Bizarre Cultural Foods You Won't Find In Your Local Restaurant

Fried Spider

It might be hard to find fried spiders in the United States, but they are incredibly common in Cambodia and other countries on that side of the world. In fact, some would even consider Skuon, Cambodia the capital of fried spider vending. Here, spiders are often bred for the specific purpose of consuming them. Some individuals believe this delicacy was actually born out of necessity and when there was a food shortage, individuals turned to tarantulas to fill their food cupboards. These treats are very affordable at less than ten cents per spider. Below the crunchy, fried surface of the head is a tender center that is said to taste like, believe it or not, chicken, though the center of the body contains a brown paste with a much more distinct taste many individuals avoid.

Bird’s Nest Soup

As the name suggests, bird's nests are actually used to make bird's nest soup, though these are not the typical kind of bird's nest. Edible bird’s nests are made by a type of bird called the swiftlet. These birds use their saliva to make the nest, and once their saliva solidifies, the nests are ready for occupation and, yes, consumption. Black, red, and white varieties are harvested from inside limestone caves. The male birds create these nests on the cave walls during their breeding season. Once they're empty, the nests are harvested for consumption. Made in large amounts, the bird’s nest soup is a Chinese delicacy. It’s not so much the flavor, that draws the attention to this soup, but rather the gel-like texture of it. This is precisely why many chefs avoid using strong flavors to avoid masking this unique texture.