South Korea is Asia’s best spot for a foodie holiday, survey suggests

For many tourists, deciding where to book a holiday is about any or all of price, scenery, culture, architecture, beaches and nightlife.

But to some, food is a key when browsing a menu of flight options. And for those heading to Asia, a survey of over 4,000 people by travel booking provider Agoda has found South Korea to be the best place for a "culinary trip," slightly ahead of Taiwan and Thailand.

Korean cuisine’s mix of grilled or barbequed meats and sticky, spicy sauces saw it come out on top. Among the better-known dishes are kimchi, a salad that some contend resembles sauerkraut; bibimbap, a rice and meat dish with an egg and sesame topping; and bulgogi, a hefty serving of sliced beef, usually grilled or flamed.

Explaining South Korea's appeal, Agoda listed landmarks such Gwangjang Market in Seoul, which it said is "a great place for street food like tteokbokki (spicy ricecakes) and bindaetteok (savory pancakes)."

Eating out in Asia often means street food gobbled down while squatting on shin-high plastic stools, sometimes next to roaring motorcycle-laden traffic or along white-sand beaches.

"Food isn't just about eating, it's about exploring, experiencing, and enjoying every bite," according to Agoda, which is based in Singapore, a high-income city where street-food hawkers have been given Unesco heritage status.

Taiwan’s "culinary wonderland" and the "food lover's paradise" of Thailand were also lauded for their array of street dining options, where the often spicy fare can be washed down with towers of beer that cost less than a glass or pint in many European countries.

According to research published by the British Medical Journal earlier this year, Korean food - and kimchi in particular - is not only healthy but "may lower men’s overall risk of obesity."