Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Cities Globally for Street Food and Local Cuisine

Spanning the Indian city of Kolkata to the local shores of Malaysia, as well as the deep warmth of Istanbul in Turkey, here is our complete guide to the best cities for mouth-watering street food and local cuisine.

Food is an emotion. While it is exhilarating to savour gourmet dishes at fine dining restaurants and classy outlets, sampling spicy street food from roadside stalls is truly a soul-satisfying experience. Wondering where to head for your next food adventure? Our list of global cities with the best street food in the world is all that you need. From crispy flavourful appetisers to soulful comfort meals and delectable desserts, our list caters to every sort of street food lover. Get ready for an exciting gastronomic experience with our ultimate food guide.

Asian cities with the best street food in the world

We have broken down the list of street food in the world region-wise and country-wise so that you enjoy the food read without getting into clutter. Explore these popular global cities curated for ardent street food lovers.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong may be known for its exquisite gourmet cuisine and glitzy fine-dining restaurants, but it’s the street food that grabs our attention. From apPetisers like Stinky Tofu and roasted chestnuts to Siu Mai (dumplings) with curry fish balls, Cheung Fun (rice noodle rolls) and egg waffles, Hong Kong is one of the best cities in the world for tasty street food. Visit places like Fa Yuen Street, Kweilin Street, Causeway Bay and Dai Tsuen Street to savour authentic local delicacies at popular outlets.

India

A true blue street food lover will surely be spoiled for choice in India. Food is a significant part of India’s cultural tapestry, and its many cities serve the best street food in the world. Whether it is sampling Mumbai’s staple Vada Pav, Misal Pav or Keema Pav, or savouring the aromatic Biryani and melt-in-mouth Kebabs in Lucknow, the choices are plenty. The list of street food is incomplete without Delhi’s Chole Kulche, Chaat, and Parathas or Kolkata’s Jhal Mudi and Phuchka. Juhu Chaupati in Mumbai, Aminabad in Lucknow, Chandni Chowk in Delhi and Palk Street in Kolkata offer unforgettable gastronomic experiences.

Malaysia

Planning a trip to Malaysia and wondering which cities to bookmark for delicious Malay street food? We have you covered. From the glitzy capital Kuala Lumpur to the coastal gem of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia is a haven for seafood connoisseurs, especially if you are seeking delicacies made using fresh produce. Add Ipoh, Malacca and Penang to your foodie bucket list. Some of the delicacies to try are Nasi Lemak (flavourful coconut rice alongside spicy sambal topped with a boiled egg), Penang Asam Laksa (tangy fish soup served with rice noodles and fresh herbs), and Ipoh Hor Fun (a smooth noodle soup topped with shredded chicken and prawns). Jalan Alor and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman are two of the best places in Kuala Lumpur for street food.

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Singapore

A perfect blend of diverse Asian cuisines including Malay, Chinese, Indonesian, and Indian with a slight hint of Western iNFLuence, Singapore food is an amalgamation of different cultures. While the city-state is known for rice dishes and noodles, it boasts a rich culinary scene comprising seafood and meat preparations too. Often referred to as the unofficial national dish of Singapore, the Hainanese chicken rice is one of the most wholesome street foods you can eat, apart from the crowd-favourite Laksa (a traditional Peranakan dish). Other gustatory delights to try in Singapore include chilli crab, fish head curry, the savoury fried carrot cake, Char Kway Teow (wok-fried noodles), Bak Chor Mee (minced meat noodles) and Satay (meat on skewers). Explore Chinatown, Tanglin Road, East Coast Road, and Bedok South Market and Food Centre for yummy street food in Singapore.

Thailand

Bangkok is one of the best cities for street food enthusiasts not just in Thailand, but in the world too. Foodies swear by the delightful food available along the streets of Chiang Mai. While gorging on Pad Thai (stir-fried rice noodles), Kuay Teow Reua (Thai boat noodles), Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (Thai green chicken curry), Khao Neow Mamuang (sticky mango rice) and Roti Gluay (fried banana pancakes) is a must in Bangkok, dessert lovers can sample Bualoy (rice balls in sweetened coconut milk) and Khanom Beuang (crispy tiny pancakes filled with cream and coconut) in Chiang Mai. Some of the best places to tantalise your tastebuds in Chiang Mai are Chang Phuak – North Gate, South Gate Market and Nimmanhaemin or Nimman.

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United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Talk of street food in the world and you can’t possibly miss Middle Eastern destinations, especially UAE’s treasured gems like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While Dubai may be known for expensive gourmet meals, its street food scene is par excellence with dishes like Shawarma, cheese potato Omani chips parotta, Falafel or crispy chickpea fritters, bun kebab and Manakish (Lebanese pizza) to its credit. Some iconic places for street food in Dubai include Downtown Dubai, Global Village, Al Mateena and Muraqqat streets, Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Safa Street. Some delicacies to try in Abu Dhabi are Halawet el-jibn or sweet cheese, Kibbeh (a type of patties), Knafeh (a desert similar to baklava), Luqaimat (sweet deep-fried dough balls) and Manakish za’atar (herb bread). Check out our selection of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai.

European cities with the best street food in the world

France

France is a haven for dessert lovers. From Crêpes to Pain au chocolat, foodies with a sweet tooth are sure to be spoiled for choice. Don’t miss the simple non-vegetarian snack, grilled sardines. While Paris is emblematic of romantic Parisian cafes and restaurants, its street food scene is a lively one. Head to the 6th Arrondissement, dotted with cosy eateries like Chez Le Libanais, Classico Argentino and Cosi, serving some of the best street food in the world. Other French cities known for street food are Toulouse, Lille, Marseille and Lyon. If you are a wine connoisseur, look no further than Bordeaux. Pair your wine with scrumptious seafood while navigating through the lanes of the beautiful city. Check out Parisian baking gems with our guide to the best French bakeries in Paris.

Italy

An Italian culinary journey is incomplete without savouring authentic melt-in-mouth pizzas and pasta, irrespective of the stereotype. From Bologna’s Lasagna Verdi or Tortellini to Palermo’s special eggplant preparations like Parmigiana Di Melanzane, there are numerous options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians in Italy. While Rome is the hub for street food, other cities include Florence, Cagliari, Sorrento, Genoa and Naples. Some of the culinary highlights at these places include Panelle Alla Ceci (deep-fried chickpea batter fritters inside buns), Carciofa Alla Giudea (deep-fried artichokes) and Florentine steak, a T-bone grilled with olive oil and herbs. While exploring top street food in the world, find out about the various types of eateries in Italy.

Spain

If you are contemplating a trip to Spain and pondering what food to try, we have you covered! Add Logroño for tapas or apPetisers, Oviedo for cheese-based dishes, Madrid for roasted items, Seville for Iberico ham, San Sebastian for pintxos or light finger snacks, and Valencia for seafood. And if you wish to savour a bit of everything in one place, Barcelona is your place. Bookmark these areas for your foodie adventures in Barcelona — La Boqueria Market, Mercat de Santa Caterina, Palo Alto Market and Van Van Market. From burgers to tacos and Spanish cakes, Barcelona is a foodie’s paradise, offering some of the tastiest street food in the world.

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Germany

It is indeed true that we swoon over German bakes, but Germany’s speciality is beyond the oven. Some of the iconic street food items to try in Germany include Kartoffelpuffer (German potato pancakes), Frikadeller or Danish meatballs, Brathering (traditional fish dish), Nuremberg’s Drei im Weggla (a type of sandwich), Berlin’s Currywurst, Bavarian pretzel, Schleswig-Holstein’s Fischbrötchen (a type of burger). Often referred to as the haven for street food lovers in Germany, Bavaria is a must-visit, especially for the delectable Germknödel or sweet dumplings filled with plum jam. Travellers with a sweet tooth take note!

Turkey

Besides the Turkish haMMAms and intricate architecture Turkey offers sumptuous cuisine too, that matches the top street food in the world.  When you visit Turkey, do not forget to explore the street food scene in Istanbul and Izmir. You can head to Taksim Square in Istanbul for dishes like Simit (a type of American bagel), Balık-Ekmek (fish sandwiches), Lahmacun (Turkish pizza), Dürüm (a meat roll), and Tavuk Pilav (rice with meat). From Boyoz, a Turkish pastry of Sephardic Jewish origin, and Gevrek (a type of simit) to Söğüş or cold cuts and the sweet dish Lokma, Izmir is primarily known for its food, especially the Kemeraltı neighbourhood, popular for authentic Turkish cuisine.

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African cities with the best street food in the world

Morocco

Want to sample the best mouth-watering street food in the world while on your Moroccan holiday? Add Marrakech and Fez to savour some of the best street food in the world. Being one of the most ancient cities in Morocco, Fez’s culinary scene is extremely rich with delicacies like Khili (a type of sun-dried meat), Chebakia (a type of deep-fried pastry), Bissara (a staple vegetarian dish in Fez), and Msemen (small square pancakes). While you are in Marrakech, explore Jemaa el Fna, the hub of street food. Some of the dishes to try include Tagine (slow-cooked stew), Baghrir pancakes with a Moroccan Twist, and the pretty unusual snail soup.

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This story first appeared on Travel+Leisure Asia