12 Best Cities in the World for Street Food

Some of the most memorable meals you will ever eat cost less than a coffee and are served from a cart on a busy street corner. Street food is where a city's true culinary soul lives, and these twelve cities do it better than anywhere.

Asia leads the way

Bangkok is the undisputed global capital of street food, its pavements lined with vendors grilling, wok-frying and simmering around the clock. Singapore turned its hawker centres into a UNESCO treasure, while Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei and Mumbai each offer their own irresistible, chaotic feast.

The Middle East and Africa

Istanbul serves simit, balik ekmek and kebabs from every corner, and Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fnaa square transforms nightly into the world's greatest open-air kitchen. Cairo's koshari carts are a national institution.

The Americas and Europe

Mexico City may serve the finest tacos on the planet, while Lima and Palermo round out a list where the best food is always found closest to the street. Come hungry, carry small change, and follow the longest local queues.