Eating on a Budget: Street Food Adventures Around the World
Street food exists in the US but we typically don’t associate the type that we have as in the same realm as street food around other parts of the world such as South America or Asia. Many view street food as these completely bizarre and off-putting delicacies such as snakes or bugs. They picture walking through the hustle and bustle of crowded souks and bazaars with various unfamiliar aromas wafting through the air. If you travel and decide to try street food for yourself, you’ll see that it’s often not as stereotypical as you may believe. Oftentimes, street food in other countries is very similar to American street food, like how these fried doughnuts I had on the beach in Rio are similar to funnel cake at an amusement park somewhere in the US.
Benefits of Eating Street Food While Traveling
Travelers can benefit in many different ways when it comes to eating street food abroad. For one, it’s very affordable and allows you to connect with the local culture without spending too much on a meal experience. You’ll also be able to get an insight into the daily life of the locals. For instance, as a pho lover myself (it’s my favorite meal EVER!) I didn’t realize until I went to Vietnam that pho is viewed as a breakfast meal in the country.
Street food is often very accessible for the average traveler as well. Instead of having to pre-plan restaurant reservations or scheduling transport to various locations, street food offers you the opportunity to get a quick meal often within a few steps of your accommodation.
From Peru to Vietnam: My Best Street Food Finds
During my first trip to South America I visited the cities of Lima and Cusco in Peru. Lima is known as the food capital of South America and once I visited I could see why. I had never had Peruvian food before I went and it blew my expectations away. The food, especially the street food, was absolutely incredible and the flavors are something that I think every traveler should experience for themselves.
The dishes that captured my particular interests were picarones and mazamorra morada. Picarones are these sweet doughnuts that I first had on a street food tour I scheduled in Lima. They were one of the last bites that I had on the tour and the flavoring was delectable. They are made right in front of you so they’re still steaming hot when you get them.
I also had mazamorra morada on the tour and the flavors of it come from fruits and a purple corn from the region that make a wonderful flavor. The particular one that I had was mixed with rice pudding which helped balance out the powerfully sweet texture of the mazamorra morada itself. It was also made to order so I had it as fresh as it possibly could be.
Moving on to the other South American country that I’ve visited – Brazil! In Salvador, Brazil I was in the Pelourinho district, which is the popular tourist area, and in the center of the square there was a man with a little stand who was selling these cups of this coconut lime concoction. The drink was SO good and had the group of 30+ students and staff I was traveling with crowded around the stall runner to buy some juice.
Vietnam is another great location for foodies to travel to. When I was there one of the standout dishes I had was Bahn Mi. I tried out a few different places but really enjoyed the one I had in Hoi An called Bánh Mì Phượng. The place is the most popular one in the city because a few years ago Anthony Bourdain visited it for his show No Reservation and said it was the best Banh Mi in Hoi An. My expectations were set high because of Bourdain’s fame and the food most definitely met expectations.
How to Eat Safely and Deliciously
If you’re in a country where food hygiene isn’t practiced properly, I would suggest doing some research on hygiene practices in the area to avoid foodborne illnesses. I got sick from food poisoning ELEVEN times in two months of traveling in Southeast Asia. If I had been more diligent and careful about what and where I ate I would’ve saved my body some of the trouble that I had to go through.
If you eat meat, consider going vegetarian or more plant-based while you’re traveling in certain countries. When I was in South and Southeast Asia I saw a lot of butchers who would leave their meat out in 100+ degree weather with no sort of refrigeration system and flies circling it. I believe that the meat is what got me sick so many times in Southeast Asia so be wary.
I would also suggest researching what restaurants and stands in the area have been suggested by other tourists or Westerners. The bacteria that they’re exposed to is most likely more similar to yours in comparison to the locals so you’re more likely to see if a certain places food is unsafe for tourists or not.
Conclusion: Bringing the World’s Street Food to Your Kitchen
Overall, the choices I’ve made when traveling to try out the local street food led me to some amazing discoveries. I know have been able to return home and recreate some of the dishes I tastes while abroad. If I hadn’t tried local street food during my travels, I’d have missed out on the rich diversity and flavor that makes each culture’s cuisine unique.