This summer, a chocolate bar produced by a shop in Dubai became extremely popular on TikTok, leading to people from around the world travelling to try it. The chocolate bar is filled with pistachio, tahini paste, and Knafeh, coated in Swiss milk chocolate, and costs around €17. In New York City, a deli called Seven Brothers has gained attention for their pickle sandwiches, made with two cored out gherkins acting as bread with various fillings. The deli reportedly sells over 200 of these sandwiches a day and attracts visitors from outside the city.
In the UK, two brothers who run a jacket potato van have seen their product go viral on TikTok, with people traveling from far distances to try their hot potatoes with toppings like baked beans, chilli con carne, and garlic butter. The Spud Brothers, based in Preston, have long lines of customers eager to taste their unique dishes. In Paris, artisanal butter from Le Beurre Bordier has become a viral food item, with food influencers travelling to the city specifically to pick up this hand-churned product flavored with ingredients like seaweed and pepper.
In Florence, a focaccia sandwich from the shop All’Antico Vinaio has been a long-time favorite, but has gained even more fame thanks to TikTok. The well-stuffed panini attracts long lines of customers, selling as many as 10,000 in a weekend according to some reports. The shop has expanded into a chain with locations in various Italian cities, as well as in New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Traveling to sample viral food items has become a popular trend, with people planning entire trips around tasting or purchasing specific dishes only available in certain locations.
The rise of TikTok has sparked a new phenomenon where travelers seek out unique and viral food items at their destinations. People are now visiting supermarkets and grocery stores as part of their holiday activities, sharing their experiences and discoveries on social media platforms like TikTok. From chocolate bars and butter to pickled sandwiches and jacket potatoes, these viral foods are drawing in travelers from around the world. The power of social media to create food trends and inspire culinary adventures is evident in the growing popularity of these unique and must-try dishes.
As influencers on TikTok share videos of themselves trying these viral food items, the demand for these products grows exponentially, leading to long lines and increased popularity for the shops that produce them. Whether it’s a unique chocolate bar in Dubai, a pickled sandwich in New York, or a jacket potato in the UK, these viral food items are becoming must-eat dishes for food enthusiasts and travelers. The influence of social media on food culture and culinary tourism is undeniable, as people now plan trips based on the desire to taste or purchase specific viral food items only available in certain locations.
