Rendang Voted the Most Delicious Food in the World, and Nasi Goreng is No. 2

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September 08, 2011 | by Armando Siahaan

Rendang Voted the Most Delicious Food in the World, and Nasi Goreng is No. 2

About 35,000 people have voted West Sumatra’s rendang as the number one food in the world. (JG Photo)

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About 35,000 people have voted West Sumatra’s rendang as the number one food in the world. Guess which food came in second? Nasi goreng!

  Satay, another staple Indonesian dish, also stood proud at No. 14.  

 In July, CNNGo came out with its own “World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods.” In that list, Thailand’s Massaman curry topped the culinary hierarchy, followed by Italy’s Neapolitan pizza and Mexico’s chocolate.

  That list apparently incited “impassionate debate” about the site’s selection, so CNNGo let its readers vote what they thought should be the numero uno food. The vote, which began two months ago, was done through a Facebook poll.

  Rendang made the list, but only at No. 11. Nasi goreng didn’t even place. 

 One can’t help but wonder whether the original list, and its lack of “respect” for Indonesian food, ignited a digital movement to dethrone Thai curry as the king of food.

  The Top 10 of the new list was an all-Asian affair. Western foods that originally made the Big 10 – the pizzas, the chocolates, the hamburgers and the ice creams – were ousted.

  Japan’s sushi and Thailand's tom yam goong and pad thai followed at Nos. 3, 4 and 5.

  The rest of the top 10 goes: som tam, Thailand; dim sum, Hong Kong; ramen, Japan; Pecking duck, China; and Massaman curry, Thailand.

  Based on the top 10, Thailand may boast that it has the most dishes. But bow down, world, for rendang has been crowned the king!

  CNNGo’s Readers List (September 2011) 

1. Rendang, Indonesia  
2. Nasi goreng, Indonesia
 3. Sushi, Japan  
4. Tom yam goong. Thailand  
5. Pad thai, Thailand  
6. Som tam, Thailand  
7. Dim sum, Hong Kong 
8. Ramen, Japan
 9. Peking duck, China  
10. Massaman curry, Thailand

For a complete list, go to: http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/readers-choice-worlds-50-most-delicious-foods-012321

  CNNGo’s Original List (July 2011) 

1. Massaman curry, Thailand
 2. Neapolitan pizza, Italy 
3. Chocolate, Mexico 
4. Sushi, Japan 
5. Peking duck, China
 6. Hamburger, Germany
 7. Penang assam laksa, Malaysia
 8. Tom yum goong, Thailand 
9. Ice cream, United States 
10. Chicken muamba, Gabon

For a complete list go to: http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/worlds-50-most-delicious-foods-067535

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presa1200

5:08pm Feb 11, 2012

Dino_M was definitely right, this is indeed a ridiculous poll. We don't mean to be sore losers just because our foods didn't rank on top of the list but this poll is rather bias and inaccurate. 35,000 people have voted Indonesian Rendang as the number one food? Wrong, it's only 7,813 voters! And the funniest thing is that majority of the people who have voted Rendang are actually Indonesians themselves who are so eager to win whereas the rest of the foods voted by mixed nations. This makes me think that if the whole Chinese nation participated in this poll then Dim Sum or Yong Chow Fried Rice would be no 1 too. In my opinion, food is a very subjective topic and every cuisine has its own unparalleled uniqueness so this poll doesn't mean a thing to the world.

Devinitely

5:42pm Sep 23, 2011

Western food except their desserts/sweets is bland. Pizza, pies, pastas and burger they're all bland. Oh and I live in Sweden and have been to few European countries.

I don't like Rendang or curries. They seem heavy.

Sushi will be on my top list, and they should put grilled fish, sauted Tempeh with fresh Sambal on the list.

bayuamus

5:20pm Sep 21, 2011

Signature dishes does not need to be a "true" original food originated from a said region without any foreign influence at all, it must however contains uniqueness that differs it with another. Hence though Rendang might be originated from Indian Beef Curry, it is a food invention unique to Indonesia.

And btw, most of my foreign acquaintances here in Bali do avoid Indonesian eateries but for sanitary reasons, not the food itself. Most of those that's been introduced to rendang however, shown tendency to like it not hate it.

However I do agree that this CNNGo polls is by no means "accurate", as it's just a popularity contest which could easily be win by inviting large numbers of pro-voters, instead of testing the entries through rigorous examination.

Dino_M

8:42am Sep 11, 2011

Okay there, Chief. FYI, not an expat and I didn't say I don't like Indonesian food. I said many expat acquaintances don't. Water finds its own level and if Rendang is #1 in the world, we'd see it more in restaurants around the world. Fact is, we don't. BTW, neither Rendang (Indian beef curry; introduced by merchants from India that used to travel to W. Sumatra) or Nasi Goreng (Chinese Fried Riced; brought in by Chinese immigrants centuries ago) are "true" Indonesian foods.

ChiefK123

8:03pm Sep 10, 2011

Dino (edit) Rigged? By who, CNNGo in conjunction with the Indonesian food syndicates? It's an online poll, of course it's not scientific, duh.

The reason there are so many Italian and Chinese restaurants is because immigrants from those countries moved and settled all over the world. Most Indonesians that move abroad for work or study actually return home. If you go to the Netherlands, where many Indonesians have settled, there are plenty of popular Indonesian restaurants (including with non-Indos).

It's unbelievable that expats like you can say you don't like "Indonesian food." That's like saying you don't like "western" food, when there are thousands of different kinds of western cuisines. You're just too close minded to have ever found Indonesian food you like. No problem, keep eating your burgers and pizza, more rendang for us.