The 11 Best Episodes of Bourdain’s Parts Unknown

Jordana Weiss | January 14, 2019

2. 8.01 “Hanoi”

Although the early episodes of Parts Unknown carry a lot of weight with fans of the show, one of the most popular episodes by far is the first episode of the last season, where Bourdain was able to sit down with then-sitting President Barack Obama in Hanoi and enjoy a simple meal bun cha (grilled pork and noodles) along with beer straight from the bottle — no fancy glasses required.

The fact that Bourdain allowed the conversation to flow naturally and cultivated a friendly, relaxed atmosphere allowed for a unique look at our 44^th President. We got to see him as a regular guy with a healthy appetite, who was interested in discussing the world without talking about politics. After the two men left the restaurant, the proprietors encased their table in glass — a living memorial to a simple meal enjoyed by two great men.

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