September 19, 2025 | 06:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Time Out, a British travel magazine, has called Asia the world's best street food destination. Small street stalls offer mouthwatering dishes. Flaming woks, red plastic chairs, and the aroma of spices wafting through the air entice passersby to stop and sample the food.
10 Best Street Food Cities in Asia
However, Time Out has compiled a list of the 10 best street food cities in Asia. Check it out!
1. Penang, Malaysia
Georgetown, Penang, is famous for its blend of Malay, Chinese, Peranakan, and Indian cultures. These cultures have also influenced the city's cuisine. There are many specialty dishes worth trying here, including char kuey teow (stir-fried noodles), laksa assam (sour laksa), roti canai (Indian flatbread), and hokkien mee (shrimp noodle soup).
2. Hanoi, Vietnam
No trip to Vietnam is complete without sampling the street food. Some of the best street food can be found in Hanoi's narrow alleys and bustling street corners. One popular spot is Banh Mi 25 in the Old Quarter, but be prepared to wait in line. Other recommendations include Nona Minh in Phang Trang and Banh Cuon Ba Loc for banh cuon, a type of spring roll filled with meat. Pork-based dishes are a staple of Vietnamese street food.
3. Singapore
In 2020, Singapore's street food was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. With over 200 hawker centers to choose from, visitors can enjoy a variety of dishes, including laksa (coconut milk noodle soup), fried carrot cake (stir-fried turnip cake), bak kut teh (pork rib soup), and the national dish, Hainanese chicken rice. Popular hawker food destinations include Maxwell Hawker Centre, Golden Mile Food Centre, and Amoy Street Food Centre.
4. Mumbai, India
Mumbai, India's street food is influenced by Maharashtrian, South Indian, British, and Portuguese cuisines. Popular dishes include pav bhaji (spicy mashed vegetables in a roll), bhelpuri (a tamarind rice dish), and fresh dosa.
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai, the northern capital of Thailand, is famous for its spicy food. One of the city's most popular street food stalls, Huen Muan Jai, offers a variety of traditional Lanna dishes, including larb and spiced pork sausages. There are also dozens of night markets around the moated city walls to visit, from Phaphloen Market to Chang Puak Gate Market. Another Chiang Mai icon is SP Chicken.
6. Tainan, Taiwan
For foodies hunting for delicious food in this ancient Taiwanese city, a tip is to look for the long lines often seen on street corners. A traveler favorite is Small Park Danzai Noodles, which is famous for its egg noodles in pork sauce or broth and is also recommended by the Bib Gourmand. The more adventurous should try the famous eel noodles at Fu Sheng Small Good, which are served with a sweet sauce. Meat soup lovers should try Six Thousand Beef Soup, which serves dishes made with fresh, tender beef.
7. Osaka, Japan
Osaka is nicknamed the "Kitchen of Japan" for its delicious cuisine. If you're looking for affordable dishes such as takoyaki (octopus-filled balls) and okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes), this is the place to be. For Michelin-starred takoyaki, visit Takoyaki Umaiya. Fukutaro is another popular choice. But don't be surprised if you have to wait in line.
8. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is renowned for its delicious street food, ranging from Jay Fai's world-famous crab omelets to the mango sticky rice in Chinatown. Head to Banthat Thong Street to sample a variety of Thai dishes, including tom yum noodles and northern-style larb.
9. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh's street food scene features boldly flavored dishes with the umami flavor of prahok, a fermented fish paste, and fiery chili peppers. Try amok, a Cambodian specialty consisting of freshwater fish mixed with coconut curry and steamed on a banana leaf. For some of the city's most delicious street food, visit Central Market and Toul Tompong Market (Russian Market).
10. Chengdu, China
Chengdu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its mouthwatering, spicy cuisine. Mapo tofu, a must-try dish, is soft and spicy. Dan dan noodles, one of the most popular dishes in Sichuan, are egg noodles tossed in chili oil with vegetables or meat. There are numerous night markets in Chengdu where you can enjoy street food, such as the Sanse Street Night Market and the Jianshe Street Food Market.
Editor's Choice: 10 Must-Try Spicy Indonesian Foods for a Flavorful Adventure
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