Enjoy the world's best street food without the upset stomach, how to pick safe stalls, what to watch for, and simple habits that keep you well.
Street food is often the best food, fresher, cheaper and more local than any restaurant. Eating it well is mostly common sense.
Pick the right stall
- Follow the crowd. A queue of locals means high turnover and fresh food.
- Watch it cooked. Food cooked hot to order, in front of you, is the safest kind.
- Busy beats fancy. A packed cart outperforms an empty tourist restaurant.
What to be careful with
- Raw or room-temperature items that have been sitting out
- Tap-water ice and unpeeled fruit washed in tap water, where the water isn't safe to drink
- Anything that smells or looks off, trust your nose
Simple habits
- Carry hand sanitiser and use it before eating
- Start gently on day one while your stomach adjusts
- Stay hydrated with sealed bottled water where tap isn't safe
Where to feast
Street food capitals like Bangkok, Hanoi, Istanbul and Mexico City are reason enough to book a trip, our guides highlight the markets worth seeking out.
Craving a food-first trip? Tell the planner you love food and it'll front-load the markets and local eats.