By Laura Rancie.
Asia is a continent known for its rich culinary traditions and vibrant street food culture. From spicy noodles to savoury snacks, the street food scene in Asia offers a tantalising array of flavours and textures that can both delight and scare foodies. Here are 10 must-try street foods from various Asian countries, each offering a unique culinary experience:
Pad Thai (Thailand): A popular Thai street food, pad Thai is a stir-fried dish with rice noodles, shrimp or chicken, tofu, eggs and a flavourful sauce made with tamarind paste, fish sauce and palm sugar. It is often garnished with crushed peanuts, lime wedges and fresh herbs.
Banh Mi (Vietnam): A Vietnamese sandwich that is a delicious fusion of French and Vietnamese flavours. It typically consists of a baguette filled with various ingredients such as grilled pork, pate, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs, all topped with a spicy mayo or chilli sauce.
Satay (Indonesia): Satay is a popular Indonesian street food that consists of skewered and grilled meat, usually chicken, beef, or lamb, served with a peanut sauce for dipping. It is often accompanied by a side of rice cakes or cucumber salad.
Korean BBQ (South Korea): While not strictly a street food, Korean BBQ is a must-try culinary experience in South Korea. Diners grill a variety of meats, such as beef, pork and chicken at their table and enjoy them with an assortment of side dishes known as banchan.
Jianbing (China): A familiar early morning sight especially on Beijing street corners, smoke from the open-air hot plate mingling with the cold air mist, jianbing is a very popular breakfast snack across all of China and has been for thousands of years. Typically, a thin dough is spread across the grill and fried to a crisp, with an egg cracked on top, sprinkled with spring onions, coriander and soybean paste. The crepe is then rolled around a crispy fried wonton.
Takoyaki (Japan): Street food isn’t as popular in Japan as in other countries and that is because it is generally frowned upon to eat while walking. However, during the matsuri (festival) season in Summer, yatai reign; these open-air stalls or booths, sell a wide variety of easy-to-prepare or eat foods, to festival goers. Here you might find kakigo-ori (shaved ice) or oden (a kind of hot pot).
Kelapa muda (Bali): Once ranked as the 19th best drink in the world by CNN, this refreshing drink sold at open-air markets is made from iced coconut water, young coconut flesh and syrup and served inside a whole coconut.
Roti Canai (Malaysia): A Malaysian flatbread that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, roti canai is often served with a side of curry for dipping. It can be enjoyed as a snack or a light meal.
Shawarma (Middle East): While originating from the Middle East, shawarma has become a popular street food in many Asian countries. It consists of thinly sliced meat, such as chicken, beef, or lamb wrapped in pita bread and topped with tahini sauce, vegetables and pickles.
Momo (Nepal): Similar to dumplings, Momo is a type of steamed or fried dumpling filled with meat or vegetables. They are often served with a spicy dipping sauce and are a popular street food in Nepal and neighbouring countries.
These 10 must-try street foods from Asia offer a glimpse into the diverse and delicious culinary traditions of the continent. Whether you're exploring the bustling streets of Bangkok or the vibrant markets of Tokyo, be sure to sample these iconic dishes for a truly unforgettable dining experience.
