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Iconic Street Foods Every World

Nov 29, 2021

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Travel

Richard Baxter

Eating street food is a not only a great way to eat well on a backpacker‟s budget, it also gives you the opportunity to chat to locals and find out more about the dishes and traditions behind them.There are so many different street foods out there, in every country, region and city. To help you on your foodie quest, we‟ve put together a guide to the most iconic street foods from around the world that you must try – from falafel in Israel to currywurst in Germany – you won‟t believe what you can find for under a fiver. Think of this as a starting point for your culinary explorations. 

Welcome message from author
Food is an absolutely vital part of the travel experience. The key to understanding a place‟s culture and history often lies in its cuisine. While many globetrotters choose to do this by booking a table at a popular tourist trap restaurant, we believe that in order to find the best food in a new place, one often has to take to the streets.
Transcript
Slide 1Overview
Eating street food is a not only a great way to eat well on a backpackers budget, it also
gives you the opportunity to chat to locals and find out more about the dishes and
traditions behind them.There are so many different street foods out there, in every
country, region and city. To help you on your foodie quest, weve put together a guide
to the most iconic street foods from around the world that you must try – from falafel
in Israel to currywurst in Germany – you wont believe what you can find for under a
fiver. Think of this as a starting point for your culinary explorations.
Chimney
Czech
Republic
Trdelník aka “chimney cake” is both a novelty photo opp and a sweet treat all rolled
into one! These spiral-shaped donuts are made by wrapping the batter around a large
spit, which is then cooked over a grill, rolled in sugar and served with lashings of
Nutella. Whats not to love!? Guaranteed to warm your cockles on a cold Czech
morn.
Masala Dosa
in India
The humble masala dosa is indigenous to the Southern states of India and usually
comes served with sambar and chutney. Its cheap, quick and high in carbohydrates.
Perfect for hungry adventurers on the go.
Poutine in
Canada
And just like that, your hangover is cured! Poutine is a lavishly indulgent treat,
originating in Quebec and made up of fries, cheese curds and gravy. It might not be
the first thing that comes to mind when you think of street foods from around the
world, but its not to be missed. The word “poutine” is Québécois slang for a “mess”
but theres no need to worry about how it looks when it tastes this good!
Currywurst in
Germany
Perhaps not the most sophisticated dish by sight but certainly not the wurst
(lolololol). When you first touch down in Germany you need to make a beeline for
this traditional dish, which is essentially a ketchup/curry sauce hybrid with chopped
pork sausage and fries. Supremely tasty and ever so cheap!
Pastel de Nata
in Portugal
Theres nothing raw or clean about these bad boys, but dammit theyre worth
falling off the wagon for. This is Portugals answer to the custard tart and the main
ingredients are sugar, egg yolks and butter. But because theyre not huge, its
probably fine for you to have 3 in one sitting. At least thats what we tell ourselves.
Jerk Chicken
in Jamaica
A smoky staple of the Jamaican street food scene, this iconic dish is traditionally
served from jerk „huts with a side of fiery rice and peas. The name „jerk comes from
the jerking or poking of the meat with a sharp object to get the most out of the
flavour. Youll smell the spicy-sweet marinade over the native pimento wood from
miles around when these bad boys are cooking!
Halo Halo in
the
Philippines
Well, HELLO there halo halo. Definitely one of the most instagram-able street foods
from around the world. Translated into English as “mix mix”, the ingredients are up
for debate but usually consist of shaved ice, fresh fruit, ice cream, a jelly-like object,
a crunchy substance similar to Rice Krispies, and evaporated milk.
Aloo chaat
(South Asia)
Aloo chaat, a dish made with pieces of boiled and fried potatoes mixed with spices
and chutney, is popular throughout South Asia, but particularly so in Pakistan and
northern India, as well as parts of the Indian province of West Bengal and the
Bangladeshi region of Sylhet. Eaten as a snack, a side dish or a light meal, aloo chaat
can vary by region in terms of specific spices and chutneys used.
Bungeo-ppang
(South Korea)
Commonly found on the streets during the winter season, bungeo-ppang is
a Korean pastry made in the shape of a fish and filled with red bean paste. Wheat flour,
baking powder and water (or milk), as well as sometimes eggs, are mixed together to
make the batter, which is then poured into a bungeo-ppang grill, an appliance with a
fish-shaped mold that is reminiscent of the waffle iron. The sweetened red bean paste is
then added before pouring more batter on top and closing the mold until the pastry
comes out golden.
Churros in Spain
One of the naughtiest but also one of the tastiest street foods from around the
world, churros are a MUST for hungry backpackers travelling through Spain. As if
these freshly fried donut sticks werent delicious enough, they come served with the
most divine melted chocolate, either drizzled on top or in a pot for dunking.
Bao (or Baozi)
buns in China
Bow down to the simple bun, or “little eats” as they are sometimes called. The
baozi bun is filled with savoury fillings, such as vegetables or meat, and then
steamed into the perfect combination of soft and sweet. Eating a bao bun is what it
must be like to eat a cloud: fluffy, light and surprising!
Dango in Japan
DANG-O these little Japanese dumplings taste good! Served on skewers and
cooked over an open fire, the dumplings are made of rice flour and served with
everything from sweet chestnut paste to sesame seeds.
Kottu Roti in
Sri Lanka
Youll hear it clanging before you see it. Kottu Roti (meaning chopped bread) has
its origins in Batticaloa, in the east of Sri Lanka and is created by mixing together
flatbread, egg, meat and spices with two blunt metal blades to a rhythmic beat.
Entirely mesmerising to watch, just as satisfying to eat.
Calzone (Italy)
Calzones are actually folded over pizzas and were invented in Naples, like the pizza
itself. Made with salted bread dough that is stuffed with ham, salami or vegetables, as
well as mozzarella, ricotta and Parmesan or pecorino cheese, calzones are baked in the
oven. Regional varieties across Italy exist, with ingredients including typical pizza
toppings as well as foods such as eggs or potatoes.
Crepe (France)
Originating in the French region of Brittany, crepes are a popular thin, pancake-like
pastry popular throughout France, as well as Canada and Belgium. Youll also find the
crepe has quite the following throughout Europe, North Africa and southern South
America, as well as the United States.
Gelato (Italy)
While gelato is the Italian word for ice cream, what some people may not realize
about Italian gelato is that is quite different from ice cream. Made with milk, cream
and sugar and then flavored with nuts, fruit or other flavorings, gelato is much
lower in fat than traditional American ice cream. By Italian law, it must be made of
3.5 percent butterfat (as opposed to the 10 percent butterfat dictated for ice cream
by American law).
Israel
Falafel is now one of the most popular street foods in the world, and can be found
almost everywhere. But the phenomenon was said to be born in Tel Aviv, the coastal
town of Israel. The classic Israeli falafel is a fritter of ground chickpea spiced with
cumin, coriander, paprika, raw garlic, onion, and lots of fresh parsley. So its
essentially a health food, right?!
Ceviche in Peru
One of the freshest street foods from around the world on this list, and a dish so
good it has its own national holiday. If you ever get the chance to try fresh Peruvian
ceviche, do not miss your chance! White fish marinated in citrus juice, spiced with
chilli and served with tortilla chips on the side = PERFECTION!
Baklava in
Turkey
Made from many layers of pastry, oozing with syrup and pistachios and often crafted
from a carefully guarded family recipe, Baklava is one epic sugar rush you MUST
experience when you visit Turkey. A bag of these heavenly parcels is the perfect
accompaniment for watching one of Istanbuls famous sunsets with friends.
Arepas in
Colombia
This famous Colombian staple can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner – making
them one of the most versatile street food dishes out there. Arepas consist of a ground
maize dough and are served with a range of accompaniments, including plantain,
avocado, cheese and tomatoes. Yum!
Bubble tea in
Taiwan
Originating in Taiwan, bubble tea or boba tea consists of creamy tea and chewy
black tapioca balls. Exotic versions include custard pudding, grass jelly and
honeydew. Mind-boggling and very Instagrammable!
Kimbap in
South Korea
Kimbap is South Koreas beloved take on Sushi. Packed onto street carts, kimbap
begins with a sheet of seaweed thats filled with rice, a few pickled veggies and a slice
of egg and then glazed in oil and sesame seeds. A giant, fancy take on a timeless
classic.
Pommes
frites
(Belgium)
Ubiquitous in Belgium are pommes frites, or what we know as french fries. Theres
quite a bit of dispute between France and Belgium as to which country invented this
beloved and delicious snack, but we can say the Belgians definitely know what theyre
doing with their fries. Fried twice and served fresh in a paper cone, the piping hot,
crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside Belgian fries are served with an
impressive variety of Belgian sauces in addition to the expected ketchup and
mayonnaise.
Hong Kong,
and Taiwan)
Generally, it is made by adding tofu to a brine made with fermented milk, meat and
vegetables that sometimes also has Chinese herbs, bamboo shoots, amaranth greens,
mustard greens and dried shrimp. The tofu can be left in the brine for up to several
months, before being cut into cubes. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, it
can be eaten cold, steamed or stewed, but the most popular preparation is deep-
fried. Usually topped with chili sauce and pickled cabbage, it can also be served in
soup or on a skewer after being barbecued.
Takoyaki
(Japan)
Takoyaki, battered golf-ball-sized fritters stuffed with octopus, are another popular
street food in Japan. Made with a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a pan
especially made to shape the snack into a ball, the small, round treat is filled with diced
or minced octopus, tempura scraps, green onion and pickled ginger. The takoyaki are
then brushed with mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce (a sauce similar to Worcestershire)
and then sprinkled with dried shavings of bonito (a type of fish) as well as green laver (a
type of seaweed).
Tanghulu
(China)
Tanghulu is another skewered street treat popular in China, although it is of the
sweeter variety. Also called bingtanghulu, tanghulu is made of candied fruit on
bamboo skewers. Usually consisting of Chinese hawthorn dipped in sugar syrup,
tanghulu can also be coated in chocolate or sesame sprinkles as well, and other fruit
variations have become more popular recently, such as bananas, blueberries, grapes,
mandarin oranges, strawberries, pineapples and more.
Food is an absolutely vital part of the travel experience. The key to understanding a
places culture and history often lies in its cuisine. While many globetrotters choose
to do this by booking a table at a popular tourist trap restaurant, we believe that in
order to find the best food in a new place, one often has to take to the streets.