Mark Wiens ā Food Creator on YouTube
@MarkWiens ā Bangkok, Thailand ā 10.2M subscribers
Hey, I'm Mark Wiens - a full time eater! š¶ The best street food and most unique eating experiences around the world. Let's go eat! šŗ Two videos per week, subscribe now!
Restaurant Reviews by Mark Wiens
Traditional mountain restaurant (name not specified)
Livigno, Italy, Italy ā Italian/Alpine
The reviewer visited a traditional mountain restaurant in Livigno, Italy during the Winter Olympics 2026 and thoroughly enjoyed multiple dishes including buckwheat pasta, marinated deer, and grilled beef wrapped around a stick. The food was described as delicious with great flavors and memorable presentation.
Abu Hamza
Baghdad, Kadhimiya, Iraq ā Iraqi
Abu Hamza is a traditional homestyle Iraqi restaurant located in the Kadhimiya bazaar serving multiple stews, rice varieties, and meat dishes. The reviewer highly praised the ultra-tender chicken and lamb, flavorful biryani rice, and various stews like sabzi and white beans, calling it comfort food that is nourishing and hearty. All dishes were rated equally as favorites, with particular enthusiasm for the lamb with white beans.
Multiple establishments (Kuba Sarai restaurant, Shabandar Cafe, Street stall with turnips/chickpeas, Borek shop, Hajis Bal juice shop, Iraqi Gus/Shawarma restaurant)
Baghdad, Iraq, Iraq ā Iraqi
Mark Wiens explores Baghdad's authentic food scene, visiting legendary establishments serving iconic Iraqi dishes like Kuba Sarai, Borek, and Gus shawarma. He praises the historical significance, generational traditions, hospitality, and complex flavors of each dish while highlighting the welcoming culture and vibrant tea house scene.
Adele's Famous Halal Cart
New York City, United States ā Halal
Mark Wiens visits the famous Adele's Halal Cart in New York City, where massive lines form daily for their signature halal plate. The cart serves a perfectly layered creation with lamb and chicken over rice, topped with multiple house sauces and crispy fries. The reviewer is thoroughly impressed with the seasoning, sauce combinations, and overall quality that makes this a must-try NYC street food destination.
La Piran
Bronx, United States ā Puerto Rican
La Piran in the South Bronx serves exceptional Puerto Rican lechon that attracts crowds every weekend. The crispy, juicy pork is paired with shrimp, octopus, rice, and plantains all drenched in incredible garlic and hot sauce. The reviewer praises the sensational shrimp and the perfectly balanced texture of the lechon.
Lahim Bajin Bakery
Mosul, Iraq ā Iraqi, Middle Eastern
The reviewer visits a traditional lahim bajin bakery in Mosul and samples the iconic local breakfast dish of thin, crispy flatbread topped with minced meat and egg. The bread is incredibly thin and absorbs the flavorful meat mixture perfectly, with a crispy exterior and gooey center. The experience showcases the warmth of local hospitality and the centuries-old culinary traditions of this ancient city.
Paya Street Food Stall, Lahore
Lahore, Pakistan ā Pakistani
Mark Wiens explores a buzzing 4 a.m. breakfast spot in Lahore, Pakistan that specializes in paya, a traditional dish of braised goat feet in a flavorful, spiced gravy. The experience includes fresh kulcha bread made on-site and an authentic Pakistani street food breakfast that left him extremely satisfied and hungry for more.
Durumchu Musta
Istanbul, Turkey ā Turkish
Located outside the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Durumchu Musta serves exceptional Turkish kebabs with lightning-fast service. The chicken kebab is expertly grilled over an open flame, assembled with fresh ingredients, and seasoned perfectly with sumac and cumin for a sensational result.
Kureshi Kebab
Delhi, India ā Indian, Kebabs
Mark Wiens visits Kureshi Kebab in Old Delhi to try their famous seekh kebabs, prepared using traditional methods with spiced meat grilled over blazing hot fire and drizzled with generous amounts of melted butter. Both the mutton and buffalo kebab varieties are incredibly flavorful, juicy, and moist, with the buffalo kebabs standing out as particularly exceptional.
Karim's
Delhi, India ā Mughlai Indian
Karim's is a legendary 110-year-old institution in Old Delhi serving exceptional Mughlai cuisine, particularly renowned for their mutton specialties. Mark Wiens tried their signature dishes including perfectly tender mutton brain curry, mutton ka, and chicken ishtew, all featuring rich, spiced gravies and melting textures. The restaurant's historical significance and consistently high-quality food make it a must-visit destination.
Castnet Seafood
New Orleans, United States ā Louisiana Creole and Cajun Seafood
Mark Wiens experiences an exceptional Louisiana seafood boil at Castnet Seafood, a premier seafood market and restaurant in New Orleans. He witnesses the entire process from crawfish washing and cleaning to boiling with fresh lemon, celery, garlic, and house spice blend, then enjoys 8 lbs of crawfish, crabs, shrimp, oysters, gumbo, and their famous fried shrimp poboy. Every dish showcases incredible freshness and authentic Louisiana flavors.
Mango Stand in Lahore
Lahore, Pakistan ā Pakistani street food
A late-night visit to a legendary mango stand in Lahore featuring expertly sliced chowsa mangoes that are incredibly juicy and sweet with honey-like aromatics. The vendor demonstrates impressive knife skills, chilling the mangoes in ice water before serving them alongside a traditional salty lassi for a perfect flavor pairing.
Banks Meat Market
New Orleans, United States ā New Orleans Creole/Cajun
Banks Meat Market at a gas station in New Orleans serves an impressively sized 32-inch hot sausage poboy that requires two people to carry. The sandwich features chewy, quality bread with a crispy crust, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and well-seasoned hot sausage that delivers savory, salty flavors. It's a legendary New Orleans classic that represents authentic local food culture.