Street food is a dynamic, immersive way to experience the local cuisine of a country. Street food around the world is richly diverse but fueled by a universal desire: inexpensive, fulfilling fare that provides instant delight. Around the globe, you can discover quick, creative culinary creations that range from hearty fried fare to decadent desserts. To the Japanese, street food means fried octopus balls called takoyaki. Street food in Mexico includes fresh and savory tostadas and tamales, while in Spain, you can enjoy deep-fried dough sticks called churros. For those with a sweet tooth, Italian street food offers soft, creamy gelato. The team at How Long To Cook Calculator has created a visual guide to what street food looks like around the world to celebrate the delicious diversity offered by street vendors, food booths, and more:
Here are some examples of street foods around the globe that are beloved and celebrated by both locals and visitors:
Indian street food — Aloo chaat (fried potatoes with spices and chutney)
Japanese street food — Takoyaki (fried batter balls with octopus, onion, and ginger)
Jamaican street food — Jerk chicken (spicy grilled chicken with sweet spices and hot peppers)
Greek street food — Souvlaki (marinated strips of meat served in a wrap with tangy yogurt)
French street food — Crêpes (thin pancakes with hazelnut spread or jam)
Venezuelan street food — Arepas (soft, thick corn patties with savory fillings)
Chinese street food — Jianbing (savory crepes with ham and chili or hoisin sauce)
Brazilian street food — Picanha (barbecued beef seasoned with salt and pepper)
Singaporean street food — Chili crab (stir-fried crab with spicy sauce)
South African street food — Bunny chow (bread bowl filled with curry)
South Korean street food — Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes with red pepper sauce)
Filipino street food — Halo-halo (crushed ice and milk dessert with sweet toppings)
Thai street food — Pork satay (skewered meat slices marinated in coconut milk and spices)
American street food — Pulled pork (saucy shredded barbecued pork slow-cooked over wood)
Vietnamese street food — Banh mi (baguettes filled with meat and topped with spicy chili sauce or mayo)
What city has the best street food? Many world travelers agree that Bangkok, Thailand, earns this prestigious culinary honor. In 2018, city lifestyle publication TimeOut named Bangkok the street food capital of the world, with more people eating on the street here than anywhere else (an average of 42 times a year). What are some of the best Thailand street food options? Aside from the pork satay we noted in our street food guide, the Michelin Guide has a list of ten Thai street food dishes to try and where to find them. On that list, you will find khao krapow gai kai dao (rice with chicken, basil leaves, and fried egg), pad thai goong sod (flat, chewy rice noodles with pork, tofu, peanuts, and prawns), and bamee giew moo dang (soft egg noodles with minced pork wonton, slices of barbecued pork, and mustard greens).
| Food | Description |
|---|---|
| Choripán
Argentina | Grilled chorizo sausage on a crusty roll with chimichurri sauce |
| Snag
Australia | Barbecued sausage on a slice of white bread topped with grilled onions and ketchup |
| Hot jam doughnuts
Australia | Crispy, deep-fried doughnuts with a soft center filled with jam, served hot |
Liège waffle
Belgium | Rich, sweet, chewy waffle with chunks of pearl sugar that caramelize on the outside when baked |
| Picanha
Brazil | Barbecued fatty beef seasoned with black pepper or rock salt |
| Pong tea khon (balut)
Cambodia | Fertilized duck embryo boiled and eaten straight from the shell; may be seasoned with salt, chili, and pepper |
| Jianbing
China | Crepes filled with a variety of sauces like chili or hoisin, ham, mustard pickles, scallions, and coriander |
| Yóutiáo
China | Deep-fried dough sticks often served with soy milk or bean porridge |
| Poutine
Canada | Thick fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds |
| Arepa
Colombia and Venezuela | Soft, thick maize patties that are filled with meats, cheese, eggs, avocado, or other vegetables |
| Trdelnik
Czechia | Dough grilled over coals on a stick, then rolled in a sugar and walnut mix |
| Crêpes
France | Thin pancakes cooked on a large pan or skillet, often served with chocolate hazelnut spread or jam |
| Taamaya
Egypt | Fried fava bean fritters flavored with leeks, onions, coriander, parsley, cumin, and sesame seeds |
| Souvlaki
Greece | Marinated strips of skewered meat, often served in a wrap with tangy yogurt, onions, tomatoes, and greens |
| Rellenitos de platano
Guatemala | Deep-fried oblong balls filled with sweet mashed plantains, refried beans, chocolate, and cinnamon, topped with sugar or honey |
| Baleada
Honduras | Tortilla filled with refried beans, crema, and crumbled queso duro (salty hard cheese) |
| Egg waffle
Hong Kong | Waffles made with sweet, egg-rich batter cooked on a hot griddle, crispy on the outside and pillowy within the pockets. Popular flavors include chocolate, green tea, ginger, and strawberry. |
| Lángos Hungary | Deep-fried flatbread eaten fresh and warm, topped with sour cream, cheese, ham, or garlic butter |
| Kati roll
Bengal, India | Grilled meat kebabs wrapped in paratha bread, often seasoned with chutney and onions |
| Vada pao
Maharashtra, India | Deep-fried potato dumpling sandwich served with chutneys and green chili pepper |
| Bakso
Indonesia | Firm, dense meatballs (usually beef) often served in a bowl of noodle soup |
| Dürüm
Turkey | Flatbread wrap with fillings such as spiced meat (usually lamb), topped with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, herb yogurt, and hot sauce |
| Laboo
Iran | Steaming hot sweet beets, popular in the fall and winter and often enjoyed with yogurt |
| Breakfast roll
Ireland | Bread roll filled with traditional fried breakfast staples such as sausage, bacon, black pudding, butter, mushrooms, tomatoes, hash browns, eggs, and brown sauce |
| Gelato
Italy | Soft, light frozen dessert; classic flavors include pistachio and stracciatella |
| Mitiei
Romania | Grilled ground meat (beef and lamb) rolls mixed with spices such as garlic, black pepper, thyme, coriander, anise, and paprika, served with mustard |
| Suppli
Rome, Italy | Fried rice balls with ground beef, tomatoes, and mozzarella |
| Jerk chicken
Jamaica | Spicy grilled chicken flavored with allspice, thyme, nutmeg, onions, brown sugar, and Scotch bonnet peppers |
| Tamagoyaki
Japan | Rolled omelet often served as a sandwich with white bread and mayo |
| Takoyaki
Japan | Pan-fried batter balls filled with octopus, green onion, and ginger |
| Mofu anana
Madagascar | Fried bread balls filled with chopped greens and tomatoes, served with hot sauce |
| Tamale
Mexico | Corn dough dumpling wrapped in a corn husk or banana leaf with fillings including mole, salsa, chicken, poblano chilis, tomatoes, or onions |
| Tostada
Mexico | Toasted or deep-fried tortilla with toppings such as beans, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, tuna, or shrimp |
| Tagine
Morocco | Thick, savory stew named after the earthenware pot it is cooked in, made with meat, fish, vegetables, nuts, and spices such as ginger, cumin, and saffron |
| Kapana
Namibia | Meat grilled on an open fire, cut into small pieces with a machete and served with a chili sauce made with onions, tomatoes, and spices |
| Pickled herring
Netherlands and Norway | Pickled herring served with onions and pickles |
| Crayfish
New Zealand | Boiled crayfish served with garlic, butter, and lemon |
| Anticucho
Peru | Beef heart kebabs marinated in vinegar, garlic, cumin, and aji pepper |
| Banana cue
Philippines | Deep-fried bananas coated in caramelized brown sugar, served on bamboo sticks |
| Halo-halo
Philippines | Crushed ice and condensed milk dessert topped with an assortment of goodies such as ube, sweet beans, coconut strips, yams, pinipig rice, and fruits |
| Pierogi
Poland | Dumplings fried in butter and filled with meat, potatoes, or cheese |
| Pastel de nata
Portugal | Flaky egg custard tart dusted with cinnamon |
| Chebureki
Russia | Deep-fried turnover filled with minced meat and onions |
| Chili crab
Singapore | Stir-fried crab drenched in a rich, spicy sauce |
| Bunny chow
South Africa | Hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry |
| Aloo chaat
South Asia | Crispy cubed potatoes tossed with sweet and spicy chutney, spices, coriander leaves, and lemon juice |
| Tteokbokki
South Korea | Spicy rice cakes drenched in a spicy red pepper sauce called gochujang, often tossed with fish cake, cabbage, scallions, and garlic |
| Odeng
South Korea | Skewered rice cakes, often served in a steamy broth |
| Churros
Spain | Deep-fried dough sticks rolled in cinnamon sugar, often dipped in thick hot chocolate |
| Tunnbrödsrulle
Sweden | Grilled sausages wrapped in flatbread; usual condiments include mashed potatoes, shrimp and mayo salad, onions, lettuce, ketchup, or mustard |
| Fried taro balls
Taiwan | Chewy, lightly sweet taro (purple sweet potato) balls served over shaved ice or warm dessert soup |
| Pork satay
Thailand | Thin meat slices marinated in coconut milk and spices, skewered and grilled over charcoal and served with tangy achat (pickled cucumber salad) |
| Simit
Turkey | Round breakfast pastry generously coated in sesame seeds |
| Banh mi
Vietnam | Baguettes with fillings such as pork belly, grilled chicken, sausage, pork liver pate, and canned sardines in tomato sauce, often topped with spicy chili sauce or mayo |
| Pulled pork
North Carolina, United States | Shredded barbecued pork shoulder slow-cooked over wood and mixed with sauce, served on a thick bun with crunchy slaw and pickles |