Food news
WorldOktoberfest celebrates German food, culture in ErieIndiaThe New York Times. . Surprise raids of Mumbai kitchens called for by Maharashtra’s new top food and drug official have made him an unlikely celebrity and set off a conversation about food standards in India. https://trib.al/29fuVVuHeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair ParkWorldOktoberfest celebrates German food, culture in ErieIndiaThe New York Times. . Surprise raids of Mumbai kitchens called for by Maharashtra’s new top food and drug official have made him an unlikely celebrity and set off a conversation about food standards in India. https://trib.al/29fuVVuHeritageThe National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo capped off its 2026 ‘Magbasá Kita: A Reading Program for Young Learners’ with an immersive storytelling session at the museum’s Book Nook on September 23, 2026. The activity introduced the localStreet foodNew Northern Kentucky café brings Thai street food and specialty shoppingHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesHeritage21st Sunchang Jangryu Festival to Welcome the World With K-Food and Cultural ExperiencesStreet foodMan dead, 3 in custody after shooting outside Piada Italian Street Food in Mayfield HeightsStreet foodBrick-and-Mortar Restaurants Need to Stop Blaming Street VendorsStreet food1 dead, 3 detained in Mayfield Heights shootingFarm and marketYour guide to Harvest Fair 2026 at Wisconsin State Fair Park
Thali

Food of Asia

Rice and noodles, curries and kebabs, dumplings, pickles, tea and a thousand street stalls. 913 dishes on Thali so far.

Halvaحَلَاوَة 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreDense sweet made from seeds, grains, or vegetables, found across Asia, Africa, and Europe Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Samosa 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFried or baked pastry with a spiced filling, shaped into triangles or cones Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Lunch BaklavaVegetarianباقلوا 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreThin pastry filled with nuts and soaked in sweet syrup Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks JalebiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 6 moreDeep-fried spirals of batter soaked in syrup, enjoyed across Asia and Africa Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks Turkish delightVegan 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreSoft, chewy cubes of starch and sugar, often flavored or filled with nuts or fruit Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Jolpan 🇮🇳 IndiaAssamese breakfast snacks of rice, pitha, and sweets, often served with tea or curd Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Bhel puriVegan 🇮🇳 IndiaPuffed rice snack tossed with chutneys, sev and crisp puris, sold on Mumbai streets Street food, Snacks, Tea time Luk chupVeganลูกชุบ 🇹🇭 ThailandThai sweets shaped and colored to look like tiny fruits and vegetables Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Pakoraपकोड़ा 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreVegetables or other fillings coated in spiced gram flour batter and deep-fried Street food, Snacks, Tea time Mooncake月饼 / 月餅 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA round Chinese pastry with sweet or nutty filling, eaten at the Mid-Autumn Festival Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks Masala chaiVegetarianचाय 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreBlack tea brewed with milk, spices and sugar, served hot across India Drink, Breakfast, Tea time DangoVegan団子 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese sweet dumplings made from rice flour, often served on skewers Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Red bean pasteVegan 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreSweet or plain paste made from boiled adzuki beans, used in East Asian desserts Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time DorayakiVegetarianどら焼き 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese sweet with red bean paste between two castella pancakes Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Boortsog 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan and 5 moreGolden fried dough pieces from Central Asia and Mongolia, often served with tea or honey Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time DaifukuVegan大福餅 🇯🇵 JapanSmall mochi cakes filled with sweet bean paste or other fillings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time WagashiVegan和菓子 🇯🇵 JapanTraditional Japanese sweets made with plant-based ingredients and seasonal themes Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks RasgullaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreSoft chhena balls simmered in light sugar syrup Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time AnpanVegetarianあんパン 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese sweet roll filled with red bean paste or other fillings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Egg tartVegetarian蛋撻 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA small pastry tart with a sweet egg custard filling, found in Cantonese cuisine Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time YōkanVegan羊羹 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreA Japanese sweet block made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks LokmaVegan 🇮🇶 Iraq and 4 moreSmall fried dough pieces sweetened with syrup or honey Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time CastellaVegetarianカステラ 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreSweet, moist Japanese sponge cake with roots in Portuguese baking Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Ma'amoulVegetarianمعمول 🇸🇾 Syria and 4 moreSemolina cookies filled with dates or nuts, shaped in moulds for festive occasions Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Jian duiVegetarian 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreFried glutinous rice balls coated with sesame seeds and filled with sweet paste Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time YoutiaoVegan油條 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreLong, golden-brown strips of deep-fried dough eaten across East and Southeast Asia Street food, Breakfast, Snacks Pineapple cakeVegetarian王梨酥 ông-lâi-so͘ 🇹🇼 TaiwanTaiwanese pastry with sweet pineapple jam inside a golden, crumbly shell Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time SakuramochiVegetarian桜餅 🇯🇵 JapanSweet pink mochi filled with red bean paste and wrapped in a pickled cherry leaf Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time BotamochiVeganぼたもち or 牡丹餅 🇯🇵 JapanSweet rice balls covered with red bean paste, eaten during spring and autumn in Japan Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time MalpuaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreSweet deep-fried pancakes from the Indian subcontinent, often dipped in syrup Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks Apam balikVegetarian 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreA folded sweet pancake filled with peanuts and sugar, sold at roadside stalls Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time KhajaVegetarian𑂎𑂔𑂳𑂩𑂲 🇮🇳 IndiaCrisp, layered pastry deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time KozhukattaVegetarianകൊഴുക്കട്ട (Malayalam), கொழுகட்டை (Tamil) 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreSteamed rice flour dumplings filled with sweet coconut and jaggery Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks YakgwaVegetarian약과 🇰🇷 South KoreaDeep-fried Korean sweet made with wheat flour, honey, and sesame oil Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks Hong Kong-style milk teaVegetarian港式奶茶 🇭🇰 Hong Kong and 1 moreStrong black tea with evaporated milk, served hot or cold in Hong Kong cafés Drink, Breakfast, Lunch Har gowFish or seafood蝦餃 🇨🇳 ChinaTranslucent shrimp dumplings served as part of Cantonese dim sum Dumpling, Lunch, Tea time NankhataiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreShortbread biscuit from the Indian subcontinent made with flour and semolina Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time SandeshVegetarianসন্দেশ 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreBengali sweet made from chhena and sugar, often shaped and flavoured Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Pineapple bunVegetarian菠蘿包 🇭🇰 Hong Kong and 3 moreA sweet bun with a crunchy, golden cookie crust, popular in Hong Kong Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Tea time SushkiVegetarianсу́шки 🇷🇺 Russia and 4 moreSmall, crunchy, mildly sweet bread rings from Eastern Europe Bread, Tea time, Snacks TuronVegan 🇵🇭 PhilippinesBanana slices wrapped in pastry, fried and glazed with caramelized sugar Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time YaksikVegan약식 🇰🇷 South KoreaSweet Korean rice with nuts, jujubes, and honey Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time QottabVegetarianقطاب 🇮🇷 IranDeep-fried Iranian pastry filled with almond, sugar and cardamom Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Tea time KhakhraVegan 🇮🇳 IndiaCrisp, thin flatbread from western India, often eaten as a snack or breakfast Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Zalabiyehزلابية 🇵🇸 Palestine and 5 moreA deep-fried fritter made from batter, found across the Middle East and beyond Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time LekachVegetarianלעקעך 🇮🇱 Israel and 2 moreDense honey-sweetened cake served for Jewish New Year and other occasions Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks BakarkhaniVegetarianباقرخانی 🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 2 moreA thick, layered flatbread with a crisp crust from South Asia Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Tula pryanikVegetarianтульский пряник 🇷🇺 RussiaStamped gingerbread from Tula, often filled with jam or condensed milk Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly plate

Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.