Luke Martin — Food Creator on YouTube
@LukeMartin — Melbourne, Australia — 1.6M subscribers
Welcome to Chopstick Travel! I'm Luke Martin and this channel is all about travelling the world to taste and experience unique culinary traditions and share it all with YOU! I travel around Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Levant, Africa and more! Chopstick Travel's goal is to help you better understand the world we live in and let you in on insider local tips about the BEST places to eat and see! In doing so, I hope to help travellers like you easily navigate on your own food and travel journeys!! Subscribe to join the BEST community of food travellers on YouTube! If you'd like to support Chopstick Travel check out my Patreon where you can get perks and support filming more videos : https://www.patreon.com/join/chopsticktravel Also follow me behind the scenes on my socials : - https://www.facebook.com/chopsticktravel - https://www.instagram.com/chopsticktravel - https://www.chopsticktravel.com
Restaurant Reviews by Luke Martin
Doyle Samson and Sons
Twillingate, Canada
Luke Martin visits Doyle Samson and Sons in Twillingate, Newfoundland, and experiences what he describes as the best lobster roll of his entire life. The restaurant, housed in a charming old fishing shack with just eight tables, serves incredibly fresh local seafood including perfectly prepared lobsters. The meal culminates with an outstanding blueberry vanilla cake that becomes a highlight of the entire 24-hour Newfoundland food adventure.
Unagi Restaurant in Narita
Narita, Japan — Japanese - Unagi (Grilled Eel)
The reviewer visits an iconic unagi restaurant in Narita, Japan and witnesses the entire process of preparing fresh eel from raw to grilled perfection. The finished dish features beautifully grilled eel with sweet unagi sauce and seasoned rice, delivering an exceptional dining experience that justifies the premium price point of around 80 dollars.
Hometown Palace
Beijing, China — Chinese/Peking Duck
Hometown Palace uses an exceptional Peking duck process involving a 24-hour dry cure, maltose sugar bath, Portuguese Madeira wine injection, and smoking in a wood-fired oven with date wood. The result is a crispy, golden-skinned duck that the reviewer found impressive and delicious.
Citi
Chios, Greece — Greek BBQ
The reviewer visits a restaurant in Chios, Greece specializing in antikristo, a traditional lamb dish cooked over an open flame for about 3 hours. The lamb is of exceptional quality, fed on mountain herbs which naturally season the meat, resulting in incredibly tender and delicious meat that requires no seasoning beyond salt. The simplicity of the cuisine and the natural flavors of the locally-sourced lamb impressed the reviewer.
Beirut restaurant
Doha, Qatar — Lebanese
Beirut restaurant is a legendary Lebanese establishment operating since 1960 in Doha, known for exceptional hummus, fool, and falafel. The reviewer praised the incredibly fast kitchen operations, fresh ingredients, and fresh-baked bread, noting everything tasted delicious and healthy.
Majit restaurant
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Ethiopian
Majit restaurant is one of the most authentic traditional restaurants in Addis Ababa, serving an impressive 17+ vegan fasting day dishes. The reviewer was impressed by the flavorful, healthy cuisine prepared in a busy kitchen with skilled female cooks, particularly praising the fermented injera bread and variety of legume and vegetable dishes seasoned with traditional spices like berbere.
Butcher House (Raw Meat Restaurant in Addis Ababa)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Ethiopian
The reviewer visits an authentic Ethiopian butcher house to try Terry Sika, the country's traditional raw meat dish. Though initially nervous about parasites and texture, he discovers the meat is government-inspected and surprisingly flavorful when paired with spices and sauce. While the raw version was challenging, the cooked variations like kitfo and tibs were exceptional and left him impressed with the beef quality.
Big Sue Beef Noodle
Bangkok, Thailand — Thai Beef Noodle
Big Sue Beef Noodle is a legendary Bangkok institution that has been perfecting their beef noodle soup since 1955. The reviewer was impressed by the tender beef cuts, especially the tongue, and the deeply flavorful broth that forms the foundation of every bowl. The combination of quality ingredients and house-made dipping sauce made for an exceptional dining experience.
Green Corner Restaurant
Kigali, Rwanda — Rwandan, Grilled Fish
Green Corner Restaurant in Kigali offers an impressive charcoal-grilled tilapia experience in the Nyami Rambo area. The fresh fish is expertly cooked and basted with a special secret sauce, served alongside a delicious stir-fried greens dish. The reviewer praised the simplicity and quality of flavors, making it a perfect way to cap off his first day exploring Rwanda's food scene.
Yunnan Ham Stall
Yunnan, China — Chinese regional specialty - cured meats and charcuterie
A visit to a famous Yunnan ham stall showcasing 100-year-old aged cured ham hanging naturally in the cool mountain climate. The ham offers authentic flavor and lean quality, though it's notably very salty compared to similar cured meats.
Kashon
Paris, France — French
This iconic French sandwich shop sells over 2.2 million Jambon Beurre sandwiches daily across France. The reviewer ordered a classic version with white ham and wild garlic, praising the soft meat, flavorful garlic notes, and perfectly crisp baguette. A must-visit takeaway spot for authentic French sandwich culture.
Traditional Ethiopian Raw Meat Restaurant
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Ethiopian
The reviewer tries Ethiopia's traditional tera, a raw meat delicacy, at a local establishment with guide Daggi. The raw beef is surprisingly tasty with tender texture and minimal gamey flavor, served with spiced sauce. Despite initial hesitation, the reviewer finds the experience enjoyable and authentically Ethiopian.
J Macakan
Singapore, Singapore — Indian
J Macakan at Tekk Center in Little India serves some of Singapore's best roti paratha, featuring paper-thin dough that is expertly flipped, fried, and pounded into a delicious flatbread. The dish is served with a choice of mutton or fish gravy, both of which pair beautifully with the crispy bread for an authentic local dining experience.
Nitaya
Bangkok, Thailand — Thai street food, braised beef
The reviewer visits Nitaya, a 30-year-old halal roast beef establishment in Bangkok run by owner Nitaya. The fried beef (nut cod) is incredibly tender with a perfect balance of fatty and lean meat, served in a legendary cauldron of broth that has been simmering for three decades. The dish is simple but exceptional, with a sweet chili sauce that enhances the already delicious flavors.
Hoi Seafood Restaurant
Pangtao Island, Hong Kong — Cantonese/Dim Sum
The reviewer visited Hoi Seafood Restaurant on Pangtao Island to sample affordable, authentic dim sum and compare it to luxury Michelin-starred dim sum. The handmade dumplings featuring fresh ingredients like plump shrimp and quality pork offered excellent value at around 29-35 Hong Kong dollars per basket, with the har gow and shumai being particularly impressive.
Talat Phulu Traditional Thai Dessert Shop
Bangkok, Thailand — Traditional Thai Desserts
A beloved traditional Thai dessert shop in Bangkok's Talat Phulu area that draws long lines of eager customers. The reviewer sampled black sticky rice with coconut cream and Khao Niao Sang Kaya, both featuring handmade quality and authentic flavors that impressed with their richness and creaminess.
Ugandan Street Food - Rolex Vendor
Uganda-Rwanda Border Region, Uganda — Ugandan Street Food
The reviewer tries authentic Ugandan Rolex street food at the Rwanda-Uganda border and loves the simple yet satisfying rolled chapati with omelette. Later, he visits a Batwa village community where he cooks and tastes traditional dishes like pocho and dodo, though the experience turns uncomfortable when locals demand additional payment after the meal.
Ethiopian Restaurant
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Ethiopian
The reviewer tries kitfo, Ethiopia's traditional minced raw beef dish, which is warmed in spiced butter with cardamom and served with co bread, cottage cheese, and polar cream. While initially hesitant about eating raw meat, the reviewer found the spiced version significantly more flavorful and enjoyed the unique bread and accompaniments.
Uncle Sam's Bake and Shark
Maracas Bay, Trinidad and Tobago — Caribbean, Trinidadian
Uncle Sam's Bake and Shark in Maracas Bay is a legendary third-generation institution since 1985 that lives up to expectations with an exceptional shark burger. The fluffy fried bread paired with tender, juicy shark meat and an array of customizable fresh toppings creates a superior seafood sandwich that outperforms any fish burger the reviewer has tried.
Po Kee Seafood Restaurant
Peng Chau Island, Hong Kong — Dim Sum, Cantonese
Po Kee Seafood Restaurant on Peng Chau Island offers authentic, traditional, and affordable dim sum with handmade baskets steaming throughout the restaurant. The reviewer tried a variety of classic and creative dishes, particularly praising the fried tofu skin with mushrooms and the char siu bao for their exceptional flavors and quality.
Bite and Swallows
Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago — Caribbean, Tobagonian
The reviewer experienced an authentic Tobagonian breakfast at Bite and Swallows featuring traditional dishes like saltfish bull, roasted eggplant, and fresh coconut bake with butter. The meal showcased genuine Caribbean flavors with fresh, organic ingredients prepared with care. The experience was highly positive, offering a genuine taste of local food culture.
Rolex Street Food Vendor
Kampala, Uganda — Ugandan Street Food
The reviewer tries authentic Ugandan Rolex, a street food made with chapati flatbread and omelet, from a vendor who has been operating for 9 years. The dish is fresh, hot, and delicious, costing less than a dollar, representing excellent value and authentic local cuisine.
Haral's Doubles
Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago — Caribbean street food
Luke Martin tries his first doubles at Haral's Doubles in Trinidad, a popular street food establishment known for making this local favorite fresh and hot. He praises the fluffy fried barra, seasoned chickpeas, and flavorful sauces, finding the overall experience pleasantly surprising with a nice balance of sweetness and spice.
Ethiopian Restaurant
Not specified, Ethiopia — Ethiopian
The reviewer tries authentic Ethiopian cuisine including raw meat (kitfo) cooked for just 5 seconds and tibs, praising both dishes despite their unconventional preparation. The raw meat offers a unique iron and blood-like flavor, while the cooked tibs provides richer spice and salt layers that enhance the natural meat taste.
No Man's Land
Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago — Caribbean Seafood
The reviewer visits No Man's Land, a beachfront seafood restaurant in Tobago, and enjoys an impressive seafood platter featuring fresh lobster, garlic butter shrimp, and their famous pineapple wings. The lobster is particularly praised as one of the best ever tasted, caught fresh that morning from the ocean. Overall, the experience is described as an insane and memorable seafood feast.
Braso Seco Village Experience
Braso Seco, Trinidad and Tobago — Trinidadian
A journey into the remote mountain village of Braso Seco, Trinidad reveals authentic traditional Trinidadian cuisine featuring fresh organic ingredients and homemade specialties. From breakfast of cocoa bake and christophine to a full lunch of corn pie, smoked chicken, and dalu, every dish showcases the fertile local land and creative village cooking. The experience includes chocolate tasting from raw cacao pods and ends with a stunning cassava pone dessert with homemade mango ice cream.
Uncle Sam's Bacon Shark
Maracas Bay, Trinidad and Tobago — Trinidadian
Uncle Sam's Bacon Shark serves what the reviewer calls the best shark burger they've ever had. Made with premium Mako shark meat along with blue shark and locally-sourced hammerhead shark, the sandwich is deep-fried and served on a fluffy fried bread called a float. The dish is heavily spiced, marinated, and can be customized with fresh vegetables and fruits, representing an authentic and elevated example of Trinidadian food culture.
Wicked Carob
Toronto, Canada — Trinidadian
Wicked Carob in Toronto serves authentic Trinidadian nostalgic foods with exceptional quality. The fluffy bara is like a pillow, the doubles are perfectly spiced with layered chutneys, and the curry goat and oxtail are incredibly tender after hours of preparation. The cheese pepper pie and fried fish sandwich are standout items that showcase the restaurant's dedication to traditional flavors.
Crispy Pork Belly Street Stall
Kunming, China — Chinese street food
The reviewer visits a street stall in Kunming famous for hanging crispy pork belly strips that customers can pick directly from the hook. The pork is impressively crispy with juicy meat, perfectly spiced with cumin, and served with a delicious sauce, making for an outstanding street food experience.
No Man's Landing
Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago — Caribbean, Seafood Grill
No Man's Landing is a beachside grill restaurant in Tobago specializing in ultra-fresh seafood cooked right before your eyes. The reviewer raved about what he called one of the best lobsters he has ever tasted, caught fresh that morning and never frozen, along with perfectly prepared shrimp, grilled fish, and their famous pineapple wings. The entire experience showcased authentic Caribbean flavors with generous seasoning, fresh homemade sauces, and food cooked with visible care and passion.
Indar's Roti and Doubles
Etobicoke, Canada — Caribbean, Trinidadian
Luke Martin visits Indar's Roti and Doubles in Etobicoke, a restaurant famous for their doubles and Caribbean cuisine. He praises the exceptionally tender boneless goat curry and highlights the generous sauce on their signature doubles, confirming the restaurant's reputation for quality.
Trini Braso Seiko Chow
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago — Trinidadian/Caribbean
The reviewer enjoys a traditional Trinidadian fruit salad (chow) featuring premium Julie mango, fresh cocoa pulp, and customizable sauces served in creative biodegradable cocoa pods. The dish offers authentic local flavors with nice balance of sweetness and spice, presenting a unique fruit salad experience.
Jumbo Empanadas
Toronto, Canada — Argentine/Latin American
Jumbo Empanadas is a popular spot in Kensington Market known for large, freshly-made empanadas with unique fillings. The beef empanada features surprising sweet notes from raisins and olives, while the chicken version offers more complex spices and peppers. A must-try establishment in Toronto's diverse neighborhood.
Cretan Restaurant
Crete, Greece — Cretan
A quintessential Cretan restaurant that exclusively uses local, fresh products sourced from the island's mountains and surrounding areas. The reviewer highlighted the wood-fire cooking method and the restaurant's commitment to sustainability, with standout dishes including mountain snails in olive oil and perfectly juicy lamb wrapped in paper.
Roadside BBQ Stand Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Brazilian Churrasco (BBQ)
An incredible roadside charcoal BBQ experience in Rio de Janeiro where everything is grilled fresh over charcoal. The reviewer enjoyed authentic Brazilian churrasco with smoky, perfectly seasoned meats served with traditional farofa and fresh sauce, all eaten from plastic chairs right by the road.
Schwartz's Deli
Montreal, Canada — Montreal Smoked Meat, Jewish Deli
Schwartz's is Montreal's most iconic smoked meat deli, serving towering sandwiches of tender, peppery beef brisket that melts in your mouth. While not the reviewer's personal favorite, it's a must-visit institution that has been operating for nearly a century and represents the soul of Montreal's food culture.
Bang Belly
Fogo Island, Canada — Contemporary Newfoundland with global influences
Bang Belly is a remarkable fine dining establishment on remote Fogo Island that delivers world-class cuisine despite its isolated location. The chef combines fresh local seafood and traditional Newfoundland ingredients with creative global techniques, from Thai coconut curry cod to Indian-spiced jigs dinner pakora. Every dish impressed with impeccable execution and presentation, making it an absolute must-visit destination.
Chung Wah Roast Goose
Hong Kong, China — Cantonese roast meat
This video features a 24-hour Hong Kong meat tour visiting three roast meat restaurants, with the main focus on Chung Wah Roast Goose in Yau Ma Tei. The reviewer praises the exceptional roast goose with its signature crispy skin and juicy meat, calling it some of the best he's ever had, and highlights the restaurant's unique live streaming system that ensures customers get hot, fresh meat.
Nanny's Root Seller
Elliston, Canada — Newfoundland traditional
The reviewer visited Nanny's Root Seller, a charming restaurant located in an old church in Elliston, Newfoundland, and ordered the cod tongue dinner. They praised the unique atmosphere, authentic Newfoundland dishes, and the delicious preparation of traditional ingredients like cod tongues and root vegetables stored in the historic root cellar.
Legendary Roast Meat Shop Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong — Cantonese roasted meat
A legendary Hong Kong roast meat shop famous for its exceptional char siu, where pork is submerged in sauce, hung to crystallize, and finished with drippings. The reviewer found it to be the best char siu they've ever had, with tender, smoky meat featuring a perfect honey glaze and crispy charred edges that pair beautifully with rice.
Brazilian Steakhouse in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Brazilian Steakhouse
The reviewer visits a top Brazilian steakhouse in Rio de Janeiro and tries their famous cuts including picanha and flank steak, both cooked to perfection. The tender picanha and beautifully medium-rare flank impress, served alongside Portuguese chips and sides like broccoli rice, making it a perfect farewell meal in Rio.
Duam Shikang
Muan, South Korea — Korean barbecue
Duam Shikang is a legendary Korean countryside restaurant famous for pork cooked over straw fire, reaching over 1000 degrees and taking just 50 seconds to prepare. The experience includes seeing traditional kimchi and crab sauce preparation, with perfectly charred, juicy pork paired with handmade banchan and the region's famous white onion kimchi.
Piri Piri Chicken Restaurant
Lisbon, Portugal — Portuguese, Piri Piri Chicken
Luke reviews a hidden gem piri piri chicken restaurant in Lisbon that specializes in charcoal-roasted chicken served with their famous piri piri sauce. He expresses enthusiasm about the dish, discussing the historical origins of piri piri as an African bird's eye chili cultivated in Mozambique during Portuguese colonial times, and finds the chicken absolutely delicious.
in
New Taipei City, Taiwan — Taiwanese
The reviewer visits 'in', a viral breakfast spot in New Taipei City that specializes in a creative fusion dish combining scallion pancake (Chongyo) and egg pastry (danbing). The result is an exceptionally crispy and satisfying creation that exceeded expectations, with the perfectly crunchy texture and dark soy sauce drizzle making it a must-try breakfast destination.
Fisharian
Mokpo, South Korea — Korean Seafood
Fisharian in Mokpo showcases a talented local chef's innovative approach to Korean seafood, expertly aging and preparing traditional fish like croaker using both dry-aging and smoking techniques inspired by European methods. The restaurant combines traditional Korean dishes with creative preparations, offering unforgettable flavors and textures that highlight the region's prized catch.
Korean BBQ Restaurant in Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam — Korean BBQ
The reviewer experiences exceptional Korean BBQ featuring premium do galby beef ribs grilled over charcoal with a century-old soy sauce and high-quality Hanoi beef Wagyu. The dish, accompanied by abundant banchan side dishes and flavorful pod kimchi, represents some of the best food the reviewer has had in Korea.
J O Chula
Bangkok, Thailand — Thai
This Bangkok institution serves an incredibly elaborate and spicy tom yum noodle bowl loaded with premium ingredients including a dozen crab legs, pork belly, squid, shrimp, and more. At 850 baht, it's one of the most expensive yet impressive noodle dishes in Bangkok, featuring a fiery chili-packed broth that delivers serious heat alongside exceptional seafood and meat toppings.
Sukwan Ningyan
Daejeon, South Korea — Korean (Pyongyang-style cold noodles)
Sukwan Ningyan is a legendary fifth-generation Pyongyang-style cold noodle shop in Daejeon with a compelling North Korean refugee history. The restaurant serves authentic hand-made dumplings and cold buckwheat noodles in a traditional pheasant broth, offering perfectly balanced layered flavors that are especially refreshing during summer. The high quality ingredients and traditional preparation methods make this an exceptional destination for authentic Korean cuisine.
Ram Rou Pochana
Bangkok, Thailand — Thai, Chinese-Thai Fusion, Duck Specialist
Ram Rou Pochana is Bangkok's famous duck guitar restaurant featuring two signature duck preparations: the duck guitar with meat still attached and the Peking-style duck with only crispy skin. The reviewer was impressed by the innovative deep-fried technique that creates paper-thin, extraordinarily crispy skin that surpasses any duck preparation he has encountered, served with wraps, green onions, and sauce in a Chinese-Thai fusion style.