Street Food

[Stavros]

Recent threads on food make this one logical, as we are told in Europe that street food is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy.

What is your favourite, what have you loathed, and where?

It sounds old fashioned but I still remember the first time I ate a real American hot dog from one of those wagons in New York. If memory serves I ate it nearby in Union Square park where some guy was selling 'loose joints' and people came and went. Other than that, falafel and shwarma in the Middle East, souvlaki in Greece. I realise now I haven't eaten much street food.

I avoided street food in China out of health fears. Probably missed out on something there.

[GroobySteven]

I avoided street food in China out of health fears. Probably missed out on something there.

Tut tut.
You are a hotdog in NYC but avoided awesome food in China for health fears? I'd be more afraid of the hotdog.

[GroobySteven]

THAILAND:
The best street food in the world. The people wheel their carts on the street at daybreak and close when they run out of food. New ones comes out at night. Bangkok used to have chicken/pork satay stores and carts everywhere but they seem to be out of favour, if you find these they are a treat!

Pork-Rice-Egg : It's a chinese dish more than Thai. Look for a huge pork shoulder on a wooden slab. You get a scoop of rice, shredded slow cooked pork, hardboiled egg cooked in same stock, some greens and chilli. Heaven.

Pad Thai : forget the goopy sweet shit you've had. This is the real deal, cooked on a giant flat pan while you wait. Forget chicken or prawns - the real one has only an egg and a few dried shrimp for protein. Textures and taste.

Som Tom : Papaya salad. Even professionals have a hard time eating a very hot one of these so you better ask for a mild one. Green papaya tossed with dried shrimp, chilli, vingegar and fish sauce. Eaten alongside other dishes. Taste sensations.

Soup Noodle : perfect to rehydrate and filling - add your own condiments.

[flabbybody]

wouldn't want to speculate about the contents of a hot dog but the regulations for food safety sold by street vendors in New York City are quite robust. And there are scores of enforcement personnel checking up on these guys, issuing thousands of violation fines every day.
I feel pretty safe eating food from trucks here in the Big Apple but I wouldn't make it a steady diet.

[dderek123]

THAILAND:
The best street food in the world. The people wheel their carts on the street at daybreak and close when they run out of food. New ones comes out at night. Bangkok used to have chicken/pork satay stores and carts everywhere but they seem to be out of favour, if you find these they are a treat!

Pork-Rice-Egg : It's a chinese dish more than Thai. Look for a huge pork shoulder on a wooden slab. You get a scoop of rice, shredded slow cooked pork, hardboiled egg cooked in same stock, some greens and chilli. Heaven.

Pad Thai : forget the goopy sweet shit you've had. This is the real deal, cooked on a giant flat pan while you wait. Forget chicken or prawns - the real one has only an egg and a few dried shrimp for protein. Textures and taste.

Som Tom : Papaya salad. Even professionals have a hard time eating a very hot one of these so you better ask for a mild one. Green papaya tossed with dried shrimp, chilli, vingegar and fish sauce. Eaten alongside other dishes. Taste sensations.

Soup Noodle : perfect to rehydrate and filling - add your own condiments.

Totally agree.

[Prospero]

I had great street food in China - though i didn't eat the maggoty insecty ones or the real dogs (not hot dogs).

[GroobyKrissy]

The best street food that I ever had was spending a summer in China. Amazing soups, grilled skewers, and cheap!

Also of mention... REAL falafel on the streets of Israel. I could eat that every day.

The worst street food that I ever had was also in China. It was freezing and we saw this person selling what we thought were hot potatoes in foil. Turns out NOT. I still don't know what it was but I think it was a pure hunk of fat or something. We all threw up after taking bites.

[Prospero]

You're right falafel in Israel was also terrific... as was Hummous in the arab section of Jerusalem.

[GroobyKrissy]

You're right falafel in Israel was also terrific... as was Hummous in the arab section of Jerusalem.

Oh geez... don't even get me started on the freshly baked bread and pita-like stuff there. It was just good I was working so hard everyday because I probably ate my weight in carbs every day

[Jericho]

I avoided street food in China out of health fears. Probably missed out on something there.

Dysentery maybe!

Had the Bangkok shuffle from some fried squid ring type things (at least, I'm hoping it was squid, could of been spider arseholes for all i know)!