Street food stalls or “food trucks” are a must-stop to experience traditional dishes from the world’s gastronomic cultures. Trying street food on the streets of Korea, India, or Thailand is becoming increasingly common to satisfy our palates with new flavors. It’s an opportunity to get in touch with the culinary culture of each country. Which country has the best street food and most famous restaurants?
We discover what is sold at the mobile food stalls that can be found on the streets, markets, festivals, or fairs. These culinary experiences add authenticity to your travel visits and broaden your knowledge of flavors. We inspire you to choose your next destination so you can experience the best street food as a food journalist.
What is the best street food in the world and its best restaurants?
TasteAtlas is the gastronomy-focused travel guide that values authentic restaurants, traditional dishes, and local ingredients, many based on meat or rice or others more elaborate. Discovering the world through flavors and smells is its specialty. This is TasteAtlas’ list rating the best-rated dishes of the year 2023-2024. You can find them at street stalls selling the best street food scattered around the world to offer authentic gastronomic experiences to the most foodie travelers.
1. Picanha – Brazil
The best street food in the world is picanha, a type of beef cut of Brazilian origin, which you may also know as rump cap or sirloin cap. It is cut thick to provide that juicy and tender texture that characterizes it. Ideal for grilling. You can likely try it at local markets in Brazil, as well as at one of the most iconic restaurants where picanha is cooked, Churrascaria Palace in Rio de Janeiro.
2. Roti Canai – Malaysia
In second place on TasteAtlas’ list of the best street food in the world is roti canai. It is a flat and circular bread typical of Malaysian gastronomy. The best place to try it, besides the street stalls that add that original and unique touch to our gastronomic experience, is the Nasi Kandar Pelita restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. Roti canai means “flying bread,” and its preparation involves tossing it in the air in a spinning motion to obtain that thin dough that makes it unique. It is usually served with curry, as well as chicken, lentils, or vegetables.
3. Phat Kaphrao – Thailand
Phat Kaphrao is one of Thailand’s most popular dishes. Known for its exquisite blend of flavors and textures provided by the rice or noodles with fried egg, vegetables or meat, and fish sauce. It is one of the best-selling dishes at the food trucks in the capital Bangkok, and one of the iconic restaurants to eat it is Raan Jay Fai.
4. Pizza Napolitana – Italy
Pizza has become an international dish with various variations in its dough and ingredients. Although none compare to the Neapolitan pizza. The dough of flour, tomato, mozzarella, and basil that form the colors of the Italian flag, make it one of the quintessential street foods, but it can also be enjoyed at historic restaurants like L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Naples since 1870.
5. Guotie – China
Chinese dumplings, whether steamed or fried, known as guotie, are a staple of Oriental cuisine. Their fillings consist of minced pork, chicken, or vegetables, combined with flavorful sauces, making them the fifth dish in the ranking of the best street foods in the world. A true classic of street food in the streets of Shanghai and Hong Kong. You can also try them at these iconic restaurants: Wang Fu (Hong Kong) and Xindalu China Kitchen (Shanghai).
6. Khao Soi – Thailand
Khao Soi is the curry noodles and chicken dish eaten in northern Thailand in the city of Chiang Mai. It is also popular in Laos and Myanmar. A spectacle of aroma and flavor that combines sweet with spicy. An experience your palate can’t miss if you travel to Southeast Asia. Easy to find in any market or street food stall. You can even try it at the best restaurant specializing in this dish, Khao Soi Khun Yai in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
7. Butter Garlic Naan – India
The traditional Indian garlic butter naan is one of the most typical dishes made with ingredients such as flour, water, yeast, salt, sugar, and yogurt. It is baked in a tandoor oven and fried on a tawa (wide skillet). The butter and chopped garlic make this typical Indian bread a gastronomic experience accessible at any street food stall.
8. Tangbao – China
Tangbao is a typical street food from Jingjiang, China. It is a soup with baozi, also known as bao, steamed and usually filled with pork. The bao is eaten by taking bites, and the soup broth is enjoyed with a spoon. It is a traditional culinary spectacle of Chinese gastronomy. One of the most iconic restaurants is Din Tai Fung in Beijing.
9. Shashlik – Rusia
Shashlik is typically served with skewers of grilled meat cubes. It’s a classic from the street food stalls of the Caucasus, Central Asia, Poland, and Lithuania. The traditional Russian version of shashlik is made with lamb meat seasoned with salt, pepper, and onions. Nowadays, it can also be made with pork, beef, or even fish. The meat is grilled over charcoal, adding that smoky flavor, and served on long skewers. It can be accompanied by vegetables, potatoes, or sauces. The Khachapuri restaurant in Moscow is the most famous place to eat shashlik.
10. Phanaeng Curry – Thailand
This curry dish known as Panaeng is typical of Thailand. It stands out for the blend of flavors from coconut milk, curry paste, and meat, usually beef, chicken, or pork. The mixture of spicy, sweet, and salty flavors is accompanied by jasmine rice and a citrusy touch. You can find it at various street food stalls along the streets of Bangkok. One well-known restaurant for preparing this traditional dish is Kopitiam By Wilai in Phuket, Thailand.
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