Where to Find the World’s Best Soup
20,000 BC was a monumental year in history. Why? The first pot of soup was crafted in a cave in modern-day China. To create their savory broth, prehistoric humans boiled animal bones and entrails in crude pits, then slurped their handiwork from some of the world’s earliest ceramic bowls. Fast forward a few thousand years, and a verdict has been reached: Our ancient ancestors were onto something…
Discovering the world's most delectable bowls of soup takes you on a global culinary journey. From Bangkok to New York and Paris, these iconic eateries serve up soup that has stood the test of time.
In Bangkok's Wat Tan Nam, Nattapong Kaweenuntawong has been simmering his signature beef stew, neua tune, in the same pot for five decades. The secret lies in continuously using the broth from the previous day to cook the meat until it's tender, creating a rich, flavorful broth with tender meat, chewy noodles, and an unforgettable aroma.
Ho Chi Minh City's Bún Riêu Gánh offers a crab-infused noodle soup experience. The dish features rice vermicelli noodles, crab meatloaf, and a tangy tamarind fish sauce with chili, crafted under the guidance of local legend Mrs. Mai Thi Lien over the past four decades.
New York City's Wall Street Bath & Spa 88 provides Eastern European comfort food in a hidden basement. Their broth-filled matryoshka, a Russian nesting doll-themed restaurant, features Eastern European classics like buzhenina, a herb-roasted pork tenderloin, and harcho, a Georgian lamb soup.
San Francisco's Fio D’Italia, established in 1886, serves classic Italian dishes including minestrone soup, a hearty stew packed with winter beans, vegetables, and a touch of prosciutto. The restaurant also offers a zuppa di cavolo con formaggio, a cabbage, bread, and cheese stew with prosciutto, and pasta e fagioli, a pasta and cannellini bean soup.
Paris's Au Pied de Cochon is famous for its French onion soup, a creamy, caramelized onion-infused delight. Unlike its beef stock-based counterparts, Au Pied uses chicken stock, honoring its Les Halles origins, and operates almost around the clock, allowing soup lovers to indulge at any hour.
Finally, Tokyo's Chankonabe Shinzan is a must-visit for sumo wrestlers seeking a hearty meal. Their chanko nabe is a savory bowl of meat or fish, tofu, vegetables, and broth, traditionally enjoyed by sumo wrestlers for fuel and strength.
Written by urgent.news from Atlas Obscura's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
