If you’re a foodie who loves to travel, there are few things more exciting than visiting new places and sampling as many dishes as you can. While going to a restaurant for a sit-down dinner can be fun, many of the best meals can be found on the streets, whether they’re from pushcarts, holes in walls, or pavement vendors.
Plus, street food is often heralded as the most exciting food experience you can have, and it can be one of the best ways to get to know a new city or country. So, if you want to sample some of the world’s best street food, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 15 of the best travel destinations for delicious street food. And, if you’re looking to book your next trip, you might want to check out our top travel deals page, suitable for a range of budgets.
1. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Known for being one of the best cities in the world for street food, Ho Chi Minh City is home to some of the most delicious dishes you can imagine. As you stroll along these energetic streets you’re soon greeted by mouthwatering aromas of freshly baked baguettes, which are then stuffed with meat or tofu, pickled veggies, zingy sauces, and fresh herbs, and served up as a banh mi.
Pho noodle soup is Vietnam’s national dish, and the fragrant wafts of broth are another constant on the streets. Sit on a plastic stool on the pavement like the locals to slurp up these steaming noodles, or grab a box of com tam – broken rice with veg and protein – to eat on the go. Another plus is that the street food here isn’t only fresh and delicious, it’s also incredibly cheap.
2. Cartagena, Colombia
Colombia’s Cartagena is known for its colonial beauty and stunning Caribbean coastline, but this characterful city also boasts delicious street food. The local favourite is arepas, which are a type of cornbread stuffed with cheese, meat, vegetables, beans, or eggs, then spread with butter and cooked until golden and crisp.
Arepa carts can be found all over the city, and the plazas are packed with stalls and food trucks. If you love seafood, be sure to try tangy ceviche, which comes served in little cups and smothered in sauce. Meat lovers will also be spoilt for choice, as you’ll find skewered meat and chorizo sizzling on open grills. Or, for something light, you can pick up some fresh mango from the countless fruit carts.
3. Osaka, Japan
If you’re a fan of Japanese food, you might be dreaming of going to Tokyo – but Osaka is actually the culinary capital of Japan. From grilled meats to unique sweet treats, the city’s distinct street food culture is endlessly exciting, and while you can find delicious dishes and snacks all across the city, it’s the vibrant Dotonbori district that really acts as a street food safari.
Alongside the flashing neon signs are street food vendors serving up local delights. Try okonomiyaki, a pancake dish stuffed with shredded cabbage and smothered in sauce; or kushikatsu, which is battered, fried meat on skewers. If you have a sweet tooth, you can also pick up taiko-manju – crisp, tender cakes filled with red bean paste or custard – from the many street stalls.
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4. New York City, USA
New York City is a cultural melting pot, and its street food scene is no different. If you want to eat your way around the world but don’t have the time or budget for a world tour, then a trip to the Big Apple is the next best thing. In the crowded streets of Chinatown, the carts sell spicy noodles, bao buns, steamed rice rolls, and satisfyingly squidgy dumplings.
Fans of Mexican food can’t leave the city without picking up tacos, quesadillas or crispy corn tortillas from a taco truck, and sampling a hot dog (meat or veggie!) from one of the many vendors is a rite of passage. Some of the best pizza in the city comes from hole-in-the-wall joints, while if you’re craving something sweet, the waffle stalls will hit the spot.
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5. Marrakech, Morocco
Wandering around the labyrinth-like streets of Marrakech can overwhelm the senses and, as you stroll, all kinds of tantalising smells will drift past you. In the evening, Jemaa el-Fnaa square is packed with stalls selling various Moroccan delicacies, and no matter your diet or taste preferences, you’ll find something to whet your appetite.
Aside from the ubiquitous tagine, you can feast on msemen or meloui, which are pancakes hot off the grill, and stuffed with onions and spices or drizzled with honey. Meat lovers will want to try the popular northwest African lamb sausages – known as merguez – or, if you’re feeling brave, why not try snails or sheep’s head? Alternatively, veggies will love harira, which is a humble soup made from tomatoes, lentils, and chickpeas.
6. Mexico City, Mexico
If you’re a fan of Mexican food but have never been to Mexico, then you’re in for a serious treat. The food here is incredibly flavoursome and moreish, and the use of indigenous ingredients and methods results in tastes that are almost impossible to experience anywhere else. Street food is delicious and authentic all around the country, but it’s best in the capital.
Even the simplest taco stand here has fresh masa (maize dough) tortillas and all kinds of zingy salsas and toppings. Often eaten for breakfast, tamales are also made from masa, filled with beans or meat, then wrapped and steamed in a corn husk. Elotes – corn on the cob smothered with chilli, cheese and mayo – are a popular late-night snack, while churros are the ultimate sweet treat.
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7. Sicily, Italy
Italian food is celebrated all around the world, and you can find fresh, flavoursome street food in just about every Italian city. While Rome may seem like the obvious choice, Sicily might just pip it to the top place. Not only do the street vendors here serve up traditional Italian classics like pizza and focaccia, but they also serve up dozens of authentic Sicilian delights.
Arancini are the most popular street food snack here, and these breadcrumbed rice balls are stuffed with meat, cheese, or veg, and fried until crisp. Panelle are delectable chickpea fritters, while pani ca meusa is a sandwich made with fried calf’s spleen and topped with cheese. Aside from boasting the best gelato in Italy, Sicily is also home to the decadent cannoli; a dish of crisp pastry tubes filled with ricotta.
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8. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok’s street food scene is undeniably one of the world’s best, and the vendors and carts that line the streets here are impossible to avoid. From first thing in the morning to late at night, you’ll find tourists and locals feasting on local delights, whether it’s tucking into a bowl of pad thai on a plastic chair or grabbing exotic fruits like mangosteen and durian to eat on the go.
The sois – short roads or alleys – are home to vendors selling wonderfully tasty satay dishes, while the smell of prawn noodles fried in an open wok may lure you around the corner. Papaya salad, fried rice, and stir-fried meat with basil can be found on almost every street, while vegans must try the sweet, creamy bean curd and soya milk dish that’s popularly eaten for breakfast or dessert.
9. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most beautiful cities – and it’s also an incredibly exciting destination if you love street food…particularly if you like hearty meat-based dishes. The country’s population is a diverse mix of European, African, and Amerindian people, and this mix of cultures has found its way to the food, which fuses together all kinds of exciting flavours.
There are countless vendors serving up fried cod cakes, which are a reminder of Brazil’s Portuguese heritage, while acarajé with vatapá – bean and onion cakes stuffed with shrimp and coconut milk – are a nod to its African roots. The beaches are great spots to pick up churrasquinho meat skewers and pao de queijo cheese bread, while tapioca crepes and chocolate churros are delicious desserts.
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10. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul is a mecca for street food, particularly the Karakoy and Ortakoy neighbourhoods – though there are street stalls and markets dotted throughout the city. The most commonly eaten street food is probably simit, a circular bread that’s like a cross between a bagel and a pretzel, covered in sesame seeds and then dipped in molasses.
Lahmacun – Turkish pizza – is another good snack to grab on the go, as are borek pastries, which are made from filo pastry and stuffed with spinach and feta, meat, or potatoes. If you like kebabs, pick up a durum on a street corner; these are wraps stuffed with spiced meat and veg. Balik ekmek – smoked mackerel sandwiches – are also popular, but leave room for some sticky baklava!
11. Lima, Peru
Peru is widely considered to serve the best food in South America, so it’s no surprise its capital, Lima, is a street food hotspot. Peruvian cuisine traditionally contains a wide range of ingredients, and when combined with immigrant influences, it’s incredibly unique and innovative. Lima is the birthplace of ceviche, which was inspired by Peru’s Japanese immigrants, and is fresh, spicy, and salty.
Papa rellenas are potato croquettes filled with beef, onions, and spices, while anticuchos are grilled meats on a skewer, most commonly made with cow’s heart. Butifarra sandwiches are found on carts throughout Lima, and contain ham, salad, and a sweet onion relish called salsa criolla. If you have a sweet tooth, try picarones – Peruvian doughnuts made from squash and sweet potato flour!
12. Port Louis, Mauritius
It might not seem like an obvious choice, but the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, is another cultural melting pot that offers a dizzyingly diverse array of street food. The cuisine here is a mix of African, Indian, French, and Chinese, and the best street food can be found on the beaches and backstreets of the colonial capital, where food trucks set up tables.
The dholl puri is possibly the favourite street snack; similar to a roti, it’s filled with spiced yellow split peas and cooked on a griddle. Split peas are also used in gateaux piments – fried chilli cakes – while boulettes are Chinese-Mauritian dumplings you eat on stools on the street. The deep-fried breadfruit – which is rather like plant-based chicken nuggets – is tasty too, as are the sweet potato cakes!
13. Mumbai, India
If you’re a fan of Indian cuisine, most of India will be a foodie paradise for you – but Mumbai is the culinary capital, and the street food here draws heavily from all the unique regions in India. There are thousands of food stalls all over the city, serving dishes inspired by the spicy north to the sweeter, milder south. The stalls don’t all have signs, so if you’re unsure what to order, copy the locals!
Some of the most popular dishes include vada pav – potatoes seasoned with chilli, garlic, and herbs – and biryanis. However, bhelpuri – puffed rice and veg in a tangy tamarind sauce – is another favourite, and if your taste buds need cooling off, a sweet and refreshing mango lassi is the perfect remedy. But save room for malpua pancakes and firni, which is a luscious caramel custard!
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14. Hong Kong, China
And finally, there’s Hong Kong. In this heaving, electric Chinese city, the locals are perhaps even more excited about the street food scene than the visitors, and you’ll find long queues for food stalls and hole-in-the-walls winding down the street. The food here is delicious and dynamic, and there are all the classic Cantonese-Euro dishes you’d expect…as well as some more adventurous ones!
No visit is complete without trying cheung fun; a rice noodle roll that’s smothered in sesame seeds and spicy sauces. Most vendors also sell delightfully springy fishballs, which, despite the name, are made mostly with flour. Pineapple buns and egg tarts are another must-try if you want something sweet – and if you’re daring, there’s pig intestine and fermented bean curd to try too!
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Final thoughts…
There are so many reasons why street food has become so popular with tourists in recent years – and why so many restaurants back home try to replicate it.
Not only is it convenient, fresh, and usually seriously cheap, but it’s also delicious. By seeing what the locals are eating and chatting with the street food vendors as you wait, you also get to experience a more authentic side of a destination’s food scene.
While street food was once seen as a simple snack, it’s now considered an essential part of the travel experience, a wonderful way to enjoy the tastes and smells of a new cuisine while learning more about the culture and history of a destination.
Whether you’re dreaming of exploring Latin America or are drawn to Southeast Asia, the good news is that there’s all kinds of delicious street food out there – and something for every palate and dietary requirement too.
So, if you’re looking for a gastronomical adventure, we hope you’re feeling inspired. Travel is a great way to tantalise your tastebuds while indulging your wanderlust…the world really is your oyster!
For more travel inspiration, why not check out our article; 12 of the best foodie destinations around the world. You can also head over to the travel section of our website or browse the latest travel deals using the button below.
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Have you been to any of the destinations on this list – and if so, what did you think of the food? Or do you have your own recommendations for the best travel destinations for delicious street food? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!