Are you looking for information for what are the best foods to try in a country before you go? Do you like trying out new and unique dishes every time you visit a new city? Are you not a picky eater and would always ready to try food from street-side stall or shack? If yes, then read our list of 5 cities with the best street foods in the world.
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5 Cities with The Best Street Foods In The World
Bangkok, Thailand
When talking about the quality street food cities, Bangkok surely always has its place on top, and it’s easy to see why. This remarkable city has got hundreds eating places where you can enjoy not only tasty, but also affordable food.
If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll be happy with the amount of sweets and desserts you will find in Bangkok. Mango sticky rice, fried bananas, and palm leaf treat are some of the worldwide popular you may want to try. Main dishes you wouldn’t want to miss include Som Tam, Guay Teow, and of course, Pad Thai.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Another city in Southeast Asia that is heaven for street food is Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Visiting this city, you’ll have the chance to sample delicious meals that are idea combination of French colonial and local cooking methods.
Moreover, the city chefs add spices and condiments you will not find anywhere else. A lot of the street food joints in the city tend to be one-dish stalls, and the cooks have pinched and streamlined the recipe to make extremely tasty fast food. Get a low plastic stool as well as a pair of chopsticks and enjoy the city’s delicious cuisines. Some of the dishes you wouldn’t want to miss include pho, banh mi, banh xeo, and bo la lot. Oh, don’t forget to feast upon delectable spring rolls, seafood, and coconut milk-made crunchy cookies.
Istanbul, Turkey
Whichever city you go to Europe, finding doner kebabs would be easy. However, to find its root, you need to travel to Istanbul, which is the capital and one of the largest cities of Turkey. This place is also the center of fast foods, with specialty huts dotted all over the city without avoiding even a single public point.
The city’s frugal diners are the reason for its very affordable street food and drinks scene. Of course, it offers a lot specialties, like boza, which is fermented millet drink and goes back centuries ago is something you shouldn’t miss.
Marrakech, Morocco
Swarming with hookahs, draperies, as well as ceramic tagines, the generations old marketplaces of Marrakech has been home to some of the globally known chefs who prepare delicious dishes with specialty spices, tasteful meats, and cereals. Of course, you’ll be able to enjoy being amidst large heaps of olives and barrels of quality spices such as cinnamon and saffron but there’s lot more to it.
You’ll easily get to find food stalls where you can buy seasoned meats, scoops of escargots, and most importantly, all Harira, which is the traditional Moroccan soup made out of chickpeas and tomato at Djemaa el Fna square. You could also take a quick bite on x shwarma, tomato and special kebabs and more.
Mexico City, Mexico
The last, but not the least is Mexico. Have you really been to Mexico if you visited and not able to try their food? Definitely not! The city has got much a lot more to offer than tacos. Prepare yourself to feast your taste buds on different food that not just tastes enticing but is also pleasingly decorated on food stalls dotted in every area of the city.
The big city consists of different specialty booths and taquerias that boast of delicious street snacks or what locally known as antojitos. Some of the street foods you may not want to miss include tostadas, elotes, tortas, and flautas. Mexico City is a food paradise – you will find street food on almost every part of the city, and a boundless quantity of restaurants that serve regional Mexican food from every part of the city.
How to Keep Safe When Eating Street Food Abroad
Trying out the local cuisine of a city is definitely a part of getting to know the real identity and history of the place. In most cities you will find restaurants that offer some typical foods, though if they're aimed at tourists you can expect to find higher-than-normal prices and watered-down flavors. Short of accepting an invitation to dine at a local's house, your best bet for local cuisine will often be on the street.
Meaningful, delightful, authentic street foods are not just found in large foreign cities with well-known food cultures like the ones mentioned above. Even a city such as New York, the simple act of getting a hotdog on the street links back to local’s traditions. However, sometimes eating street food poses health problems, especially for travelers who have sensitive tummy.
- Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date before traveling, especially if you are going to developing country. For example, Hepatitis A can be transferred through polluted water or food; getting full vaccine protects you from this disease for at least a decade.
- Avoid tap water, even ice. Many city restaurants don’t filter their water, even the water they use to make ice. So always make sure to ask or to make sure, just avoid them at all costs. If possible, get bottled water or ask your hotel if they have purified water.
- Pick established locations, or eat where many locals eat and if possible, choose the peak time of the day. You can use guidebooks, websites, and blogs to help you search for street vendors who have been around there for a long time and are generally popular. When you are in doubt, or if you want to make it easier, ask your hotel receptionist, they usually know what restaurants serve fresh foods – where more customers go. Similarly, try to avoid sketchy stalls serving foods that are displayed for too long.
- Avoid eating raw, unpeeled vegetables and fruits. So, try to avoid cold salads on your trip! But then again, this doesn’t mean you have to avoid these healthy foods at all costs, though. Especially that too much fat and carbs can also ruin your tummy the same way bad fruits could.
- Make sure to wash your hands before eating. The importance of washing hands before eating is often overlooked by adults. After all, you won’t always find a sink and soap just anywhere. But you can always have a portable antibacterial hand gel with you wherever you go.
- Always be ready. It pays to bring first aid with you whenever you are traveling. Some of the ones you may want to include are antacids, oral rehydration salts, and antidiarrheal. But don’t overthink and pop a pill right away as soon as you experience a couple of symptoms – usually, your stomach might just require a little more time, bland foods, rest, and lots of fluids for it to assimilate. It is also beneficial to do research on what local food to avoid! Depending on the place you decide to go, you might want to ask your doctor about traveling with a dose of antibiotics just in case.
The most unforgettable and appealing travel experiences usually come at the hand of a street-food vendor. Don't be afraid to try new things, but it doesn’t mean you have to be careless. Hopefully, this article has guided you where to find the best street foods in the world. If you have other questions or suggestions about this topic, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comment below!