15 Iconic Dishes You Have to Try in Their Country of Origin

9. Spain – Paella (Valencia)

Paella is Spain’s most famous dish, but if you want to experience the real thing, you have to go to Valencia, where it all began. Unlike the seafood-heavy versions commonly found in tourist hotspots, traditional Valencian paella follows a strict recipe, featuring rabbit, chicken, and sometimes snails, cooked with saffron-infused rice in a wide, shallow pan. The key to authentic paella is the rice, which must be short-grain and absorbent, such as Bomba or Calasparra rice, grown in the rice paddies of Valencia. The rice is never stirred once the broth is added, allowing the bottom layer to develop a crusty, caramelized texture known as socarrat, which is considered the best part of the dish. The best place to try real paella is by the seaside at La Pepica, a legendary restaurant that once hosted Ernest Hemingway. Here, you can sit by the Mediterranean, sip on a glass of sangria, and enjoy paella cooked over an open fire, just as it has been for centuries.