Southeast Asia

If you’re searching for cheap spicy food destinations where every meal costs less than the spare change in your pocket, you’re going to love this guide. Our Facebook group — now over 170,000 members strong — recently exploded when one member shared her £1 dosa in Kuala Lumpur. The thread grew into a global chili-fueled brainstorm, with dozens of travelers shouting out the hottest (literally) places to eat well for less. My husband Jeff and I chimed in with our own stories too, including a Maldives kitchen discovery that still makes us laugh.

This guide blends the best recommendations from our community with the moments Jeff and I will never forget.