Some meals are worth traveling for. Others have the ability to transport you, not just in space, but in time. A dish from childhood can send you tumbling down memory lane. A traditional meal can bring you closer to your elders or ancestors. This kind of time travel is often emotional, sometimes communal, but always powerful.

With its cozy vibes and reminders of time’s cyclical looping, autumn is the ideal time to indulge in time-warp dining. The season calls for comfortingly familiar flavors, gathering with family around old favorites, and maybe a bit of introspection. Coincidentally, it’s also a great time to crack a bottle of Yakult, pull up to your favorite old-school tavern in India, or meet a Viennese grandma for some cake. Here, we chronicle all the food experiences worth time-traveling for this season. — Nick Mancall-Bitel