Street Food As Travel Culture

Street food is travel culture.

Indulging in street food has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Of course, as a vegetarian, I don’t enjoy every variety out there – but definitely enough to appreciate national cuisines. Every weekend, one of my family members would grace our tables with some of the finest street cuisines Kenya has to offer: roasted makai and guaji (maize and sweet potato) with a tall glass of madaaf. This is one of my favourite things to look forward to whenever I’m home.

This sentiment of trying out street food is something I’ve taken with me wherever I travel because street food can often be the best food a city has to offer. Whether it’s the pani-puri shots of Mumbai, waffles of Brussels or pretzels or Berlin, a delicious treat can easily comfort you in a new place or push you out of your comfort zone for an exciting experience.

The fact is, street food is deeply intertwined with travel culture. I mean why else would there be hundreds of travel series catered around something as mundane as eating?

Street food is more than a quick, cheap meal (although that is half the appeal). It is also a unique way to enjoy local cultures, and no matter where you go, the aromatic smells of a well-prepped dish are guaranteed to get people in a great mood.

Now obviously you must exercise caution when exploring such gastronomy because frankly, you don’t always find yourself in the most hygienic of situations, and there is nothing fun about eating something and then spending the rest of your trip throwing up in your hotel room. Nevertheless, don’t live in fear and have a little fun because there is so much to love when you begin a lifetime affair of valuing food as part of travelling.

For one thing, and as I said earlier, street food is a delicious and a wonderful way to statisfy your hunger without breaking the bank (especially when travelling on strict budgets). I mean how different could a crèpe on the lively streets of Paris be from a crèpe from a café? If anything, the street crèpe might even be more authentic because it comes directly from locals.

This leads me to my next point. A meal on the side of the road or in a market is a great way to interact with new people and learn all about their traditions while simultaneously supporting small, local businesses.

Even better, the people you meet will have so many stories and advice to share with you, whether about life or their country, which is a fantastic way to open your mind to new ideas. After all, that is the whole point of exploring the world. We live in an age where sometimes getting the perfect Instagram post is the goal of your trip, so we forget that travel is about expanding your knowledge about the world and gaining novel perspectives about the diverse lifestyles we live. Eating a falafel from a small cart in Cairo where the man shares rare legends about the pyramids with you is hundred percent more fascinating than simply taking a picture of them.

Sometimes, street food can be a whole show – like the spring rolls of Vietnam or ice creams of Thailand. The chef often draws a crowd as they create their dishes in original ways, and it’s a beautiful sight to marvel at and yet another lovely memory for you to cherish.

So, whether or not you are a foodie, take a chance and be mesmerised by creative and tasty delights that are right at your disposal. You never know what might surprise you.

(P.S If you want to explore more beautiful experiences, why not follow this link and find all kinds of travel inspiration.)