Street Food - love it or hate it?
Jan 8, 2015 | 8:36 pm
#16
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,424
I am a huge foodie, and I travel to experience the food as much as the culture. 
But what do you think of street food?
Which country or region has the best street food of all?
I reckon South Korea and Japan have some pretty awesome street food, especially the takoyaki and yaki imo from Japan, as well as the hotbap and tteokbokki from Seoul. ^
But what do you think of street food?
Which country or region has the best street food of all?
I reckon South Korea and Japan have some pretty awesome street food, especially the takoyaki and yaki imo from Japan, as well as the hotbap and tteokbokki from Seoul. ^
Jan 8, 2015 | 8:41 pm
#17
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,424
Jakarta and Bangkok are classic street food cities in terms of variety and quantity, and Istanbul, China and South Asia get good marks too.
Wandering through Cairene hinterlands also led to some memorable ful and falafel sandwiches.
Wandering through Cairene hinterlands also led to some memorable ful and falafel sandwiches.
Jan 8, 2015 | 9:00 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 10,033
I love street food. India in particular - chaat, panipuri, vada pav, bhel puri, kati rolls, and any number of things whose name I can't remember or never quite understood. You do have to be very careful, of course, but I've yet (touch wood) to succumb to anything nasty as a result.
Sri Lanka has its wonderful 'short eats' as well - little rotis drowned in pepper, wadi, meat buns, breaded samosas...
Where I work in London, there's a nearby market that has yet to be hipsterified, and has a great selection of subcontinental and Chinese snacks (some of the tastiest dumplings I've had). But then just up the road, there's one that has been - but does manage to sport some interesting stuff (obscure South American snacks seem to be the order of the day...)
Sri Lanka has its wonderful 'short eats' as well - little rotis drowned in pepper, wadi, meat buns, breaded samosas...
Where I work in London, there's a nearby market that has yet to be hipsterified, and has a great selection of subcontinental and Chinese snacks (some of the tastiest dumplings I've had). But then just up the road, there's one that has been - but does manage to sport some interesting stuff (obscure South American snacks seem to be the order of the day...)
I am careful though and eat at certain shops and hawkers. Trick for novice is to try and eat mainly very hot ( temp wise).
Jan 9, 2015 | 12:37 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: EK - Silver; Accor - Silver; O6 - Gold; BAEC - Silver; Flying Blue; SPG; Krisflyer
Posts: 506
LOVE IT!!
Hotdogs & burgers in Rio, NY & Florida; almost anything (even some bugs!) in Thailand; Pho in Vietnam; Takoyaki, oden & yakisoba in Japan; those rice cake & fish sticks in Korea....
I'm drooling right now.......
Hotdogs & burgers in Rio, NY & Florida; almost anything (even some bugs!) in Thailand; Pho in Vietnam; Takoyaki, oden & yakisoba in Japan; those rice cake & fish sticks in Korea....
I'm drooling right now.......
Jan 11, 2015 | 7:08 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Neither here nor there
Programs: UA Slvr, DL slvr, AS tit, HH LTD, MR tit/LTP at least two of those buy 10 get 1 free coffee cards
Posts: 4,744
I love street food!
Dhabba stands in India.
The night market in ZNZ
Fish tacos near any beach anywhere!
The carts in PDX
Bizarrely good hot dog stands in Iceland.
Stuffed mussels in IST.
nom nom nom nom nom..........
Sadly NYC does not have the vibrant street food scene a city its size should have. They basically have the same Halal Meat Over Rice/pretzel/dirty water hot dog stand every other block. There are a few food trucks, (I had empanadas from one yesterday-delicious!) but nowhere near the variety easily found in PDX. I'm told that onerous regulations and stiff competition from restaurants keeps it that way.
Dhabba stands in India.
The night market in ZNZ
Fish tacos near any beach anywhere!
The carts in PDX
Bizarrely good hot dog stands in Iceland.
Stuffed mussels in IST.
nom nom nom nom nom..........
Sadly NYC does not have the vibrant street food scene a city its size should have. They basically have the same Halal Meat Over Rice/pretzel/dirty water hot dog stand every other block. There are a few food trucks, (I had empanadas from one yesterday-delicious!) but nowhere near the variety easily found in PDX. I'm told that onerous regulations and stiff competition from restaurants keeps it that way.
Jan 14, 2015 | 1:03 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 677
I would say best is Malaysia, specifically Penang, as it is very much a part of its culture to hang out with friends at night trying out different hawker stands. There is also good variety as it benefits from influence from Malaysian, Chinese, Peranakan and Indian cultures. Bangkok is also good for its variety though quality is not as top notch as Penang.
Jan 14, 2015 | 11:13 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,595
I'll eat any veggie street food - I would LOVE to go to India and eat nothing but street food!
The ones I miss most tho are the baked potato man who used to have a mobile oven, and sold them in the market near where I lived in the UK (soooooo good), and pommes mit mayo at silly o'clock in the morning in Germany after rolling out of a bar.
The ones I miss most tho are the baked potato man who used to have a mobile oven, and sold them in the market near where I lived in the UK (soooooo good), and pommes mit mayo at silly o'clock in the morning in Germany after rolling out of a bar.
Jan 14, 2015 | 3:35 pm
#25
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,424
Speaking of which, I had to go to Dongguan (Southern China) for work, and walked into a 7-11. There seemed to be a small contingent of Ghanaian expats, one of whom ran a baked potato store. He said his Chinese wife was trying to introduce locals to the concept too.
Jan 14, 2015 | 4:41 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,356
Taiwan has a huge street food culture. Grilled squid, chicken, stinky tofu, steak . I can't get enough.
China also has great street food. Xian's Halal BBQ sticks are great as well as the various meat on a stick where it is better you do not ask what meat it is so that vendors don't have to lie to you.
I have had various street food in dozen or more different Chinese cities, all have a local flare to it but none have disappointed.
China also has great street food. Xian's Halal BBQ sticks are great as well as the various meat on a stick where it is better you do not ask what meat it is so that vendors don't have to lie to you.
I have had various street food in dozen or more different Chinese cities, all have a local flare to it but none have disappointed.
Jan 14, 2015 | 5:12 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 10,033
I'll eat any veggie street food - I would LOVE to go to India and eat nothing but street food!
The ones I miss most tho are the baked potato man who used to have a mobile oven, and sold them in the market near where I lived in the UK (soooooo good), and pommes mit mayo at silly o'clock in the morning in Germany after rolling out of a bar.
The ones I miss most tho are the baked potato man who used to have a mobile oven, and sold them in the market near where I lived in the UK (soooooo good), and pommes mit mayo at silly o'clock in the morning in Germany after rolling out of a bar.
Alas will be a few months before I an return.
