People Talk About The Meals That Changed Their Lives

FOOD = MAGIC.

My Ethiopian Food Awakening

"I had a very sheltered childhood, culinarily speaking. So when I left home for college, I was NOT used to new foods. That is, until I went to visit a friend in Toronto. The first thing we did was go to his favorite Ethiopian restaurant. It was EXTREMELY intimidating! I didn't understand the spongy bread, the eating with your hands... It was all very different. I was super uncomfortable...until I took my first bite. It felt like my taste buds had switched into HD mode! As scary as it was, that meal taught me to view unfamiliar foods as an adventure to be excited about!" —Kristin G.

Have your own Ethiopian awakening at Taste of Ethiopia in Austin, Texas, or find an Ethiopian restaurant nearby!

Pizza Deliziosa

"When I was 14, my mother and I took a trip to Italy. It was amazing. We saw all the tourist stuff and traveled all around the country, but the highlight of the trip was lunch at a tiny pizza place in Naples. It was THE BEST PIZZA I HAVE EVER EATEN IN MY ENTIRE PIZZA-LOVING LIFE. I've thought about that pizza literally every single day since then. My friends tease me because I'm that person who's never impressed by any pizza. And I always have to be like, "You guys don't understand. That pizza changed my LIFE!" I'm saving up to go back to Naples, and I really hope that pizza place is still there!" —Becca A.

Find your new favorite slice at Aumm Aumm Pizzeria & Wine Bar in North Bergen, New Jersey, or at a great pizza spot in your neighborhood!

Tacos Dios Mio

"Every payday, my dad would take us to the taco shop up the street for dinner. He always got some tacos de lengua for himself. If you don't know, lengua is beef tongue. I used to get SO grossed out watching him eat it. He would say, "Just wait, mijo, someday you're going to love tacos de lengua." I'm in my early thirties now. Just recently had tacos de lengua for the first time. He was right. I LOVE THEM." —David G.

Change things up and try some different tacos at Happy Taco in Los Angeles, or find an awesome Mexican restaurant near you!

Gelat-OMG

"When I was 8 years old, the power in my entire neighborhood went out in the middle of summer. It was scorching hot. Then one of the neighborhood kids came running down the street shouting that the power had gone out in the gelato shop at the end of the block and the owner was giving away gelato for free. So about 30 neighborhood kids charged down the street, and the owner just threw the door open and shouted, "Hurry up, before it all melts!" And we did hurry up. We ate every last bite of that guy's gelato. That was the first time I'd ever had gelato, and I never turned back. I got my whole family hooked on that gelato shop. Gelato is better than ice cream. Debate me!" —Luke B.

Your gelato dreams are about to come true at Gemelli Artisanal Gelato & Dessert Café in West Chester, Pennsylvania, or at a gelato spot in your area!

The Ultimate Comfort Food

"When I was little, my extended family lived in Mexico and we would visit them a few times every year. My uncle would make chilaquiles con chorizo for breakfast every morning. It was my favorite meal of all time! Fried tortillas, red sauce, chorizo, egg, cheese, and a bunch of peppers and stuff. Now I order chilaquiles when I need some seriously good comfort food. If I've had a tough week, if I'm stressed, whatever, chilaquiles will always make me feel better." —Maria C.

Get some chilaquiles tonight at the Victoria Restaurant in Dallas, Texas, or at a great Mexican restaurant in your neighborhood!

A Whole Noodle World

"When I was about 12 years old, a ramen restaurant opened in our neighborhood. My parents took us there for dinner one night out of curiosity. I thought ramen was just those dehydrated noodle packs you buy in the grocery store, so it seemed weird to have an entire restaurant based around that. Boy, was I wrong. The first slurp felt like a jolt of electricity through my whole body! It made me wonder what other amazing dishes I was missing out on, and exploring new cuisines became exciting for me in the years that followed. I'm training to become a chef now, so in a way that single bowl of ramen changed my whole life!" —Russell G.

Join the ramen revolution at Resobox in New York City, or find an awesome ramen spot near you!

Oma Goodness

"My grandmother was a first-generation German immigrant and an excellent cook. I grew up eating her homemade sausages, spätzle, and all kinds of delicious stews and stuff. She passed away a few years ago and I really miss her. But I just found a German restaurant in my neighborhood that makes these potato dumplings that taste really close to my Oma's! So whenever I'm really missing her, I order some German food. And it's almost like she's there with me." —Abbie S.

If you're looking for some German cuisine that would make Oma proud, try Gunther's Restaurant & Catering in San Jose, California, or check out a German restaurant nearby!

Images via Getty Images

Everyone can explore the world through food, so order something new tonight at Kitchens Without Borders restaurants on DoorDash. Search "KWB" in the app to find restaurants near you!