Part of the joy
of travelling is discovering new things and if like me you enjoy culinary
adventures then Asian street food can really provide some fantastic
experiences.
The human experience
Eating at street
food stalls in Asian countries is a very personal experience. The stall holder
will often smile and make friendly gestures while you point out what you want,
and will then encourage you to take a seat or watch the cooking process.
Street food cart in Thailand. |
Adventure
Trying new things
means you will discover new foods you never knew about before. Granted, locusts
and grubs may be pushing your boundaries, but it is certainly an adventure.
Fried locust or cockroach anyone? |
It is safe
Food poisoning is
one of those things that can happen anywhere from Michelin-starred restaurants
to take away joints. However if you spend some time watching street vendors you
will soon notice that the popular ones are kept busy preparing fresh food, so
the chances of getting sick are minimal.
Yummiest Pad Thai ever! |
It is cheap
For only a dollar
or two you can eat your fill of fresh and yummy tailor made pad thai of nasi
goreng like a local. Of course you can spend more in a restaurant, but you are
probably getting ripped off.
Variety
Different regions
specialise in different flavours and a variety of dishes. Eating from street
stalls is a cheap and easy way to explore the specialties in different regions.
Which street
foods have you tried? Did any surprise you?
