5 of the World's Best Places for Street Food

One of the best ways to experience the culture of a place is through its food. Just hit the street stalls to get a taste of time-honored traditions and a slice of local life. With culinary travel exploding in 2015, Holiday Lettings helps me serve up street food ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner around the world.

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Barcelona

Photo credit: Katherine Price (license) via flickr.com

What to eat
You might instantly think of tapas when someone mentions street food from Barcelona, but there’s so much more to it than that. Start your day the Spanish way with churros – a deep-fried choux pastry delight that’s sprinkled in sugar then dunked in chocolate sauce. For lunch, why not try a butifarra, a traditional Catalonian pork sausage, in a hearty stew of mixed beans and chorizo. And for an indulgent dinner, go for the suquet – a wonderfully aromatic fish stew made with saffron and almonds.

Where to find it
Although Las Ramblas can be expensive, it won’t feel like Barcelona until you’ve wandered along it to watch the street performers and try some tapas. For fresh produce at reasonable prices, La Boqueria market is a feast for the senses and not to be missed. Walk around the Old City in the evening and you’ll find independent food sellers carrying baskets full of empanadas, hot dogs, popcorn and even beer.

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Singapore

Photo credit: Kimon Berlin (license) via flickr.com

What to eat
I can personally vouch for this – the people of Singapore like to eat. Passed down from generation to generation with Indian, Malay, Thai, Japanese and Chinese influences, Singapore cuisine is one of the most sophisticated in the world. Join the locals in Chinatown and have dim sum (dumplings) for breakfast. Try a spicy laksa soup made with noodles and coconut milk for lunch. And if you’re feeling adventurous, dinner could be curried fish heads cooked in tomato, onions and tamarind.

Where to find it
Happily, hawker stalls can be found all over Singapore. Head to the Orchard Plaza for some authentic Japanese dishes, including chicken sashimi. On Seng Poh Road you’ll find fantastic value at stalls such as Loo’s, where you can enjoy delights such as curried octopus and braised pork served with rice and a curry sauce for just £3. For a late-night snack, head to the RedHill Lane Food Centre for carrot cake like you’ve never had it before: it’s made with grated turnip, garlic and scrambled eggs.

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Lahore

Photo Credit: Moin Anjum (licenced) via flickr.com

What to eat
Surrounded by centuries-old buildings and Kashmiri-Persian architecture, the food streets of Lahore are fantastic for soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying the local cuisine. Set yourself up for the day with full nāshtā (breakfast) of eggs, parathas (pan-fried flat bread), qeema (mince meat) and some fresh fruit such as mangoes, bananas and apples. Or for a lighter breakfast, try a laasi - a traditional yogurt-based drink made with spices and fruit. Try nihari for lunch, a traditional Pakistani stew made from slow-cooked beef or lamb. The dinner options are exciting too: choose from kebabs, kofte, samosas and much more, all served with a roti or naan.

Where to find it
The first food street to appear in Pakistan was Gawalmandi Food Street in Lahore and it’s arguably still the most popular. Visitors arrive early and stay late to soak up the atmosphere and tuck in to the local food.

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London

Photo credit: spaztacular (license) via flickr.com

What to eat
London offers a cornucopia of street food from all over the world. You’ll find everything from American-style hot dogs to Brazilian barbecue food. For breakfast, visit paella stall Jamon Jamon on Portobello Road and sample their ‘fryella’, an English breakfast version made with bacon, eggs and beans. At lunch, try some Korean-fusion burgers from Kimchi Cult to keep you energized for a day out in the city. And as evening falls, how about some Colombian fusion street food from Maize Blaze in Camden Lock?

Where to find it
There are numerous places in London where you can grab a bite on the go. Notable spots are Kings Cross for its many fusion food outlets, Camden Town for just about anything and everything, and any of the foodie markets, such as Broadway, Borough and Battersea High Street markets.

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Melbourne

Photo credit: Michael Coghlan (license) via flickr.com

What to eat
Food trucks in Melbourne have gone gourmet. When you order a burger, you’re likely to get prime wagyu beef and your accompanying options extend far beyond chips and a drink. Start the day as you mean to go on with a Taiwanese slow-cooked pork bun from Ghost Kitchen. For lunch, try a burger from The Beatbox Kitchen, one of the first street food trucks paving the way for high-quality grub on the go. Little Mushroom serve up their signature mushroom dishes from their solar-powered van - they’re hard to beat if you’re after a vegetarian option for dinner.

Where to find it
The trucks move to different areas of the city so you won’t always find them in the same place. This adds to the fun of street food dining in Melbourne, as you’ll be more likely to try something new. However, you can follow the truck locations via social media or the Where The Truck At app, so there’s no need to worry about missing out on your favorite.

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Editor's Note: And if you like food carts, don't forget about my hometown of Austin, Texas! We've got so many, there's an entire web site dedicated to listing them!