Sightseeing in another country can work up an appetite. To satisfy hunger cravings in the middle of the afternoon and to get a taste of what people in foreign lands really eat, buy some street food. These items are cheap and safe to eat as long as you choose a busy vendor who is using a clean stall. Globalization and multinational fast food corporations are giving street food vendors serious competition. Who knows how long street food culture can survive? Deliberately avoiding street food would be missing an unforgettable part of the travel experience. Be bold and try something new!
Brazil – Pão de Queijo
These golf ball sized cheese buns are a popular breakfast food in Brazil, and they can be bought from street side vendors and snack bars anytime. They're made with tapioca or cassava flour, and are dense, chewy, and addictive.
Canada – Poutine
It's might not be good for your heart, but your taste buds won't mind. This dish is a sloppy but delicious concoction of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Poutine originated in Quebec but it's available all over Canada from street vendors and in greasy spoon establishments.
China – Baozi
Stalls selling dumplings with minced pork and chives in the center are everywhere in China. From Hong Kong to Beijing and just about every city and town in between, these snacks are inexpensive. Depending on the region they can be stuffed with vegetables, chicken, red bean paste, or sweet yellow custard.
Egypt – Koshari
This North African country is better known for its historical monuments than street foods. But, Egyptian vendors have had time to perfect this simple dish made with rice, lentils, pasta, and spicy tomato sauce. The portions are huge and can keep tourists going for hours.
Germany – Currywurst
Street food isn't as visible in Germany as in other countries, but this snack is an exception. Pork sausages are covered with ketchup and given an extra kick with curry powder. It may be served with a portion of fries. This goes quite nicely with a pint of beer.
India – Pani Puri
Indian cities are full of street vendors selling these puff pastries filled with mashed potatoes, diced onions, bean sprouts, chickpeas, and yogurt. This mixture is accentuated with classical Indian flavors combining tamarind, coriander, mint, and cumin.
Indonesia – Nasi Goreng
All Indonesians, rich and poor, eat this in great quantities. Fried rice is cooked with garlic, soy sauce, and shallots, and then topped with a fried egg. Nasi goreng is served with prawn crackers and there are countless variations of this dish to suit individual palates.
Japan – Yakitori
Bite sized portions of grilled chicken are skewered and then grilled over charcoal. The meat is covered with either salt or a sweet, teriyaki-style glaze containing rice wine and sugar. In Tokyo and Osaka there are restaurants specializing in yakitori, and these places are invariably crowded with hungry office workers. Yakitori stalls can be located near train and subway stations.
Malaysia – Laksa
For a nice taste of this country's cuisine, grab a big bowl of curried soup infused with coconut milk, prawns, thick noodles, chilies, and lemongrass. This is a popular dish in nearby Singapore.
Thailand – Som Tam
There are many variations of this dish, but the basic ingredients are the same. Shredded green papayas, tomatoes, garlic, chili, fish sauce, lime juice and palm sugar are skillfully combined with a mortar and pestle. What people get is the right combination of spicy, sweet, salty and sour flavors.
These are easy to find if you're planning to visit any of those countries. Find the long lines at the busiest stalls, try to see what the locals are ordering and get the same thing. Street foods are often better than what's offered in restaurants and with much lower prices it's hard to complain.
Scott Hayden - Since joining Suite101 in early 2007, I've contributed articles about travel, history and health. My speciality is writing about workplace ...
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