Embark on a global culinary adventure to uncover the Weirdest Foods our planet has to offer. While we’ve previously delighted you with lists of delicious breakfasts, the world of food isn’t always about familiar flavors. Prepare yourself for a journey into the unexpected with this guide to 50 of the weirdest foods from around the world – a public service announcement and an eye-opening exploration all in one.
1. Chicken Feet – East Asia, Caribbean, South America, and South Africa
Photo: Yi Chen
Eaten across numerous cultures, chicken feet might seem less “weird” to some. However, their composition, largely skin and tendons, results in a gelatinous texture that can be off-putting for the uninitiated. Properly seasoned, they can be quite flavorful, though navigating the bones can become tedious.
2. Haggis – Scotland
Photo: David Blaikie
Haggis is a Scottish national dish composed of sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, minced and combined with onions, oatmeal, suet, and spices. This mixture is then traditionally encased and cooked inside the animal’s stomach. The description alone is enough to deter some, but for adventurous eaters, haggis offers a unique and savory experience.
3. Tripe – Globally Consumed
Photo: Ernesto Andrade
Tripe refers to the stomach lining of various animals. Its sponge-like, honeycomb texture can be visually strange, resembling some form of sea plant. The texture itself is often described as rubbery and peculiar, requiring flavorful sauces or accompaniments like onions to enhance its palatability.
4. Khash – Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Turkey
Photo: Kamyar Adl
Khash is a rather intense dish featuring stewed cow’s feet and head. Once a humble winter comfort food, it has evolved into a delicacy in regions like the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Turkey. The presentation, often including the cow’s head, can be visually confronting for those unfamiliar with offal dishes.
5. Tuna Eyeballs – Japan
Tuna eyeballs, a Japanese delicacy, might sound alarming, but their flavor is surprisingly mild, often compared to squid or octopus. Contrary to expectations, they lack the unpleasant “gunk” one might associate with eyeballs, offering a unique seafood experience.
6. Black Pudding (Blood Sausage) – Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe
Photo: Alpha
Black pudding, or blood sausage, is found across continents, from Africa to Europe. Despite its widespread availability, the core ingredient – congealed blood – makes it a “weird food” for many. However, when prepared with flavorings, suet, and breadcrumbs, and encased in sausage skin, it becomes a rich and savory dish.
7. Spam – United States
Photo: Mike Mozart
Spam, the quintessential “mystery meat” of the United States, has an ambiguous reputation. While officially stated to be made from chopped pork shoulder, ham, and potato starch, its processed nature and somewhat gelatinous texture classify it as a weird food, despite its enduring popularity.
8. Hákarl – Iceland
Photo: Richard Toller
Hákarl, from Iceland, is fermented Greenland or basking shark. The shark carcass undergoes a unique preparation process: buried underground, pressed with stones to drain toxic fluids, and then hung to dry. Anthony Bourdain famously described its ammonia-rich smell and intense fishy flavor as “the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing.”
9. Surströmming – Sweden
Surströmming, a Swedish delicacy, is Baltic Sea herring fermented with minimal salt to prevent complete rotting. Typically sold in tins, opening surströmming releases an overwhelmingly pungent aroma, often necessitating consumption outdoors. Its notoriously strong smell firmly places it among the world’s weirdest foods.
10. Century Egg / 100 Year Old Egg / 1000 Year Old Egg – China
Photo: surtr
Century egg, also known as 100-year or 1000-year egg, is a Chinese preserved egg, despite not actually being aged for centuries. Preserved for months in clay, ash, and quicklime, the yolk transforms into a dark green or black, slimy texture, while the egg white becomes a dark brown jelly. Its strong sulfur and ammonia smell contrasts with a flavor surprisingly similar to hard-boiled eggs – until the aftertaste hits.
11. Stinkheads – Alaska, United States
Stinkheads, from Alaska, are fermented king salmon heads. The salmon heads are buried underground for weeks, resulting in a pungent, mushy dish. This uniquely Alaskan preparation method results in a food item that certainly qualifies as “weird.”
12. Shiokara – Japan
Photo: takaokun
Shiokara, a Japanese dish, is made from various sea creature meats served in a brown, viscous paste of their own salted and fermented viscera. Served raw, this dish is an acquired taste, even for adventurous palates, and is undoubtedly one of the weirdest foods globally.
13. Jing Leed (Grasshoppers) – Thailand
Jing Leed, or grasshoppers, are a common street food in Thailand. Seasoned with salt, pepper, and chili, they are fried in a wok until crispy. The texture is often compared to hollow popcorn, but with a juicy burst upon biting – a unique and slightly unsettling textural experience for insect novices.
14. Wasp Crackers – Japan
Wasp crackers from Japan are exactly what they sound like: biscuits filled with wasps. Replacing chocolate chips with insects, these crackers feature digger wasps known for their potent sting. This unusual combination of sweet and insect makes for a truly weird food experience.
15. Fried Spider – Cambodia
Photo: saritravels
Fried spider is a regional delicacy in Skuon, Cambodia. Marinated in MSG, sugar, and salt, then fried in garlic, these spiders are said to be meatier than grasshoppers. However, the abdomen contains a brown sludge of innards, eggs, and excrement, adding a distinctly “weird” element to this dish.
16. Witchetty Grub – Australia
Witchetty grubs are part of Australian “bushmeat,” a staple for Indigenous Australians. These grubs can be eaten raw, with an almond-like taste, or lightly cooked, where the skin crisps like roast chicken and the inside resembles scrambled eggs. Their larval form and unique preparation methods categorize them as weird foods for many.
17. Escamol – Mexico
Escamol, also known as “insect caviar,” is a Mexican delicacy made from edible ant larvae and pupae harvested from tequila or mescal plants. With a cottage cheese-like consistency and a buttery, nutty flavor, escamol offers a less visually “weird” but still unusual insect-based food experience.
18. Beondegi – South Korea
Photo: istolethetv
Beondegi, boiled or steamed silkworm pupae, are a popular snack in South Korea, often sold by street vendors. Described as tasting like wood, their unique texture and insect origin contribute to their status as a weird food for many international visitors.
19. Escargots à la Bourguignonne – France
Photo: eatingeast
Escargots à la Bourguignonne, snails cooked in white wine, garlic, butter, and parsley, served in their shells, are a French classic that some consider weird. While considered a delicacy in French cuisine, the idea of eating snails can be off-putting to those unfamiliar with this dish. The texture is often compared to mussels or clams, though some find it rubbery.
20. Sago Delight – Southeast Asia
Sago delight features edible sago grubs from Southeast Asia. These grubs are said to taste creamy when raw and meaty, like bacon, when cooked. Often seasoned similarly to grasshoppers, they represent another example of insect-based weird foods from the region.
21. Stink Bugs – Africa
Stink bugs, used in African stews or eaten alone, are described as crunchy and tasting somewhat like apple. Boiled to prepare them, they release defensive pheromones, which, while irritating to the eyes, are part of the unique experience of consuming this weird food.
22. Mopane Worms – Southern Africa
Mopane worms, large caterpillars from Southern Africa, are considered a protein-rich food source. Traditionally dried or smoked, they are rehydrated and cooked with sauces like tomato or chili. Some describe their taste as similar to honey-barbecued chicken, making them a surprisingly palatable weird food.
23. Tequila Worm – Mexico
The tequila worm, more accurately found in mescal, is a larvae added to the bottle. Despite legends of hallucinogenic properties, these are largely non-existent and considered a marketing gimmick. While not consumed as a standalone dish, it’s a “weird” addition to a beverage.
24. Marmite (or Vegemite) – UK, New Zealand & Australia
Marmite (UK) and Vegemite (Australia) are yeast extract spreads, byproducts of beer brewing. Made from the leftover slurry from beer barrels, these sticky brown pastes have a concentrated, salty flavor. Famously divisive, people either “love it or hate it,” solidifying their place as weird foods for many.
25. Pickled Egg – UK
Pickled eggs, common in the UK, are hard-boiled eggs preserved in vinegar. The sour vinegar permeates the egg, including the yolk, resulting in an intensely sour flavor that’s considered a weird food experience by many.
26. Bird’s Nest Soup – Southeast Asia
Bird’s nest soup, a Southeast Asian delicacy, is made from swiftlet nests. These birds construct nests from their own saliva, which hardens upon air exposure. Harvesting these nests, often from cliff faces, is dangerous. The soup’s “rubbery taste” and controversial harvesting make it a weird and expensive food.
27. Fugu – Japan
Fugu, or pufferfish, from Japan, is famous for its potential deadliness if improperly prepared. Only highly trained chefs can serve fugu sashimi due to its poisonous nature. The risk factor, combined with the unusual fish, makes fugu a distinctly weird and dangerous food.
28. Steak Tartare – France
Steak tartare, a French dish of raw ground beef, may seem weird to some, but is a delicacy for others. Made with high-quality raw beef, onions, capers, raw egg, and seasonings, it’s often served with rye bread or fries. While raw meat might be unconventional in some cultures, steak tartare is a recognized culinary dish.
29. Cherry Blossom Meat – Japan
Cherry blossom meat, or raw horse meat (basashi), from Japan, might be considered weird due to cultural aversion to horse consumption in some regions. Served raw, often as sushi, it’s said to be low in calories and fat. However, the idea of eating horse meat remains unusual for many.
30. Frog Legs – France, Southeast Asia, and other regions
Frog legs, consumed in France, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere, are precisely what they sound like: the hind legs of frogs. Grilled, baked, fried, or stewed, they are said to have a chicken-like texture with a subtle fishy taste. Despite their prevalence in some cuisines, frog legs remain a weird food for many Westerners.
31. Kangaroo – Australia
Kangaroo meat, historically a staple for Indigenous Australians, is high in protein and low in fat. With a gamey flavor, it’s prepared in various ways, from steaks to sausages. While ecologically sustainable, consuming kangaroo meat is still considered a weird food by some due to the animal’s cultural significance.
32. Crocodile – Australia, Southeast Asia, and Africa
Crocodile meat, consumed in Australia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, is considered a delicacy. Said to taste like a cross between chicken and crab, it’s often farmed for consumption, making it a sustainable, though unusual, protein source and a weird food choice for many.
33. Southern Fried Rattlesnake – United States
Southern fried rattlesnake, popular in the Southwestern United States, is said to taste similar to frog legs. Preparation involves boiling the meat off the bones, battering, and deep-frying. Consuming a venomous snake is inherently “weird” to most, despite its culinary appeal in specific regions.
34. Guinea Pig – South America
Guinea pig, consumed in South America, is often roasted whole or in casseroles. Described as having a flavor similar to rabbit, eating rodents is culturally unusual in many parts of the world, classifying guinea pig as a weird food for those unfamiliar with South American cuisine.
35. Turtle Soup – China, Singapore, and United States
Turtle soup, found in China, Singapore, and the United States, uses meat, skin, and innards of soft-shell turtles (East Asia) or snapping turtles (US). While a Chinese delicacy, ethical concerns about turtle slaughter and the unusual ingredients contribute to turtle soup’s status as a weird food.
36. Starfish – China
Starfish, consumed in China, are served dried and covered in a hard, spiny exterior. Eating starfish involves breaking off a leg and peeling it open to access the meat inside. The unusual form and preparation make starfish a distinctly weird seafood.
37. Rocky Mountain Oysters – United States
Rocky Mountain oysters, despite the name, are not oysters but bull testicles. Deep-fried in batter, they are a dish rooted in practical use of animal parts. However, the primary ingredient – bull testicles – firmly places them among the weirdest foods.
38. Balut – Philippines
Balut, from the Philippines, is a developing duck embryo boiled alive in its shell. This street food is considered highly unusual due to the visible embryo and the cooking method. Its appearance and preparation make balut a quintessential weird food for many.
39. Dragon in the Flame of Desire – China
Dragon in the Flame of Desire, a euphemistic name, is yak penis. Served at a Beijing restaurant, it’s roasted and presented elaborately. The use of yak penis as a featured dish makes it an undeniably weird food.
40. Shirako – Japan
Shirako, from Japan, is cod sperm sac. Described as soft and creamy, it can be steamed or deep-fried. The primary ingredient – cod sperm – makes shirako a weird food for those unfamiliar with offal and unusual animal parts.
41. Cobra Heart – Vietnam
Cobra heart, from Vietnam, is a truly extreme weird food. The cobra is killed in front of the diner, and its still-beating heart is placed in a shot glass with its blood and consumed immediately. The rawness and dramatic presentation make it one of the most bizarre culinary experiences.
42. Casu Marzu – Italy
Casu marzu, Sardinian “maggot cheese,” is sheep’s milk cheese containing live insect larvae. These maggots are said to enhance the flavor. The presence of live insects, which can jump, and the risk of intestinal myiasis, make casu marzu a notoriously weird and potentially dangerous food.
43. Ying-Yang Fish – China
Ying-Yang fish, a cruel dish from China, involves deep-frying a fish while keeping it alive. Diners may poke the still-living fish while eating it. The extreme cruelty and the idea of eating a still-living creature make this an ethically and gastronomically disturbing weird food.
44. Sannakji – South Korea
Sannakji, from South Korea, is another dish raising cruelty concerns. It consists of raw, wriggling baby octopus tentacles, freshly cut and served immediately. The tentacles continue to move due to nerve activity, and there is a choking hazard, adding to the “weirdness” and danger.
45. Drunken Shrimp – China
Drunken shrimp, from China, are shrimp served both living and intoxicated with baijiu liquor. Diners typically bite off the head before consuming the body. Beyond the cruelty, there’s a risk of paragonimiasis, making drunken shrimp a weird and risky food choice.
46. Shark Fin Soup – China
Shark fin soup, considered a delicacy in China, is highly controversial due to the barbaric finning process. Sharks are often finned while still alive and thrown back into the sea. Ethical concerns and the questionable taste of the dried, congealed fins in chicken broth make shark fin soup a weird and unethical food.
47. Bushmeat – Africa
Bushmeat, encompassing various African wildlife, including giraffe, lemurs, and apes, raises ethical and conservation concerns. The close genetic relation of apes to humans makes consuming them seem almost cannibalistic to some. Bushmeat consumption is also linked to disease spread, including Ebola, adding to its “weird” and problematic nature.
48. Whale – Japan, United States, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Iceland
Whale meat, consumed in several countries despite international condemnation, raises wildlife conservation and animal rights issues. Whale hunts are often prolonged and bloody. Additionally, whale meat can contain high levels of mercury and toxins, posing health risks. These factors make whale meat a weird and ethically questionable food.
49. Dog – Korea, China, and Vietnam
Dog meat consumption in Korea, China, and Vietnam is highly controversial, especially in Western cultures where dogs are considered pets. Animal welfare concerns regarding dog farming and slaughter are significant. While culturally accepted in some regions, dog meat remains a weird and ethically charged food for many.
50. Cat – East Asia
Cat meat, similar to dog meat, is consumed in parts of East Asia. As household pets in many cultures, cats are not typically seen as food. Like dog meat, cat consumption is considered a weird and ethically problematic practice by many outside these regions.
Have you dared to try any of these unusual dishes? Or perhaps you know of other weird foods that deserve a spot on this list? Share your experiences and suggestions in the comments below!
