celebrateapahm

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APAHM 2026

BuzzFeed Staff

Tasty

Person holding chopsticks, looking surprised with hand covering mouth. Text: "Can you name these countries' national dishes?"

I Seriously Bet You Can’t Name The National Dishes Of These 11 Countries (But If You Can, I’ll Be Super Impressed)

Only People With Incredibly Big Brains Can Guess The National Dish Of These Countries

Challenge your global food knowledge and see if you can name the national dishes of these countries!

Guess The National Dish Of These Countries Quiz

Japanese curry (karē raisu) was introduced in the 19th century and is a staple of everyday life and home cooking. It's enjoyed by people of all ages and is widely considered the country's overall comfort food. What differentiates Japanese curry from Thai or Indian curry is that it's thicker and almost stew-like, with a milder and sweeter flavor.

It's curry!

What's considered the national dish of Japan?

Back in the day, due to the hot climate in the Philippines, Filipinos often used vinegar to help preserve their food. Once Chinese traders brought soy sauce to the islands, Filipinos began incorporating it into their recipes...which led to adobo! The name comes from the Spanish word "adobar," meaning "to marinate."

It's adobo!

What's considered the national dish of the Philippines?

Pad thai is said to have been created sometime between the 1930s and 1940s, when the Prime Minister of Thailand, known as Phibun, was in power. During this era, Thailand was going through political and cultural change, and Phibun wanted the country to have a strong national identity and depend less on outside influences (like China). So, the government wanted to promote a noodle dish unique to Thailand, which eventually became pad thai!

It's pad thai!

What's considered the national dish of Thailand?

The name "khichdi" comes from the Sanskrit word khiccā, which translates to "a dish of rice and lentils." The oldest evidence of the dish dates back around 2,000 years, when archaeologists found two large pots filled with particles of rice and moong dal cooked together while excavating a site.

It's khichdi!

What's considered the national dish of India?

Around the end of the 19th century, Vietnamese people saw how much beef the French were wasting. So, left with the bones and scraps, they used them to create the early version of the iconic, well-loved soup, phở. Vietnam was split after the French defeat in 1954 into the North and the South regions, and the phở broth adapted to the local preferences. Southern phở was darker, sweeter, and richer, while Northern phở was purer and lighter.

It's phở!

What's considered the national dish of Vietnam?

"Pani" means "buns" or "bread," and "popo" means "coconut!" Pani popo is a generational food and is a staple wherever people gather, whether it's at family parties, Sunday toonai, or even at funerals. They're soft, fluffy bread rolls drenched in a rich, coconut cream.

It's pani popo!

What's considered the national dish of Samoa?

Kimchi is an iconic South Korean dish consisting of salted and fermented vegetables — normally napa cabbage and radishes — typically seasoned with gochugaru, garlic, ginger, and scallions. It's eaten as a side dish with almost everything. In fact, there are now over 200 different types of kimchi on the market!

It's kimchi!

What's considered the national dish of South Korea?

Also spelled as "laap" or "larb," laab refers to any meat that's prepared straight after being butchered, meaning it's always fresh. It's not uncommon to eat the meat raw, but if not, the meat is often minced and then quickly fried with herbs, fish sauce, and rice powder.

It's laab!

What's considered the national dish of Laos?

Nasi goreng is an Indonesian fried rice dish that you can find anywhere — from street vendors to fancy restaurants. The dish originated from Chinese stir-frying techniques and evolved through Dutch and Malay influences. Kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) is what gives nasi goreng its signature flavor, but the recipe can vary by region!

It's nasi goreng!

What's considered the national dish of Indonesia?

Peking duck dates back to the Yuan Dynasty, where it was first introduced. But it wasn't until the Ming Dynasty that the dish became more cohesive and refined. At the time, it was a symbol of wealth and luxury, but as those in power changed and Chinese diplomats began traveling and immigrating, the dish adapted and evolved, adopting new cooking techniques and reaching a larger audience. It has since remained a symbol of culinary and cultural pride.

It's Peking duck!

What's considered the national dish of China?

Meaning "raw fish," 'oka 'ika is made of cubed raw fish marinated in lemon or lime juice and coconut milk, which is then mixed in with vegetables. The dish represents the culture's deep ties with the ocean and has been a dietary staple for ages.

It's 'oka 'ika!

Finally, what's considered the national dish of Tonga?

It's okay! You win some, you lose some (and some of these were tricky). But, hey, maybe this will inspire you to study up on your foodie knowledge.

You tried your best

Maybe some of the trickier foods got you, but you generally know your way around different cuisines. Respect.

You know your stuff!

Wow, you really, really, _really_ know your stuff! You are a certified foodie and love to explore and celebrate different cultures. Or, maybe you're just a good guesser. Whichever it is, well done!

You know ball

Illustrated characters celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with festive clothing and joyful expressions. Bold text reads "APAHM."

I Seriously Bet You Can't Name The National Dishes Of These 11 Countries (But If You Can, I'll Be Super Impressed)

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Irrespective of score, I would like to eat my way through every dish in this quiz, please. 

The ones I didn't know inspired me to try them! Also, I had NO idea about the curry in Japan. I thought curry was mainly in India and Thailand


So many foods,so little time...♥️🤤

I Seriously Bet You Can’t Name The National Dishes Of These 11 Countries (But If You Can, I’ll Be Super Impressed)

Check out more API-centered content celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month here. Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Follow BuzzFeed’s A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest API content year-round!

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I Seriously Bet You Can’t Name The National Dishes Of These 11 Countries (But If You Can, I’ll Be Super Impressed)

Check out more API-centered content celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month here. Of course, the content doesn't end after May. Follow BuzzFeed’s A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest API content year-round!

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