From a hot dog in New York City to a taco in Mexico, street food can easily make an impression on a growling stomach and not on your wallet! Street cuisine is as much a part of the local culture as the people and if you want to feel like a local your curiosity can pay off. Sweet or savory, small snack or full meal, the variety alone can be a draw for anyone adventurous whose on unfamiliar turf. Here’s a round-up of what to look for in a few popular destinations.
New York City, NY: Street food on wheels
Food trucks have recently gained popularity and for good reason. They offer quality food at low prices and they can show up in any location surprising the lunch crowd. If you want to know what’s good, look for the long lines or just ask around. There are even apps for tech savvy foodies to keep track of their favorite trucks and we’ve even seen tweets from vendors announcing their location of the day making it easier to find them. The best part is the endless variety of international, fusion, and even quirky cuisine (Chicken and waffle ice cream from the Kool Haus ice cream truck?). Some trucks focus on full meals with sandwiches or barbeque and others on dessert like ice cream sandwiches and cupcakes. This is such a hot trend at the moment that the Food Network has gotten into the act with a show called The Great Food Truck Race.
Mexico City, Mexico: El Snacktacular
Street food in Mexico isn’t limited to tacos and burritos (although they’re available and super tasty). The third largest city in Latin America in terms of hungry residents boasts all kinds of meals, some with bold flavors like arepas, which are breads or patties made of flour or cornmeal and stuffed with meat or cheese. Empanadas, a baked or fried pastry stuffed with meat or seafood, are another favorite on-the-go food. What’s great about Mexican street food is how “snacky” it is. You can grab a couple tacos with different fillings and if you’re still hungry, then try something else from another vendor. If you love pork, the almighty chicharrones, or pork cracklings, washed down with a Mexican soda like Jarritos will keep you satisfied as you amble around the Zocalo.
www.ediblegeography.com/eating-the-street
Madrid, Spain: Tapas Bars and the Walk
Now this isn’t exactly “street” food, but the idea of tapas is to taste many small meals, as if you were on the street and you’ll actually be moving ahead on one street as you continue so it’s pretty much the same thing. It’s a popular practice for Spaniards to go to their favorite tapas bar after work, order a few with some vino or cava then proceed to another tapas bar down the street. Leave it to Latinos to socialize in such a spontaneous way before having dinner which typically doesn’t begin until 11 pm in Spain. This unusual routine has been gaining popularity in places like New York, Ireland and the UK but the biggest difference here is that you have a roof over your head while eating (and usually a full bar). Sitting isn’t encouraged, in fact, most people stand as they eat. Tapas can be cold dishes like olives or sardines as well as hot ones like fried calamari or chorizo sausage cooked in wine.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas#Common_Spanish_tapas
Tokyo, Japan: Savory Noodles and Skewered Meats
We all know that the most popular Japanese food is sushi, but walk the streets of Tokyo and you’ll see stands that prove what’s popular with the locals. Ramen, or broth with noodles, is street food that’s also considered comfort food. There are restaurants that specialize in this dish, but there are also numerous street vendors that have regulars. It’s tough to eat this meal on the go so vendors provide seats for juggling the bowl of hot broth which can be pretty dangerous. If you want something more ambulatory, then look for some Yakitori. These are seasoned skewered meats that are cooked over high heat. Yakitori vendors offer chicken breasts or thighs, but they also have livers and kidneys. Dumplings are also popular pick-up-and-go foods but for adventurous types, try the Takoyaki – small hunks of octopus lightly battered, fried and drizzled with special sauce.
www.frommers.com/slideshow/index.cfm?group=311&p=11
If your street food discoveries have hit the heights in your travels, we’d love to hear what’s delectable out there and how we can look forward to our next mobile meal.
www.travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/street-food-photos
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