Here Piggy, Piggy

I love food. When I was a teenager, I found a recording of me at 11 years old dancing with a slice of pizza in each hand. My uncle is heard on the recording laughing and calling me a little porker. I didn’t care. I was dancing away and eating, just a happy little chubby kid. Twenty-five years later I still get excited about food.

I usually travel on a budget so my food adventures consist of a mix of cheap eats and the occasional fine dining. Most places I eat are in the middle price range. Some restaurants are recommendations and others I found simply by walking around town. I purposefully focused on restaurants outside the U.S. and limited it to my top few favorites for the purpose of this post.

Further, these restaurants don’t just have delicious food, they also have a vibe. The decor and music created an ambiance I’ll never forget. So if you find yourself in one of these cities, I highly recommend paying a visit, and in some cases be sure you get a reservation before arrival.

I’ve still got a lot more traveling to do and quite a few more restaurants to check out, so be sure to tell me your favorites in the comments! I linked to each restaurant’s google map so you can see the location and head to their website.

My four and a ½* favorite restaurants outside the US (so far)...

El Cinco de Tirso

I stumbled across this lovely restaurant while roaming around Madrid. It’s easy to miss. The outside is very unassuming with a number 5 above the door. I peered into the window and saw a couple sitting at a high top and figured, it’s empty so I could grab a quick meal. When I stepped inside it felt like something from a movie. The wood and golden glow of the lights were warm and welcoming.

My Spanish is basically non-existed. I can’t even say it’s limited. I know just a few phrases. The staff was patient with me as I asked if there was an English menu (there was not). Eventually, a manager appeared from the kitchen and assisted with translation. I decided early based on our interactions I was going to stay for lunch because of their friendliness and patience with this silly American who came in inquiring about an English menu.

I got a beer and after some back and forth I decided on nuestros torreznos (9 Euro) and costilla de ternera asada a baja temperatura (16 Euro). As the manager explained the first is a sort of fried pork belly, and the second is slow-cooked ribs of a lamb. I’m no food expert so I’m not to get into whether it was properly cooked. I just know it was beautifully presented and I ate every bite, except for the lamb. It was a large portion and I was full on beer and nuestros torreznos so I took that back to my hotel for later. By the time I was done with my meal the place was filling up. They even have a lower level that has a more intimate vibe. If you’re in Madrid, El Cinco de Tirso is worth a visit.

Villa Maasai

I’ve been to Paris a few times, but on this visit my co-workers and I were arranging a group dinner and one of the French-speaking Senegalese gentlemen recommended a West African restaurant. Paris being the melting pot it is, is a great place to try food from all over the world, but especially the various African cuisines. We all met in the hotel lobby and quickly learned the restaurant we wanted to visit is closed on Sundays so we had to regroup. Our co-worker hopped on the phone and about 20 minutes later we had a new spot, Villa Maasai.

Upon arrival, you’re greeted by a gentleman in a black suit warmly directing everyone upstairs. The restaurant is located on the third floor so those with disabilities may find this place off-limits. While there is no specific dress code, if you come on a weekend you’ll definitely want to be in slacks and a button-down. And it did not help that there was a private gathering in a side room and everyone was dressed: heels, cocktail dresses, slacks, and blazers.

It also appears they do live bands throughout the week. There was a small stage set up and a guy was playing an instrument to a variety of music including Spanish and some old-school dusties. I could see it being a great date night. The food and service were great. We all got a variety of things from the menu: chicken and Jollof, grouper and Jollof, Mafe, and seared lamb. I enjoyed the grouper and Jollof. Our Senegalese friend did note that some of the dishes that would be traditionally lamb or goat -- like their Mafe -- were replaced with chicken. My grouper and rice was 26 Euros. A little pricey for what I got, but you’re definitely paying for the ambiance and I’d do it again.

Baa & Bean by Tea Baa

When we arrived at our Airbnb in Accra, the first thing we noticed was the cute little cafe in the lobby of one of the towers. A couple of days later we had the evening free and hadn’t eaten so figured we go and grab something light. We quickly realized this was so much more than a “cute little cafe.” Baa & Bean was a full on restaurant. The chalkboard menu above the baristas listed items like jerk pork chops and fried rice, jerk wings, and a couple fish dishes. There was also a specialty cocktail menu along with beer and wine selections. We were pleasantly surprised.

Another reason we thought it was just a cafe is the number of people who had set up shop and were working or studying. The University of Ghana is nearby and it appears this serves as a study spot. And understandably so. The place is very welcoming. The art throughout the restaurant is amazing and the staff is friendly.

For dinner my friend got the jerk wings and I got the pork chops. While they were both great, the wings were definitely the winner. Luckily for me, my friend has issues. She is the person who leaves half the meat and skin on the chicken. Like she literally takes one bit and that’s it. It’s a shame, but whenever we’re together I happily consume the whole meal she leaves behind.

We were so caught up in fellowship and enjoying the space around us we didn't take any pictures of our food. Baa & Bean is well worth the visit next time you're in Accra.

Joe Beef

I planning a solo trip to Montreal for my 31st birthday. It was going to be my first true solo trip. I’m not even sure why I chose Montreal. I think I saw an advertisement and then airfare ended up being reasonable on Porter Airlines so I figured why not. I shared my decision with my coworkers and it turned out that her husband had his bachelor party there. Apparently he’s a foodie, and I had no idea Montreal was known for food. The next day she returned to work with a list of recommendations. I did some research and they were all outside of my budget, but I figured I’d treat myself to one for my birthday and settled on Joe Beef. Everything I'd read and was told suggested I get reservations asap. When I called they were sold out of tables but had a spot for one at the bar. I took it but thought damn...who’s reserving space at the bar?

When I got there I realized why reservations can be tough: this place is cozy. It was middle of January and the place was packed out. As I waited for the hostess, people walking without reservations were kindly turned away. Proudly I walked up and proclaimed my reservation for 1. I was escorted to a corner spot of the bar that had my back to the street, but a view of the restaurant.

Bartender and I talked for a bit. Shared that it was my birthday and this place came highly recommended. By American standards, the menu is limited. I’m so used to flipping through pages of options that when he pointed to the chalkboard above the bar I thought those were just the specials. The wine selection was beyond me. The bartender recommended two based on my meal. I settled on a Spanish wine that was so great I ended up getting a bottle. Then I ordered a meatball with a fried egg and mashed potatoes. The meatball consisted of various animal parts, including goat’s heart. It was pretty damn good. Then I tried sweetbread for the first time. I’d never heard of it prior to this visit. I was not disappointed. It was served in a type of lentil soup with peas.

In the end, I spent about $165 CAD including tip. And that was just me. So, yeah. I recommend it, but come prepared and I would definitely come with a friend. I was the sole person at the bar, and it’s just a great space to fellowship and try each other’s food.

Unnamed Ramen Restaurant

So earlier I mentioned a ½ restaurant. This is because I cannot remember the name of my favorite Ramen place in Tokyo - absolutely heartbreaking

It was springtime and I was walking around waiting for a friend to arrive before heading to Shibuya. I decided to grab lunch, but I didn’t want to eat too close to Shinjuku station because of the crowds. I crossed under the viaduct and turned right up a side street. There was no one around so I thought I wouldn’t find anything. Several blocks later I could hear the distinct sounds of 90s R&B. It was Xscape’s Just Kickin’ It. Y’all know how on the cartoons when there’s an apple pie sitting on a window sill, the scent will latch onto an unsuspecting subject’s nose and draw them near? The same thing happened, but with music and my ears.

I arrived at this tiny corner restaurant. Typical in Tokyo. There were barstools lined around the cooking station with a few more lined along a counter against the wall. There was nothing special about the decor. It was plain, black and brown. There was one other person sitting inside. The cook saw me standing outside enjoying the music. He smiled and invited me in. Once I picked a spot, he pointed to a machine for me to place my order. Many quick-eat spots around Japan use a machine with pictures and limited description. You order your food and are issued a receipt that you had to the cook. I got my usual pork ramen for 1000 yen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNkr37UQM7g

A breeze picked up and the music continued playing. I was in heaven. And when the ramen arrived it was beautifully presented with a heartier than normal portion. The cuts of meat were thicker than usual, and the scallions were piled high. I enjoyed every moment. Breaks my heart that I didn’t take a picture of the restaurant. So that’s my mission in the next few weeks. I’m returning to Tokyo to seek out the place. Hopefully, it’s still around. I’ll update you once I get the name.

These are my favorites in these cities as of now. I look forward to expanding my travels and finds in the future. I’d love to hear about the places you love to eat. Share them below.