There are a lot of weird dishes to experience in this world — some of which could deliver a swift food culture shock for the person eating it. Every person and culture is unique in how food is prepared and eaten. Cultural food is the perfect example representing the people who create and eat it. However, some dishes are so strange that when foreigners experience them, a shock might happen to their understanding of the food.
Before judging, you have to experience the food culture first. If you are a fan of Pulp Fiction (1994), you might remember how mayonnaise and French fries, one of the European weird food combos, were talked about. But judging from the people who have tried it, it’s good, even better sometimes. If a person is one to critique different food cultures, it’s important to remember the rule of strange dishes — they might not be so disgusting when you taste them and close your eyes.
So, if you're trying to learn more about the many types of food cultures that might shock you — look no further than the list below. We compiled a lot of strange, tasty, and slightly unusual food combos that delivered quite a shock to the people eating them. If the answer intrigues your taste buds, leave an upvote on it so that others can see it faster. On the other hand, if you’ve had a shocking food-related moment, share it in the comments below.
#21
"I'm from USA and I had a gaming friend from England and I told him I was going to have breakfast at the pancake house. I told him I was getting Apple Waffles he didn't believe me at first. He found out via internet and was shocked that we at dessert for breakfast."
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33points
#22
ListenOrElse_ said:
"In USA people pay for their own food. As someone who came from China, where everyone fights for the bill without the intention to pay, this is very refreshing."
"In USA people pay for their own food. As someone who came from China, where everyone fights for the bill without the intention to pay, this is very refreshing."
Coke_and_Tacos replied:
"This is a generational thing I think. If my parents are out with a group of folks their age (mid-60's) it's a whole thing that everyone wants to cover the check, "alright, well I'm buying next time!" Etc. Everyone I know within 10 years of my age just assumes they're paying their own way and it makes way more sense to me."
"This is a generational thing I think. If my parents are out with a group of folks their age (mid-60's) it's a whole thing that everyone wants to cover the check, "alright, well I'm buying next time!" Etc. Everyone I know within 10 years of my age just assumes they're paying their own way and it makes way more sense to me."
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33points
#23
"I was teaching a class in South Carolina (I live in Minnesota) and sat down to eat lunch with all the guys I was teaching. Took a bite of my sandwich and noticed no one else was eating yet. I paused for a minute and one of them piped in that they were ready to say grace. I had never experienced group prayer before lunch, especially in the workplace. Definitely a shock for me."
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32points
#24
"Watching children in Mexico happily eating crickets like they were popcorn.
Also, 4 or 5 year old kids out at 10pm to sell gum."
Also, 4 or 5 year old kids out at 10pm to sell gum."
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31points
#26
"Visiting family in New England and the South made me realise that casual alcoholism isn't the norm. In Wisconsin, just about every event has alcohol involved at some point. It took me a while to realise that showing up with a six pack everytime I visited made me look like I had a problem, when I thought it was just common courtesy."
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29points
#27
maweenurr said:
"Apparently, eating pizza with your hands is disgusting to those who live in Spain. My professor said the group that studied abroad over there almost got kicked out of a restaurant for it."
"Apparently, eating pizza with your hands is disgusting to those who live in Spain. My professor said the group that studied abroad over there almost got kicked out of a restaurant for it."
Naive_set replied:
"I eat anything that doesn't fall apart with my hands, usually while standing. - American."
"I eat anything that doesn't fall apart with my hands, usually while standing. - American."
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28points
#28
jb20x6 said:
"Taco Tuesday is not a universal concept."
"Taco Tuesday is not a universal concept."
Postingwordsonreddit replied:
"In Sweden we usually go with Taco Friday. Tuesdays is traditionally for potato pancakes and pork."
"In Sweden we usually go with Taco Friday. Tuesdays is traditionally for potato pancakes and pork."
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28points
#29
"Just how late the Spanish eat dinner. Totally respect it, but I was hungry at 6pm and was shocked no restaurant was open to serve at that time."
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28points
#30
ttowntara said:
"I have lived abroad for 6 years, every time I go back to visit the states, I am taken aback by the amount of food in the supermarkets. Compared to smaller markets/stores in Europe or Asia it's a big change. I always think... how are there so many different types of products and out-of-season fruits or vegetables? The store is so big, how do they sell all of it?!"
"I have lived abroad for 6 years, every time I go back to visit the states, I am taken aback by the amount of food in the supermarkets. Compared to smaller markets/stores in Europe or Asia it's a big change. I always think... how are there so many different types of products and out-of-season fruits or vegetables? The store is so big, how do they sell all of it?!"
haleykoike replied:
"The variety of things at the supermarket was a big shock too. I remember wanting orange juice and just standing there confused how there were more than 20 different kinds of orange juice."
"The variety of things at the supermarket was a big shock too. I remember wanting orange juice and just standing there confused how there were more than 20 different kinds of orange juice."
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27points
#31
Cuhcs13 said:
"Beer. Beer in the vending machines. Just sitting there unsupervised for me and my 14 year old self to spend change on.
"Beer. Beer in the vending machines. Just sitting there unsupervised for me and my 14 year old self to spend change on.
**In Spain. Madrid is the one I remember best."
Redditor replied:
"I grew up on the Mexican border in Texas. There were beer machines in Juarez, Mexico. When I got old enough (15 or so) we'd go across on weekends and bar hop. Beer was 25 cents, shots were 15 cents. You could get a ham sandwich with cheese and avocado on a bolillo (a chewy roll) for 25 cents. Live sex shows in the bars. It was a trip. It was always a bit edgy, but now Juarez is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, with an estimated 10 murders per day, so those carefree days of high school debauchery and long gone."
"I grew up on the Mexican border in Texas. There were beer machines in Juarez, Mexico. When I got old enough (15 or so) we'd go across on weekends and bar hop. Beer was 25 cents, shots were 15 cents. You could get a ham sandwich with cheese and avocado on a bolillo (a chewy roll) for 25 cents. Live sex shows in the bars. It was a trip. It was always a bit edgy, but now Juarez is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, with an estimated 10 murders per day, so those carefree days of high school debauchery and long gone."
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27points
#32
Northern-Nurse said:
"Being in Japan, seeing vending machines everywhere and even ordering food at a vending machine in a noodle restaurant. Then you go sit at a booth with a curtain in front of you and they pass your food through the curtain and then close the blinds. Strange but not a bad experience. Just different. Also the jet lag of an opposite time zone can be brutal."
"Being in Japan, seeing vending machines everywhere and even ordering food at a vending machine in a noodle restaurant. Then you go sit at a booth with a curtain in front of you and they pass your food through the curtain and then close the blinds. Strange but not a bad experience. Just different. Also the jet lag of an opposite time zone can be brutal."
cronin98 replied:
"I couldn't believe how bad jet lag was from North America to Asia. You get hungry, but your body rejects the food because it thinks it's 3 am and you're going to regret that midnight snack!"
"I couldn't believe how bad jet lag was from North America to Asia. You get hungry, but your body rejects the food because it thinks it's 3 am and you're going to regret that midnight snack!"
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27points
#33
brigidsbollix said:
"Root beer."
"Root beer."
tequilaearworm replied:
"The thing I as an American don't understand is how foreigners hate root beer. Everything else I understand. Too much sugar, hate tipping culture, portion size, but I don't know what foreigners are tasting because they are United on this one. At least you're decent enough to recognize the root beer float is amazing."
"The thing I as an American don't understand is how foreigners hate root beer. Everything else I understand. Too much sugar, hate tipping culture, portion size, but I don't know what foreigners are tasting because they are United on this one. At least you're decent enough to recognize the root beer float is amazing."
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27points
#34
"A very small thing: when in theatre in London they sell ice cream at intermission. That's so small yet such a change.
**I meant live theatre. It's absolutely wonderful that you can have ice cream at the movies, and you can on the West End. But no such thing exists on Broadway sadly."
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27points
#35
"I'm an American and I live in Japan and one habit I had to break quickly was my habit of pointing with my chopsticks. Sorry!"
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25points
#36
"Eating pizza without utensils in USA. I'm Brazilian but I've lived almost my entire life in NA and when I went back to Brazil and went to go eat pizza, a bunch of people were giving me weird looks."
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25points
#37
Moots_point said:
"When I ordered some French fries in Germany, and the guy drowned them in mayonnaise before serving them to me, it changed my world."
"When I ordered some French fries in Germany, and the guy drowned them in mayonnaise before serving them to me, it changed my world."
PositiveChi replied:
"I did this last month. Ate more mayo in 4 days than I have in the rest of my life combined. Delicious but I can't let myself keep doing that now that I'm back in a country where you need to drive places instead of walk."
"I did this last month. Ate more mayo in 4 days than I have in the rest of my life combined. Delicious but I can't let myself keep doing that now that I'm back in a country where you need to drive places instead of walk."
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24points
#38
"Thinking of Southeast Asia, street food, and wide selections of fresh tropical fruits like mangosteen, lychee and longans, for cheap."
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24points
#39
hanatwothree said:
"Born in Korea, moved to US when I was 6. Realized pizza and hamburgers and hotdogs aren't the only things Americans eat."
"Born in Korea, moved to US when I was 6. Realized pizza and hamburgers and hotdogs aren't the only things Americans eat."
dodecadan replied:
"We eat other american food too, like tacos and sushi."
"We eat other american food too, like tacos and sushi."
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24points
#40
NMelton88 said:
"Apparently in USA sweet tea is only in the states, and mainly in the Southern states."
"Apparently in USA sweet tea is only in the states, and mainly in the Southern states."
snorlz replied:
"I'm not sure how to describe it but sweet tea in the south definitely tastes different than iced tea or other teas I've had. Its just a particular kind I think but the way its made and served makes it taste different. I had some at my friends house down south and it was the best thing ever. The canned "sweet tea" you can buy doesnt taste remotely close."
"I'm not sure how to describe it but sweet tea in the south definitely tastes different than iced tea or other teas I've had. Its just a particular kind I think but the way its made and served makes it taste different. I had some at my friends house down south and it was the best thing ever. The canned "sweet tea" you can buy doesnt taste remotely close."
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24points
