The best street food in the world. What is street food Street food for kids

Each country has its own traditional dishes, and of course, the street food that the locals eat every day! Each nation has its own traditional street food, and when we go on a trip, we most often go to one of the country's chic restaurants, but the truly cult food for the people is on the streets!


Chicken Jerk, Jamaica

A real Jamaican dish, everyone here eats it. The recipe for the chicken is a closely guarded secret, but the chicken on the bone begins with a sprinkling of marinade, allspice, thyme, ginger, and green onions. The meat is left overnight so that it is soaked with all the spices, and then fried.


Chili crab, Singapore

Singapore's quintessential dish, the chili crab can be found in numerous street food congestion centers throughout the country. The recipe for this dish was created by Sher Yam Tian, ​​who began serving spicy shellfish from a street cart in the 1950s. In this recipe, crabs are fried whole in sweet and sour tomato sauce, egg and, of course, chili peppers.

Arepas, Colombia

These round corn tortillas are a ubiquitous food in Colombia, even though there are many different delicacies in this country. Arepas are much thicker than tortillas and are usually fried or baked before being topped with cheese. In particular, this is a popular breakfast in Bogotá.

halo halo, philippines

A cup of multi-colored aureole halo - The best way cool down on a hot Filipino summer day. It is an attractive dessert made from various ingredients such as red beans, coconut, syrup and fruit, usually topped with ice cream, condensed milk and fine ice.

Rabbit in bread, South Africa

This South African appetizer is a favorite dish of the locals. The dish consists of a quarter or half of gutted bread filled with curried rabbit. As you might guess, this dish originates from India, but now it is Durban's most famous street food, where the rabbit can be replaced with chicken or lamb

Vareniki, Poland

Dumplings, or pierogi, can be found throughout Eastern Europe, but there is a festival dedicated to dumplings in Krakow. They are made from simple test: flour, eggs, water and salt, and the filling can be different: meat, cheese, cabbage, potatoes. First they boil them and then fry them a little in oil!

BBQ Pork, USA

Barbecue is a serious business in the USA. When you see the word barbecue, it seems that it is meat cooked on the grill, but no, it is a hamburger with minced pork in sauce and coleslaw, all in a bun. Great weekend lunch!!!

Ban My, Vietnam

No street food list would be complete without Ban My, a legacy of French colonial rule in Vietnam. The key ingredient is the thinner and fresher Vietnamese-style baguette (made from rice and wheat flour), which is usually filled with a fresh and colorful mixture of coriander, pickled carrots, Japanese radish and pork belly meat.

Ball tea, Taiwan

Balls, pearl or bean tea originated in Taichung in the 1980s. These days, this dish ranges from the classic milk tea, often sweetened with condensed milk, to the fruity addition of mango, or passion fruit. The bubbles themselves in the tea - a ball of tapioca can be swallowed through a large straw.

Putin, Canada

Here is a dish called Putin, originally from Canada. In Canada, this is a very popular street food since 1957. This unusual dish was created by chef Fernand Luchance. The original name Poutine, literally translated as "mess", is a dish made from french fries and curd cheese, with meat sauce.

Simit, Turkey

In addition to barbecue, Turkey is very fond of bagels, which are called simit. Delicious simit are sold from street carts across the country and are often eaten for breakfast on the move. Sculpted into a large ring, covered with sesame seeds, they are lighter than bagels and go great with a cup of Turkish tea.
Read more about the national cuisine of Turkey at the link.

Xiao Long Bao, China

Bamboo baskets filled with this traditional northern Chinese dumpling soup can be found all over the streets and restaurants of Shanghai. You need to have the ability to eat them, while never scalding. The dumplings themselves consist of a dense dough, and in the center there is smoked pork. Eat dumpling and wash it down with boiling broth.

Gelato, Italy

There is nothing better than eating balls of creamy gelato and strolling through the evening Rome. Italians take their ice cream seriously, and gelato is different in that it's less greasy and a little softer; classic flavors include pistachio and stracciatella (creamy chocolate chip ice cream).

Tostadas, Mexico

Unlike tacos, which are soft tortillas, tostadas are usually shaped into a small, flat disc that is deep fried. Toppings typically range from classic combinations such as refried beans, guacamole, salsa and cheese to lighter seafood options such as shrimp. Get ready to get dirty eating this street food! If you want to get acquainted with the best dishes Mexican street food, go to a separate selection.

Basco, Indonesia

During a visit to Indonesia, President Obama was treated to meatball soup - Basco. While the president visited it a traditional dish at a formal dinner, street vendors are the best place to sample this delicacy. Ground beef balls in broth with noodles, egg and shallots.

Gimbap, South Korea

This dish has gained wide popularity in many countries of the world. So, this is the so-called Korean sushi. Rolls are rolled with different fillings: crabs, eggs, beef, carrots, then I put it in a roll of rice and seaweed. In South Korea, this traditional dish can be bought everywhere in the stalls.

Bhel puri, India

India has a huge variety of street food across the country, from aloo tikki in the north to vada in the south. Mumbai is the place to try Bhel puri, which includes rice, stir-fried noodles or vermicelli and vegetables drizzled in tamarind sauce. Also try dishes that include peanuts and pomegranate seeds. You can also read about traditional Indian cuisine on LifeGlobe.

Falafel, Egypt

You will find falafel all over the Middle East. In Egypt, falafel is made from richer beans and is known as ta'amiya. It is almost always sold in pita bread with pickled vegetables, salad and tahini sauce.

Churros, Spain

This is not only a street dish, it is the national dish of Spain. Charros come in rings and sticks, sprinkled with brown sugar. It is usually served with hot chocolate, in which churros can be dipped. Churros are sweet and crunchy deep-fried dough sticks. They are especially popular as a breakfast snack in Madrid.

Ceviche, Peru

Ceviche is considered national dish Peru and its popularity is also growing all over the world. The sea component is a very fresh raw fish that is marinated in lime juice, salt and chili. Try ceviche from sea ​​bass With sweet corn. In continuation, you can also read about street vendors in different parts of the world.

Agree that tasting local cuisine is one of the best parts of traveling. After all, in every country you can find something special, and for this you don’t need to go to expensive and trendy restaurants at all. After all, there is street food that is tasty and quite affordable. TravelAsk has collected the best street food from around the world to show how colorful our world is.

India: masala dosa

Indian cuisine is very tasty, which is why it is known all over the world. Once upon a time, masala dosas were common only in southern India, but now this street food can be tasted in any region. Masala dosa is a thin flatbread made from rice and lentil flour (in fact, this pancake is called "dosa") with potatoes, green chili, onions and various seasonings.

Turkey: Doner Kebab


Well, doner kebab, aka shawarma, or shawarma, generally needs no introduction. It was first brought to Europe by Turkish immigrants in the 1970s. And since then, shawarma has become so popular that you can buy it in almost any European city. From Turkish, doner kebab literally translates as "revolving kebab." Its main ingredient is chicken, lamb, lamb or beef, which are slowly fried on a vertical spit. Well, they serve it all in pita bread with vegetable salad.

Germany: Currywurst


Currywurst is believed to have been invented for the first time by Herta Heuver. After the war, she had a small diner in Berlin, and the fried sausage with ketchup and curry sauce became very popular with the builders who were rebuilding Berlin. Now you can buy currywurst in absolutely any German city.

Thailand: Pad Thai


Thailand's staple street dish was ranked number one on CNN's 2011 list of the 50 Most Delicious Foods in the World. And really, what would Thailand be like without pad thai? These are rice noodles fried with tofu, eggs, shrimp, sprouted soy and roasted peanuts. Often shrimp are replaced with chicken or duck. Pad thai originated during World War II, when there was a shortage of rice in the country, and in order to reduce its consumption, they began to make noodles. And now it is the most important street food in Thailand.

Japan: sashimi


This Japanese delicacy has long been known outside of Japan. But still, there is nothing better than to taste it in the Land of the Rising Sun. Sashimi is the freshest fish cut into thin slices of varying thicknesses. The most popular ingredients for sashimi are salmon, tuna, fugu, squid and shrimp.

Italy: arancini

Despite the fact that arancini translates as "little orange", this dish has nothing to do with oranges. Except the form. These are rice balls stuffed with minced meat, mozzarella and peas. They are rolled in breadcrumbs and deep fried. This dish first appeared in Sicily in the 10th century, but now you can try it in any Italian town.

Canada: Putin


No, no, we're not joking, but one of Canada's best street foods that you absolutely must try is poutine. It was first made in Quebec in the 1950s and has since become popular throughout the country. Perhaps this is the most adored unhealthy food of Canadians, in the country of poutine they are served in all fast food establishments. Well, in terms of composition, everything is very simple: these are french fries with young pickled cheese and a slightly sweet sauce.

Russia: pirozhki

Yes, yes, friends, where are we without our traditional food)) Foreigners talk about our pies, that they come from the word "feast", so what can be a holiday without pies? Small pies can be bought everywhere, in small shops and cafes, and their filling is completely different.

China: chicken legs


Well, we, of course, do not urge you to try this street food, but you can be sure of its popularity. The Chinese believe that chicken legs are very good for health, so this dish can be found in other countries. Sauces, flavorings, chili are added to chicken legs, they are fried and salted.

Portugal: pastel de nata

Pastel de nata are small pastries that are very popular in Portugal and also in the countries that were once its colonies. They are made from puff pastry custard based on egg yolks. It is believed that monks came up with such an exquisite dessert in the 18th century: they used egg whites to starch clothes, and yolks were used for baking. Throughout Portugal, even pastry shops are open - pastelaria, where you can enjoy cakes.

Peru: ceviche


Ceviche has not only been declared part of Peru's "national heritage", but the country even has a holiday dedicated to this dish. And in the capital of Peru there is a monument to ceviche.

Classic ceviche is fresh raw fish marinated in lime juice, chopped onion, chili, salt and pepper. It is usually served with sweet potato or corn.

From time immemorial, "street food" is a simple unpretentious food sold on the streets for a penny. It was the food of the poor. In ancient Rome, for example, the plebeians, who did not have ovens in their homes to cook, could only afford a cup of chickpea stew and wheat porridge from street stalls per day.

Now about 2.5 billion people buy street food every day. And these are far from poor people. It's just that the rhythm of life in a modern city dictates its own rules. Time is money. Everyone is running, hurrying. Sometimes, so much so that there is no time to even eat. That's why people like street food - it's fast, satisfying, cheap and, oddly enough, delicious.

Street food vendors in Beijing. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grchiu/

Moreover, modern street food is not just a fast food system. Catering. This is a cultural phenomenon. Indeed, in each region, street food is special. It reflects the history of the country, the social and economic situation in it.

That is why among gastronomic travelers there is a direction of “street food lovers”. They don't go to this or that place to gawk at the sights. On the contrary, the Nakha pearl farm and the Colosseum are just a nice addition to the "delicacy" from the street stalls.

So what is street food today? What are its varieties? And what foods are sold on the streets in different parts of our planet?

Tell me where you eat and I'll tell you who you are

Street food or street food (let's agree to treat these terms as equivalent) are ready-made meals and drinks that are sold by street vendors in squares, markets and other crowded places from special stalls or mobile kiosks.

Basically, various snacks and so-called quick meals are offered on the streets, which can be cooked or heated quickly, right in the presence of the buyer. Boiled corn, hamburgers, shawarma, hot dogs, pancakes, walfis and cakes are the most typical examples of street food.

Hot dog truck in Amsterdam. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmkostrivas/

They are sold, as a rule, in special disposable dishes, so that it is convenient to have a bite to eat right on the go. Prices in street stalls are much more humane than in any, even very budgetary, restaurant.

Mobile "diners" have a display case that displays the goodies for sale, as well as a small "secret" room equipped with sources of fire and water needed for cooking. In this case, the equipment of the van depends on its specialization. So, in kiosks where they sell kebabs, a grill and other devices for frying meat are needed.

Queue for Korean street food in Hawaii. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/locomocotv/

Street food stalls are usually brightly colored and should be noticed from afar. Often these are logos of well-known companies or restaurants that conduct advertising campaigns in this way.

However, most often, especially in the West, street food is a private family business.

Who works, he eats

There are three forms of street food:

  • food and drinks sold from stalls;
  • meals and drinks sold from delivery vans;
  • food and drinks sold from stationary tents.

Traditional street food is perhaps the second. Mobile kiosks are more profitable from a business point of view - they are mobile and can cover a larger volume of customers.

Food trucks are most common in Europe and America. In the United States, many now famous restaurateurs started with street food. And if in Mexico marginals work as street vendors, without education and “prestigious” work, then in the country of Uncle Sam, a street food seller is, first of all, a businessman. After all, he has his own van (which, by the way, costs decent money) and he is busy with business.

Street food festival in Los Angeles. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krynsky/

Caravan owners tend to specialize in one particular dish. Like hot dogs or donuts. At the same time, a huge assortment is offered: different fillings, sauces, spices - for every taste.

Many of these restaurants on wheels can be found during city holidays. Various festivals, community forums and other crowded events are a very profitable time for street vendors.

Trays are most often traded on busy city streets. Typical dishes are pizza, casseroles, pies, cakes. Something that does not need to be cooked, but only (if necessary) kept hot.

Grilled street food in Bangkok. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drfizz/

Tents are also located in fairly crowded places, and sometimes on popular tourist routes. Here you can even buy soups, main courses and salads.

street food in the world

As already noted, street food is more than an industry. In the street menu, almost the same as in the national cuisine, the culture and history of the state are reflected. And an attentive tourist will notice for himself also socio-economic features. So, in Bangladesh, where the purpose of a woman is to stay at home and raise children, you will not meet representatives of the weaker sex selling sausages in dough. But in Tae, street food, on the contrary, is mostly a women's business.

Street food in Thailand. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ [email protected]/

Geographical and climatic features also leave their mark. So, in Vietnam - a mountainous country - street food is replete with spices and herbs, but not spicy, unlike Indian.

By the way, in Asia, street food developed very quickly and took root well. In China and Thailand, the so-called "xiaochi" are popular. These are a variety of snacks (for example, oyster omelet, Chinese baozi manti, ficus jelly and much more) sold on the street or in small restaurants. In addition, while walking around Beijing and Hong Kong, you can taste kebabs on Chuan skewers, as well as a variety of edible insects.

The thorough Japanese do not like to rush. Eating on the go is considered uncivilized. However, the Land of the Rising Sun has its own street fast food. It's called onigiri. You can read more about it, as well as other features of Japanese cuisine.

Street food - boiled corn. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/

In Europe, street food is more familiar to us. For example, french fries and various burgers are sold almost everywhere.

However, here too there are regional differences. So, in the Northwest, in Amsterdam, they love salted herring. This delicacy in the orange country is even dedicated to a separate holiday. It is sold in hundreds of stalls in the Dutch capital and eaten on the spot or taken home with you.

The famous Dutch herring. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidkosmos/

In the West, in Paris, you can easily find roasted chestnuts, as well as a variety of sandwiches with traditional French baguette. In Central Europe, Berlin or Dresden, the famous German sausages fried with curry or other sauces are sold in abundance on the streets.

Russian kvass. Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisflyer/

What do you think is the most common street food in Russia? Pancakes? If! World-famous Russian pancakes are sold here mainly in small cafes and pancake shops. And on the streets they sell whites, pasties and pies. As for drinks, the most street food is, of course, kvass. In what Russian town can you not find a yellow barrel with the usual blue inscription and a “kind” saleswoman under an umbrella?

Unfortunately, the volume of this article does not allow describing the features of street food in all countries. Street food is a huge tasty world. And will introduce you to it gradually.

Fast food (English fast food - fast food) - a dish prepared for fast food. The Law of Format prescribes that the time between preparation and sale should not exceed ten minutes. This is just one of the possible definitions of fast food, but there is still no single definition. At the same time, almost everyone agrees that this is fast food, produced on a large scale, when dishes are prepared not to order, but from semi-finished products.

Industry today fast food is one of the most dynamically developing segments of the economy in the world. Fast food restaurants are found in almost every country in the world: from America to Japan, from Australia to Iceland. McDonald's alone has spread its networks in 119 countries, while there are no number of local varieties of fast food. In Russia, in addition to the world's "stars", there are also their own: Rostik "s", "Russian Bistro", "Baby Potato" , "Teremok - Russian pancakes", as well as countless tents with shawarma and grilled chicken.

It is believed that fast food is a child of the 20th century. In fact, it has existed for centuries, because even the ancient Romans loved to have a quick bite to eat. Often the "descendants of Mars" refused to cook at home, in many Roman houses there were no kitchens at all. But in every city there were a lot of eateries and bazaars where they sold all kinds of food. By the way, it was then that the prototype of pizza appeared - a flatbread made from yeast dough, lubricated with olive oil. The Romans also had their own hamburgers. They fried beef cakes and ate them with bread.


1. Mint tea, Morocco

Glasses filled to the brim with mint and a large portion of sugar stand ready to brew the famous Moroccan mint tea. The drink is refreshing on a hot day in Marrakesh, but it's more than just a thirst quencher. Making and drinking tea is an integral part of Moroccan culture and a must-have experience that every tourist should go through.

2. Miaokou Night Market in Taiwan

There is an old temple in the center of Miaokou Night Market, but the main thing here is fasting. Yellow lanterns in the marketplace illuminate tables of mouth-watering traditional Taiwanese goodies. Here you will find spicy noodle soup, oyster scrambled eggs, snails, glutinous rice and tripe. Taiwanese people and tourists alike agree that a visit to the market is not complete without a fruity dessert called icy prune bubbles.

3. Shanghai dumplings, China

A Shanghai street vendor serves freshly cooked, Chinese-favorite urban snack, dumplings. These treats are widely distributed throughout Shanghai and are available to customers in the most different tastes and combinations.

4. Noodles, Thailand

Sieve with noodles on open fire takes all the attention of a chef in Bangkok's Chinatown. Many passers-by simply cannot resist the skill of these street chefs and the flavor of their creations.

5. Chicken innards, Philippines

Filipino street vendors created this dish, which is chicken innards on skewers. The giblets are first marinated and then grilled or just deep fried. This yummy is usually served with a sweet, sour or spicy sauce.

6. Beach delicacies, India

When Goan beachgoers need a break, these goodies always come in handy. An endless stream of samosas, chicken, soft drinks and other Indian favorites can always be found on Anyuna Beach.

7. Grasshoppers, China

Chinese street vendors love this bouquet of grasshoppers on skewers, which are always a surprise to Western tourists. However, eating insects is not uncommon these days. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization claims that about 1,400 species of protein-rich insects are regularly eaten by people around the world.

8 Banh Mi Sandwiches, Vietnam

A Vietnamese street vendor serves this relic of the colonial past with a smile. Banh me sandwiches are made with a French baguette filled with a delicious variety of meats and vegetables. They are eaten with pleasure throughout Vietnam, especially for breakfast.

9. Sausages, Germany

On such trays only the best views sausages. Street food lovers in Germany (especially at various festivals and fairs) are happy to eat bratwurst, bockwurst and other sausage delicacies, washed down with delicious German beer.

10. Ceviche, Peru

A chef prepares ceviche in the seaside town of Mancora, Peru. Ceviche is a popular dish throughout Latin America and is made with citrus juice, in this case lime juice, in which a mixture of raw fish and other seafood.

11. Pork, Cambodia

Tourists do not need to be able to speak Khmer to understand the menu of such a street stall in Phnom Penh. By the way, pork is one of the most common types of meat eaten in the world. Austria leads the world in pork consumption, followed by Spain and Denmark.

12. Kolkata kati rolls (India)

Imagine rolls cut from a long "sausage" of eggs, vigorous fresh onions, fresh green chili, mouth-watering slices of meat or fish, baked in the Indian version of the tandoori oven and wrapped in a delicious Indian flatbread paratha. With this traditional snack very popular all over India (and now many other parts of the world), it's getting harder and harder to compete with other popular fast food dishes.

13. Cornish Meat Pie (UK)

One of the United Kingdom's most significant contributions to the world's history of "fast response nutrition". This traditional British light "lunch on the go" is baked from dough, which is rolled out in the form of pancakes and wrapped around the filling. Filling - beef, swede, carrots, potatoes, onions. By the way, the dish was born in the 18th century among English miners. They say that a specific form was invented for these pies so that the miners could take them ... with unwashed hands!

A sunny island in the Caribbean is unimaginable without the famous beef patties. Numerous restaurants, cafes and just street vendors offer this dish at every step, stunning with its juiciness, unique aroma of tropical spices and a sauce of fish and vegetable pieces that complements the rich taste of selected minced meat.

15. Cevapcici (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

One of the most popular dishes peoples of the Balkan Peninsula. It is fried sausages made from ground meat (beef, pork) with onions and spices. Cevapchichi is served with large quantity chopped onion rings and fresh white bread (pita). The garnish is also served with chopped capsicum rings, sliced ​​tomatoes or fried potatoes. In the fast food version, sausages are wrapped in thin hot cakes, and sour cream with cheese is used as a sauce.

16. Hotteok pancakes (Korea)

When your mouth literally burns from consumed spicy Asian foods, it is worth remembering that the East is not only spices and hot spices. Imagine, the East is also unique desserts! And if you want the latter and you are also somewhere in Korea, look around. You're bound to see numerous brazier stalls preparing these popular soft pancakes filled with raw sugar, cinnamon, crushed nuts and sesame seeds in front of salivating customers.

Top dishes of Ukrainian fast food

1. Hot dog

A hot dog, also known throughout the world as a hot dog, is a dish known to the general public as American, but not America, but Germany is considered its homeland. A butcher who lives in the city of Frankfurt came up with thin and long hot sausages called Dachshund, which means dachshund in German. Later, a German emigrant brought these sausages to America and already opened his own small business there, selling sausage wrapped in slices of bread on the streets. The business was very successful and the dish became very popular among Americans. Later, instead of ordinary slices of bread, they began to use a hot oblong bun. This unpretentious sandwich received the name hot dog a little later, when at the beginning of the 20th century the American artist Dargan created an illustration for such a popular and beloved dish and, not knowing how to correctly translate the name from German, signed the illustration in English. So the hot sausage in a bun became known as a hot dog.

2. Shawarma

As soon as this oriental dish is not called: both shawarma, and shawarma, and even shuarma. Lavash stuffed with minced meat, often chicken, with the addition of various spices, sauces and salad is very fond of Ukrainians. Turkey is considered the birthplace of shawarma, and there it is called kebab. Previously, finely chopped fried meat with vegetables and salad was wrapped in a thin Arabic flatbread (pita), later, when the kebab reached Armenia and became known as shawarma, the flatbread was replaced with thin pita bread. In this form, this dish reached Ukraine. Of course, the sanitary standards in the shawarma shop leave much to be desired. But despite this, many Ukrainians, at their own peril and risk, have tried this dish of Turkish origin at least once in their lives. By the way, if you do not trust street vendors, you can cook shawarma at home.

3. Cheburek

A pie made of unleavened dough and minced meat, called cheburek, is a dish of Crimean Tatar cuisine in its origin. Surely, when you came to the Crimea, you met more than one pastry shop where they really sell delicious pasties. In the modern recipe, not only chopped meat but also cheese, potatoes, mushrooms. Here, as they say, the taste and color, the main thing is to remember that the cheburek is fried in hot oil, respectively, this dish is fatty and by no means healthy, as well as high-calorie.

4. Baklava

Baklava, a popular confectionery dish in the East, has long been loved by Ukrainians. It is especially popular on the territory of the Crimean peninsula - in summer, honey baklava is sold right on the beaches. The first mention of this sweet dates back to the 15th century, baklava was prepared in 1453 for the Turkish Sultan Fatih by his personal chef and impressed the Sultan so much that he ordered the recipe to be immortalized. Since then, this multi-layered dessert has been prepared at every holiday. Turkish baklava is considered one of the strongest aphrodisiacs. Honey and nuts, which are part of baklava, contain substances necessary for male power. Today there are a huge number of types of baklava. At the mere sight of this sweetness, it is difficult to resist and not taste at least a piece.

5. Pie

The classic pie is considered a traditional Russian dish. One of the most famous dishes has come down to us from ancient times. Remember at least Soviet cartoons, for example, the same Little Red Riding Hood, who carried pies for her grandmother. Apparently, even the wolf knew a lot about Russian cuisine, since he kidnapped a girl with pies. Today, pies are still baked for the holidays, especially since there is a huge variety of their fillings and shapes. However, if in a restaurant you can still taste a pie according to the most exquisite recipe, then on the shelves of "grandmothers" this dish has long turned into street fast food.

6. McDonalds Cheeseburger

In my opinion, in modern society, unfortunately, there are practically no people left who would not at least try a McDonalds cheeseburger at least once. I myself have many acquaintances who like to often go to "Mac" - as they call it. , consisting of buns, meat, cheese, ketchup, onion and pickled cucumber.

In August 2011 (so long ago) I posted a short review on this blog. In it, I talked about the most popular fast food in different countries of the world. A lot of time has passed, during this period my collection of "street food" has been significantly replenished (mostly theoretically 😥).

In addition to the popular (typical) types of fast food in the world, there are unique samples, real culinary specialties. I offer a small photo review of just such representatives of "unhealthy" nutrition. So, the new rating “Street Food. TOP 12 best representatives of street food”:

First place. Fried Grasshopper Chapulines (Mexico)

Fried Grasshopper Chapulines (Mexico)

Just yesterday I watched one of Mikhail Kozhukhov’s films “In Search of Adventures”, dedicated to Mexico. And one of the plots was just dedicated to this delicacy, which millions of Mexicans happily absorb.

Chapulines is the name of a grasshopper of the genus Sphenarium, which is widespread in southern Mexico. Mexicans capture Chapulines from early May to early autumn. After thorough cleaning and washing, they are fried in a special comal pan. Thanks to good roasting, a crispy, nutritious delicacy is obtained. Roasted grasshoppers are seasoned with garlic, lime juice, salt, guacamoli (a Mexican snack made from mashed avocado pulp that has the consistency of a thick sauce/paste) or dried chilli powder. The finished dish has a sour-spicy-salty taste, often grasshoppers are served in the form of an appetizer wrapped in a tortilla.

Reference:

Komal A smooth, flat frying pan commonly used in Mexico and Central America for making tortillas, as well as frying meat and other foods. Clay examples are found, they are usually slightly concave and are still used for cooking by the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America.

Komal for domestic needs is usually made of heavy cast iron. Komal is round for one burner or oval elongated for two burners. In many Indian families, there is a custom to pass komal from generation to generation. It is believed that the old hardened "frying pan" heats up faster and gives off heat longer. The tradition of cooking on comal dates back to pre-Columbian America, when flatbread was cooked on comal over an open fire.

This food has a number of significant benefits. First, grasshoppers are a rich source of protein, some researchers claim that their nutritional value is greater than that of meat. And, secondly, the mass consumption of grasshoppers is a more environmentally friendly action than the destruction of pests in agricultural fields using pesticides. And thirdly, this is a good business for the locals - grasshoppers are an expensive delicacy.

Roasted grasshoppers are seasoned with garlic, lime juice, salt…

The dish gained the greatest popularity in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where, according to historians, locusts began to be eaten as early as the 16th century. Over time, the dish spread to many regions of Mexico.

Second place. Sour snail soup (Morocco)

Sour snail soup distributed in Morocco throughout the country, it is a very popular street food that is sold from takeaway counters. On average, a plate of this dish costs $0.59-1.18. Before eating, the snails are removed from the shell with a toothpick or French pin. The broth is richly flavored with 15 spices and is said to improve digestion and even relieve fever. The broth is very spicy, its taste is specific, for an amateur - however, like the snails themselves. But Moroccans love this dish, in the country it is sold on every corner, served in plates or glasses.

The broth is very spicy, its taste is specific, for an amateur - however, like the snails themselves.

Snail soup is cooked right on the street in a large metal basin. The appearance of this specialty in Morocco is most likely associated with the period of French colonization, but this recipe is not found anywhere else. For a day, live snails are planted in a box with semolina or flour, as well as mint leaves. Then they wash thoroughly, drain the water several times. Snails are thrown into a container with 3-4 liters of boiling water and boiled for an hour and a half. Add to boiling broth as many as 15 spices: 1 teaspoon anise seed, 1 teaspoon cumin, 4 teaspoons thyme, 1 teaspoon green tea, 2 pieces of licorice root, 2 sprigs of dried mint, 2 gum arabic seeds, zest from 1 bitter orange, 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon paprika pepper, 1 pod of red hot pepper, 1 sprig of wormwood, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tablespoon of salt.

Third place. "Putin" (fried potatoes and cheese with sauce) (Canada)

I recently covered this original Canadian dish in an article.” Everything is described there in detail, in principle there is nothing to add. The dish is clearly tasty, satisfying and not healthy. 😆

Fourth place. Stuffed octopus "Takoyaki" (Japan)

- a very popular Japanese fast food, prepared from batter with the addition of octopus pieces in a special frying pan with hemispherical recesses 3-4 cm in diameter. Thanks to this ready meal has a spherical shape. A portion of takoyaki is served in an elongated plate and sprinkled with planed fish (katsuobushi), seasoned with a special takoyaki sauce that resembles ketchup or mayonnaise.

From Japanese, the word takoyaki translates as "fried octopus" ("tako" - octopus, "yaki" - fried), but this is quite true. In reality, takoyaki are fried balls of dough with the addition of pieces of octopus. A simple dough is prepared from wheat flour, water, eggs, soy sauce, dashi powder and a pinch of salt. For the filling, directly boiled octopuses are used, as well as cheese, cabbage, pickled red ginger, green onion You can also add shrimp if you like. Well, when serving, the dish is flavored with takoyaki sauce, green aonori seaweed powder and vegetable oil to lubricate the balls.

But takoyaki cannot be cooked without a special frying pan, it can be traditional and electric (technological Japanese could not do without modernization). Fry takoyaki vigorously turning over with a wooden stick. A crust forms on top, and soft and tender dough with pieces of octopus remains inside.

In this form, Takoyaki is served to the consumer.

For the first time, takoyaki appeared in Osaka about 75 years ago. The Japanese owe the appearance of this fast food to the culinary specialists of this particular city. Of course, it also had an earlier prototype, but that was a long time ago and not true. 😆 For quite a long time, the dish had local popularity in the vicinity of Osaka and Kobe. The finest hour of the dish began in the early 90s of the last century, it was then that it began to spread rapidly throughout Japan.

Today in Japan there are about 5,000 takoyaki catering outlets, and the food industry has formed a whole line of offal for making stuffed octopuses: baking powder and flavoring seasonings, special spicy flour with the addition of dried ginger, sauces for every taste, as well as frozen semi-finished takoyaki products that you just need to warm up in the microwave. Moreover, interestingly, takoyaki semi-finished products occupy more than half of the frozen food market in Japan.

Fry takoyaki vigorously turning over with a wooden stick.

And finally, it is worth noting that in recent years the dish has gone beyond Japan and today local modifications of takoyaki are gaining more and more popularity in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, China and other Asian countries.

Fifth place. Stuffed mussels "Midiye dolma" (Turkey)

Everyone knows that dolma can be different - with different wrappers, with different fillings, with different ways cooking. The Turks went the furthest and came up with stuffed mussels "Dolma mussels" (), where shells act as a wrapper, and its contents and spicy rice are stuffed. In Turkey, this dish is sold directly from carts on the street - this is a real fast food. Shells are laid out on large aluminum trays and sorted by size, the price depends on this. They eat it like this - they break off one shell shell and scoop up the contents from the second one, sprinkled with lemon juice first. After eating the sash, of course, they throw it away. 😆

To taste, these mussels are very spicy, spicy and satisfying. You won’t eat a lot of them, but a serving of 12 pieces is easy. The dish is an excellent appetizer for very strong (40-50 degrees) Turkish alcoholic drink crayfish (infusion of grape alcohol on anise seeds with the addition of soft water, sugar, a small amount of acid, aldehyde and ether, aged for 5-6 months in oak barrels).

Served with Midye Dolması with lemon wedges and parsley.

According to the method of preparation, the dish cannot be called simple, but it cannot be classified as complex either. On the olive oil finely chopped onion is fried until transparent, then chopped hot peppers chili, after a couple of minutes rice, finely chopped garlic. After that, you need to drown the food in boiling water for a centimeter, add salt and spices (cinnamon, sweet peas, nutmeg, sweet and spicy paprika), simmer over low heat for about ten minutes until the rice is half cooked. The filling is ready. Mussels are soaked, sorted, opened with a knife, washed again, filled with stuffing and closed. It remains to tie the shells with a thread, put them in a saucepan with salted water and cook for 10-15 minutes until tender. That's all, Midie Dolma is ready. This dish is served with lemon wedges and parsley.

Sixth place. Jalebi sweets deep fried in oil (India)

India is a country of contrasts and extremes in cooking. On every corner in Indian cities, a very sweet dish is prepared and immediately sold, which is sweet crispy spirals fried in a very large amount of oil and then soaked in sugar syrup. The secret is that the jalebi should be soaked through with syrup and still remain crispy. Use this sweet only hot.

The jalebi should be soaked through with the syrup and still be crispy.

In the book of Adiraj Das "Vedic Culinary Art" the canonical recipe for jalebi is given. To prepare the dough, flour is mixed in a large bowl with yogurt, saffron (quite a bit) and warm water (the consistency of the dough is like for pancakes). Then the dough needs to be put for 1-2 days in a warm place so that it acidifies. The syrup is easy to prepare - 2 cups of sugar and ¼ teaspoon of saffron are added to half a liter of water and boiled for 10 minutes. A lot of oil is heated in the container, the dough is whipped with a whisk and the dough is squeezed out of the culinary bag into boiling oil in the form of spirals. It remains to get the spirals and soak for half a minute in syrup.

Seventh place. Herring with onions and marinade Hollandse Nieuwe (Netherlands)

In the countries of northern Europe, they love herring. I already wrote about an unusual and extreme Swedish dish of Baltic herring. The Dutch followed a simplified scheme, introducing herring into fast food culture. - Traditional Dutch fast food.

The delicacy turns out to be impressive in size

From the end of May to the beginning of June, young herring come to the Dutch coast, and it is during this period that the annual feast begins for gourmets. The most delicious herring hits the shelves and eateries. In Amsterdam, such herring is sold right on the street in stalls with the inscription Hollandse Nieuwe or Herring. A whole herring is put in a bun (instead of a sausage), sprinkled with onion, pickled cucumbers are added. The delicacy turns out to be of impressive size, it is worth training the jaw before eating. 😆 Such a sandwich will cost 2-3 euros. It's expensive, but I think it's worth it. The main thing is not to forget to stock up on water, alas, but herring makes you thirsty.

Also, such a herring can be served in simple trays without a bun, then it is swallowed by holding the tail.

Eighth place. Candied fruits on a stick "Tanhulu" (China)

- Literally translated from Chinese as "candied fruit on a stick." In principle, the translation contains a complete definition of this sweet dish. In winter, when fresh fruit is in short supply, Tanghulu is sold everywhere in China, but especially in its northern part.

According to legend, the progenitor Tanghulu appeared in China during the reign of Emperor Guangzong (1147-1200 AD). The essence of the legend is simple and traditional: the emperor’s wife fell ill, no one could help, in the end, a folk doctor was involved, who cured the empress by feeding her from 70 to 140 candied hawthorn berries for a crescent (5-10 daily). Of course, the empress quickly went on the mend, and the medicinal food began to spread rapidly among the people. In general, a legend is like a legend, everything follows a pattern. But it is worth noting that in modern China, initially, the medicinal drug has gained grandiose distribution, has turned into a real fast food.

To prepare Tanhula from hawthorn berries, you need to wash them, peel them, string them on thin bamboo sticks, then you need to dip the sticks with berries in a container with melted sugar and take them out to the cold to harden. The result is cute and appetizing berries covered with sugar icing having a sweet and sour taste. As a rule, 6-7 berries or pieces of fruit are placed on one fifteen-centimeter stick. Tanhula is consumed cold.

In modern China, the original medicinal drug has become grandiose.

In addition to hawthorn berries, Tanhulu is made from slices of banana, paradise apples, oranges, grapes, plums, water chestnuts, cherries, sweet potatoes, strawberries and more. There are variations when, in addition to sugar, fruits are sprinkled with crushed nuts. Tanhulu's time is autumn and winter, but sometimes it appears in spring or summer (in any case, last year's berry harvest is used).

In Chinese cuisine, there is a similar sweet "Basy" (fruits in caramel), but unlike Tanhulu, this sweet is eaten warm, cut into slices on a saucer.

Ninth place. Meat pie "Burek" (Croatia)

are traditional Croatian puff pastries yeast-free dough with savory meat, vegetable or cheese filling. Pies are very tender, satisfying and tasty. Over time, pies have taken a place in Croatian street food culture and today are sold on every street corner in Croatian cities.

Burek is sold on every corner in Croatian cities.

Burek pie is made from very thin rolled dough. In shape, it can be in the form of a roll twisted into a spiral or simply in the form of a multi-layered pie. The filling may be different, but Croats prefer minced meat.

Tenth place. Roasted Peas with Seafood and Acarage Cashew Paste (Brazil)

Acaraje- a very popular Brazilian fast food, made from peeled cowpeas, deep-fried with palm oil. The filling for this dish can be fried shrimp, cashew nuts, lettuce, green and red tomatoes, as well as hot pepper sauce, beans, ginger, garlic, etc.

Interestingly, Brazil is not the birthplace of Acaraje, this dish was brought to South America in the 16th century by black slaves from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin. This dish is also common in these countries (it is only called Asaga), but only in Brazil has it acquired the status of fast food. This "street food" is most widespread in the northeast of Brazil, in the state of Bahia, especially in the city of Salvador. In the state of Bahia, a whole subculture of Acarage merchants has formed, these people are called bainas. Their social and visual portrait is as follows - Afro-Brazilian women dressed in white print dresses, scarves, specially shaped hats, colorful necklaces. They shout invitingly, urging to buy their cooking. The presence of characteristic Acarage merchants in the cities of Bahia has become a cultural feature of this Brazilian region.

In the state of Bahia, a whole subculture of Acarage merchants has formed, these people are called bainas.

Acaraje is made from peeled and mashed black-eyed peas (or cowpeas), but is most often made from any other less expensive variety of peas or black beans. Deep-fried dende dishes are prepared with shrimp, hot sauce, vatapa sauce (a paste of dried shrimp, peanuts, cashews, coconut milk and dende oil), karuru ( stewed vegetable) and salad (tomatoes, onions, etc.).

Reference:

Palm oil is made from the fruit of the African palm Elaeis guineensis. This huge palm tree grows up to 20 meters in height, its homeland is West Africa (the region between Angola and the Gambia), from there it came to South America with the "migration of peoples". Dende oil is made from the purple-red fruits of this palm tree. Oil is also made from the core of the fruit, but it is used only for technical needs (soap and cosmetics). Dende oil is the main element of traditional Brazilian cuisine, but primarily the cuisine of the state of Bahia. Oil is used not only for cooking, but also in the rituals of Afro-Brazilian religions.

An interesting paradox: Dende oil contains 15 times more beta-keratin than carrots, but it also contains a critical excess of vegetable fats that increase blood cholesterol levels. Thus, on the one hand, it is very useful, on the other hand, it is very harmful. Disputes on this topic do not subside among Brazilian physicians, but the outstanding industrial features of the oil (a huge concentration of vegetable fats ensures long-term storage of the oil without loss of properties) have provided it with a strong place in Brazilian cooking.

Eleventh place. Quiche (meat, cheese and egg pie) (France)

Quiche Pie- a famous dish of French cuisine, which is an open pie with a base of chopped dough and a filling of a mixture of eggs, cream (milk), cheese, as well as smoked brisket, cut into thin sticks. In different regions of France, there are a wide variety of variations of quiche. For example, “Alsatian quiche” with fried onions, vegetable, fruit, mixed greens, fish, meat and mushroom options.

Historically, quiche came to French cuisine from the German region of Lorraine. Today it has spread widely, is sold on every corner and has become a very tasty and nutritious fast food.

What does this dish remind me of? It reminds me of such a Belarusian dish, common in cookery and good grocery stores, as lubricant. The recipe is similar - dough, stuffing with eggs, cheese and chopped sausage. It's also kind of fast food.

Twelfth place. Fried rice balls with Aracini mozzarella (Italy)

And our rating will be completed by the famous dish of Sicilian cuisine arancini. arancini translated from Italian as "little oranges". The name came from the shape and color of the dish, which just resembles this "yellow-orange round fruit." According to the recipe, these are fried (or sometimes baked) rice balls with a diameter of 8-10 cm. The balls are stuffed with meat mixed with mozzarella, and sometimes with tomato sauce and green peas. Before frying, the balls are rolled in breadcrumbs. The dish can be round or conical.

Aracini has been driving all Italians crazy for a long time, ruddy balls are sold from street stalls and are wildly popular in the Apennines.

As you can see, there are many unusual and original foods in the world. Many countries have their own pronounced culinary face. What kind of street food (street food) should be included in the rating from native Belarus? You can strain, think everything over and fantasize, but there is no trial. Let's wait another three years - maybe our country will have its own "folk" culinary face.

P.S. The recipes in this article are approximate and not detailed. Provided for informational purposes. All details can be clarified with a Google friend.