According to some avid travelers, you haven’t really experienced the wonders of New York city until you’ve enjoyed a curbside hotdog covered in relish, mustard, and ketchup. In the same way, a trip to Bangkok simply isn’t completely until you’ve had a bowl of spicy noodles dished out by a hawker. Of course, you should also know that there’s more to being safe abroad than simply using your waist money pouch.
Following, we’ll cover some of the best street-food cities in the world, as well as what measures you’ll need to take to keep your digestive system safe!
Singapore
Singapore is by far one of the safest and best street-food cities in the world, thanks to the centralized hawker areas and strictly enforced regulations in place. In other words, if you have an adventurous nature, then Singapore could be a great place to start experimenting with your taste buds. As an added bonus, you’ll find that all of the stalls around you are required to display grades of cleanliness, so that you can pinpoint exactly which ones you should avoid.
Sydney
Whether you’re enjoying beef burgers or Vietnamese fare, Sydney offers a diverse street food scene filled with delightful flavors and options to choose from. Aside from the unavoidable benefit offered by the vast variety, the city street food stalls are also some of the cleanest in the world thanks to regular inspections and strict food-safety guidelines. In other words, your biggest danger may be eating too much!
Istanbul
When it comes to listing the best street-food cities, Istanbul is an obvious choice, because quick and accessible food is basically a way of life. It’s almost impossible to turn a single corner without finding a street vendor offering you delicious treats on the go. You’ll find everything from bagels, to pizza, but it’s often best to err on the side of caution here, by sticking to cooked foods, and giving raw meats or seafood a miss.
Mumbai
With literally thousands of different hawkers to choose from, the streets of Mumbai are brimming with opportunities for a vast culinary exploration. Whether you’re feeling particularly adventurous, or you prefer to play it safe, you’ll find that most of Mumbai’s street-based food is filling, healthy, and often vegetarian-friendly. Try to remember that safety can be a concern here, so stay far away from dairy wherever possible.
Cartagena
Finally, thanks to a combination of African and Spanish influences, Cartagena is one of the best street-food cities in the world, with some incredible and unique dishes to try. The scene isn’t quite as established here as it is in other cities throughout the world, but you’re bound to come across something incredible if you’re willing to explore, and you know where to look. Just remember that there aren’t any apparent regulations here when it comes to selling food on the streets, so you may want to be careful about what you decide to try. It might be worth avoiding anything that looks potentially undercooked.
