We’ve all been there. You’ve queued for ages to get into that cafe everyone has been posting about on social media. You finally order the dish and are left a little disappointed. Then a day later you stumble into an unimpressive little spot with plastic chairs and a buzzing tube. You enjoy the best meal of your trip. It’s not a coincidence! Often the spots that aren’t very pretty are actually the most serious about food. Here’s why.
The Instagram Tax
A restaurant that is Instagram friendly will have invested a lot in decor, lighting and rent that means they’re located in trendy areas. This will mean the kitchen costs will have to be reduced somehow. Usually by giving smaller portion sizes, cheaper ingredients or price inflation
Where the Money Really Goes
Simple restaurants will have no need to pay for any fancy decor. This means the owners can invest in fresh ingredients, good cooks and generous portions.
Follow the Workers, Not the Tourists
The best people to ask for recommendations are taxi drivers, market traders and office workers. They’ll eat out everyday on a strict budget and won’t have much time so will always go to somewhere that is cheap, fast and good.
Regulars Keep Standards High
A restaurant geared towards tourists can afford to have one off customers. However a local canteen can’t. They’ll have many regulars visiting multiple times a week so won’t be able to afford to have some poor quality meals.
How to Spot the Right Place
Look for queues of locals. Menus that are hand written or only available in the local language. The menu should be small and seasonal. Tables will also be busy during unusual hours.
The One-Dish Specialist
Many of these unpretentious spots will have specialised in one dish over the years. They won’t have a long menu to cater for everyone, instead they’ll specialise in one dish and will have made it perfect after making it thousands of times.
Mastery Over Variety
Whether it’s a roadside dhaba famous for its dal, a tasca in Lisbon famous for their grilled sardines or a stall in Bangkok with just boat noodles, these spots will have focused on perfecting one dish.
Don’t Judge By The Decor
Yes the decor isn’t great (fluorescent lighting, plastic chairs and laminated menus) however it often means they’re confident. If they haven’t bothered to update the decor it usually means they have good food that keeps people coming back.
What Matters
Not all simple looking spots are a secret gem. Whilst the decor doesn’t matter, hygiene does. Make sure the food is freshly cooked, there is a high turnover and the kitchen is clean. Everything else should be judged by taste.
Next Time You Travel…
Next time you’re travelling try to miss out at least one ‘pretty’ meal. Ask a local where they eat and sit down on that plastic chair. Let the food be the star of the show!
