Where to Find the World’s Best Soup

20,000 BC was a monumental year in history. Why? The first pot of soup was crafted in a cave in modern-day China. To create their savory broth, prehistoric humans boiled animal bones and entrails in crude pits, then slurped their handiwork from some of the world’s earliest ceramic bowls. Fast forward a few thousand years, and a verdict has been reached: Our ancient ancestors were onto something ... something delicious. Since this first boiling pot, humans have come up with all kinds of ways to make delicious, simmering broths, loading them full of tender meat, starches, vegetables, and herbs. From light and clear dishes with delicate flavors to chunky creations of the stew variety, there’s no wrong way to make or enjoy a bowl of soup. Just put a pot on the stove and let the spirit move you. In honor of this most versatile and reliable of comfort foods, we’ve compiled our favorite places around the world to dig into a big bowl of soup. From a Russian restaurant hidden in a bathhouse to a New Orleans mainstay that fed the civil rights movement, these restaurants show that soup is universal—a dish that bridges divides and soothes the soul. Grab your biggest spoon and your bib (because, yes, there will be spillage); we’re going on a delicious journey. 1. Wattana Panich - Bangkok, Thailand Can soup be eternal? Apparently so, as this Bangkok eatery has been tending to the same massive, boiling pot of neua tune (beef stew) for 50 years. Owner Nattapong Kaweenuntawong has cooked this famous “half-century-old soup” since he was a kid working under his father, keeping the secret blend of spices and herbs, stewed beef, raw beef slices, meatballs, tripe, and other organs perfectly balanced. The ancient practice Kaweenuntawong uses to keep the soup constantly simmering is called Hunter’s Stew, using the previous day’s leftover broth as the base of the following day’s soup. The process is time-consuming and quite labor-intensive, with Kaweenuntawong tearing through about 150 pounds of beef each day and cooking the meat until it is tender (about 11 hours in total). It’s well-worth the effort, though, for the rich, flavorful creation that emerges, with melt-in-your-mouth meat, chewy noodles, and an irresistible aroma. 2. Bún Riêu Gánh - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam If you’re out shopping in Ben Thanh Market, you might just stumble across a huge pot of crab broth hanging from a wooden yoke, or gánh, and loaded with rice vermicelli noodles and a special crab meatloaf made with crab paste, minced pork, and egg. This would be Bún Riêu Gánh, the passion project of local legend Mrs. Mai Thi Lien. For four decades, she’s been ladling out generous portions of this traditional noodle soup to hungry passersby, with dipping cups of tamarind fish sauce and chili that lend the dish a tangy, southern-Vietnamese twist. 3. Matryoshka at Wall Street Bath & Spa 88 - New York, New York On a small street tucked away between skyscrapers in the Financial District, this subterranean bath and spa has a few tricks up its sleeve (of the comfort food variety). After making your way through a labyrinth of stairwells and passageways (where you may pass more than a few toweled patrons), you’ll end up in a quaint bar/restaurant decorated with intricate wood carvings and Russian nesting dolls, matryoshkas, that the restaurant gets it name from. Here, still in your robe and slippers, you can enjoy some of the best Eastern European food in the Big Apple, like buzhenina, an herb-roasted pork tenderloin from Russia and Ukraine, or a Georgian lamb soup known as harcho. Soup seekers can also find borsch, fish soup, and chicken soup with dumplings, as well as solyanka, a meaty Russian soup with green olives and briny pickles. Make your visit even more special with a glass of infused vodka or a pint of Russian lager, then sweat it all out in the sauna. 4. Fio D’Italia - San Francisco, California Established in 1886 in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, Fio D’Italia holds the title of “America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant” and still serves up dishes from its early days such as scaloppine fior, tender veal sautéed with prosciutto and mushrooms in wine sauce; petto di pollo alla Valdosta, chicken breast cooked with prosciutto and fontina cheese; and, last but not least, a classic minestrone soup loaded with winter beans and vegetables. Also on the menu is a zuppa di cavolo con formaggio, a cabbage, bread and cheese stew with bits of prosciutto; and pasta e fagioli, a soup with—you guessed it—pasta, cannellini beans, and prosciutto. You can also rest assured that a thick, crusty half loaf of sourdough French bread will be brought to your table, complete with flaky salt and extra virgin olive oil. Mamma mia! 5. Au Pied de Cochon - Paris, France Au Pied de Cochon was once known for using all parts of the pig in its dishes, from marrow bones to kidneys to heads and the eponymous hooves (it was founded by a former butcher after all). These days, however, people more often come for its soupe à l’oignon au gratin, or French onion soup—a decadent dish full of caramelized onions, gooey cheese, and baguette slices. Unlike most other versions of French onion soup, which use beef stock as a base, Au Pied’s uses chicken stock to honor its Les Halles roots. Back when the area was still Paris’s central fresh food market, the soup became a go-to meal for blue collar workers and night owls roaming the “belly of Paris.” And since Au Pied de Cochon is open almost 24 hours a day (8 a.m. to 5 a.m.), you can still eat this fine soup at almost all hours of the night. (It’s perhaps even more delicious after an evening out.) 6. Chankonabe Shinzan - Tokyo, Japan This tiny, hole-in-the-wall shop serves up a mean bowl of chanko nabe, a soup that combines meat or fish with tofu, vegetables, glutinous rice, and broth. The dish has long been the favorite of sumo wrestlers for bulking up and fueling for a fight, and Chankonabe Shinzan was, in fact, founded by Shinzan Takeyasu, a retired sumo wrestler and soup-maker extraordinaire. Shinzan’s restaurant serves chanko nabe with both salt and curry-based broths (though the curry varieties are the clear favorite among locals). If you need something to tide you over till your soup is ready, there are appetizers like wagyu beef topped with green onions, snow crab salad, and tebasaki, double-fried chicken wings in a sweet-savory soy glaze. Just make sure to save room for the main event! 7. Appu’s Cafe - Long Beach, California The rich soups at this Indian-Mexican fusion cafe are just what the doctor ordered ... literally. Appu’s was opened by Dr. Vinod Venkataraman in his retirement after a long career spent extolling the virtues of gingery broths and lentil stews. Chef VR (as those in the know call him) abides by the mantra: “Healthy eating is a choice, eating healthy is a lifestyle,” meaning everything on Appu’s menu is nutrient-dense and guilt-free. Whether you opt for the spicy, protein-filled garbanzo bean soup or the creamy, nutty spinach soup, you’re in for a flavor-packed, warm, and satisfying treat. Pro tip: Pair your soup with the Maharani burrito, filled with rice pilaf and lentils and served with a special secret sauce. 8. A Touch of European Cafe - Glendale, Arizona This family-owned joint serves up “pure comfort food done right”: hearty Polish classics like goulash, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, and—to top it all off—an extensive list of signature soups. There’s truly a soup for everyone here, with options ranging from New England clam chowder to potato horseradish to chilled garlic; cold buttermilk and beets to cream of asparagus and beef tripe. All of these signatures pair perfectly with the cafe’s dark rye bread and pierogis, which you can wash down with a caramel apple cider or iced tea. You can even learn how to make A Touch of European’s soups yourself at one of their twice-annual cooking classes, led by chef and owner Waldemar Okul. Whether you grew up on Polish cuisine or know only the basics, you’ll walk away from the experience with a Rolodex of beloved recipes to make at home. Past classes have included dishes like caprese on apricot walnut bread, chilled avocado and dill soup and, for dessert, a puff pastry Napoleon. 9. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant - New Orleans, Louisiana Established in 1939, this NOLA institution has fed everyone from President Barack Obama to Nat King Cole and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Though Edgar “Dooky” and Emily Chase first opened Dooky’s as a sandwich shop, it grew into an upscale celebration of Creole cuisine after Leah, the Chases’ daughter-in-law, took over the business in the ’50s. As part of this revamp, she featured work by local Black artists on the restaurants’ walls—the first time many of them had seen their works publicly displayed. Leah also added regional favorites like shrimp clemenceau, chicken creole, and creole gumbo to Dooky Chase’s menu, the latter of which still draws crowds with its winning combination of crab, shrimp, veal, and smoked and hot sausage. The restaurant also serves its signature green gumbo in the days leading up to Easter (made with nine different cooked greens). It may not look especially delicious, but it sure does taste good. 10. Farren’s Bar - Malin Head, Ireland Ireland’s northernmost pub has been in the Farren family for six generations, drawing in folks from across County Donegal with its delicious seafood chowder and buttery, homemade soda bread. It’s the perfect hearty meal after a hike along Malin Head’s rocky cliffs or a swim through the harbor (especially if you add a Guinness to your order). The pub also boasts a fun bit of “Star Wars” trivia, having been visited by Mark Hamill during the filming of “The Last Jedi,” and even has a Yoda mural on its exterior. 11. Caldo de Piedra - Tlalixtac de Cabrera, Mexico This small outpost outside Oaxaca is named after its signature dish, a fish and shrimp soup that is a staple of the indigenous Chinantec community. Traditionally, men would cook the soup right on the riverbank, seasoning their freshly caught fish with onions, lime, cilantro, and chiles. Caldo de Piedra keeps this centuries-old tradition alive today, using the same kind of fire-heated rocks to flash-cook and tenderize the fish. In fact, so revered is this practice that owner César Gachupín had to seek permission from town elders before opening his restaurant. In 2021, the state’s congress declared the dish an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Oaxaca for its “symbolic importance as one of the dishes that best reflects the culture and society of the Papaloapan region.” Though it has historically been made by men, the soup is seen as a gesture of gratitude toward the women, children, and elders of the community. 12. Rung Rueang - Bangkok, Thailand The tom yum soup at this unassuming spot has gained a cult following amongst Bangkok foodies, with large chunks of spicy-sweet pork balanced out by hints of lemongrass, chile, and lime. While this is the standard version of the dish, Rung Rueang offers plenty of ways to customize, with different broth bases, noodle types, and toppings: sugar if you wish to temper the heat, or a dusting of chile flakes to crank it up. The soup is so life-altering that Rung Rueang has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation every year since 2018 and often has a line that snakes down the block. Arriving to the shop, you’ll notice that it is, in fact, divided into two sections—the result of a decades-long family feud. While both still serve the dishes under the same names, the “left-side” shop (the original) is widely considered the better of the two.

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