Australia: Pie floater
Often touted as the perfect hangover cure, a pie floater is an Australian-style meat pie that's sitting in a bowl of thick green pea soup. It's sometimes topped with tomato sauce, vinegar, and salt and pepper.
Pie floaters are "so fantastic to eat in winter and as a hangover cure," wrote Quora user Kathryn B.
Austria: Wiener Schnitzel
Wiener schnitzel, suggested by Quora user Felix H., is synonymous with Austria.
It's a very thin veal cutlet that's breaded and deep fried. It's usually served with lemon and parsley, and is accompanied by a side of potatoes or rice.
Argentina: Asado
Asado is the term to describe Argentina's delectable grilled meats—and grilled Argentinian steak is especially delicious.
"It is true that most of the good meat goes to the so called first world countries via exports, but I can guarantee that if you have a good 'asador' (the guy making the asado) the taste will be priceless, especially if you're in the countryside," wrote Quora user Matias J.
Belgium: Moules-Frites
Moules-frites (mussels and French fries) may be available in other countries like France and the U.S., but the savory and delicious combination originated in Belgium.
Mussels, suggested by Quora user Valentin V., are prepared in any number of ways (cooked with wine, butter, and herbs, or maybe a tomato-based broth) and served with salty, crispy fries.
Wash it down with a refreshing Belgian beer.
Brazil: Feijoada
Brazil is a huge country with varied cuisine so it's difficult to choose just one dish, but the most iconic Brazilian dish is probably feijoada, a stew of black beans and smoked beef and pork.
It's usually served with rice, collard greens, farofa (toasted manioc flour), hot sauce, and an orange slice to help with digestion.
Canada: Poutine
Originally from Quebec, poutine is a delicious calorie-fest that will warm you from the insides: French fries topped with brown gravy and cheese curds. Quora user Josianne C. nominated this tasty dish.
China: Xiaolongbao
It's difficult to select just one dish for such a large and varied country as China, but xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are certainly one of the country's most memorable foods.
Originally from Shanghai, these dumplings are usually filled with some sort of meat and soup broth and steamed in a bamboo basket.
Croatia: Paški sir cheese
Paški sir is a hard Croatian cheese that's made from sheep's milk. It's made in the island of Pag and is so famous that it's exported around the world.
"I live in Croatia. We have the best cheese in the world. It comes from the island named Pag," wrote Quora user Andrija D.
Egypt: Molokhia
Molokhia, nominated by Quora user Amaani S., is served throughout northern Africa, but is especially popular in Egypt, where it's believed to have originated.
The Egyptian version of the dish uses Molokhia leaves (a type of bitter vegetable) that are stripped from the stems, then finely minced and cooked with coriander, garlic and stock. It's generally served with chicken or rabbit, or perhaps lamb or fish.
England: Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding
Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, proposed by Quora user Godfrey M., is considered the national dish of England.
Sop up the flavor of the beefy gravy with the hot doughy bread.
Georgia: Khachapuri
Khachapuri, suggested by Quora user Otar C., is a savory, chewy bread that's filled with bubbling cheese or egg from the small Eastern European country of Georgia.
Holland: Soused herring
Soused herring is a raw herring filet that's marinated in a preserving liquid that might consist of cider, wine, sugar, herbs, and/or spices.
The dish, suggested by Quora user Martijn S., is best eaten on a fresh toasted roll and topped with chopped onions.
India: Tandoori Chicken
In India, the cuisine varies tremendously depending on the region, so it's nearly impossible to choose just one dish to sum up the country. In the north, dishes are more meat-heavy with rich curries and flavorful breads. The south has a lot more vegetarian dishes and is known for its intense spices.
There was a lot of debate on the best Indian dish on the Quora board, but if we had to choose just one iconic Indian dish, we'd have to go with Tandoori chicken. The dish consists of chicken that's spiced with tandoori masala and roasted in a tandoor, a type of clay oven. It's often served with vegetables, yogurt sauce, and rice.
Indonesia: Martabak Manis/Terang Bulan
Martabak Manis is a sweet, thick Indonesian pancake.
"The top and bottom parts are basically spongy pancake, while what's sandwiched in the middle can be anything sweet you can dream of--ranging from chocolate sprinkles to grated cheese to peanut pieces (or even banana pieces!)," wrote Quora user Jerry A. "But, one thing for sure, they are sooo yummy!"
You can buy them from street vendors around Indonesia.
Italy: Pizza
This is an easy one, suggested by Quora user Maria G. Pizza originated in Italy—and Naples, a city in southern Italy, is its birthplace.
Neapolitan-style pizza is chewy, crunchy and topped with high-quality ingredients like fresh tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil, and any number of meats.
Here, pizza is an art and pizzaiolas are the artists.
Japan: Katsudon
Sushi might seem like the obvious choice for an iconic Japanese dish, but Quora user Makoto W., who lives in Tokyo, wrote that Katsudon is not to be missed.
Katsudon is a crispy, deep-fried pork cutlet topped with egg and condiments and served over a bowl of rice.
Malaysia: Nasi lemak
Widely considered the unofficial national dish of Malaysia, nasi lemak consists of rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. It was suggested by Quora user Shixian T.
It's traditionally served wrapped in banana leaves and is often accompanied by sambal chili, ikan bilis (anchovies), peanuts, and boiled egg.
Many people also believe it cures hangovers.
Mexico: Mole sauce
With up to 100 ingredients, mole sauce, suggested by Quora user Flor I., is one of the most complex and flavorful sauces in the world, resulting in a rich, creamy, chocolatey and spicy flavor.
It's originally from the Puebla and Oaxaca regions, but you can find mole sauce—usually doused over chicken or enchiladas—all over Mexico.
Norway: Rakfisk
Rakfisk is trout that's been salted and fermented for a few months. It's then eaten without being cooked, often accompanied by onions and sour cream.
"Norway has for long been a poor country on the very border of where agriculture is possible. The long winter has made it essential to gather food before the snow came, and preserve it. Traditional Norwegian food therefore very often is cured, smoked or preserved with other methods. A very typical dish is the fermented trout, which is not everybody's cup of tea," wrote Quora user Hans Christian H.
Philippines: Adobo
Adobo may be a popular spice, but in the Philippines it's a dish that showcases some type of meat (pork or chicken) cooked in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and oil. It simmers in the marinade for a while, soaking up the flavors.
The dish is so popular that some call it the unofficial national dish of the Philippines.
"All I can say is that it is an explosion of flavours," wrote Quora user Raymund M.
Portugal: Francesinha
Francesinha (meaning "little Frenchie") is a Portuguese sandwich made with bread, ham, linguica (smoked pork sausage), and steak, that's topped with melted cheese and doused in tomato sauce.
The sandwich, suggested by Quora user Augusto E., is a carnivore's dream that's best served with a side of fries and a cold beer.
Romania: Sarmale
Sarmale is essentially pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with a mix of rice and seasoned minced meat.
It's consumed during the winter and is very popular in Romania.
"It is to die for," wrote Quora user Diane C.
Russia: Borscht
Quora user Nikita B. said any visitor to Russia is "obligated" to try borscht, a soup made from beet roots. It's generally served cold (though it can be hot too) and often topped with a dollop of sour cream.
He suggested pairing it with classic Russian vodka.
Saudi Arabia: Kabsah
Quora user Rafif F. suggested kabsah, a flavorful rice dish that's made with lots of spices, like cloves, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, and bay leaves. It's usually mixed with meat and vegetables, making for a hearty meal.
You can find it all over the Middle East, but it's especially popular in Saudi Arabia.
Scotland: Smoked salmon on brown bread
Smoked salmon is a must-have dish in Scotland, says Quora user Derek H.
Scots squirt the salmon with fresh lemon and eat it on simple brown bread with either butter or cream cheese.
Slovakia: Bryndzove Halusky
Bryndzove Halusky are little potato dumplings served with a soft sheep's milk cheese (bryndza) and bacon. They were suggested by Quora user Lukas T.
Slovenia: Kranjska klobasa
Kranjska klobasa is a Slovenian pork sausage similar to kielbasa, but a bit smaller.
It's made with pork (about 20% of which is bacon), salt, pepper, water, and garlic—and nothing else. It was suggested by Quora user Martina G.
South Africa: Biltong
Biltong is a type of cured meat from South Africa. It can be made with beef or game meats like ostrich.
"It's the South African version of beef jerky but it is awesome by comparison. It's strips of meat, salted and spiced, dried out and truly delicious...ask the locals for the best place to get it in the location you're in as quality can vary," wrote Quora user Alan B.
South Korea: Banchan
A traditional meal in South Korea consists of so many small side dishes that it's nearly impossible to single out just one—and no one goes out to eat just one dish anyway.
Instead, Koreans love banchan, which basically means small dishes that are served with rice and are meant to be shared. Small dishes might be kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), guk (soup), gochujang (fermented chili condiment), jiggae (a type of meat or vegetable stew).
"Just one dish? It's all about the side dishes in Korea," wrote Quora user Jay K. "Just go to a 'han jeong sik' restaurant in Korea which is basically a restaurant that serves full set meals. It's a really traditional Korean meal."
Spain: Jamón Ibérico
Jamón Ibérico, proposed by Quora user Miguel M., is a savory cured ham that's cut from the hind leg of a pig.
It's an iconic Spanish dish best served with a hearty glass of wine, crusty bread, and olives.
UAE: Shawarma
Shawarma, suggested by Quora user Rohit M., is one of the few affordable foods in the expensive UAE, which perhaps explains why it remains one of the most popular dishes in the country.
It's a sandwich on pita bread that's stuffed with shaved roasted meat (usually a mix of lamb, chicken, turkey or beef) and vegetables. It's often topped with tahini, hummus, or hot sauce.
Ukraine: Varenyky
Quora user Denis M. suggested varenyky, or dumplings stuffed with mashed potatoes, cheese, sauerkraut, cabbage, or meat.
They can be boiled or steamed, and typically come with toppings like fried salo (pig fat) and onions, along with smetana (sour cream).
USA: Hamburger
The U.S. is so vast and the cuisine so varied, it's nearly impossible to select just one dish to sum up American cuisine. But if you really twist our arm, we'd have to go with the all-American hamburger—especially when you pair it with crispy fries and a hearty milkshake.
However, this was a big debate in our office, so if you don't agree, check out our list of the best dishes you can eat in every American state.
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Venezuela: Pabellon criollo
Pabellon criollo, proposed by Quora user Nana D., consists of white rice with stewed black beans, and "desmechada" (shredded) meat.
It's often served with a fried egg and fried plantains.
Wales: Clark's Pies
Quora user Alan S. suggested Clark's Pies. Lovingly nicknamed "Clarkies" or "Clarksies," they are savory meat pies that were born in Cardiff, Wales.
The pies are made with a secret recipe, but they usually contain meat, vegetables, and gravy.
