Street Food

Street food is the best way to eat in SE Asia. I have an ever-growing respect and fascination with street food because of its low cost, entertainment value, and personalization.

Street food is cheap. Here, in Thailand, I eat two, maybe three times per day. Each meal costs $1-$1.50, or about $3-4/day. Not bad, right? If I had similar food in restaurants, I would be paying at least twice, and more accurately three or four times as much.

Street food is in the open. Some argue that restaurant food has a certain level of food preparation or health safety built-in that street vendors can’t provide. I think those people are wrong. If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you probably agree with me, that some shady things happen in restaurant kitchens. Street vendors put it all on display.

Street food is fun. There is a thrill in watching exotic foods prepared, especially by street vendors that have years and thousands of repetitions making the same dish. They get very, very good at what they do.

Street food provides an inexpensive opportunity to sample new foods. When a bowl of pork noodle soup costs the same as a Kit Kat bar, you’re foolish to pass on the chance to try it! If the taste is disgusting or it’s not what you expected, try another, knowing that the effort cost you very little.  

Street food can be personalized. My friends know me as a picky eater. I like simple textures and dishes. Too many vegetables and not enough meat always aggravates me. Well, when I order up some street food, I can tell the guy “spicy, no vegetables, lots of meat and garlic.” Then, as he prepares it, I can make on-the-spot inputs. Try doing that at the next restaurant you visit.

Street food vendors will remember repeat customers. Sure, restaurants have plenty of repeat customers and can be trained to know exactly what a person wants, but it takes many visits because of the large, revolving shifts of employees. Street food vendors are typically lone operators, pushing their carts and equipment home at night, then returning the next day. If I plan to stay in a city for a few days and especially enjoy a meal, I’ll tell the vendor “remember me, I return tomorrow, same same.” I return the next day and the person knows exactly what I want!

Last year, I “cheated” while traveling, eating Westernized food nearly every other day. I’d eat pizza quite often, and occasionally visit a Subway, Krispy Kreme, or other junk food restaurant when I felt a craving. This year, in the places I’e been, I’ve gotten into a groove because of good street food. I find the foods I really like, returning daily. My eating costs have definitely dropped significantly, my waistline is managed better, and I’m enjoying the local atmosphere better.

If you are afraid of try street food in a foreign country, please give it a chance!