Take A Tasty Tour Around The World With These Cheap And Delicious Street Foods
One magnificent aspect of traveling around the world is trying new and delicious foods. And what better way to try a bit of everything than at the affordable stands on the streets?
In some countries, street food is a way of life, whether a Pad Thai stand in Thailand or a chimney cake filled with yummy soft-served ice cream in Prague. It's time to take a virtual trip to learn about some of the most delicious street foods found around the world.
Halo-Halo In The Philippines
Translated to "mix mix," the crazy colorful concoction of halo-halo most definitely lives up to its name. While the exact ingredients of this colorful dessert are up for debate, some of the more common aspects are shaved ice, jellies, fresh fruit, perhaps some ice cream, evaporated milk for some more sugar, and a rice crispy-like granola.
Needless to say, Filipinos were onto something when they put this $2 dessert together for the first time.
Currywurst In Germany
Get hungry for your next trip to Germany, because you deserve the best food the world has to offer. In this case, the food happens to be currywurst, a concoction made up of a ketchup-curry hybrid sauce, chopped pork sausage, and topped off with some crispy French fries.
While this street food dish originated in Berlin, it is now found all over Germany. The best part is that currywurst is sold for no more than $2.70.
Chimney Cake In The Czech Republic
Crispy, flaky dough coated in cinnamon sugar, the chimney cakes that are found up and down the streets of the Czech Republic don't sound like they could be any better. Well, they can, with soft-served ice cream swirled throughout the center!
Made by wrapping a large spoonful of batter around a spit and grilling it over a flame to crispy perfection before rolling it around in sugar and slathering on a healthy heaping of Nutella, it's hard to imagine chimney cakes only cost $4.
Pastel De Nata In Portugal
The opposite of clean, whole food, the pastry called pastel de nata in Portugal is a sweet tooth's dream come true. Closely related to a custard tart, a pastel de nata is made up of egg yolks, butter, and a whole lot of sugar.
Don't be scared off by the ingredients, though. These yummy treats are fairly small, so it's okay if binge-eating ten in one sitting seems like a good idea (it is). They're also only around $1.35 each!
Churros In Spain
Are they healthy? No. Are they totally worth gaining a few extra pounds? Absolutely. One of the most delicious street foods in the world is arguably the churros in Spain. Deep-fried, rolled in sugar, and topped with more powdered sugar, these bad boys come with a little something extra: a hot chocolate drizzle or, for ample chocolate, a nice pot for dunking.
The best part is that these Spanish churros are budget-friendly, running for around $4 per container.
Pad Thai In Thailand
Known as one of the ultimate Thai dishes to people around the world, Pad Thai is filling, delicious, and best of all, one of the cheapest street foods around. Consisting of stir-fried noodles, sprouts, green onion, peanuts, and a choice of protein, it's difficult to roam the streets of Thailand without getting a wife of this fish-oiled goodness.
It might not be an overly traditional dish, and locals might stray to other foods, but Pad Thai is definitely worth its $2 price.
Bao (Or Baozi) Buns In China
Also known as "little eats," bao buns, or baozi buns, are the epitome of cheap and delicious Chinese street food. Made up of perfectly steamed dough with savory fillings of vegetables, meats, and, in some cases, chocolates or custard, these buns aren't something easily passed up.
The perfect combination of fluffy dough mixed with sweet and savory goodness, a bao bun is more than a meal; it's an experience that only costs around $1.35.
Poutine In Canada
Think about the best cheese fries in the world and throw them out the window because they have nothing on Canadian poutine. Québécois slang for "mess," poutine is a greasy combination of French fries, curds, gravy, and, of course, a whole lot of cheese.
As delicious as it is messy, this is one street food item that no one should miss out on when adventuring in Canada. And if the ingredients aren't enough of a motivator to venture to Quebec, maybe the dish's $4.75 price tag is.
Falafel In Israel
Arguably now one of the most popular street foods in the world, the ever-delicious falafel is said to have got its start on the streets of Tel Aviv, Isreal. A crispy fritter made from ground chickpeas spiced to perfection with cumin, paprika, coriander, onion, raw garlic, and a generous handful of fresh parsley and thrown into a vat of oil... what's not to love?
Throw in a little hummus to dip, and that $2 snack is going to turn into one of your favorites.
Baklava In Turkey
Flaky, sugary, and most likely coming from a family recipe that's been handed down through the generations, baklava in Turkey is absolutely no joke. Crafted from many layers of flaky pastry, sticky syrup, and delicious pistachios, it's very difficult only to eat one square of this Turkish dessert.
Thankfully, this particular street food is cheap, running about $3.40 for a quarter of a kilogram, making it easy for travelers to stuff their faces with as much baklava as they see fit!
Jerk Chicken In Jamaica
Cooked over native pimento wood, the sweet marinade of jerk chicken can be smelled for miles when roasting over the fire. A staple in Jamaica's street food scene, jerk chicken is traditionally served alongside fiery rice and peas, making for one delicious and memorable meal.
Jerking the meat to get the most flavor possible, this special type of chicken is something no traveler should miss out on if they find themselves on the beautiful island of Jamaica. And it only costs $4.
Bubble Tea In Taiwan
Bubble tea, or boba tea as it's called by many, originated in Taiwan and has since made its way to different parts of the world. Consisting of creamy tea and tapioca balls, bubble tea has evolved through the years as it became a staple drink in other parts of the world.
More exotic versions of the drink include honeydew melon, grass jelly, and even custard pudding. Each version is just as delicious, Instagramable, and cheap as the next, running for around $1.35.
Masala Dosa In India
Great for the hungry backpacker on the go and on a budget, masala dosa has everything needed to keep the energy up and taste buds satisfied. Found in the southern states of India, this particular dish is full of flavor and carbohydrates. So, what's not to love?
Typically served with a side of naan, a type of flatbread, sambar, a lentil-based vegetable stew, or chutney, a traditional Indian condiment, this street food costs under $3.
Banh Mi In Vietnam
The streets of Vietnam are lined with some of the world's most delicious street foods. For anyone who has traveled to this beautiful country, it's nearly impossible to leave without developing a love for the epic banh mi.
Fusing together the flakiness of a French baguette with some Vietnamese fillings to create a strange sort of sandwich, the banh mi is one of those dishes that is hard to pass up, especially since they're only $1.35 on the street.
Dango In Japan
Found outside virtually any of the temples throughout Japan is the street food known as Dango. Dumplings made of nothing but rice flour served with an array of dips, such as sesame seeds or sweet chestnut paste, Dango is one of those delicacies that aren't just delicious to have on the go, but they're also very cheap.
Cooked over an open flame to absolute perfection, Dango costs $1.35; and that's for an entire skewer!
Kottu Roti In Sri Lanka
For those who ever find themselves traveling in the eastern regions of Shri Lanka, know that you'll hear and smell the delicious street food of kottu roti before actually seeing the vendors. Made by mixing flatbread, meat, eggs, and various spices on a hot griddle with two sharp metal blades, kottu roti is equal parts mesmerizing and yummy.
Oh, and it's only around $2.70 at places such as No1, Dewmini Rotishop in Mirissa, a family-owned restaurant specializing in kottu roti.
Ceviche In Peru
For all of those fresh fish lovers out there, there is nothing as delicious, zesty, and fresh as Peruvian ceviche. Made of flaky white fish marinated in citrus juices and mixed together with some chili peppers, onion and served with tortilla chips, this is one of those dishes travelers wish they were able to bring home.
The best part about this specific dish is that it is equal parts delectable and cheap, running about $4 at various street food vendors.
Poffertjes In The Netherlands
Think pancakes from IHOP but make them international and much smaller and, voilà, poffertjes! Virtually nothing more than mini Dutch pancakes, travelers are hard-pressed to walk past one of these vendors on the street without picking up a plate of ten smothered in chocolate and topped with powdered sugar.
They're cute, yummy, and, hey, they only cost around $2.70 for a plate of ten; a win-win for anyone finding themselves in The Netherlands.
Arepas In Colombia
The arepas found in Colombia might look like pita pocket sandwiches, but they are so much more! Made from ground maize dough and stuffed with an array of fillers, such as avocado, meats, tomato, and cheeses, arepas area a street food great for any time of the day, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack.
Considered one of the more versatile street foods in the world, it is also one of the cheapest, running for around $3.35 per arepas!
Kimbap In South Korea
This particular South Korean street food might look like sushi, but kimbap is so much more than that! Starting with a sheet of seaweed, pickled vegetables, a slice of egg, rice, and sesame seeds are added to create a large take on a beloved classic.
Sushi lovers won't want to leave South Korea after seeing vendor carts stuffed to the brim with colorful kimbap being sold for around $1.35 per piece.
