Called out: the 100 worst-rated Asian dishes

Asia has a pretty solid reputation for food. But as with any cuisine, there are bound to be a couple of dishes that raise eyebrows (or turn the stomach).

Thanks to TasteAtlas, we now have a complete list of the Asian dishes most offensive to the tastebuds – at least, according to about 600,000 responses from the site's readers. 

The dish with the dubious honour of topping the list? Thai fish entrails sour curry, known as kaeng tai pla, with a measly rating of 2.2 stars. TasteAtlas describes it as a "thick and aromatic fish curry" made from a spicy paste of chilli pepper, galangal, lemongrass, and more; and chock-full of ingredients like diced eggplant and string beans. The kicker is tai pla, fermented fish guts that give the dish its distinct umami. That sounds wonderfully flavourful to us, but we can imagine the stew's pungency would be hard to get used to for some. 

The second most hated dish on TasteAtlas's list is deep-fried silkworms, also known as hon mhai in Thailand. It's a popular street food in Bangkok: crunchy, salty, peppery, and rich in protein – if you can get past the fact that you're eating, well, an insect. In third place is a curious one – ambuyat, a Bruneian dish with a sticky consistency that supposedly tastes "like nothing at all". Locals enjoy it by twirling it around a bamboo stick and pairing it with various dips and side dishes. 

Looking down the list, it's clear that people are queasiest about dishes with insects, gamey meats, offal, or anything with pungent, fermented flavours. We get it, but it's good to keep in mind that these all evolved from each country's unique environment and (and sometimes, dark) histories. For example, TasteAtlas explains how Cambodia's fried spider street dish (No. 5) came about because starved locals had no choice but to deep-fry and eat the insects infesting their city in the 1970s.

Some entries had us going "huh?", though. Indian missi roti (No. 17), Chinese mooncake (No. 20), and Japanese honey toast (No. 59) – hardly the most unappetising dishes – all made it to the list. 

These are the 100 worst-rated Asian foods, according to TasteAtlas:

1. Thai fish entrails sour curry (Kaeng tai pla), Thailand
2. Deep-fried silkworms (Hon mhai), Thailand
3. Ambuyat, Brunei
4. Yerushalmi Kugel, Israel
5. Fried spider (A-ping), Cambodia
6. Rice burger, Japan
7. Tinutuan, Indonesia
8. Khoresh kangar, Iran
9. Kichel, Israel
10. Paniki, Indonesia
11. Balaleet, United Arab Emirates
12. Orez shu'it, Israel
13. Son-in-law eggs (Khai luk khoei), Thailand
14. Raw blood pudding (Tiết canh), Vietnam
15. Duck's head, China
16. Shakarap, Uzbekistan
17. Missi roti, India
18. Balut, Philippines
19. Beondegi, South Korea
20. Cantonese mooncake, China
21. Yeot, South Korea
22. Hongeo, South Korea
23. Kata-kat, Pakistan
24. Uirō, Japan
25. Tom chuet, Thailand
26. Kapuska, Turkiye
27. Naporitan, Japan
28. Guilinggao, China
29. Korean potato salad, South Korea
30. Sekihan, Japan
31. Duck blood and vermicelli soup, China
32. Kaymaklı kayısı, Turkiye
33. Lawar, Indonesia
34. Moo goo gai pan, China
35. Inipit, Philippines
36. Shio daifuku, Japan
37. Sara udon, Japan
38. Yaksik, South Korea
39. Saleeg, Saudi Arabia
40. Omani halwa, Oman
41. Khanom tan, Thailand
42. Thong yip, Thailand
43. Cocktail bun, China
44. Noghl, Iran
45. Shark fin soup, China
46. Charoset, Israel
47. Dalgona candy, South Korea
48. Beyin salatasi, Turkiye
49. Vietnamese mung bean sweet soup (Chè đậu xanh), Vietnam
50. Thai-style omelette with mussels or oyster (Hoy tod), Thailand
51. Little cake (Bánh ít), Vietnam
52. Mu nam tok, Thailand
53. Ti-huih-ko, Taiwan
54. Naengguk, South Korea
55. Khanom tom, Thailand
56. Tian bu la, Taiwan
57. Ganthiya, India
58. Pepes tahu, Indonesia
59. Honey toast, Japan
60. Gajar matar, India
61. Salata, Afghanistan
62. Matzo, Israel
63. Kuzu kelle, Turkiye
64. Bukayo, Philippines
65. Pulut durian, Malaysia
66. Hwajeon, South Korea
67. Shir birinj, Iran
68. Gajak, India
69. Khao khluk kapi, Thailand
70. Biko, Philippines
71. Bakso ayam, Indonesia
72. Pad woon sen, Thailand
73. Mahluta, Turkiye
74. Gujiya, India
75. Panta bhat, Bangladesh
76. Tom saep, Thailand
77. Chūkadon, Japan
78. Thai pumpkin custard, Thailand
79. Nasi jagung, Indonesia
80. West Lake vinegar fish, China
81. Suki haeng, Thailand
82. Kuro-mame, Japan
83. Daheen, Iraq
84. Mandarin roll, China
85. Maltose crackers, Hong Kong
86. Fermented squid, South Korea
87. Chicken malai, India
88. Kupat tahu, Indonesia
89. Yam khai dao, Thailand
90. Thorn leaf cake, Vietnam
91. Kubbah hāmda, Syria
92. Boodog, Mongolia
93. Macun, Turkiye
94. Karalahana çorbası, Turkiye
95. Aloo baingan, India
96. Vietnamese pork aspic, Vietnam
97. Wajik, Indonesia
98. Etli taze fasulye, Turkiye
99. Otap, Philippines
100. Sannakji, South Korea

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