Famous Street Food Around The World

Discover Culture Through Popular Street Foods

You don't need to visit every museum, read every book, or tour every local craft bazaar to get a potent taste of what makes a culture unique. But you do need to try its food. Apart from simply tickling the taste buds, food is a window into a country's past, traditions, agriculture and even hospitality culture. Exploring a country through food can be done in a wide range of ways. It means settling in at a five-star restaurant to enjoy a seven-course dinner of local delicacies. It means sharing a meal with new friends at someone's house and soaking in the warmth. It means hitting up a fast food joint that, surprisingly, has a completely different menu than the one you're used to back home. And of course, it means wandering the streets, inhaling the rich aromas of food stalls and trying freshly made snacks you've never heard of.

Indeed, there's a reason the best street food in the world is also some of the best food in the world, period. Street food is typically sold by vendors in the street, at a park, or in the middle of another public place, from behind a portable food cart, truck or booth. Unlike buying groceries from a market, street food is ready-to-eat and meant to be consumed immediately, making it perfect for satisfying those instant cravings on vacation.

It might sound counterintuitive to seek out food prepared by street vendors rather than duck into a restaurant that may be steps away, but there are several reasons to choose street food over more traditional fare. It's often cheaper than food in a restaurant, not to mention infinitely more efficient if you're looking for a quick bite as you wander around a new city or town. Street food is also cooked right in front of you, which, apart from being fun to watch, also ensures that it'll be fresh and piping hot. It's also a more social experience to bite into street food. Rather than sitting at a table and being formally served by a waiter, you'll be face to face with the chef, who will likely be happy to discuss their food at length.

It's hard to imagine tasting all of the popular street food around the world, though with the many ports on the Ultimate World Cruise itinerary it's certainly the most ideal way to start your best foodie vacation. On your cruise around the world, you'll hit the Americas, including Mexico, several Caribbean islands, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and more countries throughout South and Central America. You'll even see Antarctica, though you probably shouldn't expect a great street food scene there.

From the Americas, the Ultimate World Cruise travels to many segments including the Asia-Pacific region, where you'll hit Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, India and more. This region famously has some of the best street food in the world, so you'll want to take full advantage of all the unique options before visiting the Middle East and Europe.

From the Americas to Asia, this is the best street food around the world.