When it comes to food, some countries just don’t seem to bring the excitement that others do. While every place has its own unique dishes, there are a few countries that foodies say lack creativity, variety or just plain flavor. We gathered the opinions of foodies online, and these are the 12 countries they say have the most boring food.
Australia
It might not be obvious what is really authentic Australian food, as compared to, for example, British food, but one person who has lived in Australia mentions food such as kangaroo meat, bread with margarine and sprinkles, and spaghetti on toast as being quite Australian. Another user mentions Australian BBQ, which he says does not hinge on the flavors of a marinade or dry rub but on how well-burnt the meat is. His words exactly: "We just take quality meat and burn it well."
The Netherlands
I really can't understand why, but multiple countries want to lay claim to the great invention of "bread with margarine and sprinkles". The Netherlands is one of them! The rest of their traditional cuisine mostly consists of pickled fish, different types of pancakes, and deep-fat fried foods.
And the everyday cuisine does not seem to be any better. According to one foodie this is what a week of food can look like: "Boiled potatoes, boiled vegetables, a piece of overcooked meat and some packaged gravy is what most Dutch kids eat 5/7 days a week. The other day it’s bread for dinner (no joke) and Sunday more than likely you’re eating Fries and some other deep fried snacks." [sic]
North Korea
If you were considering North Korea for your next foodie trip, then you might want to reconsider. And not only due to the political climate! North and South Korea have some food in common, but foodies say it's clear the sociopolitical challenges have severely marked the quality of North Korean cuisine. So while (South) Korean food is delicious, North Korean food is a bit more lacking. If you do still go there for whatever reason, you can look forward to "exciting" dishes such as cold noodles and dog meat soup.
Scotland
One person said: "Scottish cuisine is basically based off a dare" [sic] and with options such as haggis (made from the liver, heart and lungs of sheep) and crappit heid (hollowed-out and stuffed fish heads), I'm bound to agree. In general Scottish food seems to consist of potatoes, root vegetables, and parts of the animal I'd rather not eat. So while I'd love to travel there for the scenery and the miniature cows, I'll definitely not be expecting a great foodie experience!
The Philippines
I quite enjoyed Filipino food, but a lot of foodies seem to disagree with me. Some chalk it up to inconsistency, with the "same" dish cooked in different ways depending on where you go, and others to specific strange dishes that turned them off their cuisine for good. For example, one Filipino person mentions salted pork blood stew and sweet spaghetti with Vienna sausages - and I agree, that doesn't sound too good. That being said - I still dream of the adobo I had in Malapascua and the best tuna of my life which I enjoyed in Cebu.
Russia
As a 7-year-old kid, I went to Russia for the summer with my family and proceeded to eat only cookies for the duration. I thought it was just me being a picky kid, but apparently, a lot of foodies agree with 7-year-old me. While some mention specific Russian restaurants that do serve good food, and others quite like their bread, many foodies have sworn off the cuisine forever after being served dishes such as chicken feet in jello.
I did travel back to Russia again as an adult, and no, the food was not much better this time around. The saving grace was the Russian "champagne" and the ubiquitous caviar and blini found everywhere; including at breakfast buffets.
England
Despite being the home country of a lot of top chefs, England is not known for its amazing cuisine. One person sums it up as: "They spent centuries conquering the world in search of spices and decided not to use any of them.". They do have some bright spots though, like fish and chips, but most of it really is quite bland if you ask me - and other foodies!
Kazakhstan
One foodie, who is married to a woman from Kazakhstan, says: "I am not a fan of boiled meat, especially if it is horse; fermented horse milk, or dried fermented milk. There are a few dishes that are ok, but the lack of strong spices or seasoning make this something I don't enjoy much." [sic] and goes on to say that while they did have some decent food while visiting Kazakhstan, it was mostly in restaurants serving cuisine from other countries.
Norway
While Norway boasts breathtaking fjords and natural beauty, its cuisine may not be the primary draw for foodies. Traditional Norwegian fare revolves around simple and hearty dishes like lutefisk and rakfisk, which can be acquired tastes. However, the country's seafood offerings, such as salmon and cod, are exceptionally fresh and well-prepared, so if you do decide to go there, stick to that. And don't miss their sour cream porridge, it's a lot better than it sounds!
Iceland
Many foodies who have been to Iceland agree: beautiful country, horrible food. And to make matters even worse, you're paying a lot for the "pleasure". I haven't tried Icelandic food myself, but with "delicacies" such as fermented shark, I'm not sure I would like to, either... I would love to go there for the ponies, though!
Canada
Canada's culinary scene is diverse and evolving, especially in the larger cities, but when it comes to truly Canadian cuisine, foodies are not impressed. While they might enjoy classic Canadian dishes like poutine and butter tarts, foodies on this discussion forum agreed that the country is better suited for trips savoring its vast natural landscapes and outdoor activities than for a foodie trip.
In my opinion? Poutine is so good, I'd be happy to enjoy it every day throughout my trip.
Mongolia
Mongolian people have traditionally been nomadic, and this shows in their cuisine. It consists mostly of dairy products, meat, and animal fats, with a general lack of grains and vegetables. Why? Well, growing grains and vegetables requires you to stay in one place for a longer amount of time. According to many foodies, the food is also quite bland and lacks flavor.
Source: Reddit
Marianne
I would put Portuguese food on this list. The most common dish is cod, boiled potatoes and cabbage. Every day. Even on big holidays. I've lived here almost three years and while other fish dishes are good, it's cod, cod, cod in hundreds of forms.
Mike
Basing and article on "what foodies say". Try making TikTok videos, it seems more up your alley.
V
You should take down this article and try writing again. How can you call Philippines’ cuisine bland (as per your list) when they offer sweet, sour, spicy, salty flavors in most of their dishes? Writing about Canada when you haven’t even been there? Russian cuisine that you tasted when you were 7? I think to qualify writing such list, you must have experienced enough of these dishes.
Emmeline Kemperyd
Hi V! I'm not sure if you really read this article, or just skimmed it? Already in the intro you can see that this is not based on my own opinions, but on what other foodies say about the food. So while I LOVE Filipino food (which I also note in this article), many foodies do not agree.
/Emmeline
Dorin Kleinknecht
Russia: "others have been put off the cuisine forever after being served dishes such as chicken feet in jello". that's a traditional food. not only in Russia but in Moldova, too. And the jelly isn't made from like store-bought powder, it forms when the chicken broth sits in the fridge, it becomes jelly from the collagen in the chicken. I mean, I see why one would find it weird or disgusting, but it's actually good.
Susan Wakeman
I guess none of the respondents have eaten Cook Islands food
Mia
Canada and the US have vastly different flavor palettes.
The US embraces the spices and herbs brought in from around the world and has an artful way of incorporating it into new and diverse dishes. Canada is like a toddler who doesn’t want to eat anything it’s never had before. Think fries, chicken, mashed potatoes and bread. A 7 y.o. White diet.
Also, I’ve been to every us boardering providence in Canada and 49 of the 50 US states… US has significantly better food. Sorry you’re wrong.
Peter bittner
Yes, what a rubbish review. America should be on it as number one!
Mia
Someone’s offended their home ended up on this list.
America has southern barbecue, white gravy and brisket. I’ve seen an Englishman eat cold plain beans out of a can and call it a meal. I’m sorry, but no. England deserves its place on this list.
Dbyron
This article is nothing but cliche and nonsense.
P
Canada? Really? If you haven't been here to taste the INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF FOOD IN THE METROPOLITAN CITIES, you shouldn't be writing about it. Turkish, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Persian, Chinese, Egyptian, French, Brazilian, Spanish, Greek - the list is endless. This article could NOT be farther from the truth on this one.
Larry
Yes, in Canadian cities, you can find very good examples of food from all the cultures you mentioned and more. But the reference was to how bland CANADIAN food is, not foreign food in Canada.
Mia
Dude.. all of that food you listed isn’t Canadian at all. It’s all just good that colored people brought to North America and white people stole. Pick up a history book man. Also, you sound like someone who orders off the kids menu. Keep doing that-everything else is going to have ‘too much’ spice for you.
Camila
Nice article. Now Spanish food is generally considered one of the world's top cuisines...why??? I have lived in Spain for 25 years and still cannot understand the hype. The most bland of all Spanish cuisine is in Galicia. They use no spices except for a bit of paprika, and I have to grow my own green onions and lemongrass as these are impossible to find outside of a major city. With the abundance of incredible fresh seafood here, the locals think octopus is sent from God, but it is actually tasteless except for the paprika. Pork also finds it's way into everything, and there is only one pork heavy soup to be found. Despite having some excellent vegetables, salads are rare, and only consist of a boring lettuce, tomato and onion. Empanada is a doughy thin pie thing with a microscopic filling of any leftovers. Anyway once a month, I drive an hour to a fantastic Japanese restaurant, just to eat the spicy karai soup. Spanish food in general is boring. Most popular food in Spain? Jam and pizza. Amen
Bit none of those foods are CANADIAN! All foreign cuisines. Canadian "cuisine" is as boring as the country itself.
Jeff Ambrose
So if you have Canada on there (with zero explanantion I must say) then you will also need to put the United States. As we both share the same affinity for bbq and smoked meats, some of the best quality meats in the world. Canada doesnt even really have a food menu per say as it has a blended mix of cultured foods (just like the U.S.). What a misguided placement on the list (with ZERO explanation I remind). So very odd