
Oktoberfest events may have been canceled because of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn't mean that you can't buy beer and some tasty food, especially with lowered quarantine restrictions.
And while you can always go with a trusted combination like beer and sisig, you could be more worldly and try other beer and food combinations that they have around the globe.
Asia, in particular, has its own variation of the Filipino pulutan, with Korea calling it anju, Thailand calling it gap klaem, and Japan calling it otsumami, all terms that roughly translate to food you eat alongside alcohol.
If you don't have any idea where to start, take a look at some of the combinations we've compiled in the list below.
Photo source: Korea.net
A combination of the words chicken and maekju (beer in Korean), this South Korean favorite is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about famous food and beer combinations around the world. The combination first became popular during the 2010 World Cup and was brought back to the spotlight by the hit K-drama, Crash Landing On You. Even better, there's a number of Korean restaurants around the metro where you could but Korean-style fried chicken.
In Thailand, one of the biggest beer brands is Singha and is considered the “original” Thai beer. When it comes to gap klaem to eat with your beer, the company recommends charcoal-grilled Korat chicken, whose “firm texture, the aromatic note from marinating and the soothing smell of the rosemary” pairs up perfectly with beer.
Photo by Jonathan Borba from Pexels
It doesn't matter what kind, whether it is ebi (shrimp), ikaten (squid), or noriten (seaweed), this salted and fried dish is sure to pair perfectly with beer and a lot of other alcoholic beverages. Tempura is also just one of the wide range of otsumami you can choose from in Japan, which range from edamame (boiled or salted soybeans) to eihire (roasted stingray fin).
All the way up in Norway, they serve syltetabb with beer. Syltetabb is a pig's food that is boiled, cured with salt, and preserved. It may be a bit much to look at if your palate isn't the most adventurous, but if you're open to expanding your culinary tastes then this is right up your alley.
Oc is Vietnamese for snail, one of the most popular street foods you can have in Vietnam. Eating it with beer is part of of the country's culture of nhau, or “going out, eating, drinking, and socializing.” There are many different ways to prepare, so it's up to you to pick the dish that looks most appetizing to go with your cold beer.
If this list is making you hungry for even more food, check out these gallery of Korean street food you have to try.