The 10 Greatest Cities for Street Food

The chief adviser to Bangkok’s governor, Wanlop Suwandee, has since said he was misquoted, though it seems likely that stricter regulations will be imposed on the city’s ubiquitous food vendors.

Bangkok has a long association with street food, which is consumed with gusto by locals and tourists. The city’s al fresco restaurants are often rudimentary affairs – food is typically served with little fanfare on plastic tables and chairs by the side of a busy road, but it rarely disappoints. 

Here are nine other great cities for street food:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

From Texas to Tallinn, street food has become increasingly fashionable around the world, but in Kuala Lumpur, as in Bangkok, roadside dining is a way of life.

The setting itself is often not that salubrious – think plastic chairs, plastic tables and the occasional whiff of a nearby drain – but the food, a mash-up of Indian, Chinese and Malay, usually does the talking. 

If there’s one dish you must try... nasi lemak: rice cooked with coconut milk, and served with fried anchovies, sambal (spicy sauce), slices of cucumber, boiled egg and fried ground nuts.

Marrakech, Morocco

Every night, Marrakech’s famous square, Jemaa el Fna, is transformed into a bustling food court, where pop-up restaurants serve cheap local dishes of varying quality – it helps to know a local.

“Before you go for some food, watch the hawkers hastily set up their stalls from Le Grand Balcon du Cafe Glacier, which has wonderful views over the square,” recommends Telegraph Travel’s Gavin Haines.

If there’s one dish you must try… the fish from kiosk No. 14, which serves small plates of fried seafood (calamari, sole, shrimp, etc.), alongside homemade chips, dips and salad.

Beijing, China

One of the street food capitals of Asia, Beijing’s bustling markets and labyrinthine hutongs are home to thousands of kiosks, serving anything from dim sum to deep-fried scorpion (which is only generally eaten by tourists).

The authorities in Beijing have also cracked down on street food vendors in recent years, but roadside dining is alive and well down Wangfujing Snack Street, Guijie Street and Longfusi Snack Street.

If there’s one dish you must try… jianbing: the ultimate Chinese breakfast, this early morning staple is made from fried egg, fried onion and a special sauce, which is wrapped inside a crepe.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh has a similarly strong claim to street food fame, but for the team at Telegraph Travel Hanoi just pips it. For the best food head to the city’s charming old quarter, which is packed with people slurping steaming bowls of pho noodle soup.

If you do find yourself in Ho Chi Minh with a rumbling stomach, the local staple is a crispy savoury pancake called banh xeo, which can be found at kiosks across the city.

If there’s one dish you must try… pho: a savoury soup made from beef broth, rice noodles and meat (chicken or beef), which is garnished with handfuls of fresh herbs and a generous squeeze of lime.

Hong Kong

Asia’s dominance in this list continues with Hong Kong, which is so famous for roadside dining that Michelin launched a section dedicated to street food in its latest guide to the city.

If you don’t follow the guide, follow your nose, which will likely lead you to famous foodie hotspots such as Temple Street Night Market, Sham Shui Po and Graham Street. 

If there’s one dish you must try… sweet and sour pork. Sure you’ve had this Hong Kong speciality before, probably in your local Chinese restaurant, but nothing compares to eating the real thing.

Istanbul, Turkey

There are 14 million odd mouths to feed in Istanbul, whose inhabitants are famous for their love of a bargain. Fertile ground then for a thriving street food scene, which is one of the highlights of a visit to the city.

Hungry diners should head to Istiklal Caddesi – considered to be the “heart and stomach” of Istanbul – and the surrounding streets where appetites can be sated for a few lira.

If there’s one dish you must try… simit: Turkey’s take on the bagel, this sesame-crusted bread is dipped in molasses and best eaten straight out of the oven.

Mexico City, Mexico

You haven’t had proper Mexican food unless you’ve been to Mexico. And for the best introduction to this country’s vast culinary offerings, the capital city is probably the best place to start. Or, more specifically, Distrito Federal, which sates the appetites of millions of diners every week.   

Here hawkers serve everything from fresh fruit and cold beer to quesadillas and crispy “cow head” tacos (which are, as the name suggests, stuffed with meat carved from the steamed head of a cow).

If there’s one dish you must try… tamales: a traditional breakfast dish made of dough, which is steamed in a banana leaf and filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables or anything diners fancy.

Port Louis, Mauritius

Infused with French, Creole, Indian, Chinese and even British influences, Mauritian cuisine is a triumph for the tastebuds – if you were visiting for sandy beaches and limpid shores, you may end up biting off more than you can chew. Literally.

Street food stalls abound in the capital, Port Louis, where diners can quaff their way through delicious tropical fruits, fiery curries and British-style cakes, as well as myriad other dishes.

If there’s one dish you must try… bol renverse: a delicious Sino-Mauritian dish consisting largely of rice, served with pork, chicken or fish, fresh vegetables, a fried egg and oyster sauce.

Tokyo, Japan

Japan’s capital has more Michelin stars than anywhere else in the world, but it’s not all haute cuisine. Cheaper eats are available from the city’s venerable street food vendors, known locally as yatai.

There is a sense of occasion about street food in Japan and yatai tend to spring up around events (of which there are many in Tokyo) rather than establishing a permanent home. They are worth waiting for, though.

If there’s one dish you must try… okonomiyaki: savoury pancakes filled with meat, seafood and vegetables. They are typically topped with mayonnaise, dried flakes of tuna, seaweed paper, ginger and a sweet vegetable sauce.

By Alamy/ The Telegraph