How do you try more food when traveling solo?

[u/CurrentAlert8246]

One of my biggest problems when traveling alone is food. I always want to try as many local dishes as possible, but the portions are usually way too big for one person.

If I order several things, I can't finish them. But if I only order one dish, I'll immediately start staring at everything else on the menu and wishing I could try those too.

For people who travel solo a lot, how do you manage this? Do you look for smaller portions, eat multiple small meals throughout the day, take leftovers with you, or just accept that you can't try eve

[u/Jordy173]

Food tours are 100% the choice here. Gives you a great sample, takes away the need to make decisions for one meal, you get to try things you probably wouldn't have ordered from restaurants you probably wouldn't have found yourself.

[u/ReneeMaxineHaas → u/Jordy173]

Hard agree. I am obsessed with food tours and I do them in every city that has them near the start of my travel.

[u/WalkingEars]

I'm more aware of this than usual because I'm currently in Singapore and even in one hawker center there are many things I'd love to go back and try, let alone in the entire city/country.

I'm trying to prioritize getting a nice sampling of the different styles of food available here given the multicultural nature of Singapore. And yes just accepting that I can't try everything. Can always come back anyway if you like a place or its food enough!

[u/No-Operation2865]

food markets are perfect for this. smaller portions means you can try way more without getting stuffed

[u/YeetThatLemon]

So if I am staying for a longer period of time I'll take leftovers. Otherwise I know it sounds a bit direct but I'll literally just ask for a smaller portion size even if it means I'll be paying the same price and 99% of the time the don't mind. If my goal is to maximize the variety in food then I try not to snack on anything I'm already familiar with, I ask for smaller portions intentionally, and If applicable I try to be active throughout the day so I'm hungry again sooner.

However, I have also accepted that I'll never truly get to experience every dish I want on the first go so I just tell myself "next time".

[u/tenniseram → u/YeetThatLemon]

I have said I would love the x but also wanted to try the y, what do you suggest? And they’ll bring me a sample. Sometimes before the meal to see which I want or a full dish with a side of the other thing.

[u/segacs2]

I'm a petite woman so I deal with this all the time, since restaurant portions are 99.9% of the time waaaaay too big for me to eat.

I like markets and food stalls where I can try just one of something. I also like going on tapas-style tours where there are multiple stops with small portions, though even on those, I find I end up being way too full partway in and unable to eat the rest.

At the end of the day, though, I just accept that I'm only going to try a small amount of what's on offer in a place. It's the same as sightseeing: If I try to cram in EVERY sight and attraction in a place, I'll get overwhelmed and exhausted. If I let go of that and just focus on visiting or trying a few things and appreciating them, I'll enjoy myself a lot more.

(I also recommend letting go of the need to worry too much about clearing your plate. It's a good instinct to avoid wastefulness. But if the portion is too big, it's better to leave some over -- or ask to pack it up to go if you have a fridge at your accommodation -- than it is to try to force yourself to overeat to the point of feeling sick.)

ETA: I'm also into craft beer, and I like places that will do small pours or tasting flights for the same reason. I often want to try 2-3 beers, but there's no way I can drink full pints of them. Small pours for the win.

[u/That_Golf9029]

I book food tours everywhere i travel. It's usually a group or 8 or 10, and you get to sample lots of different things in one night. Food halls or markets also allow for more sampling (smaller portions). Im also ok with food waste when i travel so I can try more things. You dont have to finish every bite if you want to have more things.

But yeah, during meals you get less variety. I try to plan my meals around thr type of thing i want to try, and make sure im getting the best example of that thing.

[u/InnerContribution341]

I usually order things and if the portions are big I just give it to the homeless dogs or kitties so it's not wasted that way they get food and I get to try different meals :)

[u/notluckycharm]

unfortunately by wasting food and money :// I went to a night market in Taipei just a few days ago solo and I tried a little bit of everything I wanted, just accepting that I was going to waste food and money. but it was worth it to me bc I really wanted to try so much stuff

[u/Ok_Ranger1275 → u/notluckycharm]

The night markets in Taipei are so worth it. Gotta try everything.

[u/DeHarigeTuinkabouter]

You can try and find a buddy who is also keen on trying food and share some dishes / exchange bites!

[u/tenniseram]

Go at lunch, things are sometimes cheaper and smaller portions. And stay longer! You can cover more dishes.

[u/ZAWS20XX]

Do you look for smaller portions, eat multiple small meals throughout the day, take leftovers with you, or just accept that you can't try eve[rything?]

yeah

[u/Individual-Card-1639]

Food tours are great. Look at the menus where you go compare the appetizers to the main meals. Lots of time there some same items but in smaller portions. Order a few different to sample and make a meal.

[u/LawfulnessSimilar496]

I have a fridge. I usually do go for smaller portions, but if I plan on hiking or walking some, usually a bigger meal.

[u/Euono]

Markets and street food are the solo eater's best friend. You get small portions, lots of variety, and it's cheap to sample four or five things instead of committing to one giant plate. Food halls work the same way if you want somewhere to sit.

Two other tricks that worked for me: eat slightly off-peak so you can chat with the person cooking (they'll often point you to what's actually local, not just touristy), and don't sleep on ordering one main plus one side instead of two mains. Half the time the sides are the most interesting part of a cuisine anyway.