What 20 Years of Traveling Taught Me About Eating Like A Local

I’ve traveled the world for 20 years—food is one of my main reasons to travel, and there are few things I won’t try. From the best Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden spots that deserve fancy awards (and those that deserve to be closed by the health department), I’ve done a lot in search of a great meal.

When I first started traveling, I made a lot of mistakes when it came to picking restaurants and saving money on food. I was young and inexperienced. I went where the guidebook told me to go, ate near tourist places, and overspent on meals. One time while in Barcelona, I ordered paella from a restaurant in Las Ramblas that came out in 10 minutes, which was not a good sign; good paella takes time. This particular paella was not fresh, tasting rather flavorless and bland. Another time I went to a restaurant in Sydney recommended by my guidebook—the food tasted worse than the cheapest meal an airline can offer.

But through these mistakes (and many more), I learned a few things about finding the best meals overseas.

First, I practice something I call The Five Block Rule: Don’t eat within five blocks of a major tourist attraction or area. It’s like there’s an invisible border surrounding these areas, and tourists typically don’t go beyond it. All of a sudden you notice that the crowds are gone, the menus aren’t in eight languages, and the prices seem more reasonable.

One time I found myself wandering south of Montmartre, one of Paris’s most touristy areas. Crossing into the 9th arrondissement, I found a corner bistro named The said winewhich looked cute. I fumbled my way through a menu that changed daily based on what was fresh, but I experienced French cuisine as it’s meant to be: aromatic, complex, and just downright satisfying. When I returned with a local friend, they admitted it was a good find—a winning compliment, straight from a Parisian. Don’t be afraid to check out little tiny hole-in-the-wall places that you are unsure about. Take a chance on a local spot versus something buzzy or social media-famous. The meal might not knock your socks off, but it could prove memorable and unique.

Additionally, when using apps like Google Maps or Yelp to vet restaurants, I suggest focusing on places that have the most reviews, not the ones with the highest reviews. Overall total reviews tend to signal a restaurant or bar is more well-loved by the locals—you’re likely in for a better time if you go to a place with a rating averaged from 100 reviews rather than a place with 8 glowing reviews.

In that vein, “where do you eat?” is a much better question to ask locals than “Where should I eat?” I have learned from experience that most people will suggest popular tourist spots, because it’s what comes to mind. But if you ask them where they eat, they will tell you about their tried-and-true favorites. The places only locals go to. Places that are affordable. That small shift in language will yield more interesting results.