One of the best opportunities you will have while traveling is the chance to experience unfamiliar foods. The best way to do this is by visiting the street food stalls and sampling the local food options.
Street food can be cheap, delicious, and safe, and often more than the western restaurants you’ll come across on your travels, you just need to know what to look for.
Eat like the locals do
If you are looking for tasty street food, take a look first to see where the locals eat. If there is a large crowd around a particular booth, you will know for sure that the food will be excellent. The locals know which stalls are safe and where you can find the most delicious food.
Always avoid stalls without a queue and without customers.
Look at the post
Look at the server preparing the food. Are they wearing gloves and tongs or are they picking up food with their bare hands? Do the utensils and dishes look clean?
Checking these simple things will help you determine how clean the prep area is.
Choose a place with a fast rotation
Food poisoning is much more likely when food is left outside to cool, as this encourages the growth of bacteria and attracts flies. This is one of the reasons we suggest going to the busy stalls, as you will be able to witness the food being cooked quickly and in front of you.
Refrigeration is often lacking in street food stalls, so you want to find food that is fresh and very hot after cooking.
Avoid water
If you are traveling somewhere like Southeast Asia or Central America where tap water is not safe to drink, you definitely do not want the water to contaminate your food.
If you are given a free glass of water to drink with your meal, then it is probably safest to avoid it unless you know it has been filtered or purified. If you want to buy fruit juice or a smoothie, go for the ice-free version unless you can see it’s clearly filtered water.
The same goes for fruit – always buy unpeeled fruit that you can peel yourself. Peeled fruit is often cleaned and washed with tap water beforehand and can make you sick.
Bring your own utensils and sanitizer.
It’s also a good idea to bring your own set of chopsticks, or a knife and fork, so you know that the utensils have been thoroughly washed and cleaned. If this is not possible, bring some antibacterial wipes to clean the stall utensils before use.
Of course, if you plan to eat with your hands, be sure to bring hand sanitizer and give them a quick clean before your meal.
Do a little research
There is no reason why you can’t discover the best food options before leaving your guesthouse. By checking online or in a guide, you will be able to find many reviews and opinions on where to find the best street food for the city you are in.
Whether you’re looking for pizza in Italy, pho in Vietnam, tagine in Morocco, or tacos in Mexico, follow these simple rules and you’ll be guaranteed a fun and safe eating experience.
