How To Spot A Tourist Restaurant When Traveling
Richard ChachowskiWe’ve all been there before: lost in an unknown destination without any discernible knowledge of what to do, where to go, or even what to eat. It’s an experience we wouldn’t wish upon our worst enemies, leaving us hopelessly searching for the next great meal , waiting to satiate our fast-growing hunger.
Fortunately, in the age of the internet, it’s easier than ever to search for places to eat whenever you’re traveling simply – regardless of whether you’re looking for a restaurant in New York’s Chinatown district or an authentic French bakery in the streets of Paris or Lyon.
However, there are also some telltale signs you can rely on to find eateries favored by locals in the area, helping you avoid the usual tourist traps across the globe.
Location, Location, Location
Above all else, the easiest way to differentiate between a tourist restaurant and a more traditional venue has to do with location. More often than not, touristy restaurants specifically target popular areas with a lot of foot traffic (hence why there are so many chain restaurants in Time Square).
So if you see a restaurant near a local point of interest or a historical sight, it’s safe to assume tourists instead of locals frequent this place.
If you’re looking for something less tourist-heavy, venture down back streets and away from crowded areas, specifically searching for hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Since the rent near high-volume tourist spots tends to cost astronomically more than independent restaurants can afford, most of the restaurants you see in popular destinations are owned by more recognizable businesses (like Applebee’s, Starbucks, Bubba Gump Shrimp, etc.).
Because of this, patrons can expect steep prices and a generic menu, with many dishes seldom originating from the kitchen and more likely coming from a freezer, dry-fryer, or microwave.
Does the Restaurant Have a Theme or Gimmick?
Another great indicator that a restaurant is a tourist trap is whether the venue has a specific theme attached to it or not. Tourist restaurants usually utilize a central gimmick that takes center stage.
It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the tropical climate of Rainforest Cafe or the star-studded glamor of Planet Hollywood: if you can identify a clear theme central to a restaurant’s atmosphere, rest assured you’re about to eat at a tourist spot.
In contrast, most local restaurants draw on a somewhat more “plain” atmosphere, seldom featuring a prevalent gimmick that influences their restaurant’s aesthetic or main menu. As you might imagine, this is mainly because these smaller restaurants focus on food and memorable service instead of flashy visuals or photo-worthy novelties.
An Unfocused International Menu
Generally, the more extensive the menu, the greater the chance you’ve just stumbled into a tourist-friendly eatery. As most dining experts are sure to tell you, more extensive menus mean that many of the dishes you’re looking at are pre-prepared, lessening any chance you have of getting a fresh meal.
Additionally, a menu filled with a wide array of international dishes usually means that the restaurant aims to please a vast clientele – another recurring sign of a tourist menu. That said, if you spot penne vodka, a grande burrito, and General Tso’s chicken on the same menu, you’re probably correct to assume that you’ve just walked into a less-than-authentic local restaurant.
The Menu Is In English
One of the clearest signs you might have wandered into a tourist trap is if the menu is entirely in English—especially in a country where English isn’t the primary language. While recognizing every dish without pulling up Google Translate might feel like a relief, it’s also a red flag that the establishment caters primarily to tourists rather than locals.
In authentic local spots, menus are often written in the native language, reflecting the intended clientele and the restaurant’s connection to the community. When every item has an English translation or, worse, English as the only language, it’s usually a strong indicator that the venue prioritizes convenience for visitors over authenticity in its cuisine.
So, unless you’re in an area with a large English-speaking population, those translated menus are a sure sign you’re likely paying a premium for a meal that’s anything but local.
What Do the Other Customers Look Like?
Another easy way to tell you’ve just sat in a tourist restaurant is by looking around at the other clientele seated around you. If it’s a loud, crowded restaurant filled with people who look like they either just finished or are about to start sightseeing, that typically means you’re eating side-by-side with tourists. By the law of mathematics, that means that the restaurant itself is a tourist trap.
The next time you eat out in a larger city, study the prospective patrons walking through a restaurant’s front doors. Suppose you see a multitude of New England Patriots apparel in London. In that case, I Heart New York shirts in Tokyo or Walt Disney World baseball caps in Mexico City, you know you’re looking at a tourist destination.
Be Weary of Discount Deals
When you’re exploring the streets of some unfamiliar city in search of food, a neatly dressed restaurant owner offering you hefty discounts on your dinner bill can seem almost like divine intervention. As good as these deals might be, these smooth-talking proprietors are a clear sign of a tourist restaurant, roping in hapless passers-by too hungry and startled to say no to a savvy bargain.
According to most chefs and dining experts, if a restaurant is good enough to stand independently, it doesn’t need a solicitor preying on tourists unlucky enough to meander past their front doors. All they need is good food, a cozy atmosphere, and agreeable service – the rest will take care of itself.
Generic Desserts
Similar to the point above about menus offering international meals, any menu that features easily identifiable desserts typically reveals a tourist-friendly locale. In particular, be on the lookout for a menu that features desserts like New York cheesecake, key lime pie, molten lava cake, or brownies a la mode.
Sadly, most of these desserts are usually supplied through third-party vendors, meaning almost none are made fresh in the restaurant’s kitchens.
Lots of Merchandise Being Sold On the Property
The most glaring red flag when determining whether a restaurant is geared towards tourists or not has to do with whether the owners are peddling any merchandise on the property. In other words, if you see many T-shirts, baseball hats, sweatshirts, mugs, beanies, refrigerator magnets, or other apparel decorated with the restaurant’s logo, you’ve probably entered a tourist trap without realizing it.
Sure, certain chain restaurants offer novelty souvenirs. Still, any place that gratuitously advertises restaurant-related merchandise is trying to seize advantage of its popularity and instant name recognition with ordinary people.
Similarly, if you see people crowding in front of the restaurant’s front doors or posing for photos in front of their sign, you can safely predict that the venue is flooded with tourists eating there to say, “Oh, yeah, I ate there when I was abroad!”
