The Best Cities for Street Food Around the World

Traveling exposes you to many wonderful types of cuisine, but there's something special about grabbing some street food from a stall in a bustling market. Dining at the roadside is an experience that everyone witness. Sure, if you're not used to eating food from a booth on the side of a street, you might think it's unhygienic, but trust us, these are often where the finest dishes are found. The smell of the marinated meat simmering and the noodles getting tossed up; after your first street food meal, you'll find it hard to ever return to the restaurant. Not all places have good street food, so you must choose the right city to give it a shot. So that your first meal goes down a treat, we've listed our 7 favorite cities for street food around the world.

Mexico City

Tacos, Tortas, and all the Chilaquiles you can stomach; that's how every foodie's trip to Mexico City will look. Street food here is tradition; on each corner you take, you'll be met by lines of locals queuing to get their hands on some sort of dish that started from a skewer of Pastor. Some of the best street food is around Centro Historico; it has a more local vibe, so it's the perfect place to expose yourself to the city's culinary scene. Expect salted Elotes, tubs of Agua Fresca, and mountains of Chicharrónes.

Osaka

Tokyo may be the shining light of Japan for dining, but Osaka tops it when it comes to street food. Comfort foods like Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki are in demand wherever you look in the Dotonbori district. Just don't leave without getting your fix of Udon before you go. it won't be long before you spot some vendors serving up some divine stick of Kobe beef. Although pricey for a skewer, it's one of the highest-quality types of beef in the world, so it's totally worth the splash if you're a foodie.

Palermo

You could say Sicilian food deserves to be separated from the entire Italian cuisine; it's so vast and equally delicious. The stuff you find on the streets of Palermo has flavor to rival anything you'd find on the edge of one of the canals in Venice. Where do we start with the street food in Palermo? When you step into markets like Vucciria, you'll get to try all kinds of exotic snacks like crispy arancini and loaded Pane con la milza. If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, a tube-shaped Cannoli stuffed with ricotta will hit just the spot.

Jakarta

Indonesia's capital may get a bad rap for its ridiculous traffic, but if you bear it for just a few days, you'll be treated to some of the tastiest curbside eats on the planet. Between the Nasi Goreng, Sate Ayam, and Siomay, you'll need to be rolled back onto the plane by the time you're finished here. Wherever you go in Jakarta, you'll find good street food; it's easier than choosing a good restaurant to dine in. As a first-timer coming to the city, it's best to head to Fatahllah Square; there are endless stalls here serving up all kinds of mouthwatering Indonesian classics like Soto, Rendang, and much more.

Ho Chi Minh

Home of the Banh Mi, Pho, Mi Quang, and the list goes on; when you're out and about in Ho Chi Minh, one thing you're guaranteed is you'll always eat well. You could spend months in Ho Chi Minh and barely scratch the surface with the amount of dishes on offer. You've got ladies selling Bun Bo Hue down dimly lit alleyways as soon as the sun goes up. When nighttime creeps in, it's all about getting together on the plastic-colored chairs to down one too many Bia Saigon with a delicious serving of Banh Xeo.

Chiang Mai

When you've had your fix of the fiery dishes of Thailand's south, it's nice to give your palate a break and head up to the northern capital of Chiang Mai. The street food markets here are some of the most well-regarded in the country. You can get your hands on some amazing Suki at the Chang Phuak night market. Since you're in Thailand, it would be rude not to have at least one serving of Pad Thai, and boy, there's nowhere like the one you get at the Kalare Night Market. The smoothies there are also to die for, especially the mango; it's like they just picked it straight from the tree and served it to you.

Kuala Lumpur

Only after you visit Malaysia for the first time do you start questioning why nobody else is amping up the food scene here; it's nothing short of extraordinary, especially in Kuala Lumpur. Petaling Street is like a sensory overload. When you first walk down there, seeing all the Laksa and Roti being prepared will make your mouth water. At night, all the action revolves around Jalan Alor Night Food Court, and for good reason: it's easily the best place for eating in the city. You'll be exhausted after all the Banana Leaf Rice, Pisang Goreng, and Kopi Tarik. Kwai Chai Hong is an excellent happy medium if you want to eat somewhere less chaotic than the other two picks. Not only is the street art here easy on the eye, but the street food is fantastic, especially the yummy clay pot chicken you'll see every second person eating.

Visit One of These Cities to Try Some Seriously Good Street Food

There's no better way to experience the local way of dining than by hitting a street food market. Hearing the sounds of the mopeds zoom by while the local vendor loads up the pan with oil to get started on your Singapore noodles is nothing short of magical. Enough watching the endless Anthony Bourdain documentaries about his affinity with street food and book their flights to one of these cities to try it for yourself.