What are your go-to foods/restaurants when you're traveling for work?

[Anonymous]

If you travel a lot for work and it's not always to big cities with lots of food options, what kind of restaurants do you try to find? Or what are your tips for ordering?

I'm not looking for "foodie" suggestions, but a way to find plain, simple food that tastes good, is healthy, and a pretty realiable from a food safety standpoint.

[Anonymous]

I’m boring. Usually hotel bar/restaurant or the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

I stock up at the grocery store for hotel room snacks and always get a hotel with breakfast. That helps to fill me up. For dinner, it definitely depends on where I am, but I don’t like to eat too heavy. Honestly, the Whole Foods salad bar is a favorite, as well as sushi or even a Chipotle salad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stock up at the grocery store for hotel room snacks and always get a hotel with breakfast. That helps to fill me up. For dinner, it definitely depends on where I am, but I don’t like to eat too heavy. Honestly, the Whole Foods salad bar is a favorite, as well as sushi or even a Chipotle salad.

This. I get healthy things and essentially make “girl dinner” style meals plus lots of fruits and veg. I ask for a mini fridge if there isn’t one. If there is a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s nearby that’s a bonus but I can usually cobble something together anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I do grocery stores. And I bring my trusty standbys of Bob's instant oatmeal in a cup, pb&j, dried mango, TJ's mixed nuts, etc. Then I hit up a grocery store to buy bananas, apples, oranges, whatever organic fruit they've got, microwave quinoa and brown rice pouches, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stock up at the grocery store for hotel room snacks and always get a hotel with breakfast. That helps to fill me up. For dinner, it definitely depends on where I am, but I don’t like to eat too heavy. Honestly, the Whole Foods salad bar is a favorite, as well as sushi or even a Chipotle salad.

This. I get healthy things and essentially make “girl dinner” style meals plus lots of fruits and veg. I ask for a mini fridge if there isn’t one. If there is a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s nearby that’s a bonus but I can usually cobble something together anywhere.

This is what I do too. Even better if you stay at a Staybridge or Residence Inn where they have a bigger refrigerator, toaster, dishes stocked, stove.

[Anonymous]

I am really struggling with travel food right now, especially in airports. Last night my dinner was a Starbucks cheese plate box. I’m also a fan of their protein boxes with a hard boiled egg. And their turkey breakfast sandwiches.

[Anonymous]

I've got a hard and fast rule when traveling - I don't eat anywhere I can eat back home unless there's no other option.

Big cities - I meticulously research and plan most meals because every city has amazing food if you know where to look and who knows if I'll ever get a chance to come back. Eater, city subreddits, Michelin guide, etc. are all good resources.

Suburbs, small towns, and rural areas are harder. If there's transit I'll usually go into the city for dinner. If I'm stuck in some office park I'll Ubereats everything unless there are decent local restaurants within walking distance. Make sure you Google Maps restaurants before ordering because the ratings on Ubereats do NOT correspond to reality.

Generally I'll try to go with whatever the local ethnic specialties are, but if I'm really in bumblef*ck it ends up being a lot of pizza and chinese.

[Anonymous]

I am not strictly vegetarian but I often Google "vegetarian restaurants nameoftown" or do a search on Google maps for "vegetarian restaurants near me."

It doesn't only pull up vegetarian places, but often if a place bothers to have vegetarian options, they have put a little thought into their menu and might have vegetable options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've got a hard and fast rule when traveling - I don't eat anywhere I can eat back home unless there's no other option.

Big cities - I meticulously research and plan most meals because every city has amazing food if you know where to look and who knows if I'll ever get a chance to come back. Eater, city subreddits, Michelin guide, etc. are all good resources.

Suburbs, small towns, and rural areas are harder. If there's transit I'll usually go into the city for dinner. If I'm stuck in some office park I'll Ubereats everything unless there are decent local restaurants within walking distance. Make sure you Google Maps restaurants before ordering because the ratings on Ubereats do NOT correspond to reality.

Generally I'll try to go with whatever the local ethnic specialties are, but if I'm really in bumblef*ck it ends up being a lot of pizza and chinese.

Same. I’m not eating sad oatmeal cups in a different place than where I live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've got a hard and fast rule when traveling - I don't eat anywhere I can eat back home unless there's no other option.

Big cities - I meticulously research and plan most meals because every city has amazing food if you know where to look and who knows if I'll ever get a chance to come back. Eater, city subreddits, Michelin guide, etc. are all good resources.

Suburbs, small towns, and rural areas are harder. If there's transit I'll usually go into the city for dinner. If I'm stuck in some office park I'll Ubereats everything unless there are decent local restaurants within walking distance. Make sure you Google Maps restaurants before ordering because the ratings on Ubereats do NOT correspond to reality.

Generally I'll try to go with whatever the local ethnic specialties are, but if I'm really in bumblef*ck it ends up being a lot of pizza and chinese.

Same. I’m not eating sad oatmeal cups in a different place than where I live.

Sounds like you don’t know how to make bangin oatmeal, princess.

[Anonymous]

OpenTable is my go to. Make a res and never have to worry bout calling ahead or finding an online reservation for individual restaurant. Easy to filter and know right away if I can get in.

I don't eat at chains. Generally avoid "free"
hotel breakfasts, 99% are disappointing and gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've got a hard and fast rule when traveling - I don't eat anywhere I can eat back home unless there's no other option.

Big cities - I meticulously research and plan most meals because every city has amazing food if you know where to look and who knows if I'll ever get a chance to come back. Eater, city subreddits, Michelin guide, etc. are all good resources.

Suburbs, small towns, and rural areas are harder. If there's transit I'll usually go into the city for dinner. If I'm stuck in some office park I'll Ubereats everything unless there are decent local restaurants within walking distance. Make sure you Google Maps restaurants before ordering because the ratings on Ubereats do NOT correspond to reality.

Generally I'll try to go with whatever the local ethnic specialties are, but if I'm really in bumblef*ck it ends up being a lot of pizza and chinese.

Same. I’m not eating sad oatmeal cups in a different place than where I live.

I've had some horrible hotel breakfasts so now I am happy to eat a sad oatmeal cup and fruit in my room to get fueled for the day. I'm also not a morning person so it helps me get out the door to have something quick and easy.

I travel to a lot of small cities for work. For lunch, I'm flexible and usually ask the local staff at the office I'm working out of where they like to go. If they suggest some nasty hole in the wall where "everyone goes," I'm completely fine opting for a chain. I do end up eating a lot of sandwiches. Most places have a good sandwich shop around.

For dinner, I try to scope out the options ahead of time. I've been able to find good food everywhere. Even if there's not much healthy food, I like to try the local specialties. I ate a lot of bison and steak while visiting different sites all around Montana and a lot of brisket in TX. Thankfully, most of the time I was able to find sides that weren't fried or full of butter to have with them. I'm not big on chain restaurants but I'm a sucker for a butter burger at Culver's if there's one where I go.

I also try to do workout regularly when I'm away....some of the food is heavy.

[Anonymous]

If I'm traveling for 2-3 days, especially to someplace I've never been or don't visit often, I like to eat out and try something new.

But if I'm traveling for longer periods of time, or going back to the same old place with only a few mid-range chain restaurants, I try to pick up groceries for at least some of my meals. Yogurt and fruit for breakfast, prepared salads for lunch, snacky dinners with crackers, cheese, grapes, celery sticks, etc. I'll still eat out a couple of times, especially if there's a group dinner with colleagues, but it's nice to have a break from restaurants occasionally.

[Anonymous]

If there is a mezeh I get take out and eat in my room.