Ask around in Thailand, and you’ll hear it again and again – Thai cuisine is the best in the world. But how well does this culinary confidence translate to visitor satisfaction? Does Thailand manage to strike the right balance between national flavors and international options, between fine dining and street food, luxury and simplicity?

According to the 2025 Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards, the answer is clear: better than anyone else.

The prestigious media outlet collects global traveler ratings across multiple categories, and one of them is food – factoring “buffet breakfasts, authentic street food, fine dining beneath the stars.”

If that sounds like Thailand, it’s no coincidence. In 2025, the Land of Smiles took the top spot, outranking Italy, Japan, France, Spain, and other global gastronomic giants.

Top 10 countries for food experiences

1. Thailand – 98.33%
2. Italy – 96.92%
3. Japan – 96.77%
4. Vietnam – 96.67%
5. Spain – 95.91%
6. New Zealand – 95.79%
7. Sri Lanka – 95.56%
8. Greece – 95.42%
9. South Africa – 94.76%
10. Maldives / Peru – 94.55%

France landed in 13th place, tied with Turkey. The former is known for inventing haute cuisine, the latter for conquering the world with street food – but excelling in just one style isn’t enough to satisfy travelers. Thailand’s victory is the result of its culinary versatility and depth.

“Seven Bangkok restaurants placed in the top 35 of this year’s prestigious World’s Best Restaurants rankings, strong regional diversity means that each new destination also wraps you in never-before-tasted flavours, and lively night markets mean the delicious tasting rarely has to stop,” writes Condé Nast.

Explore more about Thai cuisine and Phuket’s top restaurants on the following pages of this RL issue.