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TRAVEL WEEKLY ASIA I T B A S I A S H O W D A I L I E S www.travelweekly-asia.com 24 18 OC TOBER 2018 Bánh xèo Danang, Vietnam While staple dishes such as phở and bánh mì have put Vietnamese cuisine on the food map for most, the regional specialities of central Vietnam should not be overlooked. Thought to originate from Hue, bánh xèo is a Asam laksa Penang, Malaysia This spicy, sour variation of laksa found in Penang has many first- timers divided over its tamarind- based broth. Commonly served with shredded mackerel and rice noodles, the dish balances the strong flavours with fresh aromatics and herbs such as cucumber, onions, red chillies, pineapple, lettuce, mint and ginger. Tuck into this dish at a humble hawker stall beside Penang's Air Itam Market for the local wet market experience. The dish shot to fame when it was among the top picks on CNN Travel's listing of the World's 50 Most Delicious Foods. /// Air Itam Laksa, Jalan Pasar, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia (beside Air Itam Market); closed on Tuesdays crispy often savoury pancake containing fillings such as pork, shrimp, diced green onion, mung bean, and bean sprouts. Frequented by locals and foreigners alike, Bánh Xèo Bà Dưỡng is a situated in a small alleyway. A standard serving includes pancakes, a side of fresh herbs, dipping sauce and rice paper, plus sticks of grilled meat – no menu or order required. /// Bánh Xèo Bà , K280/23 Hoàng Diệu, Bình Hiên, Da Nang 550000; open daily 9:00am-9:30pm Tucked in sprawling markets and alleyway stalls, here's how to get started on some must-eat dishes in the region. ASIA'S STREET EATS By Naomi Neoh Xiaolongbao Shanghai, China Piping hot and rich, xiaolongbao, or steamed soup dumplings, remain a perennial favourite even in the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai. A must-visit for their original pork soup dumplings (15 CNY) as well as other lesser-known flavours is Jia Jia Tang Bao. Seated at round tables cramped within the small space, diners can tuck into in dumplings stuffed with fillings such as pork egg yolk, crab, shrimp, seaweed, and ginger. Depending on the day, dumplings served on the menu can vary – be sure to arrive early before popular flavours run out. Expect a waiting time of 10-15 minutes as dumplings are made to order. /// Jia Jia Tang Bao ( ), 90 Huanghe Rd, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200000 Okonomiyaki Hiroshima, Japan An unusual variant of Japan's savoury Okonomiyaki pancake can be found in Hiroshima, in which the batter and other ingredients are cooked separately, and then served on top of yakisoba noodles. The savoury dish usually has a thinner layer of batter than the ones served in Osaka, and consists of flour, eggs, cabbage, as well as a variety of possible veggies and meats. The finished dish is then topped with dried seaweed, pickled red ginger, mayonnaise and savoury okonomiyaki sauce. /// Hassho ( ), 10-6 Yagenbori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima; open Tuesdays to Saturday, 4:00pm-10:30pm, Sunday and public holidays, 4:00pm-9:00pm Lechon manok Manila, Philippines Smokey, barbecued meat is often among the staple street eats in Asia, and the Filipino version, lechon manok is a rotisserie chicken stuffed with lemongrass, rubbed in a marinade of soy sauce, sugar, and kalamansi before being slow-roasted over a charcoal flame. The dish is commonly served with a sauce made from mashed pork liver, starch, sugar, and spices. For this tasty treat, head to Quinta Market and Fishport (also known as Quiapo Market), which is among the largest in the Philippines. The market was recently renovated and opened last April. /// Quinta Market and Fishport, Carlos Palanca Street, Metro Manila, Philippines PHOT0 CREDIT: BUGKING88/GETTY IMAGES PHOT0 CREDIT: GYRO/GETTY IMAGES PHOT0 CREDIT: DTH8X/GETTY IMAGES PHOT0 CREDIT: YMGERMAN/GETTY IMAGES PHOT0 CREDIT: KENISHIROTIE/GETTY IMAGES

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