Countries With Some Of The World’s Best Street Food

When we think about food and traveling, it’s hard not to think of one specific kind of cuisine: street food. Ironically, street food is there for on-a-whim snacks, yet it’s often where you’ll find some of the best cuisine a city has to offer. Heck, there’s even a few street food vendors with Michelin stars. Street food is famous for its authenticity, low price, and its ability to bring people together—everyone walks the city streets and everyone gets hungry, so there’s no discrimination here. 

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So have you ever dreamed of eating your way around the world? Hop on a plane and check out one of these countries first. They’re by no means the only places around the globe to get some life-changing food from a humble street vendor, but they’re among the best.

Singapore

Singapore and street food go together like spicy chili and ginger—in fact, you’re bound to get a lot of those flavors in this tiny Southeast Asian nation. Hainanese chicken rice doesn’t look like much, but it’s a fragrant staple with poached chicken and spicy, gingery flavors. For something to warm you from the inside out, get a bowl of Katong laksa from a street vendor. This creamy, coconutty noodle soup is famously fiery and packed with fresh seafood.

Mexico

Although we’re no strangers to Mexican food here in the U.S., it’s nothing like what you’ll find on the streets of Mexico City. Tacos al pastor—with slow-cooked pork, pineapple, onion, and cilantro—is easily the most iconic dish off the street. Unlike our quesadillas in the cheese-loving U.S., those from a Mexico City street cart often forgo dairy in favor of anything from mushrooms to squash blossoms to any kind of meat you can think of. 

Thailand

You can’t talk about street food without bringing up Thailand, especially Bangkok. Pad thai is the most well-known for those of us in the West, but if you visit this tropical country, don’t overlook the other fast, spicy dishes you can order off the street. Pad kra pao stir-fry with plenty of basil, chili, and garlic is one of the country’s go-tos for a quick bite, while mu ping—marinated pork on a skewer served with sticky rice—is a popular choice for breakfast. Late into the night, when the city really shines, a bowl of hot and sour tom yum soup will help lull you to sleep.

Japan

If you’re going to Japan for the first time, you’ll probably first want to sit down at a sushi counter. But on the way to your sushi feast, grab some takoyaki: little fried dough balls filled with octopus and covered in zesty sauce. On the way back, indulge in some sweet, chewy rice dumplings served on a skewer known as dango. If noodles are your vice, the street food noodle dish to get here is Yakisoba—wheat noodles stir-fried in a savory sauce with veggies and meat.

Vietnam

In America, we know and love the pho at our neighborhood Vietnamese joint, but it’s probably nowhere near as fresh and flavorful as what you’d get on the street in Hanoi. Snack on a banh mi, Vietnam’s version of a hoagie for lunch, and come night time, grab a plate of bun cha. This is a Hanoi street food classic made with strips of fatty, charcoal-grilled pork over rice noodles and greens with a side of sauce for dipping.