15 Food Scams Every Tourist Should Watch Out for
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It’s nice to travel and see new cultures, new flavors, new experiences. Sampling local cuisines and street food is something to highlight, but sometimes dream meals are a sneaky scam. Unwary tourists are not uncommonly the victim of tricks that can leave your wallet and your mood a little worse for wear.
In Rome it’s overpriced water, in Paris fake truffle oil – it’s a global food scam. It can save you money and spare you frustration if you know what to watch out for. Now let’s tackle the tricks you should be aware of and be able to focus on enjoying your culinary adventures.
Inflated Tourist Menus
In many of the popular destinations, restaurants will have ‘tourist menus’ with enticing descriptions. Don’t be fooled by the pretty words, though: these menus are usually way too expensive, and they serve things like spaghetti or chicken. Those amounts wouldn’t even be dreamed of by locals! A good rule of thumb? If you can’t read the menu in the local language, eat at eateries where you see locals eating.
Mandatory Tasting Platters
Picture this: You go sit down at a cozy café and a smiled won waiter comes and brings a platter of olives, bread, or tapas (as the case may be). Don’t be so sure, you might think it’s a free welcome snack. It later turns up on your bill as a huge charge. This is a common trick in Portugal and Greece, for example. Before nibbling, always clarify.
Fake Truffle Oil
The allure of truffle-infused dishes can be irresistible, but here’s the kicker: For the most part, truffle oils don’t contain any real truffles. But they’re commonly enhanced with synthetic chemicals to imitate the smell of the earthy aroma. Tourists in some Italian markets unknowingly pay top dollar for these knockoffs. If you are on the bucket list for truffles, go to well-reviewed restaurants instead of street vendors.
Seafood By The Gram
Doesn’t fresh seafood sound amazing? Until you discover that you’ve been charged $100 for a plate of shrimp. It’s not uncommon to see seafood restaurants, especially those around coastal tourist hubs, based on weight. The scam is in “miscommunicating” the portion sizes. Request clear pricing and, even better, watch your meal being weighed.
Menu Switching
This is a classic trick in touristy areas. You are seated with a menu of reasonable prices. After you order, the waiter brings you a menu with a different price for the same dishes, and almost always, it’s higher. Always check prices before you commit, and don’t be afraid to walk if something seems fishy.
Water Bottle Markups
You’ll find vendors selling bottled water for ridiculous prices near landmarks in places like Rome or Barcelona. You may not know that tap water in many of these cities is perfectly safe and free at public fountains. You’ll save a small fortune if you carry a reusable bottle.
Mislabeled Wagyu Or Kobe Beef
Wagyu or Kobe beef is touted in high-end steakhouses and restaurants at jaw-dropping prices. According to the American Wagyu Association, however, there are only about 3,000 cattle in the U.S. that meet the true criteria for authentic Kobe beef. Do your homework before you splurge to keep from paying top dollar for an ordinary cut.
Fake Street Food Stalls
Exploring street food is a joy unless it’s a knockoff operation that caters only to tourists. These vendors are selling low-quality reheated versions of local dishes at inflated prices. Stalls with locals in line are good bets, and you should avoid those located near major tourist landmarks.
Hidden Service Charges
Have you ever been surprised by an additional 20% on your bill? There are many tourist restaurants that don’t explain sneaky service fees added to your bill. Be on the lookout for your receipt, and don’t let anyone bully you into tipping on top of those fees.
Overpriced Specialty Coffees
Famous cafés in Paris or Vienna are often shocked by tourists flocking to them and leaving with $10 cappuccinos. Yes, you’re paying for the ambiance, but markups can be absurd. If budget is an issue, you can happily drink your coffee in a less iconic setting, same brew, and fewer dollars.
Overly Generous Free Samples
There are some market vendors who will give you free samples to get you in, but there’s a catch. Once you accept, they may be very aggressive about getting you to buy large quantities. Another traveler in Istanbul once told the story of how they wound up paying $50 for a small bag of nuts after taking a ‘free’ handful. You learn to politely decline or walk away.
The All-You-Can-Eat Buffets With Strings Attached
Buffets promising unlimited food often come with unexpected restrictions: Beverage add ons, time limits, small print saying premium products aren’t included. Before you pile up your plate, read the fine print.
Inflated Exchange Rates
A few food markets and restaurants will convert prices to your home currency, but their exchange rates are typically absurd. You always want to pay in the local currency, or if you use a really good app, make sure the price makes sense.
Traditional Dishes Overhyped
Not all “authentic” dishes are what you think. Other eateries rely on the tourists’ ignorance to sell sub par meals at a premium. Do a quick online search for reviews or ask a local for must try dishes in the area before splurging.
Bogus Cooking Classes
Many tourists sign up for local cooking lessons, and end up in subpar sessions run by amateurs. A good cooking class should have skilled chefs, fresh ingredients and hands on experience. Stick with what the trusted sources tell you or the reviews verified in other platforms.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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