If you’re open to trying local cuisines when traveling, psychology says you likely have these 7 rare traits

When you step into a bustling night market in Bangkok or say yes to a steaming bowl of something unpronounceable in a tucked-away café in Lisbon, you’re doing more than filling your stomach.

You’re revealing parts of your psychology.

Because as research shows, being willing to try local cuisines when traveling isn’t just about adventurous taste buds. It speaks volumes about the kind of person you are—and the rare traits you probably carry.

Let’s dig into them.

1. You’re naturally curious

Curiosity is at the heart of exploration.

If you’ve ever said, “I don’t know what this is, but I’ll try it,” you’re exercising one of the most important human drives—the desire to learn.

As psychologist Todd Kashdan has noted, curiosity “is the engine of growth.” It pushes us to seek out the new, the unfamiliar, and the slightly uncomfortable.

Food happens to be one of the most accessible ways to indulge that urge. Choosing the local dish over the familiar fast-food chain says: I want to know more about this culture, this place, and maybe even myself.

When I was in Istanbul, I had no idea what half the mezes were. But ordering them all felt like flipping through a cultural photo album—every bite revealed something about history, geography, and tradition. That’s curiosity in action: seeing the unknown as an invitation, not a threat.

Ask yourself—do you lean in when something is unfamiliar? If the answer is yes, that’s not just about food. It’s a mindset that spills into how you approach work, relationships, and personal growth.

2. You’re adaptable

Travel rarely goes according to plan. Neither does eating abroad.

Menus are in another language, ingredients are a mystery, and sometimes the texture on your plate is nothing like what you imagined.

But instead of resisting, you lean into it. That’s adaptability in action—the same trait that helps people thrive in fast-changing environments.

Think of adaptability like psychological flexibility. Researchers have found that psychological flexibility — the ability to stay open, aware, and resilient when faced with unfamiliar or changed circumstances — correlates with better emotional well-being and lower stress.

I remember sitting in a small fishing village in Portugal, where the only option was freshly grilled sardines. Not my go-to. But saying yes turned what could have been an awkward meal into one of my favorite memories. The smoky flavor, the friendliness of the fisherman who served them, the salty breeze—it was an experience I wouldn’t trade.

Life throws us curveballs in every domain. And how you handle an unfamiliar dish abroad often mirrors how you’ll handle bigger uncertainties back home.

3. You’re open-minded

Trying local cuisines isn’t just about taste—it’s about perspective.

As noted by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, openness to experience is “the single most consistent personality predictor of liberal values, tolerance, and creativity.”

By tasting what locals eat, you’re saying: I want to understand how other people live, what they value, and how they express themselves through food.

That’s a subtle but powerful act of cultural empathy. And it’s a trait that can’t be faked.

I’ll never forget my first encounter with Ethiopian injera. The spongy bread, the communal way of eating, the tangy flavors—it felt like stepping into another worldview. By trying it, I wasn’t just tasting food. I was stepping into someone else’s story.

Anyone can say they’re open-minded. But the proof is in the pudding—or in the fermented tofu, the masala dosa, or the injera bread.

4. You’re resilient

Not every culinary adventure goes smoothly. Sometimes it’s too spicy. Sometimes your stomach protests. Sometimes you’re not entirely sure what you just ate.

But here’s the thing—you don’t let that stop you.

Resilience is about bouncing back after discomfort. And choosing to keep exploring after a tough food experience shows you’re not easily derailed.

I’ve mentioned this before in another post, but resilience doesn’t always show up in big life events. It sneaks in through small choices—like laughing off a food mishap rather than letting it ruin your night.

I once had an overly ambitious encounter with chili in Mexico. Let’s just say it wasn’t my most comfortable evening. But by the next day, I was right back out, sampling tacos from a street cart. That choice—to keep going instead of retreating—was resilience in miniature.

And here’s the kicker: studies show that resilient people live longer, cope better with stress, and recover faster from setbacks. So your willingness to get back in the food game? It might be doing more for you than you realize.

5. You have a sense of adventure

When was the last time you did something with no guarantee of how it would turn out?

Traveling is full of risk—missed trains, lost luggage, confusing directions. But adding food to the mix multiplies the adventure.

It’s not just eating—it’s a gamble. Will you love it? Hate it? Surprise yourself?

Adventure-seekers aren’t thrill-chasers for the sake of it. They’re people who value experience over predictability. And saying yes to that street vendor’s specialty is just one way of saying yes to life.

As Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” That quote often gets thrown around in big contexts like skydiving or climbing mountains, but honestly? It applies just as well to ordering something unrecognizable off a chalkboard menu.

I once stumbled into a backstreet café in Hanoi where the owner served only one dish: bun cha. I didn’t know what it was—but the smoky pork, the dipping sauce, the mountain of fresh herbs—it was unforgettable. That moment of saying yes gave me one of my best food experiences, and it came from stepping off the predictable path.

6. You’re confident in your choices

Standing in line with a group of fellow travelers, it’s easy to notice how many default to the safe option.

It takes confidence to order the dish no one else recognizes. It takes self-assurance to risk being the odd one out.

Confidence isn’t about arrogance—it’s about trusting yourself enough to handle whatever comes.

As Brené Brown has said, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up.” That’s exactly what you’re doing when you go for the unusual plate instead of the comfort-zone burger.

And here’s the kicker: research in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who display confidence—even when they’re uncertain—are often perceived as more competent and capable. So your food choices? They might be shaping how others see you, too.

I’ve had moments when my confident choice turned into a group win. In Seoul, I once ordered a dish no one else recognized, and it ended up being the highlight of the night. That tiny act of confidence set the tone for the whole table.

Confidence builds itself through action. And travel dining is the perfect training ground.

7. You value connection

Food is a universal language.

Sharing a meal with locals is one of the fastest ways to build connection. When you accept their food, you’re accepting a piece of their identity.

I once spent an evening in a tiny Tokyo ramen bar, where the chef insisted on explaining the broth-making process in great detail. I didn’t understand most of the Japanese, but his pride was unmistakable. That meal wasn’t just dinner—it was an exchange.

As noted by anthropologist Margaret Visser, “Every meal is a ceremony of togetherness.” When you step into someone else’s food culture, you’re stepping into their community.

Being open to local cuisine says: I value human connection more than sticking to what’s familiar.

And in a world where division often feels louder than unity, that’s a rare and beautiful trait.

The bottom line

Being open to local cuisine is about more than taste—it’s about curiosity, resilience, openness, and connection.

It shows you’re not just a traveler. You’re a learner, an adventurer, and someone who values growth over comfort.

So next time you’re handed something unfamiliar on your travels, ask yourself: what’s the trait I’m exercising right now?

Chances are, it’s one of these seven—and that’s something to celebrate.