BiziBB
Sep 2, 07, 8:15 am
Care to share your best street food/hawker/stall and other good fresh and tasty cheap eats in SE / N. Asia?
For your consideration or discussion, here are a few from sometning I was just reading - there are LOTS of missing places but these tend to be popular for the local palate here. :)
'Best' Asian Street Eats (http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,23483,22327874-27983,00.html)
1. Pulau Penang, Malaysia
The newest street in Penang to convert to night market dining is called New Lane - be sure to try the Hong Kong duck.
2. Bangkok , Thailand
Bangkok's tradition of floating markets can still be experienced. In among the chaos of fresh produce and tin pots you will always find a few boats doing more cooking than paddling.
3. Hanoi, Vietnam
In the old quarter, the local tastes are reflected in street dining. Vietnamese food is light and fresh, yet generous in flavour. Some flavour sensations not found anywhere else in the world include freshly steamed river crabs served with fresh limes and chillies, roll-your-own spring rolls with catfish and herbs and - my personal favourite - "bun cha", seasoned fillets of flame-grilled meat dropped into fish sauce then poured over soft rice noodles. Freshly squeezed lemon juice with soda water on ice is a cleansing and refreshing drink while you eat.
4. KL, Malaysia
THE hawkers' markets in Kuala Lumpur offer innovative Malay cuisine blended with influences of the Hokkien and Hakka people of China. Expect to find exotically balanced dishes such as char koay teow (quick fried flat rice noodles), nasi lemak (coconut rice topped with savoury treats and sambals), hokkien char mee (fried egg noodles with pork, squid and fish cake) and the always satisfying curry laksa (coconut-based soup with tofu, shrimp and thin noodles).
5. Skuon, Cambodia (Spiders)
AS A general rule I try not to eat anything that has more limbs than I do. About 70km north of Phnom Penh is Skuon, a town famous for its produce market and freshly fried spiders. The locals harvest a particular species of ground-dwelling tarantula and cook them with garlic or chilli.
6. Phuket , ภูเก็ต Thailand
EVERY evening as the sun starts to fade an army of mobile pancake stalls appear on the streets of Phuket's most popular beachfront locations. The pancake is more akin to Indian roti, but it's the style and delivery that make a Phuket pancake special. Tasty fillings are slipped into the layers while being cooked....For savoury fans, the tuna and egg version is divine.
7. Kuching, Malaysia
...spoiled for choice when it comes to hawker stalls, night markets and open-air food courts. Like most Asian cities the best street eating is found in laneways surrounding the fresh produce market. It was there I experienced the world's best laksa. The other not-to-be-missed item on the streets of Kuching is roti canai.
8. Xian, China
...the street scenes of the Muslim Quarter...Narrow lanes are jammed tight with tables and chairs, while stalls sell tasty Xian noodles and deep fried sweets...lots of grilled skewers, hotpots and an endless supply of green tea.
9. Yangshuo, China
Yangshuo in southern China rests on a bend of the Lijiang River. The freshwater fish of the region have earned a reputation among the Chinese for their subtle flavour. The speciality of the Yangshuo night market is "beer fish", a steamboat-style whole fish preparation that uses chillies and beer to bring out natural flavours.
10. Hong Kong
On the Kowloon side of the harbour, the night-time frenzy of Jordan and Temple streets offers even better dining than shopping. Take a short walk off the main bazaars and you'll find dozens of crowded footpaths overflowing with freshly served seafood and the cheapest beer in the city. Sometimes the menus have a smattering of English so you can try your luck with intriguing items such as "affluent prawns" and "glutinous fish".
11. Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Night Food Market, north of Tha Prae Gate, is true to the local style - a rambling collection of stalls that fill the air with smoke, steam and sensational aromas. The speciality in Chiang Mai is the spicy sausage, a rough looking creation served with papaya salad and chillies in lime. Finish off with fruit shakes made with freshly squeezed juice and ice to satisfy the need for something sweet and cool.
For your consideration or discussion, here are a few from sometning I was just reading - there are LOTS of missing places but these tend to be popular for the local palate here. :)
'Best' Asian Street Eats (http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,23483,22327874-27983,00.html)
1. Pulau Penang, Malaysia
The newest street in Penang to convert to night market dining is called New Lane - be sure to try the Hong Kong duck.
2. Bangkok , Thailand
Bangkok's tradition of floating markets can still be experienced. In among the chaos of fresh produce and tin pots you will always find a few boats doing more cooking than paddling.
3. Hanoi, Vietnam
In the old quarter, the local tastes are reflected in street dining. Vietnamese food is light and fresh, yet generous in flavour. Some flavour sensations not found anywhere else in the world include freshly steamed river crabs served with fresh limes and chillies, roll-your-own spring rolls with catfish and herbs and - my personal favourite - "bun cha", seasoned fillets of flame-grilled meat dropped into fish sauce then poured over soft rice noodles. Freshly squeezed lemon juice with soda water on ice is a cleansing and refreshing drink while you eat.
4. KL, Malaysia
THE hawkers' markets in Kuala Lumpur offer innovative Malay cuisine blended with influences of the Hokkien and Hakka people of China. Expect to find exotically balanced dishes such as char koay teow (quick fried flat rice noodles), nasi lemak (coconut rice topped with savoury treats and sambals), hokkien char mee (fried egg noodles with pork, squid and fish cake) and the always satisfying curry laksa (coconut-based soup with tofu, shrimp and thin noodles).
5. Skuon, Cambodia (Spiders)
AS A general rule I try not to eat anything that has more limbs than I do. About 70km north of Phnom Penh is Skuon, a town famous for its produce market and freshly fried spiders. The locals harvest a particular species of ground-dwelling tarantula and cook them with garlic or chilli.
6. Phuket , ภูเก็ต Thailand
EVERY evening as the sun starts to fade an army of mobile pancake stalls appear on the streets of Phuket's most popular beachfront locations. The pancake is more akin to Indian roti, but it's the style and delivery that make a Phuket pancake special. Tasty fillings are slipped into the layers while being cooked....For savoury fans, the tuna and egg version is divine.
7. Kuching, Malaysia
...spoiled for choice when it comes to hawker stalls, night markets and open-air food courts. Like most Asian cities the best street eating is found in laneways surrounding the fresh produce market. It was there I experienced the world's best laksa. The other not-to-be-missed item on the streets of Kuching is roti canai.
8. Xian, China
...the street scenes of the Muslim Quarter...Narrow lanes are jammed tight with tables and chairs, while stalls sell tasty Xian noodles and deep fried sweets...lots of grilled skewers, hotpots and an endless supply of green tea.
9. Yangshuo, China
Yangshuo in southern China rests on a bend of the Lijiang River. The freshwater fish of the region have earned a reputation among the Chinese for their subtle flavour. The speciality of the Yangshuo night market is "beer fish", a steamboat-style whole fish preparation that uses chillies and beer to bring out natural flavours.
10. Hong Kong
On the Kowloon side of the harbour, the night-time frenzy of Jordan and Temple streets offers even better dining than shopping. Take a short walk off the main bazaars and you'll find dozens of crowded footpaths overflowing with freshly served seafood and the cheapest beer in the city. Sometimes the menus have a smattering of English so you can try your luck with intriguing items such as "affluent prawns" and "glutinous fish".
11. Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Night Food Market, north of Tha Prae Gate, is true to the local style - a rambling collection of stalls that fill the air with smoke, steam and sensational aromas. The speciality in Chiang Mai is the spicy sausage, a rough looking creation served with papaya salad and chillies in lime. Finish off with fruit shakes made with freshly squeezed juice and ice to satisfy the need for something sweet and cool.