Our 11 best street food destinations

If you like to travel and live like a local, then discover the best street food destinations we have selected. How can you best immerse yourself in the local gastronomy during your holidays? How can you enjoy flavors from elsewhere at an affordable price? Tasting a typical, traditional, and popular dish will let you enjoy the authenticity of the place while making your mouth water.

Mixing customs and conviviality, you will only be delighted to blend in with the locals' rhythm.

So food lovers, take note and expect a few surprises and above all, delicious memories... World cuisine enthusiasts, get your taste buds ready!

#1 Bangkok, probably one of the best street food destinations

Street food is a real institution in Bangkok. It's hard to list all the dishes, so just let yourself be tempted as you stroll by the enticing smells of the local markets.

Here, you can eat outside at any time, so it won't be hard to find a street vendor, especially in tourist spots but also in markets. From breakfast to dinner, including fresh cut fruit and fried insects, the choice is varied and the flavors are there.

During your tailor-made trip to Thailand, you will discover the most typical dishes including Pad Thai, stir-fried noodles with shrimp, a must-try. As for fish lovers, you can try Pla Pao, grilled on the barbecue and flavored with lemongrass.

Fancy something sweet? Many choices are available, including a skewer cooked in front of you, a squid, Fish Ball, with beef, pork, or chicken. A noodle soup or a Tom Kha Kai soup made with coconut milk will delight your taste buds.

Finally, for dessert, mango lovers will be thrilled, Mango sticky rice are absolutely delicious and are served on sticky rice.

(c) zenobresson – pixabay

#2 Singapore

The concept of street food is different here because it is more regulated than in other Asian countries, but it has just as much charm. The stalls are grouped in Hawker centers, you eat very well there and at affordable prices. The city-state offers many outdoor food courts, the stands are varied and you have the possibility to sit down! Malaysian cuisine is obviously appreciated in Singapore, Rojak is a fruit and vegetable salad with tofu, shrimp, and spicy sauce.

A must-try, the chicken satay skewers, marinated chicken to dip in a peanut-based sauce. A real treat! Fans of spicy food, let yourself be tempted by the chili crab, very tasty and meaty, a crab served in a tomato and chili sauce. Finally, you can't miss the chicken rice, fried rice served with chicken, more basic, but still effective.

(c) Akharis Ahmad – Unsplash

#3 Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnamese cuisine is undoubtedly among the best street food destinations in the world, offering many flavors and a variety of products. During your tailor-made trip to Vietnam, you will have the opportunity to enjoy your dishes with locals, sitting on small plastic chairs while enjoying the hustle and bustle of Hanoi's streets.

You probably know Pho, traditional Vietnamese soups made with fish or beef, a real treat! Let yourself be tempted by a Banh Mi, a sandwich that wonderfully blends French and Vietnamese cultures, made with fresh vegetables that you can accompany as you like and enjoy with chopsticks. Finally, the famous Bo Bun, made with vermicelli, soy, and beef with coriander accompanied by nems, is an explosion of flavors.

(c) Frida Aguilar Estrada – Unsplash

#4 Tokyo, Japan

We all know Yakitori, famous Japanese skewers, and the inevitable sushi and sashimi. You will quickly notice that the Japanese are very fond of street food, hence the variety of products.

Among many other dishes, the Ramen soup, a very popular noodle soup. You will also be surprised by the diversity of crepe stands, all just as appetizing, especially Okonomiyaki, to be garnished to your taste with pork or shrimp, an egg, and lots of cabbage. A small variation of crepes, the waffle or Taiyaki, shaped like a fish and filled with cheese, chocolate, or custard. Finally, don't miss the Ikayaki, grilled squid skewers, a delight!

(c) K KAZUHIKO – pixabay

#5 Mumbai, India

The street vendors of Mumbai will quickly make your mouth water, here flavors mix with colors. Vegetarians will be delighted to try the Vada Pav, a vegetarian burger mixing potato flavors and a variety of spices, all accompanied by a chutney sauce. The very popular Bhelpuri is a dish made with puffed rice accompanied by vegetables and spicy sauce, fans can add coriander. As you can see, Indian street food will make you travel with its variety and diversity of spices. Learn more.

(c) photos_pixels – pixabay

#6 Amman, Jordan

The capital of Jordan will take your taste buds on a journey. The famous Falafel, a street food staple made with chickpeas and spices, will surprise you and is suitable for vegetarians. Of course, you will find kebabs, lamb meat sandwiches, and not just any, fans take note, let yourself be tempted!

Finally, why not a Baklava for your dessert? Very popular in Jordan, this sweet dish made with nuts, pistachios, and honey is ideal to crown your meal.

(c) NauticalVoyager – pixabay

#7 Istanbul, Turkey

Let's move past the kebabs, in Istanbul you will find a wide variety of breads, among them the Simit, a small sesame bagel, and Pogaca, savory buns plain or filled with olives and cheese. A little culinary curiosity, found mainly on the banks of the Bosphorus, the Balik Ekmek, a mackerel served in bread, accompanied by lemon and onions. A delicious and original dish.

(c) muzafferdolek – pixabay

#8 Portland, United States

Portland is the reference city in the United States for street food and food trucks. A very varied and cosmopolitan choice. You can enjoy tacos, burritos, tagines, as well as pizzas and vegan sandwiches. So you are spoiled for choice!

A tip, try the Schnitzelwich, a Czech sandwich made of pork and ciabatta bread with lettuce, onions, and horseradish sauce. In short, not really local colors but rather exotic!

(c) Iris van den Broek – shutterstock.com

#9 Honolulu, Hawaii

If you are lucky enough to spend your holidays in Hawaii, try the local specialty, Spam Musubi, a strange mix of Japanese and American cuisines, a real taste of the Pacific. Composed of a slice of spam, a kind of pork corned-beef placed on rice, all wrapped in nori, a dried seaweed, it's rather special, but very local!

After the beach or a surf session, enjoy a Shave Ice, a local crushed ice very refreshing and topped with fruit syrup.

(c) Brent Hofacker – shutterstock.com

#10 Cartagena, Colombia

If you pass through Colombia, take a look at the local gastronomy, at any time of the day, starting with arepa de huevo, a real institution in the country, which is even celebrated every year during the festival del Frito Cartagenero.

A small fried corn flour fritter filled with egg and beef, it's an ideal snack to wander the city's streets. You can also try the cheese version, arepa con queso, made with mozzarella.

(c) LMBrauer – shutterstock.com

#11 Mexico City, Mexico

A little rule to keep in mind with Mexican street food, don't hesitate to say "poquito" when they offer you salsa sauce, unless you are a fan of very spicy dishes... The tacos are delicious, go for it without hesitation, a tortilla with beef, vegetables, egg... as you like. A real local dish! The quesadillas, large tacos, can be accompanied by cheese, just specify, "con queso".

(c) pixel1 – pixabay

You have just discovered our small selection of the 11 best street food destinations around the globe.

So you understand, street food, fast and inexpensive cuisine, is part of the heritage of many countries, so don't hesitate to bring back picturesque and delicious memories... Let yourself be tempted by all these savory and sweet specialties to enjoy without moderation!