travel show that explores healthy, sustainable ways to live.

Part wellness, part food show, part travelogue, Zac Efron might have been the last person on earth I would have imagined doing something like this, but his genuine curiosity and frankly, good looks, make it very watchable. 

Fair warning though, lots of the facts given out are pseudoscience at best, so take them with a grain of salt and maybe consider reading this article after bingeing all 8 episodes.

Watch on Netflix here .

Designer Genevieve Gorder and real estate expert Peter Lorimer show property owners how to turn their short-term rentals into moneymaking showstoppers.

At the end of the day, this is a makeover show, so consider yourself warned. Nonetheless, the properties are certainly unique and the surroundings gorgeous. And as someone who occasionally deals with short-term rentals, it’s fun to a) give an informed opinion and b) learn a few new things here and there.

See the transformations on Netflix here .

Carmen Sandiego

A master thief who uses her skills for good, Carmen Sandiego travels the world foiling V.I.L.E.’s evil plans — with help from her savvy sidekicks.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking, isn’t that a kid’s show? Strictly speaking, yes, yes it is. But hear me out.

Each episode takes place in a different city, and as part of her brief, Carmen receives interesting facts that resemble a geography lesson more than they do a spy intelligence report. The animation is fantastic, and the storyline is entertaining enough that if this weren’t a cartoon, no one would bat an eyelash.

Nostalgia is also a factor here, as I grew up playing Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?  so make of that what you will.

Indulge your inner curious child here .

Alice in Paris

An energetic young woman’s adventures through the streets of Paris to find the best food and places in a city she knows like the back of her hand, but can still easily get lost in.

Yes, Alice in Paris. Not Emily. This show centers around Alice, who has “absolute taste”, an ability that allows her to identify all the ingredients in a dish, and her day-to-day life in the French capital. The restaurants and shops featured are all real places that you will most certainly want to visit, and include a lot of true hidden gems.

The show has so much personality, heart, and charm, and although still a caricature of Parisian culture, it’s approached with a lot more sensibility and accuracy.

The series was originally made up of tiny, bite-size videos in French that you could watch on YouTube (here) , before being blended and (I think) rearranged into longer episodes with a more cohesive narrative – in English – which you can find on Hulu here . 

Emily in Paris

After landing her dream job in Paris, Chicago marketing exec Emily Cooper embraces her adventurous new life while juggling work, friends, and romance.

Despite its ridiculous, ignorant, and often rude stereotypes of French (and sometimes American) people, Emily in Paris is a colorful, messy trainwreck that I can’t keep my eyes off of.

Unsurprisingly, the locations (which in addition to the titular Paris also include Champagne – in reality, filmed in Indre-et-Loire – and St. Tropez) are stunning, and with a chef as one of the main character’s love interests, there’s a good dose of delicious food and drink, making it a necessary – albeit reluctant – addition to this list.

You can find it on Netflix here .

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

Jeff pulls the thread on deceptively familiar objects, unraveling a world of astonishing connections, fascinating science and history, amazing people, and a lot of surprising big ideas and insights.

To see everyday objects through Jeff’s eyes is captivating, what with his childlike curiosity and wonder and not taking a single thing for granted. You can almost see how his internal gears turn with every new bit of information he receives, and he’s not afraid to keep asking questions until he’s satisfied with the answers.

It’s also quite endearing to see how much attention and respect he pays to the people he interacts with, something I think we should all aspire to do.

Learn something new on Disney+ here .

Our Great National Parks

Narrated  by  former President Barack Obama , this  stunning docuseries  shines the spotlight on some of the planet’s most  spectacular  national parks.

Whoever thought of getting Obama to narrate this docuseries is a genius. His deep, soothing voice is perfect for narrating, especially during the more exciting moments where his voice is full of enthusiasm.

Similar to Our Planet, with the more dramatic moments resembling scenes out of Meerkat Manor, it is a generally chill but wonderful look into the conservation efforts of National Parks all around the world.

An Idiot Abroad

Ricky Gervais and longtime friend Stephen Merchant are sending their uncultured colleague, Karl Pilkington on various quests overseas. Not a man known for his taste or wisdom, Pilkington’s journeys are the stuff of legend and have to be seen to be believed. Join the adventure and discover what happens when they send An Idiot Abroad.

A bit unsurprisingly, this is probably the funniest show on here. Pilkington’s discomfort is palpable, and he often says things that most of us wouldn’t even dare to think about. Still, he pushes through the situations his friends keep putting him in.

It’s oddly inspiring at best, and something of a wake-up call for the likes of him at worst.

Watch on YouTube for free here or if you want to give your money over to Amazon for some reason, you can do so here .

Rick Steves’ Europe

Rick Steves, America’s leading authority on European travel, returns to transport viewers to the continent’s bustling cities, quaint villages and picturesque countryside.

Arguably the most comprehensive travel show on public television, Rick Steves’ Europe has been on tv since 2000. His gentle nature and push towards being a “temporary local” reminds me a little of an uncle or a grandpa who shares his insider secrets from years of travel. 

Although he does visit major cities, he also focuses on lesser-known towns and hidden gems, and I personally often refer to his work (he also has a multitude of podcasts and books) whenever I’m properly planning a trip in Europe (not something I’m especially known for).

You can watch all seasons on his website (with the exception of most of Season 1 and Season 2, which have been retired) for free (just scroll to the bottom and pick a season or special), or pay for them (again, why would you?) on Amazon Prime here .

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (+ No Reservations + The Layover + A Cook’s Tour)

Join world-renowned chef, bestselling author and multiple Emmy-winning television personality Anthony Bourdain as he travels across the globe to uncover little-known destinations and diverse cultures.

There is nothing I can say about Anthony Bourdain and his shows that hasn’t been said a million times already, so I won’t attempt much. He truly was a pioneer in the industry, and I personally adored his brand of diplomacy, humor, and straightforwardness.

Each one of his shows can be found on different platforms, which have unfortunately become less easily accessible since his passing. A Cook’s Tour can be found on GoTraveler and YouTube . The Layover is available on for purchase on Amazon Prime , streaming on Discovery+ , or Discovery+ through Prime . All seasons of No Reservations can be purchased on Prime , streamed on Discovery+ , and seasons 5-8 are available on Plex for free. Parts Unknown was going to be available on CNN+ (an absolute dumpster fire), but for now are up for purchase or rent on Prime , and supposedly on Netflix UK, although I haven’t been able to confirm that.

Haven’t watched but on my list

Europe From Above – Europe from Above takes to the air over Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK to showcase Europe’s finest cultural and geographical landmarks as you’ve never seen them before. We reveal how tradition, engineering and natural wonders have shaped this epic continent – a vibrant portrait of these regions and the people who keep their traditions alive.

Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi – In Taste the Nation, award winning cookbook author, host and executive producer Padma Lakshmi, takes audiences on a journey across America, exploring the rich and diverse food culture of various immigrant groups, seeking out the people who have so heavily shaped what American food is today. From indigenous communities to recent immigrant arrivals, Padma breaks bread with Americans across the nation to uncover the roots and relationship between our food, our humanity and our history – ultimately revealing stories that challenge notions of identity, belonging, and what it means to be American.

Conan without Borders – Conan Without Borders takes late night host Conan O’Brien to different parts of the globe, proving O’Brien is television’s perfect traveling everyman, with an uncanny knack for diving into a local culture and infusing it with his trademark humor. 

James May: Our Man in Japan – James May embarks on a remarkable journey across Japan, from its icy north to its balmy south. He’ll see the sights, meet the locals, and eat the noodles in a bid to truly understand the Land of the Rising Sun. Season 2, Our Man in Italy coming 2023.

Gordon’s Great Escape – In this three-part series, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay embarks on a gastronomic quest, traveling to India for the first time to experience the stunning diversity of its culinary traditions and immersing himself in all aspects of Indian culture – no matter how challenging, unfamiliar or extreme.

High on the Hog – Food, community, culture, resiliency. Based on Jessica B. Harris’ award-winning book, High On The Hog traces the moving story of a people’s survival and triumph via the food that has knit generations together and helped define the American kitchen. From Gumbo to fried chicken, our culinary journey stretches from Africa to enslavement, to the Harlem Renaissance, up to our present-day; we celebrate the courage, artistry, and resourcefulness of the African American people. This is not just an African American story; it’s an American story. A feast for all the senses.

Eater’s Guide to the World – Discover the most surprising culinary destinations in Eater’s Guide to the World. Join narrator Maya Rudolph on a quest to find the most unexpected places to score an epic meal, while drinking and dining with the locals along the way.

Fresh, Fried, and Crispy – Passionate about food and ready for fun, critic Daym Drops drops in on America’s smokin’ hot spots for the best, freshest takes on fried food.

Cooked – Explored through the lenses of the four natural elements – fire, water, air and earth – COOKED is an enlightening and compelling look at the evolution of what food means to us through the history of food preparation and its universal ability to connect us. Highlighting our primal human need to cook, the series urges a return to the kitchen to reclaim our lost traditions and to forge a deeper, more meaningful connection to the ingredients and cooking techniques that we use to nourish ourselves.

Midnight Asia – Night brings out the most playful side of Asia’s metropolises. This docuseries captures the food, drink, music — and night owls who shine in the dark.

Amazing Interiors – Meet eccentric homeowners whose seemingly ordinary spaces are full of surprises, from a backyard roller coaster to an indoor aquarium.

HOME – Discover the groundbreaking ideas and inspiring stories behind the world’s most imaginative dwellings. In this globe-spanning docuseries, meet the visionaries who are challenging conventional concepts of “home” and rethinking how we live.

Midnight Diner – A scarred man operates a midnight diner in the backstreets of Shinjuku. No one knows his name or his story, but his customers each bring him theirs.

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories – Patrons of an otherwise mundane Japanese diner find simple yet profound connections with one another based on the shared love of a particular dish.

Twourist – This entertaining original production comes to the TNT screen from the hand of content creator, author and actress Victoria Volkova, who will live interesting and exciting experiences in the unpredictable Mexico City. One destination, two trips. Thanks for the suggestion, Luza!

The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes – Award-winning architect Piers Taylor and actress/property enthusiast Caroline Quentin travel the world to tour unconventional homes in extreme places.

Food on the Go – Epicureans and experts trace the migration of Italian cuisine and its evolution in the Americas, delving into the ideas of origin, diaspora and heritage.

Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip – Gear up for a fast-paced journey as celebrity chef and avid auto enthusiast Paul Hollywood takes in the cars and culture of France, Italy and Germany.

F*ck, That’s Delicious – Rapper Action Bronson returns to his culinary roots to explore great food in the cities he has performed in while touring.

The Food That Built America – For generations of Americans, food titans like Henry Heinz, Milton Hershey, John and Will Kellogg, C.W. Post and the McDonald brothers have literally been household names, but you don’t know their stories.

Worth It – Food lovers Steven Lim and Andrew, along with their cameraman Adam, embark on the ultimate food adventure in BuzzFeed’s hit series, Worth It, trying delicious foods at three price points: affordable, middle tier, and luxury. At the end of the episode, the gang decides which item is the most “worth it” at its given price.

Big Food Bucket List – In Big Food Bucket List, host and comedian John Catucci (You Gotta Eat Here!) eats his way across North America, checking the most mouth-watering dishes of his bucket list. From hamburgers to high end plates, he’s setting out to try them all – and you’re invited!

Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern – Andrew Zimmern is on a quest to find the world’s most unique tastes on Bizarre Foods. As a chef and foodie, Andrew knows that one man’s poison is another man’s delicacy, but he isn’t afraid to poke a little fun at the local fare or himself.

Sourced – From foraging in the wild to putting on dinner parties in exotic locales, experience life through Tastemade’s resident renaissance man, Guy Turland. Also on Hulu.

The Final Table – Teams of elite chefs vie to impress the world’s toughest palates as they whip up iconic dishes from nine nations in this star-packed competition. Thanks to Jorge for the suggestion.

Other great recommendations 

  • Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street
  • Mexico: One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless
  • Rick Stein’s Entire Collection
  • No Passport Required
  • Chef Driven
  • Great Ingredients
  • Chuck’s World
  • Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse 
  • Fluffy’s Food Adventures
  • Tales by Light
  • Night on Earth
  • Magical Andes
  • Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby
  • Lost Cities With Albert Lin
  • Christiane Amanpour: Sex & Love Around The World
  • Places to Love
  • Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent
  • Waffles + Mochi
  • Ainsley Eats the Streets

If you want to take a look at everything that’s available on Netflix, these genres do a good job of rounding up most of these recommendations:

  • TV Shows About Food
  • Tasting History & Culture
  • Stay At Home, See The World

Another gem that I discovered while writing this is GoTraveler , a streaming platform with tons of full (and free!) episodes, all related to food and travel. They also have an app and a YouTube channel that are worth keeping in your favorites.

What’s your favorite food + travel show? Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments!

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Andrea Wintergerst

Based mainly in Colorado. Loves cheese, rain, and starry nights. Can usually be spotted in the wild wearing a Spirit Jersey and balancing two cameras. Often laughs and cries at the same time. Barely survived one Master's program, but wants to do another.

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Great selection, most I’ve watched and the rest already added to my list. Maybe, as an addition, I would suggest “The final table”, some episodes are worth watching.

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Hope you enjoy, and thanks for the suggestion!✨

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A taste of abroad

14 food and travel shows to watch right now

July 30, 2021 by Nathan Suttie 1 Comment

I’ve been busy exploring my local area of the Gold Coast during Covid, in search of the best tastes from across the globe in my back yard. (check it out https://www.australia.com/en/places/gold-coast-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-gold-coast.html ) . However, there are sometimes when you just want to unwind and this is where these 14 food and travel shows to watch right now come in!

With travel currently limited, there is no better time for food and travel lovers to venture abroad on the screen as you will see in this list of the best travel shows for food lovers. Food-based travel shows allow us escapism as we discover new foods, destinations and the individual’s that bring them to life. This escapism can turn to inspiration as we plan our post-Covid trips and foodie bucket lists. In a time of restrictions, we can be encouraged to cook dishes that we cannot travel abroad to. Or otherwise, to venture out locally in search of a distinctive dish or cuisine we’ve seen on screen.

Whatever your reason for watching, these below shows will all leave you salivating yet educated and planning for your future trip.

asian food travel shows

After 8 successful seasons of No Reservations, Anthony parted ways with the Travel Channel to have more say in where he travelled. This is where Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown comes in. This series focuses on some of the world’s lesser-known foodie spots, along with some spots that Anthony is particularly passionate about. Although a little older here than his past work, there is still a sense of debauchery that Anthony is known for. This comes out in some episodes such as a wild night of bar and food hopping through Thailand. This is contrasted with an insightful look into these less visited locals and the food and people that bring the culture alive. While this series is still based on food, expect to dive deep into the culture and history of the region.

Unfortunately, Anthony left the world by suicide, but he has left a legacy to try different food and explore the world (or your backyard) to the fullest.

Ugly delicious  

Chef and Restaurateur, David Chang is on a mission. To give those “Ugly” foods the recognition they deserve. His mission takes us deep into the world of foods such as fried chicken, fried rice and Tacos, exploring their history with a unique range of characters. David is a likable host. He is funny, knowledgeable and inquisitive. This makes for a refreshing series where David aims to break down cultural barriers and expose the audience to real stories behind the food. 

asian food travel shows

STREET FOOD ASIA

asian food travel shows

Perhaps some of the best and most authentic foods can be found on the street in Asia. This series brings us directly onto those streets and the local legends that trade there. The show focuses deeply on these characters, their story and their food. It has a socio-political undercurrent that runs through the stories that compliments the food, much like it did in Anthony Bourdain’s work. Here though, the local characters take charge, drawing you into their life, culture and the importance of food. You’ll come for the food, yet stay for the locals. A must watch!

Bizarre foods with Andrew Zimmern

If you are looking for a show that focuses on unusual foods, then this is it. The host, Chef Andrew Zimmern takes us through different regions of the world, focusing on particular bizarre foods, their preparation and the history behind them. Andrew is knowledgeable, eager and isn’t afraid to have fun on camera. This show has been around for a while now but it is a must-watch for those looking to learn more about the worlds strangest eats. Be prepared for things such as worms, spiders, horse rib and rectum sausages. Not recommended for those that are queasy!

asian food travel shows

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

No Reservations is all in the name. Anthony Bourdain leads us on a journey throughout the world in series in search of the best and strangest foods. No Reservations presents a perfect balance between unusual foods and wild drunken nights with family dinners and thought-provoking discussions over a meal. One of Boudain’s talents is his ability to ask pressing questions with a casual demeanour, allowing an effortless, yet profound dialogue between him and the others he meets.

This combination proved to be a winning formula, with 8 generous series with 142 episodes in total. Anthony is the perfect host. Cool, intelligent, fun and with a passion for food and travel. He brings his insights while taking on board those who he meets. Expect a strong sense of wanderlust.

asian food travel shows

Rick Stein’s Spain

Although the pacing of this show is perhaps a little slower than some on the list, it absolutely deserves a spot on this list for food lovers. Celebrated chef, author and TV personality, Rick presents the perfect blend between travelogue and cooking show. Rick travels throughout Spain looking for true Spanish food. His knowledge and skills as a chef can be seen as the utilities local produce to create a range of mouth-watering home-style meals. Also well worth watching is his series in India and France!

asian food travel shows

Salt, fat, acid, heat

Following on from her best selling book of the same name, Samin Nosrat focuses on the four elements that she believes are essential for cooking. Samin’s intense interest in food is evident, giving us a charming look into these elements as she heads across the globe. Although the male presenters on this list are excellent, it’s refreshing to have a feminine perspective. It’s a short series but well worth watching!

asian food travel shows

Somebody feed Phil

Somebody feed Phil brings a fresh approach to the food/travel genre lead by the enthusiastic host Phil. Phil is perhaps best known as the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and takes us across the world on his search to eat everything he sees. His optimism and willingness to try new things are contagious. Phil is light-hearted, yet inquisitive as he travels across the globe eating a massive variety of foods. Another one to add to your list!

asian food travel shows

A cook’s tour

Anthony Bourdain first shot to fame with his book Kitchen Confidential, giving us an insider view of the kitchen. Shortly after, he wrote the best selling “ A Cooks Tou r ”, from with this series is an offshoot. Anthony’s at his youngest here. He’s wild, raw and with a thirst to explore. He also has a thirst to drink as well! Anthony is still learning what it is like to be on Camera and this honesty shines through this series. Expect to see some foods that you would not be game to try, along with some others that will have you researching when the borders will open!

asian food travel shows

The Taco Chronicles

If you’re somehow not a taco fan, this show will be sure to convert you. This show is primarily based on tacos but that does not at all mean it is one dimensional. You’ll be guided through the various types throughout Mexico, looking at their history, preparation and the locals that make and enjoy them. By looking through the various styles, you will see how important they are to the culture and discover some new styles that you can try and make at home. Watch this if you’re a taco lover, or even if you’re a lover of good food!

asian food travel shows

The mind of a Chef

The Mind of a Chef takes professional chefs across the world, looking deeply into a particular meal/cuisine or style. These chefs show us how to create their take on this, yet both the audience and the chefs learn as the episode goes on. We discover the origins of the food, how different people and countries have impacted how it is made and how the chefs’ life and perspective influence the final outcome. This show is for those looking at how to create the perfect dish while learning and engaging in the culture behind it.

Breakfast Lunch and dinner

Following on from his Ugly Delicious series, Chef David Chang catches up with a variety of celebrities over four, hour-long episodes. They discuss food and culture while sampling tasty dishes. Expect to see appearances from Seth Rogan, Lena Waithe, Chrissy Tiegen and Kate McKinnon. A particular highlight is a relaxed vibe between David and Seth in Vancouver. After all, who better to lead you around on a stoned food mission than Seth Rogan.

asian food travel shows

A cook abroad

A cook abroad is the BBCs take on a foodie travelogue series as we follow a variety of celebrity chefs/tv hosts across the globe. Expect to see the likes of the Hairy bikers Dave Myers, legendary Chef and Tv presenter Rick Stein and the multi-talented Rachel Khoo. Each episode follows a different personality, giving a rich range of variation across the six episodes.

If you’re a fan of British cooks and personalities, give this one a watch!

asian food travel shows

Street food Latin America

Following on from the success of Street Food Asia, Street Food Latin America brings us across the other side of the world. The show keeps its successful character focussed concept which engages us in the lives of various street food purveyors of the region. At a time where travel is not widely possible and many people are going through hardships, this show helps to show the resilience of people. This determination, along with a love of cooking, is shown through their lives and the mouth-watering dishes that they create.

asian food travel shows

All of these shows will have you dreaming of food. Aside from dreaming, you will find that you will be educated, inspired and will be sure to be planing your future trip. If you’re curious about food, check out our article :  https://atasteofabroad.com/21-of-the-best-cheese-dishes-globally-you-need-to-try/

If for some reason you don’t like cheese (who doesn’t like cheese!) or if you like curries, please have a look here: https://atasteofabroad.com/13-unique-curries-from-around-the-world/

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These Shows Bring the Best Vietnamese Food to Your Living Room

These cooking shows will help bring a taste of Vietnam into your own kitchen

Much of the world is spending a lot of time indoors at the moment. While holidays are on hold, and travel limited, there are still ways to experience the sights and sounds of a place. TV chefs have long been bringing exotic cuisine direct to your home, so take notes as the greats take you on a journey through the finest food Vietnam has to offer.

Gentleness, subtlety, sophistication and freshness combine to form “the essence of Vietnamese cuisine ” according to bon viveur Keith Floyd, whose 1980s and 1990s shows paved the way for other chefs. Dramatic locations and his improvisational, often chaotic presenting style (often done with a glass of wine in hand) added to his appeal.

As the below list reflects, the culinary travelogue is largely to be the preserve of male chefs. But watching these shows, you can’t fail to be struck by the fact that the majority of the restauranteurs, academics, tour guides and other experts these chefs talk to and learn from are women.

Parts Unknown, Anthony Bourdain

“I keep coming back [to Vietnam]. I have to,” says Bourdain in Episode 1 Season 8 of Parts Unknown , the globe-trotting show in which he uses his destinations’ dishes and dining rituals to deepen his insight into their history and culture.

This Hanoi-based episode made in 2016 is most famous for its appearance by Barack Obama. Teaching Obama how to construct the soup-based bun cha dish at their restaurant table, and how to slurp up the noodles, Bourdain chats to the then-President about everything from local food markets and Chicago hot dogs to fatherhood and the value of travel and cultural openness.

 Bun Cha Huong Lein Restaurant, where Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain dined

Having first visited Vietnam in 2002 – his first foray into Southeast Asia – and also going on to make two No Reservations shows about his favourite country, the hard-living but erudite and often poetic Bourdain (who else would describe a mussel as a “plump little love muscle”?) is a compelling witness to the changes undergone by this compelling country even as he devours pork knuckles, pho, rice rolls and squid, and knocks back cheap beer with locals at street stalls, floating fishing villages and even a vintage French steamboat in glorious Ha Long Bay.

Available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video.

Far Flung Floyd

Cooking shirtless in a Vietnamese army camp with soldiers playing a noisy game of football right behind him is a quintessential Keith Floyd moment. Like Bourdain, Floyd was known for his drinking and his overall appetite for life, but also for his enquiring mind – in this show he references Joseph Conrad and Chinese philosopher Wang Ni.

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup

Made in 1996 (Floyd died in 2009), Season 1 Episode 4 is a historical snapshot of Vietnam – Floyd acknowledges the “feeling of change” and says he is glad to have come at this point, before capitalism takes hold. The sound and image quality may not be great, but Floyd’s cooking scenes – pho in his hotel kitchen, crab rolls at La Bibliothèque de Madame Dai in Ho Chi Minh City (now closed), and chicken curry on a boat on the Mekong – are some of the most vivid and enticing you could hope to see. And Floyd’s hamming up his ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ persona only adds to the retro fun of this pioneering show.

Currently only available on DVD.

Rick’s Far Eastern Odyssey

Episode 2 of the Padstow-based seafood chef’s Asian foray sees him seek inspiration at floating fish and seafood farms and at markets including Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh , before re-re-creating (and adapting) dishes for the camera in the slightly incongruous surrounds of his cosy Cornwall kitchen. Highlights are stuffed clams cooked in Southeast Asian beer and duck braised in orange juice with star anise, and Stein is great at talking about the nitty gritty of cooking techniques and his ingredients.

 Ben Thanh Market is one of the best markets in Saigon

Stein cites Far-Flung Floyd as his inspiration for coming to Vietnam in 2009, and like Floyd, his culture and curiosity shine through – whether it’s drinking a very strong Graham Greene cocktail at 9.30am in Hanoi’s Hotel Metropole before sneaking a peak at the room where his literary hero wrote part of A Quiet American , or asking a local war veteran what food was like in the army during the Vietnam War. At famous catfish restaurant Cha Ca La Vong in Hanoi, he revels in the thought that revolutionaries once came there to plot. But it’s the smell of the street food, he concludes, that will “bring [him] back time and time again.”

Available on BBC iPlayer.

Gordon’s Great Escape

Gordon Ramsay’s adventures in Vietnam in Series 2 Episode 2 of this show makes for bizarre and often uncomfortable viewing, and not just for the celebrity chef’s trademark swearing – machismo, squeamishness, judgmentalism all come into the mix. But intellect and empathy aside, this 2011 offering remains worth watching for Gordon’s interactions with formidable female chefs – Hoi An food doyenne and restaurant pioneer Madame V , with whom he cooks clams with spring onions and nam pla over an open flame in a market, Mrs Khoa of the iconic Khoa Ngan duck restaurant in Hanoi, and an unnamed lady who sells her famous broth, made with banana blossom and water-lotus stems, from her boat as she plies it through Can Tho’s floating food market.

Clams with spring onions

Shows appear and disappear across streaming channels regularly; if you can’t find the episode you’re looking for on the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, All 4 On Demand and so on, you may have to trawl through YouTube, or if you prefer, buy a DVD.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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My party of 3 spent $171 on lunch at Disney World's hibachi restaurant Teppan Edo, and we wouldn't dine there again

  • Reservations for Teppan Edo are hard to come by, but I was able to grab one for a late lunch.
  • I thought the Japanese-inspired spot lacked ambiance, and we were surprised by the extra costs.
  • My party of three felt rushed, and we weren't blown away by the food, so we likely won't be back.

Teppan Edo is located in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot.

asian food travel shows

Teppan Edo is located in the Japan Pavilion in the World Showcase portion of Epcot. I've always heard others rave about it, so I thought I'd try it out during our latest trip to Disney World. 

We mostly avoided it because we have a lot of Japanese restaurants where we live. But on this particular Disney trip, my family was trying things we hadn't done before, so I grabbed a reservation for a late lunch. 

The restaurant's entrance offered a great view of the Japan Pavilion.

asian food travel shows

When we arrived, we climbed the stairs to the entrance, which has a gorgeous view over the entire Japan Pavilion.

But I think that's kind of where the ambiance ends for this restaurant.

I thought the lack of decor was strange for Disney World.

asian food travel shows

The host greeted us and introduced us to our tablemates. We were only a party of three and the hibachi tables seat eight. 

Then we were all escorted to our table. The room had white walls and no decor, which I found strange for a Disney restaurant .

I didn't expect Mickey and Minnie to be plastered on the walls, but some ornamentation would've been lovely and made it more inviting. It was truly just a black, white, and red room with four hibachi tables.  

We received warm towelettes to clean our hands.

asian food travel shows

Our server was attentive, offering to take our orders for cocktails and appetizers.

After we ordered, he brought us oshibori, or hot towels, to clean our hands — a tradition in Japanese dining.

After the drinks came he promptly took our entrée order.

The specialty drinks were delicious.

asian food travel shows

The girls ordered yuzu lemonades, a specialty drink with strawberry popping boba. They loved them so much that they ordered two.

My tablemates said the Tokyo Sunset is the best cocktail in Disney World , so I tried that. But if you don't like fruity cocktails it's not for you — it's a mix of coconut rum, crème de banana, peach schnapps, and pineapple juice.

Luckily, I loved it and agree it's one of the better cocktails I've had at Disney World. 

The California roll was appetizing but overpriced.

asian food travel shows

We began our meal with a California roll — my girls aren't very adventurous when it comes to sushi , so we stuck to the basics.

It was tasty and a nice start to our meal, but I don't think it was worth $14 for eight pieces.

The miso soup also cost extra.

asian food travel shows

Our complimentary salads came out soon after our appetizer. Miso soup wasn't included with our entrées, so we ordered a cup of that to start as well. 

In my experience, both soup and salad are typically included at hibachi restaurants, so I didn't love the extra charge for the soup.

The hibachi chef was skilled, but the experience felt a little rushed.

asian food travel shows

Our hibachi chef came out as we dined on appetizers.

He was entertaining and did a great job — he even made a cute Mickey Mouse head with butter and a spoon.

But overall, the experience felt very rushed. We were seated at our table at 3:30 p.m. and paid our bill at 4:29 p.m.

I've never had a hibachi meal that was that quick before. 

Our portions seemed small, and there wasn't an option to add fried rice to our entrées.

asian food travel shows

Along with the garden salad, each entrée came with white rice, hibachi vegetables, and noodles.

I ordered the Asakusa offering, a mix of steak and shrimp, and my girls had the ebi (shrimp) and the tori ( chicken) .

The portions looked small compared to the other hibachi places I've dined at. I also thought it was strange that there was no option for fried rice, not even à la carte.

I thought the food could've used some more flavor.

asian food travel shows

The food wasn't necessarily memorable. I felt like it lacked flavor as the veggies and noodles seemed to only be cooked with soy sauce and some seasoning.

I really needed the ginger and yum-yum dipping sauces.

My steak and shrimp were good, and they were both cooked well. But my daughter said her chicken was a little dry. Normally, she destroys her meal, but she didn't eat much of this.

Both girls also said the yum-yum sauce was way too salty for them.

Although hibachi is one of our favorite dining experiences, we won't be returning to Teppan Edo.

asian food travel shows

Our total came out to $171 before the tip.

Between the rushed meal, smaller portions, and underwhelming flavors, we probably won't be back here again.

It's disappointing because hibachi is one of our favorite dining experiences. Sadly, Teppan Edo just doesn't make the cut for my family. 

This story was originally published in March 2023 and more recently updated on March 7, 2024.

asian food travel shows

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50 of the Best Travel-ish Shows to Watch When You Can't Travel

Abbie Mood Lang

Abbie Mood Lang

August 8, 2023

We can only travel so much ( no matter how cheap the flights are ). So when you inevitably settle down onto the couch, check out one of these shows to transport you to a different place until you can get there in person.  

Here are 50 of our favorite travel tv shows. 

Traditional Travel Shows

Anthony Bourdain in the The Layover.

1. Rick Steves’ Europe

Rick Steves might be a bit bookish but that’s one of the things we love about him. The man knows Europe—and the continent’s history—like the back of his hand, and his love for the region is clear. Whether you already love the countries and cities he visits, too, or are dreaming of the day you finally make it there, don’t be surprised if you find yourself geeking out right along with him. Available on: Amazon, Hulu, YouTube

>> Get inspired with our list of 25 ideas for where to go in Europe.

2. passport to europe with samantha brown.

Sam Brown travels with a sense of curiosity and excitement that you can’t help but get caught up in. “Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown” is packed with history, popular landmarks, local restaurants, and shopping spots—literally everything you need to know about both major cities and smaller spots in Europe.  Available on: Amazon 

3. The Layover

This one is made for travelers who love to maximize every. single. second. when they travel, including the time in between flights (looking at you, Type As). In “The Layover,” the late Anthony Bourdain uses every travel trick in the book to do—and eat—as much as he can within 24-48 hours.  Available on: Hulu, YouTube, Sling, Amazon

>> Plan your own short adventure with our layover guides.

4. the national parks: america's best idea.

Most of us have hiked, backpacked, or at the very least, driven through one of the United States’ national parks. From lesser-visited spots like the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska to (maybe a little too) popular ones like Yellowstone, this documentary pays homage to these beautiful places, sharing the history of the national park system from the 1800s to the present time through breathtaking video footage, interviews, and untold stories.  Available on: Amazon, YouTube

5. Globe Trekker

Featuring a rotating cast of hosts, “Globe Trekker” is a real-life version of the Lonely Planet guidebooks. The first few seasons were filmed in the 90s so don’t expect high-def, but over two decades they cover just about everywhere that you could think of, from London to Northern India to the Australian Outback. Available on: Amazon 

Experiential Travel Shows

dark tourist.

6. Dark Tourist

If you are fascinated by all things unusual—and maybe even morbid—you’ll definitely get some ideas from this Netflix series. In “Dark Tourist,” journalist David Farrier explores destinations with a grim history, like witnessing an exorcism in Mexico, hiking through a haunted forest in Japan, or swimming in a lake formed by a nuclear blast in Kazakhstan. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you if you have trouble sleeping after! Available on: Netflix

7. Conan Without Borders

Team Coco, this one is for you. See a side of Conan you never knew you needed as your favorite late-night talk show host takes his antics on the road to experience pop culture in other countries firsthand. Always wanted to see Conan star in a telenovela? Check. Wonder if he could hack it as a K-pop star? Done. Curious to see what his, um, dance skills look like? Season 1, Episode 1.  Available on: Netflix

8. Tales by Light

There’s something about an amazing photo that makes the rest of us wonder how it even happened. While there’s a little bit of “right place, right time” to many great shots, the best photographers know exactly what to look for when it comes to lighting, angles, and capturing emotions and feelings. Not just a behind-the-scenes look at how the pictures are taken, “Tales by Light” also show us how powerful images can be when it comes to conservation. Available on: Netflix

9. Expedition Unknown

With a background in archaeology and a “passion for the unexplained,” Josh Gates investigates unsolved mysteries, lost cities, and buried treasure all around the world. He’s got a little bit of an Indiana Jones vibe going on, and actually does get himself in some hairy situations while tackling challenges like searching for Amelia Earhart’s remains in Fiji—but without the Nazis breathing down his neck or giant boulders barreling his way. Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling

10. The Moaning of Life

After “An Idiot Abroad” concluded and comedian Karl Pilkington turned 40, he had some big life questions, as one does. “The Moaning of Life” documents Pilkington’s mid-life crisis as he travels around the world to see how other cultures tackle big topics like marriage, having children (they’re not for him), the secret to happiness, and even death. Available on: Amazon 

11. Planet Earth

The BBC put some serious funding into the production of “Planet Earth” and it has paid off. The series has been awarded four Emmys and a Peabody Award from the Royal Television Society for its breathtaking episodes featuring a different biome or habitat each time. From the Arctic and Antarctica to the depths of the oceans, if this doesn’t inspire you to see more of our planet, nothing will. Available on: YouTube, Amazon

Road Trips 

Top Gear.

12. Long Way Round

Watch actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman hop on their BMW R1150GS Adventure motorcycles (hey, some people are interested in those kinds of details) and cruise from London to New York. They take an eastern route through Europe, Asia, and Alaska, then down to the contiguous US, usually off-road. The two have an obvious shared passion for riding, which is a definite requirement if you plan to sit on a bike seat for 19,000 miles! Available on: Amazon

13. Long Way Down

A sequel to their 2004 adventure, Long Way Down follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman again as they ride their trusty motorcycles from Scotland through Europe and down Africa to Cape Town, South Africa. This time the duo covers an impressive 15,000 miles—though as the episodes show, it’s not always easy. Available on: Tubi

14. Epic Drives

Come for the cars, stay for the conversations. Created in partnership with Motor Trend magazine, this show highlights fast cars, unique trucks (Ford Falcon XR6 Ute anyone?), and stories from locals in epic locations. Available on: YouTube

15. Top Gear

There’s a reason that there are nine (!) movies in the Fast & Furious franchise—people love watching drivers push their cars to the limit. "Top Gear" is part review, part road trip, and all adrenaline, and the celebrity guest drivers and absurd challenges add to the fun. Now that we think about it, maybe Rocket League® was inspired by the Top Gear Car Sports segment…? Available on: YouTube TV, Amazon 

16. The Grand Tour

Filled with bits of uniquely quirky (and questionable) advice like “looking good is more important than looking where you’re going,” "The Grand Tour" finds Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May (of “Top Gear” fame) driving unique automobiles in interesting places. The friends drive everything from an Aston Martin in South Africa to the Fiat Panda 4x4 in Colombia to beach buggies in Namibia. They talk, they eat, they race. Available on: Amazon 

Food & Drink

Ugly Delicious.

17. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

“No Reservations” combines two of the best things about traveling: food and adventure. Throw in Anthony Bourdain and you’ve got a truly entertaining TV show. The chef gets down and dirty in each location, giving us a look at not just the food, but the people and a fun way to experience the culture. Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling, Amazon 

18. Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown

Bourdain once said, “You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.” “Parts Unknown” brings the table to you, as the chef learns about the history of often-complicated places (Detroit, Iran, Senegal) by sharing a traditional food or drink with the people who live there.  Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV, Amazon 

19. Gordon Ramsay's Uncharted

Chef Gordon Ramsay is probably best known for his strong personality on his reality TV shows, like “Hell’s Kitchen,” but in “Uncharted,” we see a more humble side of the Brit. He frequently finds himself thrown out of his comfort zone while learning about the cuisine or traditional cooking methods from a local and is then thrown into the fire by attempting to make a dish for the community himself. Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling, Disney+

20. Gordon's Great Escape

Imagine Gordon Ramsay in a white tank top, admitting that he has no idea what he’s doing and traveling around India (often on motorbike) to become versed on what “real” curry is like compared to the dish he loves in the UK. The show embodies the sights and sounds of India and Ramsay even experiences “travel sickness,” just like the rest of us. The last four episodes take place in Southeast Asia and Ramsay continues his role as the student, which isn’t a position we’re used to seeing him in. Available on: Amazon, Disney+

21. Ugly Delicious

Each episode revolves around a type of food and then James Beard Award-winning chef David Chang travels to different countries to explore how those places interpret it or make it. With close-up shots of the food as it’s being made, cooked, and consumed, you can almost smell the warm pizza crust and feel the heat of the hot chicken in your mouth. Available on: Netflix

22. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

If you like “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” you’ll love "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner." David Chang travels the world to meet up with funny, food-loving celebrities like Seth Rogen and Chrissy Teigen as they embark on culinary adventures in various cities around the world. Available on: Netflix

23. Street Food

Street food is almost like a culture within a culture. Wherever you go, travelers can count on carts to have the most authentic food—and people—you’ll ever find. Capturing the vibrant colors and essence of each dish, this show manages to make even the most humble of street food look so beautiful; it's like a love letter to the food and the people who make it. Available on: Netflix

24. Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern

Even if you consider yourself an adventurous eater, this one might make you a little squeamish. But hey, you’ve gotta give Zimmern credit for being up for anything, like lamb brains and duck tongue. Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling, Amazon 

25. Three Sheets

Comedian Zane Lamprey is living the dream—traveling the world to meet new people and drink alcohol with them. It’s essentially an international pub crawl, including the day-after hangover cures. Available on: Amazon 

26. I’ll Have What Phil’s Having

Phil Rosenthal is hilarious (he did create “Everybody Loves Raymond”) but in a very wholesome way. He had an admittedly bland diet as a child, so Rosenthal wants to experience as much as he can as an adult—even if that means stepping into the unknown. His friendly demeanor and childlike innocence make you feel like you are just tagging along with an uncle and experiencing a place for the first time. Available on: YouTube, Amazon 

27. Somebody Feed Phil

In “Somebody Feed Phil,” Rosenthal actually brings his friends and family along as he visits cities ranging from Tel Aviv to New Orleans. Phil’s excitement is contagious as he tastes the best pizza, egg cream—and even hot dog—of his life. Available on: Netflix

28. BuzzFeed's Worth It

BuzzFeed knows how to tap into popular culture, and “Worth It” offers a unique spin on your typical food review. Instead of just eating a meal somewhere and talking about it, hosts Steven Lim and Andrew Ilnyckyj eat three different dishes at three different price points (affordable, mid, luxury) and then decide if it’s worth it to spend more money. The guys bring an everyman attitude to the whole show, so they rarely pick the most expensive option. Available on: Hulu, BuzzFeed’s website

29. Booze Traveler

Host Jack Maxwell is the real deal. At a young age, he made money by shining shoes in local pubs and gin mills (seriously) and then became a bartender in South Boston. He found that you can learn a lot about a person when you take the time to sit down for a couple of drinks, so naturally, he hit the road to learn about what people are drinking and why they drink it. Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling

30. Chef's Table

Many cooking shows give you a look into the chef’s personality, but sometimes you want to go a little deeper, learn a little bit more. Enter Emmy-nominated series “Chef’s Table.” Each season dives into the lives and personal stories of six chefs, discussing their discipline and culinary talent while they prepare a dish. It’s the best of both worlds and a must watch for serious foodies. Available on: Netflix

Extreme Engagement.

31. Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

If you’ve ever traveled with a parent, you will be hard-pressed to find a more relatable show. Comedian Jack Whitehall and his father, Michael, hit the road together to “strengthen their bond.” Dad is definitely out of his element in this one, as Jack wants to be in the thick of everything, while Michael would definitely prefer a bit more familiarity. Available on: Netflix

32. The Amazing Race

Featuring 11 teams of two that race around the world to make it to the final leg and take home the $1 million prize, contestants on “The Amazing Race” face everything from grueling heat to freezing temperatures, while having to complete physical and mental challenges on a limited budget. There are many reasons why this show is so popular, but perhaps the biggest is the relationships between the partners. Just traveling with another person on vacation can be stressful enough, but the competition adds another layer of complexity to the relationship as they try to navigate through completely foreign cities and countries. Available on: Hulu, YouTube, Sling, Amazon 

33. Survivorman

Canadian survival expert Les Stroud strands himself in the remote wilderness for 7-10 days with only his clothes, a one-man camera rig, his harmonica, a multi-tool, and often, items relevant to his survival situation or location. While it may not make you want to go off on your own in the middle of nowhere for days on end, it might motivate you to spend a little more time in nature in a place you hadn’t thought of before. Available on: Hulu, Amazon, YouTube

34. An Idiot Abroad

Poor Karl Pilkington is constantly pranked by British comics Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant in “An Idiot Abroad.” To be fair, it’s probably not possible for Pilkington to be that clueless, but he plays the part well and with quite a bit of humor as he’s repeatedly surprised and confused about the cultural customs of people around the world. Available on: YouTube, Amazon

35. Restaurants on the Edge

Love a good makeover show? Check out “Restaurants on the Edge,” a show in which three food and design experts revive restaurants that are on the edge of failing by re-connecting them with the local culture and food. The newly improved eateries offer a redesigned decor and unique menu, but the views throughout the show—filmed at restaurants in places like Malta, St. Lucia, and Hong Kong—give you a real idea of what the locale looks like. Available on: Netflix

36. Extreme Engagement

It’s your typical love story: man and woman meet, fall madly in love, get engaged, and then spend two years apart while man is filming another TV show. Okay, so that last part is not so typical, but when PJ Madam and Tim Noonan came back together, they decided to spend every waking second together and travel the world for an entire year to see if their relationship could cut it. Unlike most travel shows that visit the hotspots, the couple travels to remote villages and experiences life with tribespeople in their quest to “discover the secret to a perfect marriage,” giving viewers a real sense of place and a deep look at places many tourists never see. Available on: Netflix

37. House Hunters International

If you’ve ever dreamt of living abroad, “House Hunters International” is the best way to get a glimpse of life in another country—and where you could potentially live there. The buyers’ often-unrealistic expectations or lavish budgets have become the source for many a meme and with 115 seasons , you’ve got some catching up to do. Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling

38. Basic Versus Baller: Travel at Any Cost

“Vagabrothers” Marko and Alex Ayling vlog their 24-hour adventures in popular cities across the globe. Each episode starts with a little brotherly competition with a trivia question about the city to determine who will experience the destination on a shoestring budget and who will get to ball out. Whether you’re a penny-pinching backpacker or an all-out baller when you travel, you’ll get to see both sides of the coin. Available on: Hulu, YouTube TV

Scripted Shows Set Abroad

Midnight Diner.

39. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

The show takes place in a fictional small Japanese bar called Meshiya in Tokyo that is open from midnight to 7 a.m. While the menu technically only offers four things—sake, beer, shōchū, and tonjiru, a pork soup — the chef (known only as the Master) will create any dish that a customer may want using the ingredients that he has on-hand that night. The camera follows that night’s patrons out of the bar and into their lives to continue their stories, but still manages to capture the true feeling of the show—that food is about coming together but life is boring without a little joy every now and then. Available on: Netflix

Based on the lives of five single men and women in their 30s in Jerusalem, “Srugim” checks all the boxes for a binge-worthy show: controversial issues (in the Religious Zionist society), marriage problems, a character struggling with their sexuality, and a bonus for travel junkies—true cultural immersion. Available on: Amazon Prime, YouTube

Regularly ranked as one of the most popular TV shows of all-time in the US, “Lost” is about the survivors of a commercial jet airliner that crashed on a mysterious island in the South Pacific Ocean en route from Sydney to Los Angeles. The show was filmed at Mokulē'ia Beach, near the northwest tip of Oahu, making it easy to imagine spending a week on your very own deserted island. Available on: Hulu, YouTube, Amazon 

42. Outlander

With elements of romance, history, and science fiction, “Outlander” is filled with sweeping landscapes, historic castles, and elegant gardens. Filmed mostly in the Scottish Highlands, but also in Prague (to capture the spirit of 18th-century France in Season 2) and Cape Town, South Africa, you can visit many of the sites where Clare Randall lived her double lives. Available on: Netflix, Hulu, Sling, YouTube TV 

43. Downton Abbey

This series is set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey between 1912 and 1926 and depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. If the show inspires a trip to the British countryside, be sure to add Highclere Castle to your list—it’s where the TV show was filmed. Available on: Amazon, YouTube

44. Grantchester

Taking place in a picturesque 1950s Cambridgeshire village named Grantchester, this detective drama will have you dreaming of spending your next vacation in a sleepy British town. You can actually visit the actual town of some 540 people and take a walk through the Grantchester Meadows, stop in the pub, and sit down for afternoon tea, just like Sidney Chambers and Geordie Keating. Available on: Amazon, YouTube 

45. Trapped

Though it’s been gaining in popularity as a tourist destination in the past few years, Iceland is still a country that feels quite wild and remote. “Trapped” captures that feeling in this crime drama taking place in as isolated Icelandic town, where the chief of police tries to solve the murder of a former townsperson after his mutilated corpse is found by fishermen. Available on: Amazon 

46. The Kettering Incident

The Australian drama is based on the mysterious disappearance of two young girls, but the dark and enchanting landscapes are a central part of the show. This one might not have a happy premise, but the filming locations in and around the town of Kettering and Bruny Island in Tasmania are sure to kick your wanderlust into overdrive.  Available on: Amazon, YouTube  

47. Top of the Lake

Set in a remote mountain town in New Zealand, "Top of the Lake" is a harrowing series about an inexperienced detective trying to figure out what happened to 12-year-old Tui, who disappeared while five months pregnant. The country’s South Island is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the world and the show gives you enough of a taste that you’ll want to book a trip to Glenorchy and experience its untouched beauty for yourself.  Available on: Hulu, YouTube, Amazon

When a group of eight strangers from around the world realize they are connected telepathically, they have to find a way to keep each other safe from those who find their powers threatening. The second season includes an astonishing 15 cities and 13 countries. From action shots in Seoul to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the creators of "The Matrix" and "Babylon 5” outdid themselves with this one. Available on: Netflix

49. Hawaii 5-0

Take a trip to Hawaii with this TV show featuring an elite state police task force set up to fight major crimes in the state. Originally airing from 1968 to 1980, there’s also a remake that premiered in 2010 and will end in 2020. Whether you watch the old school or modern version, the swaying palm trees and ocean views will bring back memories of a tropical vacation. Available on: CBS, YouTube TV

50. Marco Polo

Yes, this TV show is about that Marco Polo. Inspired by the creator’s own legendary trip through Central Asia, “Marco Polo” gives viewers an insight into the life of one of the world’s first explorers. We challenge you to somehow not imagine yourself riding a horse through the grassland of the Mongolian-Manchurian steppe after watching a few episodes of this one. Available on: Netflix, Amazon

Ready to get off the couch and back into the world? Join Going and get amazing cheap flights —up to 90% off—delivered right to your inbox.  

Abbie Mood Lang

Freelance Writer

Published August 8, 2023

Last updated January 9, 2024

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This New, All-inclusive Japanese Resort Has Hot Springs, Fresh Seafood, and One of the Longest Ski Seasons in the World

Club Med’s Kiroro Grand is an enchanting, family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Hokkaido, Japan. T+L senior editor Lydia Price reports back from the grand opening.

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Courtesy of Club Med

Planning a family ski vacation is notoriously daunting; there’s equipment to keep track of, isolated mountains to get to, and a range of skill levels to accommodate — not to mention finding après activities for the whole gang. Add an international destination into the mix, and it gets even more complicated. But Club Med’s Kiroro Grand, a new all-inclusive resort in Hokkaido, Japan, has made it easier than ever to plan a family getaway to one of the world’s best ski regions. 

Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is legendary for its abundance of light, fluffy snow. Club Med’s family-focused Tomamu resort opened inland in 2018, and the brand arrived in Hokkaido's seaside Yoichi district with Kiroro Peak in 2022 (open only to travelers 12 and older). Its new Kiroro Grand resort is another winter paradise for families, with a massive kids' campus, exquisite food, and impeccable ski conditions that last all the way into May. I attended the grand opening in December 2023 to see it all for myself.

Club Med Kiroro Grand

  • All-inclusive food, drinks, ski lessons, and nightly entertainment simplifies planning a family vacation. 
  • Skiers enjoy world-class powder without the crowds and lift lines, and the ski season goes all the way into May.
  • It’s close to the historic town of Otaru, an artisan hub known for its glasswork, sake distilleries, and incredible seafood.
  • It offers traditional Japanese experiences amid an eclectic community of guests and upbeat staff.

Merlin Chelliah, Kiroro Grand’s spunky, Singapore-raised general manager (or head of village in Club Med parlance), greeted me at the hotel with an infectious smile. “What Club Med does, the minute you come in the door, is make you feel at home,” she later told me over tea. With a diverse international clientele and staff, that’s no easy feat. But a resort culture that encourages everyone from ski instructors to head honchos like Chelliah to spend as much time as possible with guests makes everyone feel included — and puts parents at ease. 

“You have ski instructors all around the world, right? You meet them, you go for lessons, and that’s it. The lessons are done, and it’s finished. We create a relationship here. We create a circle of trust,” explained Chelliah, who helped open Tomamu and Kiroro Peak before taking her current position at Kiroro Grand. “After ski lessons, the instructor comes and engages in conversation at the table, eats with you, and says, ‘How are you? Can I give you some tips?’”

In addition to sharing meals with students, sports instructors (the resort also offers snow trekking and, in the summer, mountain biking and hiking) attend nightly events at the Kiroro Grand’s theater, where I enjoyed performances by live bands, acrobats, and DJs. Chelliah is also there, often serving as MC and leading the crowd in Club Med’s signature “crazy sign” dances to top off the night. Opposite the stage is a large lounge area with fireplaces and reading nooks, with a bar slinging cocktails for the adults and slushies for the kids.

Lydia Price/Travel + Leisure

I watched the high-flying gymnasts and live musicians leave the kids in awe, but nothing brought out their giant smiles more than ski instructors joining them on the dance floor. 

Chelliah credits Club Med instructors with turning her own son, now 11, into an enthusiastic skier after his rough introduction to the sport in 2019. Club Med’s Hokkaido ski instructors worked their magic with game-packed lessons and camaraderie off the slopes. And now? "He skis as well as some of the instructors here, and he’s proud of it,” she told me. “He’s gained so much confidence.” 

The resort certainly excels in childcare, and it solves a host of other classic ski-vacation headaches as well. Gear is stored in lockers just steps away from the dining hall, and Kiroro Grand's doors are only a three-minute gondola ride away from the base of the main ski area. When it comes to après-ski offerings, all-you-can-eat dining, hot springs, an indoor pool, game rooms, and a spa keep everyone entertained. 

Here, my full review of the new Club Med Kiroro Grand. 

The resort’s standard doubles, or Superior Rooms, come in three sizes ranging from 387.5 square feet (recommended for two people) to 473.6 square feet (recommended for up to four people). Light earth tones accented by pops of deep blue create a calming ambiance. Each room has a couch, ample natural light, and, of course, Japan’s world-famous high-tech toilets. 

Deluxe Double Rooms are slightly larger with mountain or forest views (recommended for up to three people). Even better are the Tatami Deluxe Rooms, which have traditional Japanese floored beds, sofa beds, and separate tubs and showers.

The Junior Family Suites (recommended for three people), Family Suites (for four), and Master Family Suites (for five) are the resort’s premium accommodations. Bay windows with reading nooks, intricate light fixtures, and marble-walled bathrooms elevate the spaces. Master Family Suites go up to 1,603 square feet, Family Suites are up to 904 square feet, and the Junior Family Suites have a 721-square-foot maximum. Suites come with turndown service, continental breakfasts delivered to the room each morning, and mountain views.

Food and Drink

Yoichi, the resort’s main restaurant, provides a globe-spanning array of comfort food at every meal. Chefs prepare food in front of guests, so you can dine on freshly cooked seafood filets, Thai stir frys, and Korean barbecue at your leisure. The ramen station is always popular; it serves a rotating menu of savory broths and noodles with an assortment of toppings. Western favorites like pizza, pasta, and bagels are also served daily. 

Yoichi’s dining rooms include tables in the theater and main lounge, where snacks are served in-between main meals. At afternoon tea time, chefs make crêpes to order while baristas serve matcha lattes and hot chocolate at the coffee bar. Guests can also nibble on a spread of pastries and finger sandwiches and enjoy a full-service bar with a handful of signature cocktails — and slushies for the little ones.

The Kiroro Grand also has three specialty restaurants (not included in the all-inclusive pricing). At Ebisu, I dined on an eight-course sushi menu that highlighted the best of the region’s seafood. Ogon, the hot pot restaurant, made for a lively evening, and at barbecue spot Kaen, I enjoyed a succulent array of Wagyu beef, scallops, and pork, all local. 

Experiences and Amenities

Kiroro Grand provides everything you need to hit the slopes, with equipment rentals, group lessons, ski lockers, and lift tickets included in the price of your stay. Private lessons are available for an extra fee. The trails are open for night skiing, and guided snowshoe treks are also available.

For me, the standout amenity was the traditional onsen , a hot outdoor soaking tub fed by mineral-rich spring water. I went for a soak every day after skiing, sometimes following it with a few minutes in the sauna. Guests can also unwind at daily yoga sessions and have access to the indoor pool, cardio center, and hot tub in addition to a game room with ping-pong, darts, and foosball. 

The main floor of the resort has a ski boutique stocked with Rossignol equipment and other essentials for the slopes, plus a convenient store that sells local goods and a wide array of Japanese snacks. 

Club Med has a dinner dress code every night. Some examples when I stayed were “white and silver,” “casual chic,” and “colorful elegant.” It’s by no means mandatory, but Club Meders love to add some flair to their evenings by abiding by the theme. Live bands, DJs, and aerial acrobat performances follow dinner.  

Activities that come with an extra fee (i.e., not included in the all-inclusive rate) range from a Hokkaido glasswork workshop to tours of Otaru, the nearby seaside town with a rich artistic history.

Next to the onsen you’ll find the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. I enjoyed a 90-minute massage with a skilled masseuse. After my massage, I continued to relax while watching the snow fall with a cup of Jasmine tea in the spa’s lounge.

Family-friendly Offerings

Club Med Kiroro Grand was designed with families in mind. Group lessons are included in room rates for skiers of all ages. The sprawling kids' club includes a climbing gym, vibrant decor, and piles of toys. Babycare can also be reserved for an additional fee. 

Nightly shows at the theater are all kid-friendly. Once a week, the kids get a chance to take the stage themselves after a dance workshop. 

Accessibility and Sustainability

Kiroro Grand prevents food waste by having chefs stop cooking 45 minutes before the end of meal services at the buffet. They strive to use local food whenever possible.

The resort also limits product waste by keeping a grab-as-you-need amenity box in the lobby in lieu of in-room toiletries. 

Kiroro Grand has two accessible rooms, both Junior Family Suites.

Travelers flock to Hokkaido for its legendary snow. The Kiroro Ski Resort, which is just a three-minute gondola ride away from Club Med Kiroro Grand, has almost 19 miles of skiable terrain with an average of around 4,000 skiers per day. If you hate crowded slopes and lift lines, this is a ski area for you. 

Flights from Tokyo to the Kiroro Grand’s closest airport, Sapporo’s New Chitose, are about 1.5 hours. From there, the Kiroro Grand provides shuttles for the 1.5-hour drive to the resort. You’ll ascend a winding, forest-lined road with intermittent views of the Sea of Japan and Yoichi’s sweeping mountain range. 

Otaru, a famous fishing village about 40 minutes away from the Kiroro Grand, makes for an enriching day trip. Enjoy tours and tastings at the renowned Tanaka Sake Brewery, take a glassblowing class, or learn about the town’s history on a canal tour. 

Club Med made a point of becoming active participants in the local community after the small village of Akaigawa, population 1,300, welcomed them with open arms. Chelliah recalled the mayor telling her team to “help my people” after COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the local economy. Now, 31 percent of her staff are Akaigawa natives. Meanwhile, taiko students perform weekly in exchange for a salary and the chance to spend a few days at the resort practicing English.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

You’ll get the best room rates during the resort’s low seasons in late March and late April. Since the area has the longest ski season in Japan, you’ll still get to enjoy plenty of powder. The resort and mountain close on May 6 before reopening for the summer season in mid-June. There is a seven-night minimum stay. Kids under four stay for free.

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THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Elektrostal

Restaurants in elektrostal, establishment type, traveler rating, dietary restrictions, restaurant features.

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  • Amsterdam Moments
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    4. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Best for Sushi) Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a story of one of the world's greatest sushi chef. He was the owner and founder of the world's first 3-Michelin star sushi restaurant. In addition to following Jiro's continuous strive for perfection, you'd also see a side of him as a complicated father.

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    Gino's Italian Escape. TV chef Gino D'acampo returns to his home country of Italy and embarks on a culinary odyssey, from major cities like Rome and Naples to coastal villages, to discover the secrets of its cuisine in this cooking travelogue adventure. Gino's Italian Escape airs on SBS FOOD on Monday evenings.

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  26. Shōgun: The brutal Japanese history that inspired 2024's latest ...

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  27. Club Med Kiroro Grand in Hokkaido, Japan Hotel Review

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  29. MILAVIA Air Shows

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  30. THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Elektrostal (Updated March 2024)

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