These Are the Best Cities for Food in 2019, According to David Chang

We know what food trends to look out for in the fast-approaching new year, which will likely determine what you’ll be eating. But in 2019, where will you want to eat? Celebrity chef David Chang, host of the hit Netflix show Ugly Delicious, recently revealed his top three picks for the best food cities of 2019 — and one of them might surprise you.

Chang, who founded the now-legendary Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City, traveled extensively for his Netflix show, so you can trust his insights into global cuisine. In an interview with CNBC, he narrowed down his favorite food cities to just three, so if you’re already planning your next vacation, listen up.

Chang’s first pick is Mexico City. Chang calls this city “super hot right now,” and recommends that visitors try tacos al pastor, tlacoyos (a street food made with a blue corn tortilla and pork cracklings), and mezcal, which is one of Mexico’s specialties.

Next up, he thinks the cuisine in Tokyo and other smaller Japanese cities, such as Okinawa and Kansai, is waiting to be discovered by tourists. While most people associate Japanese food with sushi, the cuisine is so much richer than that. Chang recommends trying udon noodles (styles of which vary from region to region) and an alcoholic drink called awamori, which is made from rice.

His most surprising pick might be Copenhagen in Denmark. This city is home to one of the best restaurants in the world, Noma, but Chang predicts that the rest of the region will go through its own food renaissance in 2019. He also recommends visiting Stockholm and Olso, where you can sample shrimp sandwiches, potato dumplings, and pan-fried herring.

All you travel buffs and adventurous eaters now have your directions for the new year: Go forth to a new city, maybe one that doesn’t appear in every guidebook, and try a dish you can’t find at home. After all, these exploits in food tourism have been approved by David Chang himself.