You may have watched a lot of Anthony Bourdain shows back then about him traveling the world and tasting what each country has to offer. Whether he was dining in a Michelin-star restaurant or eating at a small, family-owned space, Bourdain believed food was the gateway to understanding culture. If you want to experience the world like Bourdain, here are 12 restaurants that left a lasting impression on the late celebrity chef.
12. Brauerie zur Malzmühle – Cologne, Germany
During season 7 of Bourdain’s show “Parts Unknown,” he visited the historic city of Cologne in Germany, where he kicked off his food tour with Brauerie zur Malzmühle. The late chef fell in love with Himmel und Erde, which is a dish with blood sausage, onions, mashed potatoes, and apple sauce. He even told those who don’t like it that it doesn’t make his “will save from drowning list.”
11. St. John – London, United Kingdom
If you’ve read Bourdain’s Men’s Health piece titled “13 Places to Eat Before You Die,” you may have remembered St. John restaurant in London. The restaurant was run by one of the chefs he respected, Fergus Henderson, who he noted as someone who doesn’t compromise on food. His favorite dish would have to be the Roast Bone Marrow, which is served with just a dash of salt and crusty bread.
10. Salumi – Seattle, USA
In a 2007 episode of “No Reservations,” Bourdain shared his love for Salumi, a small neighborhood sandwich shop in Seattle. He introduced the deli as a “shining beacon of hope, pointing towards the future.” He also described the meats as perfect as it speaks directly to his soul.
9. Osteria dal 1931 – Rome, Italy
Osteria dal 1931 was a Roman eatery that’s been around since 1931. It’s reminiscent of early Rome with its interior. With a simple plate of prosciutto and artichokes, Bourdain expressed his love for the place. He exclaimed it by saying that he wanted to “die in the place already” while taking in every last bite.
8. Parrillada El Alemán – Montevideo, Uruguay
During Bourdain’s visit to Uruguay, he noted that he enjoyed Morcilla, which is a type of blood sausage. He particularly enjoyed the one from Parrillada El Alemán. After he ate a forkful of Morcilla, he shared that it was moist and that every good culture does the way that he likes the blood sausages to be.
7. Bún Bò Huế Kim Chau – Huế, Vietnam
In Vietnam, the dish that stole Bourdain’s heart is definitely the Bún Bò Huế soup in Bún Bò Huế Kim Chau, located in Dong Ba market. The late chef noted that the mixed bones, which are scented with lemongrass and fermented shrimp paste, make the “greatest soup in the world.” Other fillings include rice noodles with beef shank and crabmeat dumplings, among others.
6. Restaurant Paul Bocuse – Lyon, France
In 2014, Bourdain visited Lyon, France, where he dined at the “temple of Lyonnaise haute cuisine,” Restaurant Paul Bocuse. One of the dishes that the late chef enjoyed was the “legendary lièvre à la royale,” which features a slow-cooked wild hare coated in its own sauce of minced heart, liver, and lungs with some truffles and chartreuse.
5. Ganbara – San Sebastián, Spain
In an episode of “Parts Unknown,” Bourdain said that there is no better place to eat in Europe than the city of San Sebastián in Spain. The late chef introduced Ganbara as a place he visits each time he’s around San Sebastián. He recommended their house specialty, which is the seared wild mushrooms and foie gras with raw egg yolk over the top to sizzle.
4. Sukiyabashi Jiro – Tokyo, Japan
Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo, Japan, is dubbed the best sushi in the world, and Bourdain agreed to it. During Bourdain’s visit to “No Reservations,” Jiro Ono mastered the three pillars of perfect sushi: Ingredients, technique, and timing. Bourdain later said that the 15-course menu was the best sushi of his life.
3. Feijoada da Lana – São Paulo, Brazil
In an episode of “The Layover,” Bourdain admired the way that the Feijoada traditional dish has been reclaimed from hardships to the pride of Brazil. With a lot of restaurants offering the dish, he chose to go to Feijoada da Lana to taste their popular Feijoada. It features a stew with beans and meat. He noted that the dish was “elevated into something that everybody loves.”
2. O Afonso – Porto, Portugal
During Bourdain’s visit to Porto, Portugal, he absolutely loved the Francesinhas sandwich from O Afonso. It’s a sandwich filled with ham, sausage, and steak while the outside is covered in cheese. He called the sandwich delicious and an “immortal combination” because of the perfect construction of meat, cheese, fat, and bread.
1. Le Dôme Café – Paris, France
The late chef loved French cuisine, and one of his favorites was Le Dôme Café, located in Paris. In the debut episode of “No Reservations,” Bourdain told the viewers that if there are two things they could do in Paris, one is to check out the classic Le Dôme Café, offering different varieties of seafood.