Food is honestly one of the main reasons I travel. It always has been. I'm the kind of person who remembers a trip not just by the sights, but by what I ate. A bowl of spicy noodles on a side street in Bangkok? That stuck with me longer than any museum did. And yes, I've tried some weird things—alpaca in Peru, whale meat in Norway (not proud of that one, but it happened).
My son, though—he's 7—has different standards. He's not picky in the extreme sense, but he's not about to dive into cricket tacos or sea urchin either. So I've adapted. I now look for travel spots where both of us—me, with my adventurous palate, and him, with his "cheese pizza only" mood—can be happy. These are five places where picky eaters and foodies thrive.
Tokyo, Japan
It’s easy to assume Tokyo is only for the truly adventurous eater, with its world-famous sushi counters and cutting-edge culinary creations. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Take ramen, for example. Walk into a ramen shop like Ichiran, and you’ll find a simple system that lets you customize everything—broth richness, noodle texture, spice level—until you’ve built a completely personalized bowl. Someone craving bold, complex flavors can pile on garlic oil, spicy miso, and fatty slices of chashu pork.
Meanwhile, kiddos can stick to plain noodles in a mild broth without a hint of heat.
Even Tokyo’s convenience stores are a treasure trove of accessible, inexpensive food. Lawson and 7-Eleven stock neatly wrapped onigiri, filled with everything from tuna mayo to salted salmon, that make a perfect snack or light lunch. Need a break from Japanese cuisine entirely? The city’s European-style bakeries and Italian restaurants are some of the best in the world (maybe even rivaling Italy and France themselves).
Italy
Let's be honest: you'd have to try to have a bad meal in Italy, no matter your age. Kids love pizza and pasta; adults love pizza, pasta, and wine. Everyone wins.
When we stayed in Castelfalfi, a picturesque hilltop village near Florence, the pizza was wood-fired, the pasta could come plain or buttered, and no one batted an eye when we asked for a second round of gelato. Here, you can even get hands-on by taking a pizza-making class. The instructor didn't say a word when my son ate half the mozzarella before it made it onto the dough. Even the wine tasting came with a special "spice tasting" for kids. Necessary? No. Adorable? Absolutely.
Austin, Texas
Austin feels like a city designed for people who never want to argue about food, thanks to the plethora of food trucks. My son wanted quesadillas from one stand while I wanted Thai curry.
Beyond the trucks, breakfast tacos are basically a religion here. While there might be a debate as to who has the best ones, at Veracruz All Natural, I piled mine with chorizo, potatoes, avocado, and enough hot sauce to question my life choices. My son wrinkled his nose and announced the tortilla was “too bendy”—then ate the whole thing anyway.
And then there's the BBQ. After standing in line at Franklin Barbecue (note to self: bring Uno cards next time), we sat down, and my son inhaled a plain pulled pork sandwich as if it were the best thing he’d ever eaten. I had brisket so tender it almost converted me into a Texan on the spot. Everyone was happy.
Barcelona, Spain
The secret to fuss-free dining? Tapas. This Spanish staple was built for flexibility: picky eaters gravitate toward the safe bets—crispy pan con tomate or a plate of patatas bravas. But, more adventurous diners can order garlic shrimp, grilled octopus, or even anchovies that are salty enough to demand another drink.
The same principle applies at markets like the legendary La Boqueria. Some travelers walk away with a simple fruit cup or a chocolate croissant, while others end up with something skewered and mysterious, which they weren’t entirely sure about when they ordered it. The fun is in the mix, and the challenge is usually keeping the churros from disappearing too quickly.
Reykjavik, Iceland
At first, Reykjavik can feel intimidating if you’ve only heard about the “extreme” stuff—fermented shark and pickled ram’s testicles. But underneath that adventurous surface, the city’s food scene is surprisingly cozy and approachable.
Take plokkfiskur, for example: a creamy fish stew that comes with thick slices of dark rye bread. It’s mild, hearty, and exactly the kind of dish that works for cautious eaters who don’t want a flavor explosion at every bite. Then there’s the hot dog stand everyone talks about—Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. Half the fun is just lining up with locals and visitors, and deciding how brave you’re feeling with the toppings. You can go all in with mustard, remoulade, and crispy onions, or kids can keep it simple with ketchup and still walk away happy.
And the bakeries? Dangerous in the best way. I still dream about Brauð & Co.’s cinnamon rolls. Honestly, they’re reason enough to call breakfast “handled."
