A FOOD expert has revealed their sneaky tactic for finding the best-hidden restaurant gems on your next holiday.
Michelle Tchea is a well-travelled food critic, eating exotic meals in over 100 cities.
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To find top restaurants in the area, the food expert said she turns off her phone and follows people who “wear suits to work”.
Michelle said: “For the past 20 years, I’ve had great success following the crowd — more specifically, the business lunch crowd.”
The trick is to follow small groups of three and watch their “body language”.
The food expert claimed that if they’re being friendly with each other, it usually means they’re out enjoying the night.
There are some “caveats” when it comes to following a random business crowd in a foreign city, Michelle added.
She said: “You need to have a grasp of the city’s food scene to avoid misdirections to chains and fast-food joints (unless you want to sample that side of the local cuisine).”
On a recent trip to Seoul, Michelle used her sneaky tip and found alleyways filled with bars and restaurants that she failed to spot when touring the city herself.
Similarly, in Stockholm, the food expert followed a couple of businessmen after their work, leading her to some hidden gems.
It comes after a travel expert shared the tell-tale sign that the restaurant you’re visiting is a “tourist trap” – and what to look for instead.
Holidaymakers can find “authentic and delicious” meals and avoid being ripped off if they can spot the red flag.
Experienced continent hopper Constantina Demos shared some of the key ways Brits can weed out the overpriced hotspots and find something a little more genuine.
Writing for Delicious, she said: “When I travel I have a dining bucket list.
“I’m a woman on a mission… to ensure each meal I eat is authentic and delicious.
“I’ve fallen victim to choosing convenience (and a hungry stomach) over effort and stumbled into the first restaurant I came across without doing due diligence.
“I’m left unsatisfied by an average meal that I’ve paid way too much for.
“But throughout my travels, I’ve curated a mental list of red flags that indicate a restaurant is a tourist trap.”
The most important of these can be seen before you even step through the door, pick up a menu or order a drink.
Constantina advised Brits to steer clear of any establishment with a host or manager standing outside trying to usher customers inside.
Even worse, if they are yelling out the daily specials to attract diners, it’s time to run a mile.
While they are likely just doing their job, it suggests that the restaurant is not the sort of place that is frequented by locals and relies on visitors to get bums on seats.
Fortunately, Constantina was able to share a number of green flags to help you pick a place to go.
Try an find somewhere away from major attractions and look out for menus in the language of the country you are in.
Unfamiliar dishes are also a good sign as they suggest that the restaurant is not serving anglicised versions of national dishes.
The best-hidden gems are often smaller and will tend to be buzzing with diners, mostly local people served by local staff.
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