From Banana cue to Bubble, this is a list of the 20 best street foods worldwide. We’ve listed the street foods with their countries so that you can easily find them during your travel. Remember, these are fast foods you can buy from street vendors and munch them while on the go.
Aloo chaat (South Asia)
Aloo chaat is popular street food in South Asia prepared through different recipes such as Delhi style. This street food is made with fried crisp potato cubes dipped into spicy and sweet chutneys. On top of this, a few other spice powders are added, including curd or pomegranate arils or sev.
Aticucho (Peru)
Anticucho is a Peruvian street food made of tiny pieces of skewed and grilled meat. It comes in the form of a kebab and as tasty as it’s commonly made from beef’s heart. The dish is spiced with garlic, vinegar, and aji pancachile peppers. If you travel to South America, don’t hesitate to grab this street food.
Arepas (Colombia and Venezuela)
On your next visit to Colombia, make sure you grab a fast food popularly known as Arepas. You’ll find this food common in Bogota, and it’s served for breakfast. Arepas are made with thick and round cakes alongside meat or cheese. So, this snack will first be grilled or baked and then flavored with cheese or meat. Arepas are usually thicker than tortillas, and their taste is out of this world.
Asinan (Indonesian)
This Indonesian street food is made by adding vinegar or brine to fruits or vegetable dishes. Asinan means “salty food,” and you’ll find it in restaurants, warung, and in the street. You’ll need some ingredients to make this street food, including terasi, chili, bean sprouts, cabbage, cucumber, and salt. On your next visit to Indonesia, get some Asinan from the street vendors.
Banana cue (Philippines)
Banana cue is a delicious street food made with bananas tossed in brown sugar then deep-fried. They are then joined with a bamboo stick and sold in the streets. Since bananas never go out of season in the Philippines, this dish is always available. Banana cues can be served as an afternoon snack or even as a dessert.
Banh mi (Vietnam)
Banh mi is a Vietnamese street food introduced during the French colonial rule. This dish is made with a slimmer and crispier baguette, a mix of rice with wheat flour. It’s then added a fresh and colorful mix of coriander, pickled carrot, daikon, and meats. The meats could be either chicken or pork belly.
Fish and chips (England)
Fish and chips are popular street food in England, but there’s more to its history. Chips, also known as French fries, trace their roots to France or Belgium. On the other hand, fried fish was sourced from Portugal or Spain. Serving battered fish together with fish dates back to the mid-1800s. The dish was sprinkled with vinegar and salt. It would then be served with mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy, or ketchup.
Calzone (Italy)
Calzones are popular street food in Italy served in small portions by street vendors. This dish is simply a folded pizza flavored with ham, salami or vegetables, mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan, pecorino cheese. Calzones are usually baked in the oven alongside Italian varieties, including typical pizza toppings, eggs, or potatoes.
Bubble Tea (Taiwan)
Bubble Tea originated from Taiwan, and it’s a delicious beverage you wouldn’t want to miss. This street food’s other names include pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, or boba. It includes tapiola balls and other toppings added. The version with ice additions is frozen to provide a slushy consistency. You can then enjoy the delicious drink while on the go.
Gelato (Italy)
Well, Gelato is the Italian version of ice cream, which is way richer and yummy than the common ice cream. This street food is made with milk, cream, and sugar. It’s then flavored with nuts, fruit, or other flavors. Gelato ice cream is required to be 3.5% butternut compared to 10% in American ice cream. As you can, Italian ice cream is more delicious and healthier.
Bhel puri (India)
Bhel puri is a street food of India’s Mumbai origin. This street food is a popular version of chaat snacks put together in minutes. Its ingredients include puffed rice, vegetables, chaat chutneys, Sev, and a tangy tamarind sauce. Bhel puri can be served as an evening snack by street vendors.
Gimbap (South Korea)
Gimbap is a Korean street food spelled as “kimbap.” It’s made of cooked rice together with other ingredients. It’s then rolled into seaweed known as “gim.” Gimbap may be confused as Korean sushi but’s it’s a different dish. You’ll find this snack on the streets, especially near bus stations and in-school picnics. Gimbap can be served as light lunch alongside danmuji and kimchi.
Jerk chicken (Jamaica)
Among the list of the best street foods around the world is Jerk chicken from Jamaica. Its recipe is a hidden secret. Common ingredients include chicken on the bone dipped in an all-spice marinade, thyme, scotch bonnet chilies, ginger, and spring onions. After mixing the spices pretty well, leave the meat to absorb the flavors overnight. It’s then grilled in a pimento wood BBQ. This street food is enjoyed in a beach bar or a prestigious restaurant with rice and a cold Red Stripe beer.
Chili crab (Singapore
Chili crab is a Singaporean dish invented by Cher Yam Tiam in the 1950s. Cher would serve the yummy and spicy crustaceans from a street cart in the small city-state. This dish is served as whole crabs, stir-fried in a sweet and sour sauce of tomato, egg, and chili. You don’t want to miss this yummy Singaporean dish.
Halo-halo (Philippines)
Halo-halo is a direct translation to mix-mix. This is a drink-like dish perfect for cooling you down on a summer afternoon in the Philippines. It comprises a concoction of red beans, coconut, syrup, and fruit. The mixture is usually finalized with ice cream, evaporated milk, and shaved ice.
Bunny chow (South Africa)
Your visit to South Africa wouldn’t be complete without munching Bunny Chow. This popular Durban-dish has an Indian origin, though. It is usually made up of a hollow loaf of bread mixed with a delicious curry comprising chicken or mutton. Make sure you enjoy this South-African dish next time you visit.
Pierogi (Poland)
Pierogi is a common dish all over the Eastern part of Europe. Nevertheless, it’s only in Krakow city that you’ll find a whole festival dedicated to celebrating this delicious dish. The ingredients for Pierogi include dough of flour, egg, water, and salt. When this is mixed well, it’s then shaped into nice shapes. Later on, these shapes are added cheese, potatoes, and meat. The parcels are then boiled then fried with butter later on. No street dish is as delicious as this one.
Pulled pork (North Carolina, USA)
North Carolina boasts of a sumptuous pulled pork dish. The smoked pulled pork is slow-cooked in a rich sauce BBQ to give a tasty meal you haven’t tasted before. Since BBQ is such a serious affair in the USA, expert chefs compete to put the best dishes from their grills. You won’t resist the result of pulled pork presented into a sandwich bun.
Gyro (Greece)
Enjoy munching Greek meat known as Gyro, usually meat (lamb, chicken, or pork). Gyro is cooked on a vertical rotisserie then chopped off to become flatbread. It’s then added tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki sauce, and fries. The spices added to this meat include paprika, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, and dried parsley. Cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, and sumac are also other spices that are added.
Hot dog (United States)
A hot dog is among the major street foods you’ll find in some of the biggest states in the US. The dish is available in the menu of popular stadiums, eateries, and stadiums. Comprising of a cooked sausage set inside a steamed hot dog bun, this snack is delicious. The hot dog has flavors of different condiments according to the eater’s preferences. This can be ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, coleslaw cheese, or chili. You can grab any of the above best street foods at any time.
MORE:
