Top 5 destinations for delicious street food
Forget the hotel buffet – be bold and head to the streets for some authentic eats.
1. Hong Kong
When the illustrious Michelin Guide (the same people who award the Michelin stars) launch a street food edition in a city, you know it’s got to be good. Hong Kong street food is legendary, with vendors all over the city selling dim sum, egg tarts, noodles, fish balls, grilled squid, stinky tofu and lots, lots more. Find one of the unofficial outdoor food courts set up near the city’s markets and settle in for some serious eating.
2. Mexico
Mexican food here tends to be restricted to overly cheesy nachos or a lackluster burrito. In Mexico, you’ll discover a whole new world of flavour. There are endless varieties of tacos filled with beans, pork, beef and more, soft steamed tamales, crispy carnitas (meaning ‘little meats’) and freshly squeezed juices. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even grab a cup of fried grasshoppers.
3. Penang, Malaysia
Penang is the undisputed street food capital of Malaysia and the roads are practically paved with food trucks. Even your drinks are portable, served in a plastic bag with a handy raffia string to carry them. Try spicy laksa, warm roti canai (flat bread) served with satay sauce, skewered meat grilled over an open flame and flavourful nasi lemak (rice) served in a banana leaf.
4. Paris, France
As the original home of fine dining, Paris has been a little slow to adapt to the street food movement. Not anymore. Now you can grab bulging sandwiches and gourmet burgers on the go, delicate French crepes prepared right in front of you or an endless array of fresh pastries. As one of the world’s most multicultural cities, you can sample street food from every corner of the globe – think Brazilian black beans, Middle Eastern shwarma and kebabs or Thai noodle boxes all within a few blocks of each other.
5. Marrakesh, Morocco
Morocco has been at the cultural (and culinary) crossroads of Europe, Africa and Arabia for centuries. On the streets, you’ll find a delectable mix of these foodie traditions just waiting to be tasted. Crusty bread cooked in a communal oven is used to sop up delicious fava bean soup or spicy sardines. Mini chicken kebabs cook over smoky coal fired and slices of eggplant are fried in spicy smoked paprika batter. And, of course, you can’t go past the endless cups of sweet mint tea that you will find at every turn.
Have you tried food at any of these destinations?