Street food is the heartbeat of a city, the flavorful expression of its culture, and a must-experience for any traveler. Whether you’re navigating the labyrinthine markets of Bangkok or through quiet corners of a Parisian alley, the hunt for the best street food can be as thrilling as the taste itself.
In this post, we will point out a few tips and information that can guide you to the best street food wherever you might travel.
Head to Local Markets and Food Stalls
The most obvious place to start hunting for good street food is from local markets and food stalls. Most of the time, this is where locals eat-and eat authentically, affordably, and with real flavors of the region.
You can simply walk around the Mercado de San Juan in Mexico City, for example, and notice the colors and smells of tacos, tamales, and fresh juices luring you in.
The rule of thumb here is that if the stall is popular with locals, it’s probably worth the wait. Vendors often know the best dishes, and who knows-sometimes they’ll give you a little extra to try.
Timing is Everything
Timing is everything when it comes to street food. Many of the best dishes are made fresh at any given time of the day, and it has all to do with when ingredients are at their peak or locals would eat it.
For example, pho is mainly consumed for breakfast in Vietnam and can be seen steaming in the early morning hours. In Spain, churros and hot chocolate are served late at night/early in the morning-after a night out. When you time your arrival right, you are guaranteed the freshest and most authentic experience.
Learn the Language of Street Food
Knowing a smidge of the local language goes a long way when diving into street food scenes. It does much more than help you with what’s on offer; it’s respect for the culture and makes things all the more pleasant.
In Thailand, to be able to ask for it “mai phet”-not spicy-or “phet mak”-very spicy-can help them adapt it to your taste.
Knowing the difference between “arancini” and “supplì”-aka stuffed rice balls-can make all the difference in Italy and may just find you a new favorite snack. A little effort taken can go quite a long way to leading one to richer and more rewarding culinary experiences.
Hygiene Matters
The street foods are very delicious, but you want to be very keen on the hygiene factor to keep your tummy away from anything that may not agree with it. Keep an eye out for street vendors that exercise good hygiene-that is, the ones using gloves, clean utensils, and keeping food covered.
For example, in Singapore, food stalls are grade on their hygiene factor, which makes picking a place to eat pretty cut and dry. In other countries, one of the general rules of thumb is to observe the cleanliness of the stall and how the food is being handled.
High-volume turnover of food often translates to fresher, safer dishes. Use your best judgment-if it doesn’t look right, it’s better to avoid it.
Unexpectedness Welcomed
One of the joys of exploring street food is in the unexpected. Don’t be afraid to try something new or unusual. It is often those meals that surprise you with their flavor or presentation which are usually the most memorable.
You may have to navigate through Tokyo to get to that small stand offering the savory taste of takoyaki, or a ball of octopus with sauces and bonito flakes on top. Or you may be in Morocco, and snail soup in Jemaa el-Fnaa, the most famous square of Marrakesh, is yours to try. These do not sound like the usual fare of food, yet these promise a taste of local life that may be hard to find in more mainstreamed places.
Personal Experience: Discovering Hidden Treasures in Bangkok
During my travels in Bangkok, I navigated down narrow streets in the old town of the city, miles away from any heavily trodden tourist path. As the sun began to set, I followed the intoxicating smell of grilled meats and spices down to a small, unassuming stall tucked between two buildings.
Hunching over a charcoal grill, the vendor-a woman in her 60s-expertly prepared the skewers of chicken satay. This modest stall, the line of locals waiting to be served told me I’d stumbled upon something special.
When it came time for me to order, I asked her what she recommended and she handed me a skewer, fresh off the grill, smothered in a delicious peanut sauce. The first bite was almost a spiritual revelation: perfectly tender meat smoked from the grill was balanced just right with sweet and spice in the sauce. It was one of those dishes that, without this little expedition into the unknown, I never would have found, and it still remains one of my best food memories.
Gain an Advantage from Using Technology
Technology could be quite a good friend for you in this street food quest of yours in this digital age. In finding the hottest spots, apps like Yelp, Google Maps, and TripAdvisor assist well, coupled with reading reviews from other travelers.
But do not completely rely on technology; just let it be the starting point of your research. After you found your spot, there, go and see the environs yourself. Just a block away from your intended stop, you might find an even better option. Visual inspiration can also be spotted from Instagram and all similar social media sites that may help you in finding trendy food spots taken by locals.
Open Up to Street Food Etiquette
Street food etiquette sometimes varies so wildly from country to country that it pays to stay up to speed on local mores. Sometimes, this may mean sharing tables with strangers in some places or mainly grabbing and going in others.
For example, eating while walking is traditionally considered a impolite thing to do in Japan; therefore, people can usually be found standing around the food stalls to finish a meal.
While in Mexico, you may be sitting at a shared table pulling up a stool, sharing salsas and stories with the locals as you go about eating your tacos. Knowing such customs and being respectful will make all the difference in having a better experience and blending in with the locals.
Mingle with Locals
One of the best ways to get great street food is by asking locals. Whether it be through your taxi driver, a shopkeeper, or just someone you met at a café, it leads to some remarkable finds.
Your Italian friend might then send you across town to a small piazza where the best pizza al taglio is found, served by weight and to be enjoyed standing up, looking out the square.
In Thailand, for instance, one may find himself conversing with a local who takes him down an alley to find a family serving up the same delightful dish generation after generation. Locals know their city best of all, and their tips often take you on culinary adventures which will be remembered forever.
How Our Team Came Up with These Ideas
Our team loves food and travel, so it was only fitting that our group would take to the streets-literally-speaking about street food. We started simply enough, discussing our own experiences with the best street food each of us had ever tasted. Then we researched the culture of street food from around the world in search of common themes or unique practices.
We also spoke to local experts on food, chefs, and vendors for inspiration on what it is that sets a street food scene apart.
The knowledge from the experiences we’ve had, combined with extensive research, forms the basis for our suggestions below for finding the best street food wherever you go. We believe in sharing with fellow travelers the delights of street food and encouraging them to make a journey around the world-one delectable bite at a time.
Not to Forget Drinks
Street foods are not all about the food; there are some countries offering different kinds of drinks along the streets that are worth a try. You might get fresh fruit juices down to unique local drinks that can complement your meal and give another dimension to your meal.
You might be in India, sipping on fresh sugarcane juice, which a street vendor pressed just a moment before. Or you could be in Vietnam, cooling off from the day’s spicy food with a glass of ca phe sua da, iced coffee with condensed milk. Trying the street drinks of any new country is part of the experience and sometimes leads to a pleasant surprise.
Safety First: Trust Your Gut
While street food is a great way to experience the culture, it’s highly applicable to your health and safety. If it doesn’t feel right, then trust your instincts and steer clear of it.
In places, it may be safer to avoid the food stalls that store their food for a long period of time and instead frequent those that make fresh food right there and then. Pay extra attention to the handling of the food and do not be afraid to ask questions about ingredients or ways of preparation. A little prevention will go a long way in having a deliciously safe street food adventure.
Pair Street Food with Local Experiences
Pairing street food with local experiences can elevate your trip and make lasting memories. For instance, having a bowl of ramen from a street stall in Tokyo can become much more special if it’s paired with, say, a visit to a nearby temple or market.
All over town, beignet by a street hawker tasted so much different after being nebulously complemented with a leisurely walk across the French Quarter, with the enviable sounds of jazz in the air. Actually, street food is often directly associated with the culture and historical emplacement of every place. Take time to visit the area surrounding the place and soak yourself in the local spirit.
The Joy of Street Food Festivals
If you are in a city that has a street food festival, don’t miss out on the chance to have as many delicacies as you can. In fact, the best of the street food comes together for these festivals, and this would include special dishes or vendors that you might never find anywhere else.
Street food festivals also draw large numbers in cities like London, New York, and Bangkok, serving as a fantastic chance to taste a wide array of foods in a single location.
They are also a great avenue with which to get in contact with other food lovers and hear about the culture of the local people in regards to food. Do look out for them during your travel-they are a feast for the senses.
Catch the Moment
Finally, do capture these street food moments. You could do this by taking photos or recording a video, but most importantly, you can put your experiences in a travel journal so that when the trip is over, you can still relive the delicious moments.
It is also a great way to relate to other travelers, sharing all your discoveries. Just be very conscious of the environment and of people around you; not every culture looks at shooting food through a lens the same way. Respect the customs of locals and enjoy the process of capturing vibrant streets of food.
Street food is much more than just a meal; it is a venture, a cultural exchange, and a way to bond deeper with the place. With these tips, you will be well prepared to discover the best street food wherever you go and create memories that will last a lifetime.
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