Finding a great place to eat on vacation can be tricky when you do not know the area. Many spots use specific tactics to attract visitors while serving overpriced and disappointing food. Here is how seasoned travelers easily spot tourist traps and find better local dining experiences instead.
Being Too Close to Famous Attractions
Restaurants right next to big monuments usually do not have to try hard to make good food because people are already walking right by them. Walking just a few blocks away from the main sights usually leads to way better food and much lower prices.
Having Massive Outdoor Seating Areas
A lot of these places have huge patios designed to pack in as many tired tourists as possible at the exact same time. You will often notice that the chairs and tables look a bit cheap and cramped together just to maximize their space and make more money.
The Big Red Flag Is the Promoter
The absolute biggest warning sign is having a person standing outside with a menu trying to actively convince you to come inside and sit down. Real local restaurants are usually busy enough with regular customers so they do not need to hire a salesman dressed as a waiter to bother you on the sidewalk.
Giant Laminated Menus on Display
If the menu outside looks like a huge shiny poster board then you might want to keep walking and look for somewhere else to spend your cash. Authentic spots usually have a simple paper menu or a small chalkboard that changes based on what fresh ingredients the chef actually has that day.
Pictures of Every Single Dish
Seeing bright faded photos of the food right on the menu is a classic trick used to grab the attention of hungry people passing by. A good restaurant lets the quality of the food speak for itself without needing a picture book to show you what a simple plate of pasta looks like.
Everything Is Written Only in English
When you are in a foreign country and the menu has zero local language on it you know they are only trying to feed visitors. It is perfectly fine if they offer a translation but the main menu should really always be in the language of the people who actually live there.
Sneaky or Hidden Prices on the Menu
Some places might show you a cheap price outside and then hand you a totally different menu once you finally sit down at the table. It is always a smart idea to snap a quick picture of the prices outside just to make sure you do not get a nasty surprise later when the bill comes.
Not a Single Local in Sight
You can usually tell a lot about a restaurant vibe just by listening to the voices of the people who are already eating there. If you only hear tourists talking and see zero locals grabbing a bite then you are probably walking right into a massive tourist trap.
Trusting Your Hotel Staff Instead
Finding a good meal is sometimes as easy as asking the workers at your hotel where they personally like to hang out and eat after their shift. They will usually point you toward some amazing hidden gems that serve real local food for a fraction of the cost you would pay near the big attractions.
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